North Myrtle Beach/Little River – August 2023
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that inshore anglers are doing well targeting flounder, red drum, and speckled trout.
The flounder have been feeding on baits dragged along the bottom, and both the red drum and trout are being caught with live shrimp or finger mullet fished under a cork. Moving water, especially a falling tide, has seemingly been best for all three species.
Fishing deeper inshore water, especially around oyster structure or in holes, with live or cut shrimp is producing black drum and red drum.
Spanish mackerel fishing off the beach remains strong. Trolling spoons is a great way to catch these fish, with anglers also enjoying sight-casting tactics when the surface-feeding frenzies show up under birds. The bite has mostly been in the 20-30’ range.
Nearshore anglers have also had some success targeting a variety of shark species out in this same range.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that most of the inshore fishing is focused on the red drum bite, with some speckled trout mixed in during the very early hours. Live bait has been working well, but at times an artificial bait can stick out more to these fish with so much natural bait already around. Color patterns that have had the most success can vary day by day, so just switch it up and figure out what the fish are currently keyed in on.
Flounder have been biting really well. Most of the flatfish are being caught during the lower tides where they congregate around holes and drains back in the marshes. Anglers are also finding action in deeper areas near oyster beds along the ICW and around creek mouths.
Black drum are staged up around the ICW docks. These fish are still fairly grouped up, so if you aren’t getting bites, then move. The docks with a little extra structure (such as oysters or debris) are the best to target.
Nearshore anglers are doing well on the spanish mackerel, and they’re mostly finding fish from around the inlet and just off the beach. The numbers have been good, with both trolling and sight casting tactics each having their times of success.
Timmins Mervin, of Cherry Grove, SC, caught this 32″ red drum using a mullet minnow on a Carolina rig. He was fishing in the Cherry Grove area.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that red and black drum are mostly staged up along the ICW. A key to targeting them is to fish times of a moving tide, with incoming being preferred as it flushes that slightly cooler water into the area. Both bottom-rigged crabs and shrimp will entice strikes from the drum species.
Flounder have been staged up around creek mouths off the ICW. Dragging a live mullet on a jig head along the bottom provides a great chance to hook into one of these flatfish.
Some scattered trout are in the creek mouths and in the backs of some of the deeper creeks. These fish are avoiding the heat, so they will likely be in the 8-10’ holes and holding close to the bottom. Anglers targeting the trout should fish their baits down towards the bottom of that water column when trying to entice strikes.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that bottom fishing remains about as hot as the weather, with most of the success coming from targeting structure and ledges the 80-95’ depth areas. Anglers are catching good numbers of vermilion snapper, porgies, black sea bass, and grouper. Cut squid will attract strikes from just about anything, but if targeting grouper, it is a good idea to use live baits.
This same range is also holding king mackerel, some mahi, and the occasional cobia. Drifting a live bait while fishing the bottom is a great way to hook any fish breezing by near the surface.
Capt. Buddy Love, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, holds up one of the hammerhead sharks that Max Peagler (left), of Atlanta, GA, caught and released on cut spanish in a chum slick. They were drifting outside of the Little River jetties.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that the weather is hot, but offshore bottom fishing has been even hotter. The offshore waters are producing bags of mixed species, and the variety consists of grunts, vermilion snapper, porgies, triggerfish, grouper, amberjack, and some cobia.
In addition, putting out a drift line can entice strikes from king mackerel and cobia.
The trolling action offshore has been made up of mahi, king mackerel, wahoo, and scattered blackfin tuna.
The shallower structures are loaded with black sea bass, porgies, and sharks.
Norma, of Apache Pier, reports that the smaller cut baits are producing whiting, pompano, and scattered black drum.
Flounder are also in the mix, with live baits being best to attract strikes from the flatfish.
