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

March 27
Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 63 degrees, and the water is clear.
Spring inshore fishing is getting good in the Little River area, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the trout fishing in particular has been strong. Inshore they are catching some nice trout around oyster beds on the outgoing tide, and there has also been some good fishing on the low to rising. The jetties have also picked up. While live shrimp have been generating the biggest fish, DOA, Vudu and Gulp! baits have all been working.
In the creeks there have been some good redfish and occasional black drum caught in the potholes, with the best action coming at low tide. There have also been some early flounder caught in the same areas.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that water temperatures are about 60 degrees, and for now the catch mainly consists of juvenile whiting, croaker, dogfish, skates and a few bluefish. Once the water heats up 5 more degrees the blues should be wide open.
At the jetties bluefish are starting to be caught in good numbers, while nearshore bonito, black sea bass, and sheepsheadare still strong. There has also been some excellent action targeting false albacore, fishing with diamond jigs and also on the fly, just a few miles out.

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

March 23
Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand have reached the upper 50s, and the water is still fairly dingy.
As water temperatures have warmed fishing has picked up in the Little River area, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the bite for both redfish and trout has turned on. Both species are being caught on lower stages of the tide both rising and falling, and they are mixed together in the same shallow potholes in the backs of creeks. Finger mullet, mud minnows, Gulp! and Vudu Shrimp are all working.
While clarity is not really good enough for traditional sight-fishing, you can locate the fish when you see them pushing water. When you do actually see them in super shallow water it is usually too late to catch them.
Black drum are likely to be found around docks where they will take cut shrimp on moving tides going in or out. They have been a nice 17-18 inches. Some redfish have also been found around docks.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that water temperatures are about 55 degrees and only a few whiting are being caught.
Black sea bass fishing is still good about 30 miles offshore.

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

February 27
Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 50 degrees, and the water is not particularly clear.
The redfish bite has gotten really good on the north end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they are catching very good numbers of fish. There have been a lot of fish in the middle of the slot, as well as some that are pushing 30 inches. The population seems very strong.
On low tide the best pattern has been making long casts to very skinny water in areas where anglers can see reds pushing water. The best bait has been cut shrimp on a 3/8 ounce jighead, good for long casting. Cast ahead of the school and let the bait sit as the fish approach.
On higher stages of the tide anglers need to fish docks, bulkheads in the Intracoastal Waterway, or other structure. There are also fish that head up in the grass on high tide, but they are more difficult to locate and get to bite. Black drum are mixed in with the reds around structure.
Trout fishing has gotten tougher, but a few fish have been caught on the ledges in the ICW with Vudu Shrimp. Last March the bite got good at the jetties, and so look for the action to pick up there soon.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that the catch still mainly consists of whiting, dogfish, and the occasional croaker. In the ocean water temperatures are around 54 degrees, but when they hit 60-62 then first bluefish, then Spanish mackerel and then flounder will arrive. Last March there was an excellent bluefish run.
At the nearshore reefs there are abundant sheepshead and black drum, but it does take some work chumming to activate the schools and keep the small black sea bass at bay. Fiddler crabs have been the best bait.
The black sea bass bite in about 70 feet of water remains strong.

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

December 22
Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand have dropped into the lower 50s, to about 51-53 degrees. The water is super clear.
It’s gotten pretty cold, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the trout bite is still really hot. For the past couple of weeks the trout fishing has been excellent pretty much everywhere – from the jetties to the ledges and drops in the ICW to deeper sections of shallow creeks. A good depth to fish is 3-5 feet down in 8-10 feet of water.
With fish at that depth one good way to target them is with a slip bobber, and a few area bait stores can still provide live shrimp. Artificial lures will work well, too, and sometimes fish are biting DOA shrimp just as well as the real thing.
Tide has not seemed to matter very much, as long as there is moving water in any direction. At slack tides the fish turn off.
The fishing should stay good for a few more weeks until water temperatures get very, very cold.
On lower stages of the tide there has been good fishing for redfish and black drum at low tide in shallow water. Fish will get in deep pot holes in the shallows. Gulp!, fresh cut shrimp, or live mud minnows will all work.
There have been lots of small ten-inch flounder around but the big ones seem to have left.

