North Myrtle October 24, 2013
Jason Green, of Little River, SC, with a citation red drum that bit a live menhaden just off Little River Inlet while he was fishing with Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters.
Mark, of Shallow Minded Inshore Fishing Charters, reports that anglers have seen some phenomenal fishing for trophy red drum in the area over the past few weeks. Anglers are still hooking some of the big reds while drifting in Little River Inlet with live and cut baits, but bigger numbers have been feeding around menhaden pods within a few miles of the beachfront. Casting live menhaden on Carolina rigs around the bait schools is producing fast action with the big reds, and many boats are releasing double-digit numbers per day. Using heavier tackle than typical inshore redfish gear will let anglers get their fish to the boat more quickly, producing less stress on the fish and allowing anglers to get back to trying for another hookup.
There are still flounder feeding on nearshore structure like the Jim Caudle Reef, and anglers are hooking the flatfish on live finger mullet and menhaden dropped to the bottom. The flounder bite inshore is heating up as well in Cherry Grove, Tubbs Inlet, and other spots (and one angler landed an 8.5 lb. fish in Cherry Grove last week).
Anglers are also seeing fall speckled trout action heat up in the ICW around Little River, Coquina Harbor, and the Sunset Beach Bridge. Live shrimp under float rigs are fooling most of the specks, and the bite should get even better as the water temperatures drop.
Striped bass are feeding in the ICW near the Little River swing bridge, where anglers are trolling diving plugs along the channel drop-offs to hook up (with fish to 15 lbs.).
Patrick, of Capt. Smiley’s Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still catching plenty of red drum inshore in the creeks and backwaters off the ICW (most fish 15-27”). Targeting oyster rocks and grass banks is the way to find the reds, and live finger mullet, shrimp, and Gulp baits fished under popping corks have been fooling the fish.
Ben and Sam Hawes with an 11.05 lb. flounder that bit a live finger mullet on a Carolina rig off a dock near Murrells Inlet.
Larger red drum (some 40”+) are feeding in Little River Inlet and along the beachfront, where anglers are hooking them on live shrimp and menhaden.
Fishing live shrimp on Carolina and float rigs around the Little River jetties is producing plenty of action with speckled and gray trout, bluefish, sea mullet, and more.
Matt, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are hooking some large red and black drum from the pier on shrimp and cut baits.
Pompano (some to 2+ lbs.), sea mullet, and other bottom feeders are biting double-drop rigs baited with shrimp and bloodworms.
Anglers are hooking some sheepshead on sand fleas and barnacles fished close to the pilings.
A few flounder are falling for small live baits under the pier.
Anglers casting Gotcha plugs and working mackerel tree rigs are connecting with some bluefish and spanish mackerel.
The water is 74 degrees.
