North Myrtle Beach June 11, 2009

Lisa Cox, Bengie Cox, and Lindsey Nance, from Macedonia, NC, and Tripp Hooks with four gaffer dolphin that fell for ballyhoo rigged under Blue Water Candy Mini Jags. They were fishing out of Ocean Isle with Capt. David Hooks of Capt. Hook Outdoors.

Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of flounder in Tubbs Inlet. The fish have finally started to grow up, with good numbers of keepers (and several fish in the 5-6 lb. class) landed over the past week. Live mud minnows and peanut pogies fished on Carolina rigs are the best bet for the flatfish.

Red drum are feeding in the backwater creeks and around the mouths at lower tides. An 1/8 oz. Mission Fishin’ jighead tipped with a live mud minnow will produce action with the reds. Fishing the oyster bars in from the creek mouths on a falling tide is an excellent strategy, and a rattling float a few feet up from the jig will stop anglers from getting hung up.

Speckled trout are still feeding at the Little River Jetties. Live shrimp beneath a float are the best trout baits by far, and there are finally enough shrimp around to chase them with a cast net.

Paul Dunwell, from Shallotte, NC, with his first sailfish. The sail fell for a ballyhoo behind a pink Kingbuster near the Blackjack Hole.

Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that there are plenty of speckled trout feeding around the Little River jetties and other inshore structure. Most have been on the smaller side lately, but they’re making up for it with big numbers. Gulp shrimp on light jigheads will draw bites from the specks, and live shrimp fished under a float rig are even better.

Anglers are picking up some flounder throughout the area, with some undersized and some keepers. Live finger mullet or tiger-side minnows fished on Carolina or split-shot rigs will tempt the flatties to bite.

Red drum are feeding in Dunn Sound, the ICW, Bonaparte Creek, and at the Little River jetties. Over the past week, anglers have been hooking them on chunks of blue crab, live shrimp, live finger mullet, and Gulp baits.

Some black drum are mixed in with the reds in Dunn Sound, and live shrimp or a chunk of crab should be too much for them to resist.

Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that Gulf Stream bottom fishing trips have been producing some smoker kings (20-25 lbs.) and gaffer dolphin (up to 15 lbs.) on the light lines. Unweighted cigar minnows are drawing the king and dolphin bites while the boat’s anchored up in 110-125′ of water about 40-50 miles offshore.

Bottom fishermen on the Stream trips are catching a few red, scamp, and gag groupers while dropping cigar minnows, cut baits, and other baits to the structure below.

Anglers baiting up with squid and cut cigar minnows are decking jumbo sea bass, big beeliners, triggerfish, and other tasty bottom dwellers.

Closer to shore, bottom fishing trips are producing some sea bass and a few flounder, along with assorted bottom feeders.

Boats trolling Clarkspoons near the beaches are catching plenty of spanish mackerel. Cutting up the spanish for bait is producing some action with sharks, particularly with blacktips recently.

Daniel, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are picking up some speckled trout (many in the 3 lb. class) on live shrimp.

Bottom fishermen baiting up with shrimp are picking away at spadefish and black drum near the pier’s pilings.

Casters are hooking up with bluefish and spanish mackerel on Gotcha plugs and mackerel trees.

Live baiters landed a pair of king mackerel last week (the largest weighing 13 lbs.).