North Myrtle Beach October 1, 2009
Cameron Maund, of Greenville, SC, with a fat red drum he hooked on a live finger mullet in the ICW near Ocean Isle while fishing with Atlas Warwick.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding action with some large red drum (30-40+”) around the Little River jetties. Live finger mullet are fooling the big reds.
Large spanish mackerel (2-3+ lbs.) are also feeding in Little River Inlet, and anglers can hook them while casting mullet-imitating lures like MirrOlure MirrOdines, Catch 2000’s, and Top Pups to breaking schools of fish.
Inshore, there’s been solid speckled trout fishing in and off the ICW along the grass banks and around Calabash Creek, marker 19, the Sunset Beach Bridge, and the Little River Crossroads. Live shrimp under floats are producing most of the action with the specks.
Some croaker, whiting, and big spot are also providing action for anglers inshore right now.
Fishing the shallow backwaters out of flats boats, anglers are finding opportunities to sight cast at feeding red drum. Scented soft plastics, like Gulp Jerk Shads, on light weighted hooks will fool the reds in the shallows.
Tim Wulf, Jim Thomas, and Norb Wulf, of Washington, KY, with six king mackerel they hooked just east of Yaupon Reef on live pogies while fishing with Capt. Keith Logan of Stand'N Down Charters. The larger fish weighed 28, 25, and 22 lbs.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the cooler weather is cranking up the speckled trout bite. Anglers are finding action with the specks along the ICW at spots like the Sunset Beach Bridge and the creek mouths. Live shrimp under floats and D.O.A. or Gulp shrimp will fool the trout.
The backwaters of Dunn Sound and the creeks are producing some solid red drum fishing. Anglers are hooking the backwater reds on live finger mullet and Gulp baits.
Larger reds (some to 40+”) are feeding around the jetties. Anglers are hooking the big reds on live finger mullet.
Big numbers of bluefish are in the area as well. They’re actually improving the red action, as the reds seem more likely to bite a mullet that the blues chop in half on its way to the bottom.
Some flounder are scattered throughout the area, and anglers are picking up a few while trout and red drum fishing.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that offshore bottom fishing in the 40-50 mile range has been producing action with some large scamp grouper, beeliners, big black sea bass, and other bottom feeders. Cigar minnows are fooling the grouper, and anglers are catching most of the smaller bottom feeders on squid.
Inshore, the trolling bite has been a little slow, but bottom fishermen are hooking up with sea bass, tomtates, and other bottom feeders on squid.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that live baiters hooked several king mackerel on the pier last week.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding around the pier, and anglers are hooking both on Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs. The blues are also taking an interest in cut baits.
Some red drum are falling for cut mullet fished on the bottom.
Anglers baiting up with shrimp are hooking some black drum and scattered spot, but the spot run isn’t in full swing quite yet.
