North Myrtle Beach September 3, 2009
Michelle Evans, of Little River, SC, with a wahoo that fell for a red/black Ilander atop a ballyhoo in 100' of water inshore of the Mac Marlen Ledge while she was fishing aboard "The Law."
Mark, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore action was excellent early last week before the storm swells, and it should be back on track soon, as there’s an incredible amount of bait in the water right now.
Flounder fishing at the Little River jetties was excellent early last week, with anglers landing big numbers of flatfish on live finger mullet and shrimp fished on the bottom.
The red drum bite has also been on at the jetties, and live finger mullet are fooling most of the reds.
Fishing live shrimp around the jetties and in the inlet has also been producing action with some ladyfish, bonnethead sharks, pompano, and bluefish. However, smaller blues and big numbers of ribbonfish are at times making it tough to keep baits in the water around the inlet.
Deeper holes and drains in the backwater areas have also been producing some good fishing for reds and some black drum. Live shrimp fished on jigheads and finger mullet on light Carolina rigs are fooling most of the fish.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding some good fishing for red and black drum around the Little River Crossroads. Live shrimp on jigheads or beneath floats are fooling most of the fish.
The black and red bite has also been solid in Dunn Sound, where anglers are hooking the fish on live shrimp and Gulp baits on jigheads.
Float fishing with live shrimp around Sunset Beach Bridge has been attracting attention from some speckled trout lately as well.
Fishing around Little River Inlet with live shrimp and finger mullet has been producing some larger (26-30”+) reds along with a mixed bag of flounder, ladyfish, pompano, and other species.
James and Wes Carnes with a 39" king mackerel that fell for a live pogy at the York Hole while they were fishing out of Little River Inlet with Mike Carnes.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that the offshore bottom fishing has been slow lately, with only a handful of grouper. Other bottomfish like triggers, sea bass, and beeliners are feeding on the offshore structure, but catching them has been more of a challenge than usual this week as well.
Divers are reporting visibility less than 5’ and a 10 degree temperature drop around the offshore structure, explaining why the bottom bite’s been tough lately.
Inshore bottom droppers have been hooking some sea bass and smaller gag grouper, but the bite hasn’t been on fire closer to the beaches either.
Divers have reported that the inshore visibility is improving to 8-10’.
Anglers trolling Clarkspoons near the beaches found decent spanish mackerel action last week.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers fishing live shrimp have been hooking up with some big black drum, flounder, and red drum.
Some spadefish, blues, and other species are falling for bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs are hooking bluefish and some spanish mackerel.
The water is 85 degrees.
