North Myrtle – September 29, 2016
Patrick, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that there are a few speckled trout in the area, and the fish can be targeted using popping corks and live shrimp. Small redfish have also been hooked in similar areas, although they are all undersized (between 15-17”).
There are flounder in the area, legal size and up, and they will fall for a live mullet on a Carolina style rig. The rain has made the bite for all the inshore fish challenging, but target the Sunset Beach area, around Tubbs Inlet, in Dunn Sound, and around Little River to hook up with all three species.
The big red drum have moved in around the inlets, and citation-sized fish have been hooked, with anglers reporting fish between 24-45”.
There are a lot of bluefish in the area, and black drum can be found feeding around docks in the waterways.
The team name was Fine Catch Fishing Charters. The names are Captain Chris Ossman, Mike Rajacich, and Dan Crossen. Caught the big fish flowing a live mullet on a slip flow rig. Caught most of the Redfish on a Carolina rig with mullet and causght some small trout on shrimp.
David, of Low Country Fishing Charters, reports that the bull reds have returned to the area, and they can be found along the beach and the jetty. Those looking to target these fish should use mullet or menhaden for bait.
The black drum bite has picked up along hard structure and bridge pilings. Bottom rigs or Carolina rigs tipped with fresh shrimp should do the trick in hooking the fish.
Speckled trout are trying to come back, but all the fresh water has pushed them away a bit, though a persistent angler might find a few here and there.
The flounder bite is sporadic, as most of them have moved offshore to the reefs. The ones that anglers are finding inshore are a good size, though, between 4-8 lbs.
There are a lot of big blues and spanish nearshore, and Clarkspoons or metal jigs are the way to hook these fish.
The king mackerel are starting to make their beach run, and trolling for them inside of 10 miles is ideal.
Offshore bottom fishing has picked up with the cooler weather, and anglers are now seeing vermilion snapper, triggerfish, black sea bass, amberjacks, and a few grouper.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that boats headed to the Gulf Stream bottom fishing have had spectacular trips, returning with coolers full of beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, grouper, and amberjack.
Boats dropping down around the continental shelf have hooked beeliners, grunts, triggerfish, groupers, as well as porgies and jacks.
Boats trolling 25 miles offshore out of Little River Inlet report hooking king mackerel, bonita, amberjack, and barracuda. There were also several cobia releases.
Inshore boats have hooked up with spanish mackerel as well as big black tipped sharks right outside the inlet.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with whiting and croaker, and about 10-20 spots are being landed per day. Target the panfish with shrimp and bloodworms.
There have been a few small red drum, black drum, and flounder hooked as well, with anglers using mullet or shrimp to target those species.
Over 20 kings have been brought over the deck in the past week, which have been the first kings to be landed since May.
