North Myrtle Beach September 11, 2008
Darrell Williams, of Lake Norman, NC, with a 19 lb. gag grouper he caught on a live pogy at the Gary Ennis wreck while fishing aboard the "School'n Around."
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing, reports that fishing action tapered off after last week’s storm, but the best fishing of the year is soon to come as fall triggers some serious feeding.
Anglers did hook some red drum and trout around the Little River jetties last week while fishing live shrimp and finger mullet on float and bottom rigs.
Big reds (20-40 lbs.) are already feeding in Little River Inlet, and anglers are hooking them while bottom fishing with cut baits and live finger mullet. The big drum should become more and more numerous over the next few weeks.
Plenty of reds and trout are still feeding inshore as well.
Drifting live finger mullet along the sandbars in Little River Inlet is producing action with some flounder, though not all are keepers. Larger flounder have been holding and feeding on the Jim Caudle Reef, where live finger mullet should also get their attention.Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that fishing is rebounding from the tropical storm. Red drum have been feeding around structure and creek mouths in the ICW and in Bonaparte Creek. Live finger mullet on light split-shot rigs are the best baits for the reds.
Some trout are on the hunt in the same areas, and Gulp baits should get their attention.
Little River Inlet has been mobbed with finger mullet since the storm, and the big reds (30-40+”) should be there feeding on the mullet.
There were plenty of spanish mackerel (some over 5 lbs.) feeding in the inlet prior to the storm, and the dense concentration of mullet should bring the fish back when the water clears up a bit.
All the mullet and other baitfish flushing out the inlet will also be drawing king mackerel close to the beaches over the coming weeks, as the area’s hot nearshore fall king bite turns on.
Before the storm, anglers found plenty of action with speckled trout and reds along the jetties and in Dunn Sound, and those fish will be feeding in the same areas over the coming weeks as well.
Drew, of Crowd Pleaser Sport Fishing, reports that the Gulf Stream bite has been a little slower over the past weeks, but it should be getting cranked up again soon. Fall generally produces some of the year’s best wahoo fishing. Trolling ballyhoo around spots like the 100/400 and Blackjack Hole will produce bites when the wahoo get snapping.
Grouper are feeding on ledges and other structure in 100+’, and anglers are hooking up with them while dropping butterfly jigs.
Amberjacks are schooled up on offshore wrecks, and they are suckers for the vertical jigs as well.
Annie, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are catching some whiting on bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
Before the storm, pompano and bluefish were also hitting the bottom rigs, and they should be back as soon as the water settles.
Flounder are falling for small live baits fished on the bottom.
