North Myrtle/Little River – April 2025
Sam, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that red drum and black drum are feeding well on fiddler crabs and shrimp around hard structure inside.
Some sheepshead are starting to work their way inside, and they’re hitting the same baits.
A few anglers are already hooking the first flounder of the year.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that the action is starting to pick up on speckled trout, especially while drifting live shrimp past docks or creek mouths. The trout have also started to hit artificials (such as paddle tails) a little better, with lighter colors such as a chartreuse being the most productive.
Anglers are seeing red drum in the mainland creeks, especially those that are closer to the inlets. Both cut shrimp and live mud minnows have had success, as well as Gulp or Z-Man soft plastics. Target the red drum in the deeper holes that have nearby flats, but be careful when moving in. Don’t spook these fish as they have seen a lot of pressure over the winter months.
Out at the Little River jetties, anglers can find all kinds of fish, including black drum, slot red drum, sheepshead, over-slot reds, and the larger, spring speckled trout.
Black sea bass action is still good in the 60-75’ range. The key right now is to find structured areas away from the ARs, as the ARs have been hit hard all winter.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that red and black drum fishing has been steady when targeting inshore structure with dead shrimp.
Some red drum are schooled up back in the shallows, as they have been all winter.
Speckled trout are around, though most anglers aren’t really targeting them.
Nearshore, anglers just started hooking some bluefish, and they look forward to gray trout and Atlantic bonito showing up any day. This action is going to be found first on structure in the 30-60’ range.
Capt. Chris Ossmann, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, caught this 37″ red drum offshore of Little River in 60′ of water using a Gulp curly tail.
Jessey, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that offshore water temperatures hovering in the 66-67 degree range and paired with green water color, the fishing has been a bit slower. Successful efforts are producing a few blackfin tuna and even fewer wahoo.
Black sea bass has been the most reliable target, with keeper fish and quality numbers over structure in the 70-100’ area.
Back around the inlet and along the Little River jetties, anglers are catching black drum with both slip-rigged live shrimp or dead shrimp on the bottom.
Some red drum (with the occasional over-slot fish) are hitting live shrimp or cut mullet at the jetties.
Speckled trout are around, though most of the trout are being caught up in more brackish waters. Don’t rule out some big trout hitting a live shrimp at the jetty, though. This is the time that the area sees the largest fish of the year.
Nearshore has been slowly picking up as some gray trout and early flounder are popping up at the reefs. Anglers are looking for Atlantic bonito to show up at any time. Trolling baits such as Clarkspoons or Rapala plugs can help locate fish.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that black sea bass fishing has been strong, with both good numbers and quality of fish being found in the 60-80’ area.
The deeper structures (in 100’+) will also see vermilion snapper and possibly some triggerfish mixed in.
Runs out to the break are still producing some blackfin tuna and the occasional wahoo.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that the nearshore bottoms are holding a bunch of keeper black sea bass and porgies.
Anglers are still looking for Atlantic bonito to show up over nearshore structure and along the beachfronts.
The offshore bottom fishing is a great, including catches of large black sea bass, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, scattered amberjacks, and grunts.
Dan Masiello, of Sunset Beach, landed this 24″ red drum in the Shallotte River using a Power Prawn 2.0.
Josh, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that offshore water temperatures are not only cold but there’s been a lot of current and poor visibility.
Despite the challenges, black sea bass fishing remains strong, with plenty of fish still stacked up on structure as shallow as 50-90’. These fish are schooled up pretty tightly, and anglers need to maneuver themselves right over the bass to stay on any sort of bite.
The deeper end of that range is also holding scattered vermilion snapper and some catch-and-release grouper species.
The bigger amberjacks aren’t around yet, but that’s likely to change moving into spring.
Their numbers can be a nuisance, but it’s no secret that bottom structure in the 60-120’ range are loaded with American red snapper that need to be released.
Anglers fishing drift lines in the 100’+ area will start to see some king mackerel strikes as the water temperatures trend upwards.
Schools of false albacore are out in the 60-100’ range.
Melissa, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been the most productive, with catches of black drum and sea mullet.
The first flounder of the year was caught recently.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are catching both croakers and whiting. A lot of smaller stuff is around, but that should change quickly as the temperatures bring more fish into the area.
