September 10
Surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand remains about 86 degrees. The creeks, inlets and surf are full of finger mullet.
As the mullet run heats up the fishing is getting even better on the north end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that this past week the catches of redfish have been pretty exceptional. On high tides they are catching fish around grass lines, while on the low to incoming tide the best action has been around docks, bulkheads and rocks. The fish are really concentrating on mullet right now and so live finger mullet have been the best bait.
Right after the North Carolina flounder season opened up they were catching a high percentage of better fish, but now that the season has been open for a little while more short fish are being landed. Still the flounder fishing has been pretty good on finger mullet, with the best catches coming on lower water in deep holes.
While trout can also be picked up on finger mullet, the best action has come floating live shrimp around oyster and drops on the incoming tide. Target 6-8 feet of water.
There have not been a lot of black drum caught but some have been biting on live shrimp fished around docks.
While Captain Smiley has spent more time inside the inlet, out at the Little River jetties there have been loads of sharks, redfish and trout caught around the rocks. Spanish mackerel are also thick, and anglers are catching them either throwing topwater lures or light-lining with live mullet.
There have been no reports of big red drum showing up yet, but any time now they should arrive. The bulls will be caught in the middle of the main channel in the inlet or against the rocks. While mullet will work live menhaden are usually tough to beat.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that whiting, bluefish and flounder have been biting. A few spots are being caught but they are not really running yet. A king mackerel was landed this morning and plenty of nice Spanish mackerel are being caught.

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

August 25
Surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are about 86 degrees and water clarity is typical for summer. On some rainy days the water stays dirty, but generally it’s clean on the incoming and dirty on the outgoing. The creeks are filled with shrimp and mullet.
It’s been a phenomenal summer of fishing on the north end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly(843-361-7445) reports that even as the tourist season begins to (slightly) drop off the fishing will only get better and better.
The headline species right now is the flounder, and after a year where flatfish on the North Carolina side of the border were closed to harvest we are currently in a month-long window where fish in both Carolinas can be kept. The fishing has been excellent over sandy bottoms on finger mullet, and the key is working the deeper holes as long as the tides will allow.
The redfish action has also been nothing short of spectacular, with fish being caught around docks and holes on live finger mullet or cur mullet.
You will pick up some trout fishing with finger mullet, but the best way to target specks is with live shrimp under a popping cork. On higher tides fish along grass lines and over oyster beds, while on the outgoing tide you should target ledges in 6-8 feet of water.
The black drum remain prolific all over the shallows, but docks have held by far the most fish in the last few weeks. There are still lots of small fish around, boding well for the future, but more 14-20 inch fish have been caught recently too. Fishing cut shrimp on low tide has been the ticket.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they have seen a lot of croaker, whiting, stingrays, ribbonfish and sea robins recently. While there have not been any king mackerel lately, some nice-sized Spanish have been landed. There were also some good flounder last week.
While you can catch flounder in the creeks or in the surf, the best flounder fishing is at nearshore reefs like the Caudle Reef two and a half miles out. If you work live finger mullet around the edges you can pick up some doormats, and there is also a mixed bag of bluefish, small black sea bass, small cobia, sharks and Spanish mackerel.

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

July 24
Surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are about 85 degrees and water clarity varies. Some inshore areas are dirty while the ocean is fairly clear today.
Despite the heat Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that inshore fishing has been pretty good, with most species still biting in the usual places. Trout are being caught on live shrimp drifted around drop offs or any type of structure such as oyster beds. With the heat fish are more likely to be in 6 plus feet of water.
Redfish are being caught fairly shallow in the IntraCoastal Waterway and the creeks. On higher stages of the tide they are being caught around grass lines, while on lower tides they are oriented to oyster shells. Cut and live mullet as well as fresh cut or live shrimp are all working. Redfish can also be caught around docks.
There are also some big 30 plus inch fish being caught in the inlet on cut or live mullet or menhaden. The fish are in 20-30 feet off the ends of the rocks.
Some flounder are being caught casting at creek mouths or drop-offs with live mullet or Gulp! swimming minnows.
The black drum remains prolific all over the shallows, around docks, drops offs, oyster beds, and in holes – but almost all of the fish have been undersized. The population should be very strong in a year or two.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that fishing has been a little slow in the heat, and there has not been a lot of bait around. A few whiting, ribbonfish, small spadefish and sheepshead have been caught, but bluefish, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel have all been absent.
Perhaps the most entertaining fishing has been taking place nearshore recently, and Captain Smiley reports that about two and a half miles offshore at the Jim Caudle Reef they have been catching a mixed bag of species. Plenty of nice flounder and small cobia are around, and there are also a variety of sharks and plenty of bluefish. Trolling
Clarks Spoons on #1 planers around the tide lines and sea buoys there are lots of Spanish mackerel to be caught, and off Hog Inlet has been particularly good.

