North Myrtle – Winter 2014-2015
Ryan Wagner with a 20″ speckled trout that struck a live finger mullet in the Oak Island surf.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are connecting with some striped bass around the Little River swing bridge and south to Barefoot Landing (both areas that require an S.C. freshwater fishing license). Anglers are finding some of the fish while trolling diving plugs along the edges of the ICW channel and others while working soft baits like Gulp jerk shad and D.O.A. Airheads along the bank during higher tides. Any areas of structure (like docks and riprap) along the bank are worth some casts, and it may take a good bit of exploring to find the active fish. They’ve been both large (8-20 lbs.) and hungry, though, so when a group is located there’s often fast action.
Speckled trout are feeding all over the area, with solid action in the ICW near Little River, around Coquina Harbor, and in the shallows of Dunn Sound and behind Ocean Isle Beach. The fish are falling for a variety of artificial lures, including D.O.A. and Vudu shrimp, along with MR17 MirrOlures and other hard baits. Chartreuse colors of the shrimp have been the most effective lately, with the 808 pattern the go-to MirrOlure.
The trout action should hold up through at least Christmas, and anglers may well be able to find some scattered fish into the New Year.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that the inshore fishing around Little River has been excellent lately, with speckled trout and black drum headlining the show. Anglers are hooking both the specks and drum around docks, grass banks, and oyster rocks in the ICW, Dunn Sound, and Bonaparte Creek, as well as around the lighthouse at Coquina Harbor.
Ron Maness, of North Myrtle Beach, with a 22″ flounder that bit a bucktail jig at the Jim Caudle Reef.
Live shrimp have been the best bets for both the trout and drum recently, but they’re becoming tougher to find as the water cools off and the supply will soon be gone until springtime. Gulp, D.O.A., and Vudu shrimp imitations have also been productive lately, and they should continue to produce results after the live shrimp become unavailable.
Some striped bass have also been feeding in Coquina Harbor and biting shrimp and the same artificials as the specks.
Anglers are encountering some red drum in the same spots as well, and the reds will soon be making their wintertime move to shallow water up the creeks and in the marshes where they’ll spend the cold months. Anglers with shallow draft flats skiffs and kayaks can often find the fish schooled up in the skinny water and enjoy fast action throughout the winter. Gulp shrimp and live mud minnows pinned to jigheads are the ways to fool the reds in the shallows.
Ronnie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are connecting with some sea mullet, croaker, and small black drum while bottom fishing from the pier with shrimp. Anglers generally see some pufferfish show up over the wintertime to provide some action and tasty meals as well.
The water is 56 degrees.
