North Myrtle/Little River – August 2024
Giovanni, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that surf anglers have been catching a few sheepshead, bluefish (on cut baits), and plenty of sharks.
Inshore, anglers have had a lot of success targeting flounder in the area, with live bait being the top choice.
Red drum are scattered throughout the area, and they’re mostly hitting Carolina-rigged baits. The deeper holes, especially around structure and closer to the inlet, are producing whiting.
Speckled trout are being caught back in the creeks.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that in the waterway, redfish are hanging around structure, including docks, rocks, and grass lines that back up to creek mouths. Anglers have had success casting smaller menhaden, mullet, and shrimp around these areas and letting the baits sit until the fish find them. With summertime fishing, it has been best to give each spot about 10-15 minutes before moving on to the next location.
A handful of sheepshead and black drum are hanging around docks for those anglers using shrimp.
The flounder are mostly staging around creek mouths off the ICW.
Around the inlet, a handful of red drum and flounder are holding along grass lines and near oyster beds.
There’s definitely some great opportunity for topwater action on red drum and trout, when out in the early mornings. Anglers can also try floating or free-lining mullet around oyster beds.
Those fishing the jetty are finding over-slot red drum biting on the turns of the tide.
Some keeper speckled trout are around the rock jetties, especially when the current has some movement. Mullet and shrimp are producing bites from both the trout and reds.
If you can find some mullet or pogies (both in the 4-5” range), good numbers of flounder are hanging around the Three Mile Reef. Carolina rigs with 1 oz. weights have done best in enticing strikes, and don’t be surprised if you also see a cobia or two while fishing out there.
Amy Taylor, Charlie Faircloth, and McKenzie Newton, of Broadway, NC, found these hogfish offshore of Little River Inlet using shrimp and crabs.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that even though it’s the middle of summer, anglers are still finding some keeper speckled trout in the early mornings.
Those in South Carolina are finding keeper flounder by fishing live baits, whether that is mud minnows, mullet, or menhaden. The last bit of the rise and on the fall until about mid-tide has seen the best bite.
Red drum are scattered all over, such as beside oyster rocks, along grass banks, and under docks.
Anchoring up near the deeper hard structures is producing black drum, whiting, and bluefish.
Opportunities to get off the beach and around the Three Mile Reef has anglers seeing flounder and the occasional cobia.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder have been the main focus of inshore anglers, with the flatfish biting mostly on artificials. With so much natural bait available, the soft plastics give the fish something different to look at. Focus on structure and look towards creek and marsh openings during the falling tides, and then zero in on grass banks and oyster bars during a rising tide.
Redfish are in the same places as the flounder, and they’re willing to hit the same artificials. Work the creek banks with popping corks rigged with live bait or artificials, and free lining the bait out with the wind and/or current is another great way to cover a lot of water and increase your success rate.
Black drum are concentrated around ICW docks. During a high tide, anglers can work pilings along the whole dock, and at lower tides, just focus out towards the end. Finding docks with nearby structure or feeding birds usually produces the best results.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that trolling trips offshore are producing king mackerel and only the occasional dolphin, as water temperatures remain very warm and have the fish scattered.
Bottom fishing is a great choice to beat the doldrums in the summer months and load up the cooler. The 80-120’ range will produce most of the action, with target species including triggerfish and scamp grouper.
In typical summer fashion, always keep a free-lined bait out while bottom fishing any distance off the beach. These baits will attract attention from barracuda, king mackerel, mahi, amberjack, or even cobia.
Virginia Traynham, of Myrtle Beach, caught (and released) this flounder while fishing near Tubbs Inlet using a tiger minnow.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that bottom fishing trips out to the break are producing plenty of grouper, vermilion snapper, tons of triggerfish, and some amberjacks.
There haven’t been a bunch of offshore trolling efforts with the rough conditions, though anglers who have made it out are catching some wahoo and mahi.
Runs to the 30-mile range have been finding king mackerel while trolling Drone spoons and bait under Sea Witches.
Just off the beach, anglers are finding spanish mackerel and a lot of sharks.
Edgar, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishing anglers are having success catching flounder, whiting, and a bunch of croakers.
Some spadefish are being caught, and anglers fishing in the early morning or nighttime hours have landed a few speckled trout.
Lynn, of Apache Pier, reports that anglers have been catching a good number of flounder, black drum, and some scattered red drum.
Also mixed in the bottom fishing action are croakers, whiting, and a few pompano (when water conditions are nice).
