October 1
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are about 77 degrees.
It’s a really good time to fish in the Little River area, and from inshore to the inlet to the beaches to nearshore it’s getting to be a strong fall bite. Perhaps the most exciting bite is in the Little River Inlet, and big red drum in the 30-40 plus inch range are being caught. The incoming tide has been the best time to fish and live or cut mullet and menhaden will both work.
Further inshore they are also catching redfish and very good numbers of black drum in a little deeper water inside the main channels, typically in 15-20 feet. Both species will take shrimp and crabs, while the live menhaden or mullet will catch redfish.
On lower tides they are also catching shallower redfish on the flats, while at higher tides they are locating them around structure like docks in the Intracoastal or along grass edges.
The trout bite inshore has been decent with live shrimp fished under a float along the ledges, and fish can also be caught on slip floats at the jetties.
There’s not a lot of change in the flounder fishing, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that live mullet on the bottom as well as Gulp! baits are both working.
For the last few days the fishing off Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) has been very strong, and yesterday they had three king mackerel caught as well as some big Spanish mackerel on the king rigs – including a 6 pound 2 ounce fish! They are also catching some smaller Spanish jigging. Today the water was a little dirtier, but it should get back to clear very soon.
Occasional keeper flounder and drum are being caught, as well as some whiting, spots, and croaker. However, the fall run of these species has not started in earnest.
Surf temperatures off the pier today were 79 degrees.
Unsurprisingly considering the catches at the pier, Captain Smiley reports that along the beach or right outside the inlet there are lots of big Spanish mackerel around chasing the mullet. You can catch them on big topwater plugs or live chumming with mullet and then doing a bait-and-switch!
At the Jim Caudle Reef there are lots of flounder as well as bluefish and Spanish mackerel.

September 17
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped in the upper 70s.
The North Carolina flounder season ended this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the brief season was a mix of good days and bad days. Now that they are back to only fishing South Carolina waters for flounder they are having similar, patchy success – but there are definitely still some fish to be caught.
Probably the best thing going inshore is the redfish, and using live finger mullet they are catching lots of 18-30 inch fish. On lower tides they are catching fish on the flats, while at higher tides they are locating them around structure like docks in the Intracoastal or along grass edges.
The trout bite inshore has been decent with live shrimp fished under a float along the ledges, and while Pat has not targeted them out there they should also be at the jetties.
It’s getting to be an exciting time in the surf, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that in the last 24 hours they have had a couple of king mackerel and some large Spanish mackerel on the king rigs. They are catching some smaller Spanish jigging. The only flounder caught recently have been small, while whiting, croaker and a few spot are around.
With mullet going down the beach there are also lots of 2-5 pound Spanish mackerel on the shoals near the jetties. They can be caught on live bait or any walk-the-dog style topwater plug. There are also some big drum in the inlet that can be caught on cut mullet, cut bluefish or live mullet on the bottom.
One good way to fish is to put out baits on the bottom and then cast for Spanish.
There are also some tarpon at the jetties.

August 25
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid-80s.
This week there’s no doubt the hot bite on the north end of the Grand Strand is for redfish, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the best action has come on higher tides when fish are feeding on large schools of finger mullet in and around the edges of the grass. Naturally the best bait is mullet, and if you find areas where the redfish are feeding the bite can be really hot. Sometimes you want to put baits inside the grass, and sometimes the fish are feeding just along the outside the grass line.
There are also some trout being caught along drops in the Intracoastal Waterway and around shell beds, with live shrimp the ticket. They are also catching trout on live shrimp fished under a slip float out at the jetties. Fish are often about ten feet off the rocks.
The black drum fishing has been slow, but there are some flounder being caught in deep holes in the marshes or along the same grass edges where reds are feeding. While live finger mullet are working, jigging Gulp! jerk shad has been just as good and sometimes better.
Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15).
While you can catch some flounder insides the creeks, if you want to get into the big ones the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is the place to be! In addition to plenty of smaller fish, even with only limited numbers of anglers targeting them some monster flatfish have been caught. They have had two 7.3 pound fish as well as one 6.5 pound fish in the last few days, caught midway along the pier.
Lots of croaker, good numbers of whiting and too many small sea robins have also been caught.
While they are not getting any kings right now, lots of big Spanish mackerel have been caught on the king mackerel rigs.
Clarity in the ocean depends on whether the tide is coming in or going out, and water temperatures are about 84 degrees.
Out at the jetties there have been a ton of sharks and some big drum are on the bottom.

