NOTE: The membership at the July 2018 meeting voted to discontinue
this fishing report by the September issue.
Until that happens I will publish the monthly fish reports from the
South Carolina Department of Natural Resouces without doing any of the research
myself.
Stop Wishin’ Go Fishin’
North Grand Strand Report- SCDNR
Inshore water temperatures on the north end
of the Grand Strand are in the mid- to lower-80s, and water clarity has been
pretty good for the season.
Despite the summer heat, Captain Patrick
“Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that fishing has been wide open in the
Little River/North Myrtle Beach area. Recently they found a good topwater bite
first thing for trout from sunrise to about 7:30, and Zara Spooks were hot for
fish up to about 4 pounds. Overall the trout fishing has really picked up in
the last couple of months, with much improved numbers as well as plenty of big
fish.
Outside of the early morning window they
have also been catching trout on live shrimp fished under popping corks over
shelly bottoms, oyster beds and along grass edges. The best fishing has been in
about 6 feet of water on any tide that has the current moving.
Some redfish have also been taking the
topwater lures in the morning, but in general the best drum bite has come on
the low to rising tide. Fish are shallow – and when the water is just getting
over the oyster shells the fish are there, and when the water is getting into
the grass fish are along the grass line or moving into it. Cut or live mullet
have been working well for the reds.
Captain Smiley’s boat recently caught a
bunch of flounder, with both live mullet and white, Gulp! swimming mullet
working well. On low tide they have been finding them in deep, 10-foot holes in
shallow creeks.
Rounding out an inshore grand slam, black
drum have also been feeding well. They have been around ledges or docks in the
Intracoastal Waterway, usually in 4-15 feet. Cut or live shrimp fished on a ¼
ounce jighead are working well.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports
that it continues to be a phenomenal year for king mackerel, and they have
caught a good 40-50 fish in the last month. They have also caught some big
Spanish in the 5 to 6-pound range on the king rigs. The bluefish have slowed
down a bit except for the small fish which are still around, and they are only
seeing the rare, undersized flounder. Whiting and even a few spots have been
caught here and there. Finally, several big black drum up to 8 pounds and some
bull red drum have been caught.
Nearshore, from the pier report it’s no surprise
that there has been a red-hot bite for Spanish and kings. Bull drum are also in
the Little River inlet, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks and some bonnethead
sharks are around.
