Grand Strand area fishing report

Estuary

Look for | Red drum, spotted seatrout, black drum, sheepshead.

Comments | The water temperature continues to be above normal in local inlets, bays and sounds with three species available to target – red drum, spotted seatrout and black drum. Red drum are the top option and are schooled up in wintertime mode, typically in shallow water. But in many areas, not including Winyah Bay, the water clarity is very good, which poses a problem, reports Capt. Jacob Frick of Ocean Isle Fishing Center. The clear water, the presence of the red drum’s nemesis – the bottlenose dolphin – and fishing pressure has the red drum even more skittish than normal. Frick recommends a very stealthy and quiet approach on a school of reds. A variety of baits will work for the reds including Gulp Shrimp (new penny), gold spoons and cut shrimp. Cut shrimp may add a bonus catch – black drum. Capt. Mike McDonald of Gul-R-Boy Guide Service in Georgetown has found reds in a little deeper water in North Inlet, plus has encountered a good number of undersized black drum (14-to-27 inch slot limit). Sheepshead are also a possibility at local jetties.

Inshore

Look for | Sheepshead, black drum, weakfish.

Comments | The ocean water temperature has actually increased significantly over the last week, even in late January in the dead of winter. The surface temperature was 54.10 degrees at Apache Pier at 8 a.m. Thursday, up a full two degrees from a week ago. The water temperature at the Springmaid Pier was 52 degrees at 7:06 a.m. Thursday, three degrees warmer than a week ago. The pier fishing reflects the warmer-than-normal water temperature. Normally in late January, dedicated pier fishermen can only catch small sharks or dogfish and skates. This year, anglers have been able to catch small black drum, the large majority under the 14-to-27 inch slot limit, and black sea bass under the 12-inch minimum size limit. Of course, black sea bass cannot be harvested anywhere in the Southeast until June 1. A few weakfish are being landed, also, and don’t be surprised to find sheepshead hanging around the pilings. Bill Craven at Apache Pier did report a keeper black drum weighing 4 pounds, 8 ounces was landed on Wednesday. The best bet on inshore artificial reefs are sheepshead, although black sea bass are thick and make it tough to get to the species anglers can actually keep.

Offshore

Look for | Wahoo, blackfin tuna, amberjack, triggerfish.

Comments | Options are limited in the offshore waters. When a window of opportunity presents itself, trolling near the break can produce wahoo and blackfin tuna. But the bottom fishing situation is frustrating and fruitless thanks to most desirable species being off limits until spring. The current closures on bottom fish include vermilion snapper (beeliners) until April 1, shallow-water grouper until May 1 and black sea bass until June 1. Also, red snapper are off-limits indefinitely and must be released. Among the species recreational bottom-fishing anglers can keep are amberjack, grunts, porgy, triggerfish and banded rudderfish.

Freshwater

Look for | Bream, crappie, bass, catfish.

Comments | Conditions are great for fishing on local rivers, with low water levels and high water temperatures. Jay Booth of Fishermen’s Headquarters in Conway reports a balmy reading of 54 degrees last Saturday on the Waccamaw/ICW at Bucksport. On Saturday, Richard Jordan of Conway caught a mix of bass, catfish and bream all on red worms in 10-12 feet of water in the Samworth area on the Great Pee Dee. Also, Luke Cannon of Conway caught a limit of bream and shellcracker at Bucksport. Overall, bream, morgans and shellcracker continue to hit worms in 8-12 feet of water on the bottom while crappie are taking minnows 8-10 feet below the surface. Don McCloud of Conway won the weekly bass tournament out of Bucksport, with a three-fish aggregate of 4.4 pounds. McCloud also caught a 7-pound bass recently on the Waccamaw River on a shaky head rig. The tournament will be Saturday out of Conway Marina at 8 a.m. Call 397-3474 for more information.

By Gregg Holshouser, For The Sun News

State fishing

Catfish: Fair to good. Capt. Jim Glenn reports that most days the blue catfish bite is fair to good, and fish are being caught in various depths from 4-10 feet on down to 50 feet. The concentrations may be greatest in deeper water. Both anchoring and drifting with fresh cut gizzard shad, menhaden, perch or mullet will catch fish in the right places. Striped Bass: Fair to good. Glenn reports that fishing 35-50 feet deep with live baits including big shiners and gizzard or threadfin shad is working and anglers are also having success trolling and chasing schooling fish on the surface with jigs, spoons and surface plugs. Largemouth bass: Fair. Capt. Jimmie Hair reports that the primary pattern remains similar. Fishing around eel grass with Gambler Super Studs and swimming jigs will catch fish, and in the swamp working square-billed crankbaits around cypress trees is effective. Crappie and Bream: Slow. Capt. Steve English reports that the crappie and bream bite has slowed down for the winter.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources