North Myrtle/Little River – September 2024
Coach, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that anglers are finding a really good flounder bite alongside scattered red drum and speckled trout. For all three species, live shrimp has had the most success. Shrimp under a slip cork has been the top choice for red drum and speckled trout, with flounder hitting shrimp (and just about any baitfish) on a Carolina rig.
Sheepshead fishing has been strong, with anglers finding fish staged up under docks and around bridge pilings. Bottom sweeper jigs with small crabs has produced a majority of the strikes.
Surf anglers have been hooking black drum, alongside good catches of flounder. The local piers are also seeing action from both species, where the black drum and flounder have been setting up around the pier pilings.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that the best inshore action right now is being found closer to the inlet, due mostly to water conditions.
The area in general is seeing a ton of bait around, including mullet and good-sized shrimp.
Recent trips are finding flounder, red drum, and black drum all staged up in the same types of places. Targeting deeper channels around oyster bars and docks has been really successful, as well as looking around creek mouths closer the inlet. For the most part, live bait has been the top producer.
For flounder, the key is to be targeting sandy or shell bottoms with nearby oyster mounds. Try to avoid mud bottoms as the water temperatures are too hot for them in these areas. On higher tides, push up on the shorelines and target the grass banks. When trying to pick one grass bank over another, look for bait or birds as signs of areas you should focus on.
Some bigger structures in the ICW (including rock piles and docks) are holding some good-sized sheepshead (to 20”). Fiddler crabs or shrimp rigged on either jig heads or smaller Carolina rigs, as well as under slip corks, will all get the job done.
At the jetties, red drum and sheepshead are being caught with live shrimp under slip corks.
Anglers looking for something a little different can head off the beach and find a bunch of gag grouper and American red snapper staged up over structure in the 50-60’ area.
Melany Holmes, of Greenville, SC, found this 27″ red drum in the Little River area using a live pogie on the bottom. She was fishing with Capt. Chris Ossmann of Fine Catch Fishing Charters.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that area waters have seen a good bump in the black drum, red drum, and flounder action. Finger mullet have gotten bigger, and slightly cooler conditions are helping knock water temperatures off their summertime highs.
The resident class of black drum are feeding better around the inshore hard structures, with keeper-sized fish becoming a more common find.
Red drum are in a similar pattern, as they are staged up around inshore hard structures (including the jetties) and taking advantage of all the live bait in the area.
Anglers have been catching flounder (to 24”).
Moving into September, anglers working outside the inlet look forward to a larger class of spanish mackerel showing up.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder are biting well, with soft plastics being the top bait choice. Gulp or Z-Man paddle tails with a little Pro-Cure scent are working best with a slow jigging retrieve. Look for the flatfish to be staged in deep holes in the backs of creeks during lower tides, and then towards creek mouths or along ICW banks on the higher tides.
The area is quickly approaching the annual bull red drum run by the Little River jetties.
Speckled trout action is starting to turn back on for those rigged with live shrimp under popping corks. Target holes in the backs of creeks and ICW shell banks that transition to grass.
Black drum and redfish are staged up under many of the ICW docks. Higher tides will allow anglers to utilize most of the dock, and with the lower tides, it’s better to focus efforts more out towards the end. Look for docks with lots of structure, bait, and birds nearby to increase your chances of success.
Dave Parker, of Denver, NC, landed this 22″, 8 lb. sheepshead in the Little River area using a fiddler crab.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that anglers have started to find a healthy class of vermilion snapper out in the 100’ range. Cut bait or squid has produced limits of 2-2.5 lb. fish.
Triggerfish are staged up closer to the 110-120’ areas, with a little better size being seen for them as well.
The scamp and gag grouper action has been steady when targeting the 100-140’ bottom areas with live pinfish.
Anglers looking for a workout have found an insane number of big amberjacks in the 70-80’+ areas.
There has been an increase in black sea bass numbers as the area moves closer to fall and water conditions start to drop.
The offshore trolling action will see an improvement in wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that anglers targeting the break are bringing home vermilion snapper, grunts, big porgies, and some of the keeper grouper species.
Some larger triggerfish and amberjacks have also been mixed in the action.
King mackerel are starting to pop back up over structure in the 30-mile range for anglers trolling Drone spoons.
Inshore trips are catching spanish mackerel and a bunch of sharks.
Hitting the nearshore bottoms has produced porgies, black sea bass, and plenty of smaller sharks.
Deborah, of Apache Pier, reports that bottom fishing has been producing decent numbers of whiting and croakers.
Anglers fishing with shrimp are landing black drum, and a few flounder are also mixed in the bottom fishing catches.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that bottom fishing efforts are producing pufferfish, croakers, black drum, and whiting.
A few keeper flounder are being picked up by those fishing with live bait.
Ribbonfish have been the newest addition to the catches.
