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

July 23

Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid-80s.  The water is unusually clear on the incoming tide as there has not been much wind in the last few days.  

Even though it’s the heat of summer there has been some good fishing on the north end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that trout are feeding particularly well.  The best bite has been out at the Little River Inlet jetties on the bottom of the falling tide and at the top of the rising tide, and live shrimp suspended under a floating cork and drifted around the rocks have been working well.  

Inside the creeks there have also been some trout caught on the outgoing tide with shrimp. The best action has been around ledges and oyster beds in 5-8 feet of water.

Some redfish have also been mixed in with the trout at the jetties, but the best place to target redfish has been along the IntraCoastal Waterway fishing with cut mullet, menhaden or even bluefish.  Fish are little deeper in about 12 feet of water, and the outgoing tide has been most productive.  There have also been some small black drum caught in the same areas on shrimp. 

Flounder fishing has been pretty good, and drifting the bottom back in the inlets with live finger mullet has been working.  The best fishing has been on the rising tide.  

A lot of Atlantic sharpnose sharks are around.  

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that a lot of whiting, some black drum, and a few flounder are being caught.  It has been since last month that any king mackerel were landed. 

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

June 20
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are 82-83 degrees.
The Little River jetties continue to produce, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that fishing live shrimp on a slip bobber or a split shot rig has been working well for some nice trout. The tide does not make a huge difference, as long as there is moving water in either direction around the rocks.
On the inside fishing the Intracoastal ledges with a popping cork and live shrimp has also been productive, and just yesterday they caught a 5-pound fish this way. The jetties seem to have more consistently keeper-sized fish, while inside the inlet there are a mix of big and small ones.
Redfish can also be caught out at the jetties, and they are also catching some reds inside the creeks. Soaking cut mullet in the grass around high tide has been picking up some good fish.
Even though this year has been a little down so far for flounder around Little River, they have been catching some keeper-sized fish on live finger mullet, mud minnows, Gulp! swimming minnows and molting shrimp. The best time to fish has been the switch between the incoming and outgoing tide from an hour before high tide to the first hour or two of the ebb. Fish have been around grass and oyster beds.
There have also been lots of small black drum caught on live or fresh cut shrimp around oyster beds and docks off the Intracoastal.
Bluefish and ladyfish are also being caught inshore.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that whiting, pompano, small Spanish mackerel, black drum, sheepshead and a few bluefish have been caught recently. No king mackerel have showed up yet.

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

May 23
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid- to upper 70s, and the water is very clear – especially on the incoming tide.
As temperatures have gotten consistently warm the action has really improved, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that for about the last week fishing has been pretty outstanding.
Small shrimp are abundant and can be easily cast-netted, and the best place to fish them has been at the jetties. Rigging the shrimp on a split shot rig with a size 4 hook and casting into the rocks they have been catching an awesome mixed bag of species, including redfish, black drum, trout, bluefis hand even Spanish mackerel.
In the Intracoastal they are also catching some really nice trout, like the 5-pounder pictured below, on topwater plugs like Spooks and Mirrolures fished over shallow water first thing. You will also pick up bluefish up to about 20 inches the same way. After the sun gets up a little then fishing the ledges with shrimp has been effective for trout.
Besides at the jetties, fishing for reds in grass flats at higher tides has been effective. Find small open spots in the thick stuff, and soak cut chunks of mullet. Just like it would for a catfish, the smell will bring the fish in.
Smaller black drum are also biting well around docks in the Intracoastal.
While they are still not seeing the numbers of flounder they would like, live mud minnows, Gulp! jerk shad and shrimp in new penny color are also picking up some flatfish.
Small striper are usually around in the ICW and they are being caught right now.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that whiting and croaker are both being caught off the pier, and there have also been Spanish up to 17 plus inches caught today. A nice 27-inch black drum was caught recently, but kings and flounder have been absent of late.
On pretty days a fantastic cobia bite has just developed, and from 6-10 miles out at the nearshore reefs the fishing has been very strong. One of Captain Smiley’s boats hooked 15 cobia and landed 10 on Tuesday! They are using Sabiki rigs to jig up small reef baitfish like pinfish. Spadefish are also around by the thousands but they have been difficult to get to bite so far.

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

May 9
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are around 71-72 degrees.
Flounder fishing has been good drifting Carolina rigs around the tide cycle in Hog Inlet and the Cherry Grove area, but this week Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that fish have also started to show up in the Little River area. They can be caught casting ¼ ounce jigheads with live minnows or Gulp! baits into moving water. Deep holes in the creeks and drop offs have been the best place to fish, and the best bite has been on the falling tide.
They are also some catching redfish in the 15-27 inch range in 2-5 foot potholes in the creeks. Three hours either side of low tide when the water is out of the grass has been the best time, and the fish really seem to want blue crabs or mud minnows on a ¼ ounce jighead.
On higher stages of the tide you have to fish the grass, and if you can find a flat area with sparser grass or a clean bottom then anchoring cut mullet or crab and waiting is a good pattern.
Bluefish are around and in the same low tide holes as the reds.
Black drum can be caught around docks on fresh cut shrimp throughout the tide cycle, but the outgoing has been best.
The trout bite remains slowed down from its peak, but they are catching some undersized fish again.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that last weekend they had several king mackerel in the 21-36 pound range caught, as well as keeper Spanish mackerel up to 25 inches. Bluefish ranging from ½ to 5 pounds are also being caught as well as pompano, whiting and a few trout.
At the jetties Spanish mackereland blues can be caught casting spoons, and at the nearshore reefs spadefish, weakfish, bluefish and Spanish are around. Cobia have also just started to show up.

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