August 23
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid- to upper-80s, and even though the water has been really murky the past few days Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that it has not slowed the action. Overall it’s been a really good summer in the Little River/ North Myrtle Beach area, and as we move towards fall there is a very healthy shrimp population. Netting bait at low tide is easy.
There have been some really nice black drum caught this week, including a big eight-pound fish caught yesterday on live shrimp. The best action has been on the falling tide along deeper ledges in about 12 feet of water in the channels and the Intracoastal Waterway. There have also been some good fish caught around docks.
Redfish have been eating live shrimp fished up shallow on the flats under a popping cork, with the best bite on the falling tide. A lot of the fish have been over the slot, but sub-15 inch fish are also pretty plentiful.
A few flounder have been caught here and there on live finger mullet and Gulp! new penny shrimp and swimming minnows. The best bite for flounder has been on the low to rising tide in deeper holes in 5-10 feet of water.
Most of the trout that Captain Smiley’s boats have picked up have been very small, and overall the bite has been pretty slow the past couple of weeks. When they do catch trout it’s usually at creeks mouths or the edge of oyster beds on moving tides. Live shrimp or Vudu Shrimp under a popping cork will both work. Remember that SCDNR is asking anglers to practice catch and release of all spotted seatrout through the end of September. To read the full news release click here.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that a few whiting, croaker and sheepshead have been caught off the pier. Overall conditions have been really muddy and there have been no king mackerel or Spanish caught.

Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com

August 3 

Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid-80s, and water clarity is poor.

It’s been a wet one with very cloudy water conditions, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that fishing has still been pretty good in the Little River/ North Myrtle Beach area.

They have been finding a very consistent bite for over-slot redfish in the 30-inch range, and with the warm water fish have gone deeper into channels in the 15-20 foot range.  There isn’t a particular tide when you need to be fishing, but there needs to be current moving.

Black drum have been holding in similar areas to the redfish, and Captain Smiley is catching them in the same areas as the redfish – particularly around deeper, rocky bottoms in the Intracoastal.  Fishing a ¼ ounce jighead baited with a live shrimp has been working.  Shrimp are pretty prolific and catching most species right now.

The trout bite has been pretty good on live shrimp fished under a popping cork a couple of hours before high on the rising tide. Fish have been fairly shallow around oyster beds in creeks off the ICW.  Remember that SCDNR is asking anglers to practice catch and release of all spotted seatrout through the end of September.  To read the full news release click here.

The pattern for catching flounder has been a little different, and they are having the most success fishing for an hour or two after high tide casting mullet (or shrimp) into creek mouths.  The bites usually come as the bait drifts out of the creek mouths and run into oyster beds.

Cherry Grove Pier(843-249-1625) reports that whiting, croaker, and silver perch are fairly common, and they have also caught some nice black drum in the 18 plus inch range.  A few blues are being picked up on cut bait, and at night sharks and stingrays are being caught. It has just been too muddy for Spanish and king mackerel.

Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com

Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com