11/12: Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River dropped to about 59 degrees but have now rebounded to about 62. This is the prime time for trout fishing on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly **hidden content**) reports that catches have been really good. The best fishing continues to be on the low to rising tide, but they will also bite on the outgoing. Overall having some current is still key, whichever way it is moving, and on the slack tide fish usually won’t bite. The trout are still around shell beds near the edge of spartina grass in about 6 feet of water in creeks off the IntraCoastal. Live shrimp have been working the best, but chartreuse-colored Vudu Shrimp have also been good. The action for redfish has also been good in the creeks, and – while the fish will also take live bait – Gulp! in new penny colors has been working really well. In the inlet they are catching some fish over the slot. The flounder fishing is still pretty good on both sides of the state line. The best action has come on flats with live mullet or Gulp! baits. Big black drum are still being caught on shrimp or crab baits off the Tilghman docks. While the Spanish mackerel have disappeared, Cherry Grove Pier **hidden content**) reports that they are in the middle of a really good whiting run. They are also catching some croaker, pompano, and slot-sized red and black drum. Conditions have been so windy that it has limited fishing at the nearshore reefs, but there should be bluefish, bid red drum and some flounder on the bottom.
