North Myrtle Beach September 13, 2012
Andy Cochran, of Hamlet, NC, with a 6.5 lb. flounder he hooked on a live mullet in Tubbs Inlet.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the inconsistent weather lately has made finding fish a bit of a challenge, but anglers are still putting good numbers of speckled trout, flounder, and red drum in the boat.
The red bite’s been best lately around the Little River jetties, where live finger mullet and menhaden have been producing plenty of action with fish to 30”+.
Anglers casting live shrimp and finger mullet in Bonaparte Creek are connecting with some flounder, speckled trout, and some more (but smaller) reds.
More speckled trout are feeding around Tilghman’s Dock and at other areas of structure around the ICW and inlet. Live shrimp under floats are tough to beat for the specks, but big numbers of ribbonfish in the area have made it tough to get to them. Gulps, Billy Bay Shrimp, and other soft baits can also prove effective on the specks.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding big numbers of red drum in the creeks and around marsh grass in Dunn Sound, Bonaparte Creek, Tubbs Inlet, and other nearby backwaters. Casting live shrimp and finger mullet or Gulp shrimp pinned to jigheads is fooling the reds. A few black drum are feeding in the same areas and also falling for live shrimp, and anglers may also encounter a stray speckled trout or flounder while fishing for the drum.
Larger reds (most 25-30”) are feeding around the Little River jetties. There, anglers are hooking them while dropping Carolina rigs to the bottom or drifting float rigs along the rocks. Mullet and shrimp are both producing results.
Capt. Mark Stacy, of OceanIsleFishingCharters.com, with a 5+ lb. flounder that bit a live finger mullet at the Jim Caudle Reef.
A few speckled trout are also feeding along the rocks, and live shrimp under popping corks are getting their attention as well.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that there’s been a hot spanish mackerel and bluefish bite going on around the pier this week. Anglers are hooking both while working Gotcha plugs from the planks and free-lining live finger mullet near the end of the pier.
Bottom fishermen are hooking some sea mullet, black drum, and the first few spot of the fall. Shrimp and bloodworms are fooling all three.
Flounder and red drum are taking an interest in live baits fished under the pier.
Anglers are also hooking some sheepshead while dangling barnacles, fiddler crabs, and other baits tight to the pilings.
Live-baiters landed a 27 lb. king mackerel off the end of the pier last week.