July 25
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid- and even upper 80s.
Kids’ camp is a success with plenty of croaker and smaller black drum still being caught inshore with fresh cut shrimp on a #4 hook, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they are also getting good action from trout which can be caught out at the jetties or inside the creeks along grass lines with live shrimp. At the jetties they are fishing them off the rocks under a slip float rig, while inshore popping corks along grass lines have been the ticket.
The action for redfish has also picked up a little, and with large schools of mullet running the banks fishing cut mullet, live finger mullet or even topwater baits along grass lines on higher tides has been working. Fishing has been especially good when the water first starts coming out of the grass. There have also been some reds caught around docks.
While the water is starting to clear, it’s still pretty dirty and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that the pier catch is still mostly limited to whiting and croaker. They have had a couple of keeper flounder today but not much else.
Speaking of flounder, while inshore flounder fishing has been slow (the action seems to be a little better in North Carolina) at the nearshore reefs there has been some decent flounder fishing. The best flounder action is usually around the edge of the structure, and Carolina rigs on the bottom with live mullet or menhaden will both work. Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat (from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15).
There are also some spadefish and a few Spanish mackerel around at the reefs, as well as a lot of sharks.
In the Little River Inlet there have been some big redfish caught on menhaden, and there are also lots of Atlantic Sharpnose sharks around. Truthfully everywhere is pretty “sharky” right now.

June 9
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are up to 78 degrees. Shrimp are now big enough for bait.
Fishing at the jetties has been really good recently, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that floating live shrimp about 5 feet under a slip cork 15-20 feet off the rocks they have been doing really well for trout. Ladyfish and bluefish are also out there, but for some reason they are not getting many redfish on the live shrimp rigs.
If you fish on the bottom with cut menhaden there are plenty of sharks as well as some big drum around, and there have even been some tarpon sightings.
Inshore fishing is about the same and there are plenty of smaller trout being caught around grass lines and ledges, and small reds and black drum are eating well in 4-foot holes in the shallow creeks on the low rising or low falling tide. On high water the fish are hard to find in the creeks. Redfish seem to want mud minnows more than shrimp right now, while black drum will devour shrimp.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that there continue to be really good catches of spot as well as some croakerand whiting caught off the pier. Even though the spot are doing very well they will only eat blood worms. In addition to tons of small sharks, stingrays and some bluefish, they are also getting decent numbers of flounder, with a keeper ratio of about 50/50.
It’s been tough sledding for Spanish mackerel and king mackerel since the water got dirty, but they should return when it clears.
Surf water temperatures are 77 degrees.
While inshore flounder fishing has been slow in South Carolina, at least for big fish, Captain Smiley reports that 2 ½ miles out there are plenty of keeper flounder at the nearshore reefs. Usually the second week of June is a better time for big flounder inshore.
Cobia can still be found at the nearshore reefs, and they are being caught on live menhaden, pinfish or most any small baitfish. King mackerel are also around about 10 miles out.

May 26
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have risen fast to 75 degrees and above. While there is debris in the rivers the water coming from the ocean is starting to return to a clear, bright blue. They are finally starting to get small shrimp big enough to use for bait in cast nets.
While it’s not as exciting as an influx of big trout would be, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that right now a ton of small trout are starting to flood into the area eating the juvenile shrimp. They are being caught around grass lines and ledges, and soon some better fish should be mixed in.
While the jetties may be holding some bigger trout it’s been too windy recently to fish them easilty. The pattern should be to fish live shrimp five feet below a slip float 15-20 feet off the rocks.
There’s been some pretty good flounder action in the last day or two, and Captain Smiley reports that he has had success jigging white swimming minnows in Tubbs Inlet. The outgoing tide has been fishing best.
The action has also been good out at the reefs on live menhaden.
This week the big redfish have not been around in the IntraCoastal Waterway, but the small reds and black drum are eating well in 4-foot holes in the shallow creeks on the low rising or low falling tide. On high water the fish are hard to find in the creeks. If there are black drum around then shrimp fished on a jighead is a good bet for both species, and you can also use Gulp shrimp.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that there have been good catches of spot, croaker and whiting off the pier, and while there have been tons of flounder caught they have all been short. At the same time there have also been a bunch of keeper Spanish mackerel in the 16-18 inch range caught, and in the last week there were two good king mackerel caught. Then the water got dirty and the sharks moved in, but they are expecting the clearing water to mean more kings are caught soon.
Surf water temperatures are 75 degrees.
The big excitement this week is that cobia have showed up at the nearshore reefs, and they are being caught on live menhaden, pinfish or most any small baitfish. In addition to flounder there are also plenty of Spanish, bluefish and sharks.

