North Myrtle Beach September 29, 2011
Bob Nace, of Loysville, PA, caught and released this large red drum in Little River Inlet after it bit a live menhaden. He was fishing with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley's Fishing Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the large red drum bite is wide open at the Little River jetties, and right now is the best opportunity anglers will get to hook a 30+ lb. red anywhere in the area. Fishing live and cut menhaden or mullet along the rocks while the tide is moving is the way to go for the big reds, and it will produce plenty of hookups with smaller reds and other fish like flounder (with fish to 6 lbs. caught in the inlet last week).
Spanish mackerel are also feeding in the inlet, and free-lining live finger mullet or casting mullet-imitating lures to fish chasing bait on the surface is the way to hook up with the spaniards.
There’s also a decent red drum bite inshore in the creeks, and it’ll only get better as the water temperatures continue to cool off. Live baits and soft plastics are the way to go for the creek reds, and it generally takes a fairly shallow-draft boat to get back to the areas where they’ve been feeding.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are catching large red drum (some 40”+) in Little River Inlet. The best bite is taking place on the rising tide, and drifting through the inlet with live mullet or menhaden on the bottom is the most effective strategy.
Slightly smaller reds (to 28”) are starting to school up in the potholes far up area creeks, and they’ll be feeding in these spots all winter long. Casting light jigheads or split-shot rigs with Gulps, chunks of crab, or live baits will tempt bites from the reds in the creeks.
Anglers are finding some solid variety fishing in the Calabash River, where live shrimp and Gulp baits on light jigheads are producing action with flounder, bluefish, ladyfish, speckled trout, and more.
Some red and black drum and a few speckled trout are also feeding in Dunn Sound, where live shrimp and Gulps will also get attention.
Todd Helf, of Sunset Beach, with a 46" red drum that bit a live menhaden at the Little River Jetties while he was fishing with Robert Hughes on the "Lil' Bro Bro."
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking some spot and sea mullet on shrimp, bloodworms, and other baits.
Bluefish and an occasional spanish mackerel are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and gold hook rigs worked from the piers.
A few red drum are falling for live and cut baits on the bottom.
Live-baiters fishing from the end of the pier finally landed a 25 lb. king mackerel last week.
The water is 78 degrees.
