Fishing report (Feb. 26, 2016)

Estuary

Look For: Spotted seatrout, red drum, flounder, black drum, tautog, sheepshead.

Comments: Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow-Minded Inshore Charters in Little River had marginal success on a recent trip, catching two small spotted seatrout, two black drum and a red drum. While Dickson fished several areas, the Sunset Beach Bridge vicinity was the most productive. Dickson first noted a water temperature of 50 degrees, and also the lack of trout. “I don't know where my trout have gone,” Dickson said. “I caught those two back-to-back and then there were no more trout bites. There’s been way too many trout and reds around for them to disappear. It’s just a matter of finding them and getting them to eat.” Dickson used fresh, whole shrimp to catch his fish. At area jetties, use fresh shrimp for a shot at black drum, tautog, red drum and trout.

Inshore

Look For: Black sea bass, sheepshead, black drum, tautog, whiting, croaker.

Comments: Although the last few days have been virtually unfishable due to the windy weather, the best bet is for sheepshead, black drum, black sea bass and possibly tautog at the near-shore reefs off Little River, Murrells Inlet and Georgetown. Sheepshead are the top target, and fiddler crabs are a prime bait. Keeper black sea bass over the 13-inch minimum size limit can be hard to find near-shore, with keepers more likely in depths of 50 feet and deeper. It’s been a slow week on Grand Strand piers, with chilly water temperatures and the surf churned up by the windy conditions. A few croaker, whiting, black drum and silver perch are possibly available among the desirable species, but catches are very scattered at best. The ocean water temperature at Springmaid Pier was 52.7 degrees Thursday at 5 p.m.

Offshore

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

Comments: Trolling can be productive for wahoo and blackfin tuna near the break, if sea conditions allow boats to get out there, and the marine forecast calls for fishable conditions especially on Sunday. Bottom fishing is very good for black sea bass and vermilion snapper, along with triggerfish. Also look for red porgy and amberjack. The annual Shallow-Water Grouper Spawning Season Closure is in effect and lasts through April 30. Red snapper must also be released indefinitely in the South Atlantic Region.

Freshwater

Look For: Crappie, bream, catfish, bass.

Comments: It’s a broken record. Since the historic flooding event of early October 2015, local rivers have been at or near flood stage. On Thursday at 5 p.m., the Waccamaw River near Conway was in moderate flood stage at 12.4 feet. Other local rivers like the Little Pee Dee, Great Pee Dee, Black and Santee rivers all are overflowing their banks. Local lakes and ponds, such as Lake Busbee in Conway, are the best bet for anglers itching to wet a hook.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Fishing report (Feb. 26, 2016)."