North Myrtle – June 5, 2014
Mary Kate West with a 7 lb. flounder that she caught while ifshing with her husband.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore fishing in the area is finally taking off for the summer, and anglers are connecting with flounder, speckled trout, and red drum all over the local waters.
There’s been a good bite the past few days in 5-10’ holes back in the shallow creeks and marshes. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits cast into the deeper water are attracting strikes from puppy drum, speckled trout (some to 4-5 lbs.), and flounder.
There’s also been good action with all three fish in Tubbs Inlet, where mud minnows and Gulps are also getting the job done.
The red drum bite in the Sunset Beach Bridge canal has also been solid lately, and live mud minnows and Gulps fished under popping corks are getting the job done there and at other places where the fish are feeding in the shallows.
Some healthy red drum and speckled trout are feeding around the rocks of the Little River jetty, and anglers saw some good fishing out there last week. Working jigheads tipped with live mud minnows and Gulp baits around the rocks is fooling both fish. Live shrimp have shown up in the creeks, but they’re still too small to make good baits yet. Once anglers are able to secure some larger shrimp, fishing the jetties with live shrimp on float rigs or jigheads should produce some excellent action with the reds and big speckled trout around the jetties.
Martha Pope, Sandy Richard, Elizabeth Powell, and Pam Taylor–The “Dump Girls” fishing team, from Shallotte Point, with two of many gaffer dolphin they hooked while trolling skirted ballyhoo near the Steeples with Forrest Taylor on the “That’s My Dog.”
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder bite keeps getting better, and anglers landed solid numbers of keepers (with fish ranging 17-22”) last week amidst the still numerous undersized fish. Live mud minnows and Gulp baits are fooling most of the flatfish, but anglers who can find some peanut-sized menhaden will increase their chances of connecting with the larger flounder.
Matt, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are hooking panfish like spot, sea mullet, croaker, and perch while baiting up with shrimp and bloodworms.
Some large, over-slot red drum have been feeding in 3-4’ of water near the surf zone. Anglers fishing cut baits are hooking and landing some of the big reds and have been spooled by others.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are on the feed around the pier, and anglers have been putting together some solid catches of both while working Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs.
The water is 76 degrees.
