North Myrtle – July 10, 2014
Michael Siengo with a blacktip shark he hooked on a chunk of menhaden cast into a bait school just off Myrtle Beach.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are seeing some excellent flounder fishing around the Little River area right now. Tubbs Inlet has been hosting some of the best flatfish action, but anglers are connecting with fish at all the local flounder spots along the ICW and near the inlets. Live finger mullet, menhaden, and mud minnows will get attention from the flounder, and anglers can also hook up on Gulp baits pinned to jigheads.
The speckled trout bite is also going strong, with anglers hooking most of the specks along grass edges in the creeks and ICW and around inshore structure like docks. Live shrimp fished under floats are producing most of the trout that anglers are hooking, but shrimp-imitating soft plastics are also effective.
More trout (and some large ones) are feeding at the Little River jetties and also taking an interest in live shrimp. Float rigs fished close to the rocks are the way to go at the jetties.
Some over-slot red drum have also been looking for meals around the jetties, and anglers drifting live menhaden and mullet along the bottom are connecting with some of the big reds.
Jamie Sledge and Jimmy Curd, of Lexington, NC, with 25 and 30 lb. cobia that they hooked near the Horseshoe while fishing on the “Just In Time.” One cobe fell for a squid and the other bit a Blue Water Candy Roscoe jig.
Bonnethead sharks, gray trout, and other bottom feeders are feeding in the inlet as well, and they will pounce on live shrimp fished on the bottom.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers can still find spadefish schooled up around nearshore structure like the Sherman wreck. Dropping cannonball jellyfish to the wreck on a downrigger or heavy rod and slowly retrieving them to the surface will often bring a school of the spades up to the boat. Once anglers can spot them, pieces of the jellies pinned to small, strong hooks will tempt the spades to bite.
Some cobia are still looking for meals around nearshore structure in the area and will bite live baits or bucktail jigs.
Flounder are also feeding around structure in the ocean. Anglers can fool the flatfish with live menhaden and mullet on Carolina rigs.
Some large red drum are feeding in Little River Inlet, although the bite can be tough to time. Live menhaden fished on the bottom are tough for the reds to resist when they’re in a feeding mood.
Tanner, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some sea mullet, croaker, pompano, and other panfish on bottom rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers working Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs are hooking plenty of bluefish and, on many days, spanish mackerel.
The water is 83 degrees.