May 12
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the lower 70s. With lots of wind recently the water is not very clear.
Water temperatures have not moved very much and so the inshore fishing patterns remain similar on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand. Overall the action is strong, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the biggest change this week is that the flounder fishing has come on. There have still been a lot of fish caught, including good ones, in the Cherry Grove/ Hogg Inlet area, but the exciting development is that the fish in the Little River area have gotten much bigger. In the last week a 24-incher and a 22-incher were caught! Mud minnows are working the best but they are also catching some fish on Gulp! or Vudu Shrimp.
The trout fishing is still good on a variety of tides. The key is still to have some current – and live shrimp! The best pattern remains fishing the bait on a slip float over ledges in 6-8 feet of water that have oysters, a tree pile or some other type of structure nearby. There should also be good fishing at the jetties with shrimp five feet below a slip float 15-20 feet off the rocks, but the wind has made fishing the jetties unpleasant recently.
While there’s little doubt that redfish and black drum are still feeding at the jetties if you get out there, right now Captain Smiley’s boat is catching more of them along ledges or in holes in the creeks. Fishing depressions is best on the low rising or low falling tide, and on the high water the fish are hard to find in the creeks. If there are black drum around then shrimp fished on a jighead are a good bet for both species, and you can also use Gulp shrimp. But as with the trout live shrimp are the best right now.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that the last couple of days have been slow after the front came through with the catch mostly consisting of whiting, but they expect things to get back to where they were just a few days ago very soon. Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been caught recently, including a Spanish that weighed 6 pounds. There have also been a lot of flounder caught, and while most of them have been small one 24-incher was measured! No kings have been caught despite a lot of hours put into trying.
The water is about 72 degrees off the beach and conditions are murky with lots of stirred up sand.
At the nearshore reefs 2-3 miles offshore Captain Smiley reports that there are a bunch of Spanish around as well as a few bonito. Casting or trolling Clarks Spoons has been working well.

April 29
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are just now hitting 70 but got there slower than usual this year.
Inshore fishing remains strong on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly(843-361-7445) reports that the trout fishing is still good on a variety of tides. The key is still to have some current – and live shrimp! The best pattern remains fishing the bait on a slip float over ledges in 6-8 feet of water that have oysters, a tree pile or some other type of structure nearby. There should also be good fishing at the jetties with shrimp five feet below a slip float 15-20 feet off the rocks, but the wind has made fishing the jetties unpleasant recently.
While there’s little doubt that redfish and black drum are still feeding at the jetties if you get out there, right now Captain Smiley’s boat is catching more of them along ledges or in holes in the creeks. Fishing depressions is best on the low rising or low falling tide, and on the high water the fish are hard to find in the creeks. If there are black drum around then shrimp fished on a jighead are a good bet for both species, and you can also use Gulp shrimp. But as with the trout live shrimp are the best right now.
By this point there are a lot of flounder in Cherry Grove/ Hogg Inlet as is typical for this time of year, and they are starting to see more fish in Little River. However, for now they have still been on the small side. Mud minnows are working the best but they are also catching some fish on Gulp! or Vudu Shrimp.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are getting Spanish mackerel, bluefish and whiting as well as a few small flounder.
It has been too windy to get offshore the last few days.

April 1 

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid-60s, and the water is still pretty clear.   

It’s turning into a good spring on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and after a hiatus in the reports due to some telephone issues that kept us from connecting Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the action for both trout and redfish is strong.  Inshore they are drifting the ledges and grass lines with live shrimp under a slip float rig when the tide is up, and at the jetties they are catching fish with the same set-up.  They are also catching mainly redfish on cut shrimp or Gulp! baits around docks, bulkheads, oysters and other structure at the beginning of the outgoing tide.   

Black drum are also being caught around docks on fresh cut shrimp.  

Smaller flounder are just beginning to show up, but so far only a handful of them.   

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that right now the catch is limited to whiting and croaker, but they have seen their first keeper flounder as well as some smaller ones.  The blues and Spanish mackerel should not be far off.   

At the 3-Mile Reef, Captain Smiley reports that they are catching some really nice-sized weakfish bouncing white Gulp! baits with a chartreuse tail on a 3/8 ounce jighead.  False albacore and bonito are also easy to spot under the birds.  Even though they don’t stay up for long, they are a lot of fun to target on light tackle throwing small silver spoons or trolling Clarks Spoons.

February 23
Water temperatures range from about 48-50 degrees, and after recent weather the water is fairly dirty inshore. Out at the jetties there is some pretty blue water.
Winter fishing continues to be strong on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they are still doing very well with the redfish and black drum inshore. Fish are highly schooled up, and they can be found around deep holes in the creeks on low tide and dock pilings on higher tides. Current remains essential and the slack tide on either end has not been good. Live shrimp (available at Perry’s in Murrell’s Inlet) or fresh cut shrimp have been working very well, and they are also picking up some redfish on Vudu shrimp and Zman baits.
The trout fishing has been a little slower inshore, but Captain Smiley reports that a few have been caught inshore around channels and oyster beds on live shrimp. However, the better trout fishing has been in the clean water out at the jetties. Live shrimp on a slip float or on a split shot rig and a #4 hook, live minnows and even Gulp! baits are all working. However, as with inshore the current must be moving for the jetties to produce.
Redfish can also be picked up at the jetties.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is closed for renovations.