North Myrtle/Little River – April 2026
Greg, of Daves Outpost, reports that surf and local pier anglers are glad to see some of the first whiting moving through. The big push hasn’t kicked off just yet, but early fish is a good sign.
Inshore anglers are doing well targeting red drum.
Sheepshead have been on the move. Some anglers are finding good numbers on the nearshore reefs, while others are catching fish that have pushed inside and staged around docks and pilings.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that focusing efforts on docks and other underwater structure in the ICW is still the best move going into April.
For now, black and red drum make up most of the action, with shrimp, either on a Carolina rig or a jighead, being the top choice.
Speckled trout should start showing more in the ICW over the coming weeks. There is already some action on live shrimp under corks and on bright‑colored artificials.
Fishing around the jetties is producing a similar mix, with shrimp under corks or fished on the bottom catching red drum, black drum, trout, and the occasional sheepshead.
Nearshore waters have yet to see any new arrivals. Black sea bass are still thick on the reefs, but there’s no sign yet of bluefish or Atlantic bonito.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that inshore, red and black drum are picking up. As temperatures continue to rise, these fish are sliding back into the ICW and setting up around hard structures such as docks, oyster beds, and the rock jetties. Carolina‑rigged shrimp and cut bait will remain the best options.
Speckled trout haven’t shown much, though they aren’t being heavily targeted. Expect to hear more about them as live shrimp becomes a more consistent bait option.
Nearshore action hasn’t kicked off yet as anglers wait on the arrival of bluefish and Atlantic bonito.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that a good sign is that the first bits of live bait are showing up in the ICW and creeks.
Speckled trout are scattered, and they’re mostly preferring live shrimp fished under a cork.
Red drum and flounder prefer live bait as well, whether shrimp or mullet, but as water temperatures continue to rise, breaking out the artificials will also be successful.
Anglers targeting structure such as docks for black drum will do best with baits that have a shell, such as fresh shrimp, blue crab quarters, and fiddler crabs.
Nearshore, anglers are anticipating the arrival of Atlantic bonito.
On the nearshore reefs, the black sea bass bite remains strong, with the cooler water keeping these fish relatively shallow.
Jessey, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that anglers running off the beach are seeing some Atlantic bonito starting to move in. These fish aren’t quite on the beach yet, but they should be very soon.
Inshore action is finally starting to pick up, with live shrimp being the key to this early‑season bite. Shrimp rigged under slip corks is producing a mix of red drum and speckled trout around the jetties.
Anglers can also find some sheepshead as they begin to move in around the jetties, but off the beach, the ARs are a great place to target quality sheepshead. These fish tend to stick to specific spots on the reef, so a little moving around is often needed.
Farther out, black sea bass fishing remains a solid option, though these fish will begin pushing deeper as we get into April.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that the pelagic bite has been slow to get going this year. Water temperatures offshore are just now starting to hold around seventy degrees, so the wahoo bite should begin to pick up soon.
Bottom fishing is a great way to put meat in the boat. Plenty of big black sea bass are in the 65-80 foot range, with deeper spots in 100-200 feet holding vermilion snapper and triggerfish.
Torry Bowman, of Raleigh, with a 25″ red drum caught from under a dock along the ICW using cut shrimp on a jig head. He was fishing the Little River area with Capt. Chris Ossman of Fine Catch Fishing Charters.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that bottom fishing action has been great in the 45-mile range. Anglers have seen a mixed bag that includes amberjacks, vermilion snapper, grunts, big triggerfish, rudderfish, and tons of throwback American red snapper.
The jumbo black sea bass have been in good numbers in this same range.
Anglers fishing the nearshore structure (8-10 mile range) are catching a bunch of black sea bass, though you need to weed through the smaller fish to get keepers.
Some Atlantic bonito are showing up in the 3-5 mile range.
Josh, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that bottom fishing for black sea bass remains a great option as water temperatures slowly work their way out of winter lows.
The 100-120 foot areas are starting to pick up, with anglers finding a mixed bag of porgies, grunts, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, and jacks.
Troy, of Apache Pier, reports that pier anglers have been catching dogfish sharks, stingrays, some whiting, and an early 10‑inch flounder.
Larry, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers have started to see some small catches of black drum, whiting, and croakers.
