Area, state fishing reports

Estuary

Look for | Red drum, flounder, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, black drum, bluefish, sharks.

Comments | Fishing continues to be very good in local inlets, sounds and bays for red drum (spottails) and flounder, with catches of spotted seatrout picking up as the water temperature slowly starts dropping. Capt. Mike McDonald of Gul-R-Boy Guide Service in Georgetown had a super trip early this week, producing 6 red drum with one keeper and the rest over the 15-23 inch slot limit, 8 trout with two keepers over the 14-inch minimum size limit and two flounder. McDonald was fishing in Winyah Bay and using mullet on float rigs to catch all the fish. "Spottail bass are the ticket right now," said McDonald, who noted a water temperature of 83 degrees on Thursday morning in North Inlet near the ocean. Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow-Minded Inshore Charters had a productive trip on Thursday in the ICW working creek mouths and landed 5 red drum, 6 black drum, a 4-pound trout and a few flounder. Dickson caught the fish on live shrimp on 1/4-ounce Mission Fishin' jig heads. "The flounder bite has been pretty good in [Murrells Inlet] at low tide and the [red drum] are decent," said Capt. Englis Glover of Tee to Sea Fishing and Guide Service, who also reported sheepshead, red drum and spotted seatrout are available at area jetties including Winyah Bay, Murrells Inlet and Little River.

Inshore

Look for | Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, whiting, bluefish, flounder, black drum, red drum, black sea bass, sheepshead, spadefish, sharks.

Comments | "The Spanish mackerel bite is on everywhere," said Glover. Look for Spanish outside of local inlet passes, at inshore artificial reefs such as Paradise (3-Mile Reef) and the Jim Caudle Reef and scattered along the beach. Fishing should be interesting this weekend following the passage of Hurricane Earl, as pelagic species such as kings and cobia could be present on the inshore artificial reefs and hard bottom areas. Spadefish, black sea bass and flounder are among the species that can be found around the structure in the same spots. Spanish, blues and flounder have been the top catch on Grand Strand piers this week with whiting also making a nice showing. Scattered catches of other species including black drum, red drum, spadefish, weakfish, spotted seatrout, pompano and croakers have been reported. Kings have been scarce off the piers in recent weeks although one was hooked and lost on the Surfside Pier this week. "We lost a king so there was one in the water," joked Faye Skipper of Surfside Pier. The surface ocean water temperature according to the Apache Pier Data Station was 83.31 degrees on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Offshore

Look for | Dolphin, king mackerel, wahoo, blackfin tuna, sailfish, barracuda, grouper, black sea bass, vermilion snapper, amberjack, triggerfish.

Comments | Seas are forecast to quickly calm down after the passage of Hurricane Earl, which should make for some interesting fishing in the storm's wake. Fish are known to move in front of an advancing hurricane, and grouper in particular could be found in more shallow areas than normal. Capt. Larry Horowitz of Voyager Fishing Charters reports before the storm charter boat trolling has been good 20-30 miles out of Little River in 90 feet of water for kings and scattered dolphin with a 45-pound wahoo also landed in the vicinity. Offshore bottom fishing continues to be excellent. Horowitz reports his party boat has produced vermilion snapper, grouper, triggerfish, large grunts and amberjack on ledges in 110-115 feet of water 45 to 48 miles out. "The water's been very blue and clean out there, but who knows after the storm," said Horowitz. Ocean Isle Fishing Center reports a 61-pound wahoo was landed this week.

Freshwater

Look for | Bream, bass, catfish, crappie.

Comments | "It's all about the same but it is on the upswing a little bit," said Jay Booth of Fisherman's Headquarters in Conway. "The people that are going are doing real well." With the lack of recent rain, Booth again notes that area river levels are low and boaters beware. Bream are hitting crickets and worms in 2-3 feet of water in the normally productive areas including Yauhannah and Samworth on the Pee Dee and Bucksport and Conway on the Waccamaw. Look for catfish hitting live and cut bait while bass are taking top-water lures and shiners early and late in the day as surface water temperatures remain in the mid-80s. Jamie Godbolt of Conway won the weekly bass tournament out of Conway Marina with a three-fish aggregate limit of 4 pounds, 9 ounces.

State fishing

Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie | Bream: Good. Capt. Jim Glenn reports that bream can be caught near shallow vegetation and on drops in 10-12 feet of water that contain brush. Crickets and worms will both work. Crappie: Fair to good. Glenn reports that crappie can be caught on minnows around brush in 12-20 feet of water. Some days crappie will be suspended over the brush, and on others they will hold tight to it. Catfish: Fair. Glenn reports that blue cats are moving in and out of shallow water both day and night in both lakes. Either cut perch or herring or shad will produce fish. Largemouth bass: Fair. Capt. Inky Davis reports that he has had some good trips in the heat, and fish can be caught as long as you fish the morning bite and stay away from the heat of the day. Fish in 2-8 feet of water on soft plastics fished around trees, stumps, logs, lily pads and other cover.

S.C. DNR