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

November 20
Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand have dropped into the lower 60s. The water is still murky.
This is the about the best time of the year to fish in the Little River area, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that it’s a no-brainer to target trout right now. Last year at this time they were catching a bunch of fish in the 13-inch range, while this year the average size is an impressive 18 inches with plenty of fish in the 20-25 inch range (almost always released). There is a really good population of fish around.
Captain Smiley’s boats are mainly targeting the ICW, but they are also catching fish in the shallow creeks. Fish are off ledges, in deeper holes, and around oyster beds beside grass; they are as shallow as 2 feet and down to about 10-12. Tide does not seem to matter as long as there is moving water in either direction. Live shrimp, DOA Shrimp, Vudu Shrimp, and Trout Tricks are all working.
There are also redfish and black drum around in the same areas, although most of the redfish have been small in the 15-18 inch range. There are not a lot of 20-27 inch fish. The black drum are mainly in the 18-20 inch range, and they will eat live or cut shrimp. The reds will eat anything, and some of the bigger trout are also being caught on minnows.
They are still picking up some short flounder.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are still having some nice black drum caught off the pier as well as good numbers of whiting and croaker.

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

October 31

Inshore surface water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand still range from the mid-70s on up.  With water temperatures still very warm the water has not yet cleared, and there are prolific mullet around as well as plenty of shrimp if you know where to look. 

Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that even with persistent warm temperatures a strong fall bite is in place, but just in time for his 3^rd Annual Inshore Slam and Festival temperatures are about to drop.  This should kick-start an even better fall bite as inshore species realize that they need to feed up as the days are numbered before the bait leaves the creeks.  With flounder harvest banned in North Carolina anglers will be competing for the best aggregate weight of trout and redfish, with over $3,000.00 on the line for first place.  The event will take place out of Cricket Cove Marina, and proceeds will benefit the Humane Society.  Sportsman’s Choice Marina is the headline sponsor.  

The trout bite has really picked up, and the best fishing is taking place on the low to rising tide around ledges and drops.  On higher tides the fish are doing well around grass and oyster beds.  Live shrimp, Zman baits, and Vudu Shrimp have all been working.  

Trout have also been feeding well at the jetties, mostly on live shrimp floated under a cork around the rocks.  

There is good action for redfish around ambush points, oysters and docks, and fish are also being caught around the same drops where the trout are feeding.  It is hard to find an area that only has one species right now, and reds are also out at the jetties.  

For redfish cut mullet, cut shrimp and artificial lures are all working.  

Bull red drum can still be found, but the bite is not as good as it was a few weeks ago. 

Black drum are in the same areas as the reds, although they are less likely to shy away from a strong current.  Docks, ledges and rocky bottoms all hold black drum with cut shrimp the best bait right now. 

A few flounder are still being picked up.  

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that with water temperatures still a very warm 74 degrees fishing has been good.  This past weekend a number of king mackerel were caught, and they have also had Spanish mackerel andbluefish caught off the pier.  Bull red drum over the slot have also been released, as well as black drum including some legal fish.  There have also been pompano, whiting, and a few spots caught.  With water temperatures still very warm this cold front should not push the fish out because water temperatures have so far to go before fish leave. 

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

October 17

Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning on the north end of the Grand Strand are still in the mid-70s.  There are finger mullet around but off the beaches menhaden are the most prolific baitfish. 

Fall fishing is good on the north end of the Grand Strand, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) predicts that in the next week or two it will approach its peak and we will be into some of the best fishing of the year.  

Bull red drum are still being caught in the inlet on live, fresh cut or even frozen menhaden, and they will also eat mullet or most any other live or fresh cut bait.  The incoming tide has been the best time to target them, and high slack tide has also been good.   

There are lots of fish at the jetties, and while they can be caught right by the rocks the better way to catch (and land) them is to fish in cleaner holes out from the rocks with 25-30 feet of water.  The other way to catch them is to run the beaches and fish around menhaden balls.  

With water temperatures still warm blacktip and bull sharks are still thick, and so Captain Smiley suggests a big 6/0 circle hook and beefy tackle so that you can get the fish in quickly.  No one wants to see a bull red drum struggling on the end of a line become shark bait. 

Smaller reds can also be caught casting live mullet or live shrimp on a split shot rig or under a float into the jetty rocks, and there have also been plenty of 12-17 inch redfish caught inshore around grass and oyster beds.  Cut shrimp, live shrimp, finger mullet and Gulp! baits are all working for inshore reds.  There are still some big redfish inshore but the 12-17 inch range has been most prolific.   

