May 28
Inshore surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid-70s. The water was pretty clear before the tropical storm, but now it has gotten muddy.
There have been some pretty good catches to the north of Myrtle Beach in this mild May, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they have been doing very well for black drum and redfish around docks on the outgoing tide. Fresh cut shrimp have been the ticket.
While Captain Smiley’s boat has not been there as much as a couple of weeks ago, the Cherry Grove area is still producing flounder. His boat has been catching lots of flounder fishing on the bottom for redfish with jigs. If you want to target flounder drifting live menhaden or mud minnows on moving tides will work.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are catching whiting, a few spots, and a few bluefish on the bottom with cut bait. However, dirty water has hurt the fishing and kept some of the more popular species away.
Captain Smiley has also fished a lot out at the Little River jetties, where a mixed bag of trout, Spanish mackerel, redfish and lots of bluefish have all been caught on live shrimp floated beside the rocks. The incoming tide has fished best.
Nearshore, there have been cobia, amberjack, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel caught trolling.
Offshore the dolphin bite is still pretty good when anglers can get out, and there are still yellowfin tuna around as well as some wahoo. A sailfish was released last week.
Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com