Get ready, anglers of South Brunswick, for one of the most exciting months of fishing we have. The month of June is action-packed fishing from the backwater to the Gulf Stream. This month generally brings beautiful weather, which means opportunity for many fishing trips.
The great thing about June is the variety of species to target. In the backwaters, we will be catching large numbers of reds, trout and flounder. Trout and reds will be moving out of the creeks to more open water. Any structure like docks, bridges, marsh point or shoreline with moving water will be holding fish so don’t be afraid to try some new spots. Also look for troughs and slight drop-offs near the oyster beds or grass flats.
For catching reds, mud minnows fished either on Carolina rigs with small (1-ounce or less) egg sinkers or impaled on jigheads and worked through the strike zone are good baits. So are scented soft baits like Gulp lures, worked slowly off the bottom. Don’t fish your lure too quickly. Cast it toward structure or even under it and work the lure slowly. Times when the tide is moving well will be the best for redfish near pilings, and in deep holes. Soft-bait crab imitation lures work well on low tide when retrieved very slowly or not at all.
Mullet minnows are the best bait, but flounder will hit the scented soft baits as well if they are hopped slowly right at the bottom. If you can find pogies or small pinfish these are great flounder baits right now for the bigger door mat flounder. June is great month to find the doormat flounder around docks and shrimp boats. Most flounder are in the 15″ to 18″ range in June. Flounder will also be around the inshore AR’s holding close to reef balls, APC’s and wrecks.
Trout will hit the soft baited lures like Gulp baits with 1/8 oz. to 1/4 oz. jigheads, if you can find them schooled up off of a points, docks or bridge. The mornings seem to be the best bite for trout.
The Spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has heated up just off the beach in 18 to 30 feet of water. If you find a school of them you can cast Gotcha-style pencil plugs. This is a fun way to fish for them! The best colors for the Gotcha plugs change daily, although red heads and white or gold bodies are hard to beat most days. For trolling for Spanish and blue fish, use 0 or 00 Clarkspoons with 25-foot leader of 20 pound mono on number 1 or 2 planers trolled at 7 knots.
The nearshore wrecks and ledges will be holding cobia on them. King mackerel will be showing up in the areas with 65 feet of water. Live pogies are your best bet if you can find them. If not, cigar minnows pulled behind Pirate Plugs or Barefoot Chin Weights at 3.5 knots works, too.
The mahi bite is hot in the 75 to 85 feet of water. If you can find them, live cigars and pogies are your best bet. If not, then cigar minnows or small ballyhoo pulled behind Pirate Plugs or Barefoot Chin Weights at 3.5 knots works too.
In the Gulf Stream, we will see wahoo hanging around structure on the bottom. The mahi will be schooled up around the sargassum. Blackfin tuna will be running the rip and hanging around the temperature breaks.
With black sea bass season opened back up, the bite in 85 to 100 feet of water is on fire… The black sea bass are in 14″-16″ range. The bee-liners are biting well about 10 feet off the bottom on cut bait. The grouper bite is going strong with gags in the 10- 15 pound range. The scamp bite is unreal right now. We are limiting out on scamp in just two hours. The red grouper are biting well in 100 to 130 feet.
If you would like to book a backwater or Gulf Stream trip, there are still some days available. Don’t miss out on this experience of a lifetime.
Be sure to stop by www.SouthCarolina-Offshore.com and add your fishing report and photos.
Good Luck and Tight Lines,
Captain Keith Logan
Feedin Frenzy Charters
SouthCarolina-Offshore.com
Holden Beach NC / North Myrtle Beach SC
www.FeedinFrenzyCharters.com
www.SouthCarolina-Offshore.com