The trout bite is improving but it’s still not as good as it should get.  Right now trout are being caught on live shrimp fished along inshore drops and oyster beds in areas with moving current.  They are also being caught with shrimp fished on a split shot rig at the jetties.  

There has been good flounder fishing around the jetties with mullet fished around the rocks.  Nearshore reefs like the Jim Caudle Reef have also had some nice ones.  

Black drum fishing is getting better with fresh cut shrimp.  The Tillman Docks are still holding fish and a Carolina rig fished on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water on moving tides continues to work.  There are also plenty of good fish being caught around ledges and docks in the IntraCoastal.     

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that Spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano, whiting, and a few spots have been caught off the pier.  There have also been some large red drum out of the slot caught.

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

August 29

Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 84-85 degrees.  There are massive schools of finger mullet in the IntraCoastal Waterway and its tributaries, and bait-sized shrimp are also abundant.  

Even though they are about to close down the harvest of flounder in North Carolina, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the flounder fishing has actually been really good along the north end of the Grand Strand.  A couple of miles offshore at the Caudle Reef they have been catching them well, but inshore along the ICW they have also been finding plenty of nice keepers.  The key to catching fish seems to be fishing in places where there is an abundance of mullet and current, be that on the flats, around grass, etc.  Tide does not seem to make a huge different as long as mullet and current are present. Both finger mullet and Gulp! baits are working well. 

Fishing for redfish has also been really good, and out at the jetties as well as in the backwaters they are catching plenty of fish on the right tides.  On lower stages of the tide fish can be seen chasing mullet and gorging on them.  Big reds in the 30 plus inch range are also starting to show up at the jetties and they will take cut bait or live mullet.  

There has also been some good troutfishing at the jetties, and the best time to catch the fish has been on the falling tide.  Live shrimp fished on a split shot rig or under a floating cork are the best bait.  

Some good Spanish mackerel are also being caught out at the jetties free-lining live mullet or throwing topwater plugs like Mirrolures or Zara Spooks.  

In the Fort Randall area black drum fishing has been good fishing with shrimp on the bottom on a Carolina rig in 15-25 feet of water.  Moving tides have been best.

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

August 1
Inshore surface water temperatures in the morning on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 84 degrees. There are massive schools of finger mullet in the IntraCoastal Waterway and its tributaries, and bait-sized shrimp are also abundant.
The cool snap has really helped the fishing on the north end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly(843-361-7445) reports that a variety of species have been feeding well this week. Catches of redfish have been really good in shallow water on the low outgoing tide, and with the ICW so thick with finger mullet you can see them busting bait on the banks. Live mullet will work but cut mullet offer something different, and topwater plugs and Gulp! jerk shad will also catch fish.
Flounderfishing has also been strong, with fish against the banks in the same areas as the redfish but also being caught in deeper holes on lower tides. In addition to live mullet Jerk Shad, Gulp! Shrimp and Gulp Swimming Minnows are also working.
Early in the morning there has been a good topwater bite fortrout, and Zara Spooks and Mirrolure Top Pups are both catching fish. However, the go-to bait has been live shrimp under a popping cork which are catching excellent numbers in the right spots. Ledges and drops in 3-7 feet of water when there is current moving have been good.
Trout can also be caught at the Little River jetties floating shrimp under a cork along the rocks, but probably the best way to catch fish is on a split shot rig with a #4 hook baited with a live shrimp. You can work this rig around the rocks without getting hung up as much as you would with a heavier weight.
Black drum are also eating live or cut shrimp fished on the bottom, and if you can hook them you will get the occasional sheepshead. Ladyfishand sharksare also around at the jetties.
Cherry Grove Pier(843-249-1625) reports that with clear water, good oxygen levels and temperatures of about 84 degrees the bite has been strong recently. They are catching good numbers of keeper-sized flounder, trout, and Spanish mackerel. On the bottom there have been catches of whiting, croaker, small spadefish and some black drum. Spanish have been abundant, but the last king mackerel was caught last Friday.
Nearshore, just outside the inlet Captain Smiley advises that you can catch lots of Spanish mackerel trolling a #1 planer or a mackerel tree with a 00 Clarks Spoons.

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