North Myrtle Beach October 15, 2009
Brian Richard, of Shallotte, with an almaco jack he hooked on a live bait in 165' of water off Ocean Isle while fishing with Todd Helf on the "Almost There."
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been a solid big red drum bite around the Little River jetties (with many fish exceeding 40”). Live mullet are producing most of the action with the big bull reds.
Some smaller reds are feeding inshore around spots like the Sunset Beach Bridge, and live shrimp fished on float rigs have been getting their attention.
The speckled trout bite’s been solid inshore in the creeks and at inshore structure off the ICW. Float-rigged live shrimp are the go-to baits for the specks as well.
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that there’s been plenty of action with big red drum in Little River Inlet lately (with plenty of upper 30-40”+ fish). The action’s been best while drifting through the inlet on a rising tide, and live or cut finger mullet are attracting the reds’ attention.
The inlet’s also producing action with some big pompano and whiting. Both of the tasty bottom feeders are taking an interest in live shrimp (which is also fooling some of the big reds).
Inshore, there’s been a good speckled trout and puppy drum bite in the area’s creeks and backwaters. Dunn Sound and the area around Sunset Beach Bridge have both been productive recently. Live shrimp are attracting attention from both the inshore reds and the specks, and a few flounder have been in the mix as well.
George White and Julie and Brandon Washam with a sailfish they hooked on a pogy beneath a Blue Water Candy skirt at the Jungle.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that offshore bottom fishermen are finding solid action with gag and scamp groupers while dropping baits to structure 40-50 miles offshore in 100-120’ of water. Cigar minnows are producing most of the action with the groupers.
Big beeliners, sea bass, triggerfish, and other bottom feeders are holding on the same structure, and anglers are hooking up with them on squid and cut baits.
Inshore bottom fishing within 10 miles of land has been producing surprising numbers of keeper sea bass and other bottom dwellers lately, with squid drawing most of the action.
The spanish mackerel bite has been hot one day and dead the next. When the fish are biting, trolled Clarkspoons are putting them in the boat.
Mike, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are hooking good numbers of black drum (some over the 28” slot limit) on live shrimp from the pier.
The shrimp are also fooling some red drum, and anglers are hooking even more reds on live finger mullet.
Some flounder are falling for the live mullet and shrimp.
Anglers bottom fishing with cut shrimp are picking up a few spot and spadefish.
Good numbers of spanish mackerel are falling for Gotcha plugs, gold hook rigs, and small live baits.
Several runs of kings attacked live baiters’ offerings last week, but none made it all the way to the pier deck.