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

June 30
Ocean surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are about 80 degrees. The water is clearing up nicely.
Even as it gets hot they are catching a mixed bag north of Myrtle Beach, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that most of the inshore species are biting despite the heat.
Trout are being caught on live shrimp drifted around shell banks on the incoming tide in the creeks, while redfish are being caught shallow in the IntraCoastal Waterway and the creeks. On higher stages of the tide they are being caught around grass lines, while on lower tides they are oriented to oyster shells. Cut and live mullet as well as fresh cut or live shrimp are all working. Redfish can also be caught around docks.
While the action has been best just across the border in North Carolina, there are some nice flounder being caught casting into deep holes, around dock pilings and near shell beds. Fish can be caught on Gulp! or live minnows/ mullet on ¼ ounce jigheads.
The black drum are prolific all over the shallows, around docks, and in holes – but almost all of the fish have been undersized. The population should be very strong in a year or two.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they have not caught any king mackerel or Spanish for about a week, but as the water has cleared they should be around all next month. They have had some very nice flounder over 20 inches caught in the last day or two, and whiting and spots are also being caught.
At the jetties there are some large drum over 30 inches and sharks which can be caught towards the ends of the rocks. They will eat cut bait or chunks of crab.
Nearshore Captain Smiley reports that there are some kings just off the beaches, and there are also plenty of Spanish mackerel. Spanish can be caught trolling Clarks Spoons on #1 planers around the tide lines and sea buoys. Sharks are everywhere.
Blue water fishing has again been limited since there has been so much wind over the last two weeks.

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

June 15
Inshore surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 78 degrees. With the Waccamaw River flooded for the last week the water has been darker, and a new round of rain will probably keep it that way.
There are good summer fishing conditions north of Myrtle Beach, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the big four inshore species are all biting well.
Inside the creeks trout and redfish are eating live shrimp fished against the grass. The rising tide and the beginning of the outgoing have been best, and cut mullet fished against the grass is also working well for redfish.
Small black drum are also being caught around docks, shell beds, and downed trees on live or cut shrimp. Lower stages of the tide have fished the best.
The flounder action has been good on live mullet or mud minnows, and artificial baits such as white Gulp! jerk shad fished on a 3/8 ounce jighead have also been effective. Both trolling and casting have been working.
The jetties have also been productive, with trout, redfish and black drum and being caught on live shrimp.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that the king mackerel fishing has been phenomenal. Last Wednesday an incredible 13 fish were caught, and over the weekend an additional 8 or 9 fish were landed. The usual suspects of bluefish, whiting, and a few spots are also around.
Nearshore Captain Smiley reports that there are tons of spadefish on the reefs, and there are also cobia around. They have caught some big fish over 36 inches dropping live pinfish down on the bottom.
Spanish mackerel can also be caught trolling Clarks Spoons on #1 planers around the tide lines and sea buoys.
Blue water fishing has been limited since there has been so much wind over the last two weeks, and in the king mackerel tournament this weekend most boats stayed close to shore.

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

May 28
Inshore surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid-70s. The water was pretty clear before the tropical storm, but now it has gotten muddy.
There have been some pretty good catches to the north of Myrtle Beach in this mild May, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they have been doing very well for black drum and redfish around docks on the outgoing tide. Fresh cut shrimp have been the ticket.
While Captain Smiley’s boat has not been there as much as a couple of weeks ago, the Cherry Grove area is still producing flounder. His boat has been catching lots of flounder fishing on the bottom for redfish with jigs. If you want to target flounder drifting live menhaden or mud minnows on moving tides will work.
In the surf, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are catching whiting, a few spots, and a few bluefish on the bottom with cut bait. However, dirty water has hurt the fishing and kept some of the more popular species away.
Captain Smiley has also fished a lot out at the Little River jetties, where a mixed bag of trout, Spanish mackerel, redfish and lots of bluefish have all been caught on live shrimp floated beside the rocks. The incoming tide has fished best.
Nearshore, there have been cobia, amberjack, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel caught trolling.
Offshore the dolphin bite is still pretty good when anglers can get out, and there are still yellowfin tuna around as well as some wahoo. A sailfish was released last week.

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

May 13
Inshore surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the upper 60s to 70 degrees and the water is overall very clear.
The flounder bite continues to be very good on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the Cherry Grove area is still producing. Big schools of menhaden have showed up off the beaches and in the creeks, and there are plenty of perfect bait-sized fish of about 4 inches. Drifting on moving tides has been working well.
Redfish are still being caught in shallow creeks, and while there are some trout around live shrimp is the key to catching them. For now the creek shrimp are still a little too small for bait, but any day now they should be big enough as that usually takes place by the second week of May. A few are being caught on mud minnows, but it is has been so windy that artificials have been difficult to fish.
The inshore catch has often been anchored by black drum on the shorter end of the keeper slot, and these are biting well on fresh cut shrimp. Fish can be caught in shallow creeks around any area with a deeper hole or some sort of structure such as a dock or downed tree. Holes with cover are ideal. The best fishing has been on the outgoing tide down to the bottom and then dead low.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are catching bluefish and keeper-sized Spanish mackerel as well as whiting and smaller flounder. With water temperatures hitting 71 any day now king mackerel should arrive.
The jetties have been a little slow for sheepshead but there are always redfish and black drum out there.
Weakfish are all over the nearshore reefs and there are some small black sea bass and a few Spanish around. The menhaden have gotten thick and so very soon the cobia should arrive.
Offshore the dolphin bite has been very good and there are also a lot of yellowfin tuna around. Wahoo fishing has also been good on calm days like today when you can get offshore.

Jay A’Hern

April 30
Surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the upper 60s. The Cherry Grove area is very clear because of the lack of river inflow, while Little River is darker because of the freshwater.
The flounder continue to headline inshore fishing on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that he has been fishing in the Cherry Grove area because the bite has been so good up there. He has mainly been fishing the outgoing tide, but the key has been drifting big live baits for bigger fish. Mullet, small spots and pinfish have all been working well. If you know where the good holes are you can also slow down and fish larger artificials. Gulp! jerkshad and Vudu Shrimp are both working.
There has also been a good black drum and redfish bite, with the best action coming on fresh cut shrimp fish fished in deeper holes with structure in the creeks. The lower outgoing tide has been best.
In the Little River area they are also finding fish back in very shallow creeks with 3-4 foot potholes on low tide.
There have not been a lot of anglers pursuing trout, but the action is much better with live shrimp if you can get them.
Captain Smiley has not fished the jetties but reds and black drum are there if you hit them right.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that some big whiting and nice keeper black drum have showed up, and just this week bluefish and Spanish mackerel have arrived. There have also been a few keeper flounder. With water temperatures hitting 68 it should not be long until king mackerel arrive.
At the nearshore reefs Spanish, blues and weakfish are all around, and king mackerel are also showing up. There have already been some reports of cobia on the south end of the Grand Strand and it should not be more than a week or two until they arrive within a few miles of the beaches.
In 60-100 feet of water they are wearing out the dolphin.

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

April 15
Surface temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 66 degrees in the surf.
The biggest change inshore this week is with the flounder, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that more fish are starting to show up in Cherry Grove. The most popular way to target them is trolling or drifting Carolina rigs or even double rigs with live mullet or mud minnows, but you can also spot-lock on a hole and cast.
However, the biggest change this year is that instead of there being 100 boats out there targeting them the fishing pressure is way down and so the flounder are getting a little break.
They are still catching some nice trout, and this bite should only get better in the next few weeks. Fish can be caught at low tide around oyster beds or on the Intracoastal Waterway ledges, and at higher tides they can be caught along the grass lines. The key to catching trout remains live shrimp, although DOA shrimp are producing a little better than they were.
There are also some nice trout being caught at the jetties on the outgoing tide, as well as redfish. There are also plenty of reds shallow around structure such as docks, as well as mixed in with the trout along ledges in the ICW or over shell beds. There are still some schools of redfish on the flats.
Black drum fishing is getting better, with more keepers starting to show up. They can be caught on cut shrimp around docks or other structure.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that rising ocean temperatures have improved the bite, and they are getting good numbers of whiting and they have also had a couple of runs of bluefish. So far they have been small, but as water temperatures stabilize and rise there will be more mature blues and better numbers. They have also had some small flounder caught, but the good fish should not be far behind them. There have been some good keeper-sized Spanish mackerel already, but that bite will also get better. Expect black drum to start to show up, and king mackerel should appear by about May 1.
There are menhaden schools starting to show up at the jetties, and nearshore at the 3-Mile Reef weakfish are plentiful and can be caught on 3/8 ounce jigs with white and chartreuse Gulp! Fish are running up to 5-6 pounds, and they will of course take natural baits too. There are also tons of bluefish and some Spanish that can be caught trolling Clarks spoons, and birds are diving everywhere.

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

April 1

Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the upper 60s, but the water is fairly dirty.  

Just as public boat ramps have closed and it has become possible only to access the waterways and beaches from private access points, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that spring fishing has gotten really good.  In fact it is better than normal for the season.  

They are catching some nice trout and, while they have been doing the most fishing on low tide around oyster beds or on the Intracoastal Waterway ledges, at higher tides they can also be caught along the grass lines.  The key to catching trout has been live shrimp, which can be netted in the deep holes with taped nets, and they are making a night-and-day difference.  You can catch 1 or 2 fish on DOA shrimp in a spot, but you cast out a live shrimp you realize just how many fish there are.  

There are also some nice trout being caught on live shrimp at the jetties on the outgoing tide, as well as redfish.  There are also plenty of reds shallow around structure such as docks, as well as mixed in with the trout along ledges in the ICW or over shell beds.  

Black drum are also very plentiful, but even though there are some keepers overall fish are on the small side.  They can be caught on cut shrimp around docks or other structure.  

A few flounder are also showing up in the Cherry Grove area as they start to migrate back. 

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that ocean temperatures are down to 61 degrees but good numbers of whitingas well as pufferfish, rays and small sharks are being caught.  Before temperatures dropped some bluefish had showed up and they should return once temperatures rise again.  

At the jetties bluefish are starting to be caught in good numbers, while nearshore black sea bass and sheepshead are still strong.  After being abundant last week the false albacore have disappeared, but as soon as some clean water gets blown back in they should be just a few miles out again.

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