Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still connecting with some large red drum around Little River Inlet and in the ocean just off the local beaches.
The inlet reds are biting menhaden and mullet fished on the bottom, and anglers are hooking up while drifting and anchoring in the inlet. A few slot-sized fish have been mixed in with the larger ones.
Anglers are also finding the big reds following schools of menhaden in the ocean, but tracking down a school that’s holding some drum has taken some running and gunning recently. Live or wounded baits cast around the bait schools will fool the drum if they are there.
Some larger (3-5 lb.) flounder are feeding at the local reefs and wrecks like the Jim Caudle and Ron McManus Reefs. Anglers can fish live menhaden or mullet on the bottom at the nearshore structures to connect with the flatfish.
Bobby Pancaldo with a 31″ red drum he caught and released in the ICW near North Myrtle Beach. The drum struck a live mud minnow.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have been catching some citation-class red drum around the Little River jetties. Most are falling for live menhaden and mullet fished on the bottom in the inlet. Anglers also found plenty of action with the big reds while chasing down schools of menhaden in the ocean off Tubbs Inlet, Ocean Isle, and Holden Beach. The best action has been in 9-18’ of water and tossing live menhaden around the schools has been fooling the reds and some sharks that are also hanging around the bait.
Smaller red drum and black drum have been feeding around the Little River Crossroads, Sunset Beach bridge, and in Dunn Sound. Anglers are hooking the inshore drum on live shrimp fished underneath floats, which are also fooling a few flounder.
There was some decent speckled trout action in the area last week, but dirty water seems to have slowed the bite.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers saw some good spot action this past weekend, hooking the tasty panfish on bloodworms and shrimp.
Some small black drum have been biting the same offerings.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and mackerel trees from the pier landed decent numbers of spanish mackerel and bluefish over the past week.
Some large red drum were also landed by anglers fishing cut baits and finger mullet.
The water is 67 degrees.