North Myrtle Beach October 25, 2012
Mike Arruda with a wahoo that it a purple Zuker trolling lure near the Winyah Scarp while he was fishing with Capt. Kevin Walter on the “Blue Water.”
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still catching some large red drum (many 20-30+ lbs.) around the Little River jetties, though the bite goes from red-hot one day to lukewarm the next. Live menhaden and mullet on Carolina rigs are fooling the lion’s share of the big reds.
Plenty of bluefish (most 2-3 lbs.) are feeding in the inlet as well, and they’re keeping anglers busy while waiting on the big drum.
Spanish mackerel are also on the feed around Little River Inlet, and anglers who spot a school feeding on the surface may be able to cast metal jigs or topwater plugs into the action to hook up.
Sheepshead are feeding around the jetties as well. Anchoring up tight to the rocks and fishing with the small mussels that anglers can collect off the jetty at low tide will produce fast action with the tasty “convict fish.”
The speckled trout bite is turning on in Coquina Harbor, and anglers are connecting with the specks while casting live shrimp under float rigs and working a variety of artificials.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are finding plenty of action with puppy drum in the creeks off the ICW near Ocean Isle. Fishing around oyster rocks and potholes in the creeks is the way to go, and live shrimp are producing most of the action.
Red and black drum along with some speckled trout are looking for meals in Bonaparte Creek, and live shrimp are the top choice in baits there as well, though anglers may be able to convince the fish to bite artificials like Gulp baits.
Ginna Dwight (age 5), of Charlotte, NC, with a 27″ red drum she hooked on a live shrimp while fishing near the Sunset Beach bridge with her father and uncle.
Some large red drum are still feeding around the Little River jetties, where large menhaden and mullet on Carolina rigs are the way to hook up.
Flounder fishing is still going in Tubbs Inlet, and anglers are hooking most of the flatfish on live shrimp and small finger mullet (many are undersized but decent numbers of keepers to 18” are mixed in).
The docks around Little River in the ICW are producing plenty of action with red and black drum, primarily for anglers baiting up with live shrimp.
Steve, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that the spot runs haven’t really begun yet, but the time is very close.
Some sea mullet and black drum are falling for shrimp and bloodworms on double-hook bottom rigs.
Anglers fishing small live baits under the pier are connecting with some flounder.
Sheepshead are feeding along the pilings and will bite barnacles and sand fleas or other crustacean baits.
Some bluefish are taking an interest in Gotcha plugs and mackerel tree rigs that anglers are working from the planks.
The water is 72 degrees.
