Local fishing report (Oct. 22)

Estuary

Look For: Red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, black drum, croaker, spots, sheepshead.

Comments: Capt. Englis Glover, host of the local fishing television show Reelin' Up The Coast, went on a Thursday trip with Capt. Patrick Kelly of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters in the Little River vicinity and filmed for an upcoming segment. During the first 2-plus hours of the rising tide, Glover and Kelly caught several trout in the 2-3 pound range, several red drum and a 16-inch flounder to complete a Carolina Slam, using live mullet and live shrimp. “During one hour, it was on, one fish after another,” said Glover. A Wednesday trip by Capt. Mike McDonald of Gul-R-Boy Guide Service was proof-positive that fishing is very good in the Winyah Bay vicinity. McDonald and crew caught 38 spotted seatrout and three red drum in the 6 to 8 pound range. The anglers capped the day by releasing four bull red drum in the 38-40 inch range. The trout and juvenile reds were caught on soft plastic grubs, on 1/8 or 1/4-ounce jig heads, and the bull reds were landed on cut bluefish. Bull red drum can be found at area jetties, but the fish are easily over the 15-23 inch slot limit and must be released, carefully. Glover also noted catches of spots are very good in Murrells Inlet and the trout bite is heating up.

Inshore

Look For: Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, whiting, weakfish, flounder, bluefish, pompano, red drum, black drum, croaker, spadefish, sheepshead.

Comments: There are plenty of whiting, black drum, spots, croaker and pompano in the surf zone - although many of them are small - meaning it is prime time for pier anglers to enjoy some fine fall fishing. A few king mackerel have been landed this week including a 23.5-pounder off Surfside Pier. Pier anglers have also had quite a few encounters with big bull red drum. The same bull reds can be found in near-shore bottom spots and under schools of bait along the beach. The bull reds must be released and anglers are urged to do so extreme care. The same near-shore bottom spots, plus artificial reefs such as the Jim Caudle Reef (three miles south of Little River Inlet) and Paradise Reef (three miles east of Murrells Inlet), are also holding black sea bass, weakfish and flounder. As the water temperature cools into the 60s and continues to drop, look for more keeper black sea bass to move inshore these areas. Remember black sea bass have 13-inch minimum size limit and a 5-per person daily bag limit. The ocean water temperature at Springmaid Pier at 4 p.m. Thursday was 69.4 degrees.

Offshore

Look For: Wahoo, blackfin tuna, dolphin, grouper, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, amberjack, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, porgy.

Comments: A stiff northeast wind has plagued anglers wanting to get offshore this week. Of late, wahoo and blackfin tuna have been the best bet for trolling boats. Bottom fishing along the Continental Shelf and on bottom spots closer in is excellent. Look for black sea bass, vermilion snapper, triggerfish, red porgy, amberjack and grouper. Red snapper are available but must be released indefinitely in the South Atlantic Region.

Freshwater

Look For: Bream, catfish, bass, crappie.

Comments: The rivers are still way up and flooding remains a big concern. Boaters are still urged to stay off the rivers until they recede further. Boaters should be aware there is much debris in the water and boat wakes can further damage flooded properties.

Gregg Holshouser

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Local fishing report (Oct. 22)."