May 20
Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-70s inshore around Little River.
With calmer conditions there have been better fishing conditions this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they have had some exciting inshore opportunities this week. In the Intracoastal Waterway 40-plus inch red drum have showed up, and they are catching them on a Carolina rig with cut ladyfish or mullet. There are also plenty of Atlantic sharpnose sharks around which are giving good action
Redfish can also still be caught in shallow potholes back in the creeks on the low to rising tide. Live mullet, pinfish and Gulp! can all work.
Around shallow sandbars in less than three feet there have also been a mix of ladyfish, trout and bluefish caught on light tackle this week. The key has been having moving water with a good current, and casting silver spoons with a fast retrieve has been the best technique. Trout can also be caught at the jetty rocks on live shrimp which are becoming more widely available.
There are also still some black drum being caught on live or fresh cut shrimp on ledges, and they will also take fiddler crabs fished around structure. There are plenty of sheepshead that have returned inshore around the rocks but some days it’s hard to weed through the little ones. Still, there are keepers.
The flounder fishing is getting better as fish start to spread out more, and they are catching fish in deeper holes and sandy bottoms. The fish are starting to filter out into all the creeks and inlets, and they can also be caught around docks and oyster beds. In addition to live bait, Gulp! new penny, white or chartreuse shrimp are all working.
The storm two nights ago temporarily dirtied the water off the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), but before (and likely after) that it has been a really good week off the pier. They have had two kings and plenty of people have been limiting on 12-18 inch Spanish mackerel to go along with lots of mid-sized bluefish. They have had a few flounder over 16 inches to go along with lots of short fish, while decent numbers of pompano, whiting and croaker are being caught.
Water temperatures are 75 degrees in the surf.
At the nearshore reefs there are plenty of Spanish mackerel and bluefish around which can be caught casting or trolling spoons. There are also tons of small black sea bass.

May 12
Morning surface water temperatures are around 69 degrees inshore around Little River.
The conditions have been tough for fishing this week, as Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that 25-30 mile per hour winds have been super challenging. They are still catching some fish but they are really, really having to work for them.
There are still some redfish in shallow potholes back in the creeks on the low to rising tide. Live mullet, pinfish and Gulp! can all work. For trout the key is still having live shrimp, available at Perry’s in Murrells Inlet or Dave’s Outpost in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. They are biting along the ledges in the IntraCoastal Waterway or around the rocks at the jetties. There are also redfish at the rocks.
There are also still some black drum being caught on live or fresh cut shrimp on the same ledges where the trout are located, and they will also take fiddler crabs fished around structure. There are plenty of sheepshead that have returned inshore around the rocks but some days it’s hard to weed through the little ones. Still, there are plenty of keepers.
There are some flounder being caught in the Little River area, but by far the best action continues to be in Cherry Grove. Cherry Grove has a smaller inlet which confines the
fish and gives them less room to roam, and so they are much denser. Drifting live mullet or mud minnows is working but Vudu Shrimp are also effective.
Unsurprisingly the action has also really slowed on the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and while they were catching really good numbers of Spanish mackerel before they are only getting a very few since the water conditions got bad. They are also getting the very occasional whiting and croaker, but overall the fishing is just poor.
If someone could get out there, at the nearshore reefs Spanish mackerel and blues should both be plentiful. They can be caught casting small spoons and Gotcha plugs.

May 4
Morning surface water temperatures are around 71 degrees inshore around Little River.
The fishing has been strong recently at the top end of South Carolina’s coast, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that inshore they catching lot of redfish in shallow potholes back in the creeks on the low to rising tide. Live mullet, pinfish and Gulp! are all working.
The trout fishing is also pretty good but the key is still having live shrimp, available at Perry’s in Murrells Inlet or Dave’s Outpost in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. They are biting along the ledges in the IntraCoastal Waterway or around the rocks at the jetties. They are also picking up some redfish at the rocks.
There are also some black drum being caught on live or fresh cut shrimp on the same ledges where the trout are located, and they will also take fiddler crabs fished around structure. There are plenty of sheepshead that have returned inshore around the rocks but some days it’s hard to weed through the little ones. Still, there are plenty of keepers.
There are some flounder being caught in the Little River area, but by far the best action continues to be in Cherry Grove. Cherry Grove has a smaller inlet which confines the
fish and gives them less room to roam, and so they are much denser. Drifting live mullet or mud minnows is working but Vudu Shrimp are also effective.
There’s been some exciting fishing at the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and last week they had the first king mackerel of the year while this week has been an excellent week for Spanish mackerel and bluefish. They are getting tons of 16-19 inch Spanish, while bluefish are a range of sizes up to 3 or 4 pounds. Today the water has gotten muddy and so they are only catching whiting and croaker, but when it clears the Spanish should turn back on. They are also getting some keeper flounder.
Speaking of Spanish and blues, at the nearshore reefs both species are plentiful. They are being caught casting small spoons and Gotcha plugs, and when the weather is calm enough to get offshore the action is hot.

April 21
Morning surface water temperatures have made it into the low to mid-60s inshore around Little River, and there has been a lot of wind again this week.
Despite some unfavorable fishing conditions, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that there has actually been some very good fishing over the past two weeks.
The trout fishing has been good both inshore and at the jetties, and inshore they are catching fish arounds drop-offs in the Intracoastal Waterway. Live shrimp, Vudu Shrimp and Gulp! are all working but the key has been getting in some current.
At the jetties they are also catching redfish, and inshore the fishing has also been good for reds in 3-4 foot potholes back in shallow creeks. Fish can also be found around docks. The low to rising tide has been best.
There are also black drum being caught on cut shrimp around the rocks, and they will also eat live shrimp. You can also pick up some sheepshead on live shrimp, and both species will of course eat fiddler crabs. The low to rising tide has again been best.
Perhaps the most exciting development has been the return of the flounder, and in pretty much all the rivers they are starting to flood back in. Mud minnows or Gulp! baits will both work. If you want to find the best concentrations of flounder the Cherry Grove area is hard to beat.
Bluefish are also everywhere from the creeks to the jetties and beyond. Almost all of the fish are 18 inches and below.
Things continue to pick up at the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and the exciting development is that they are now catching a ton of keeper Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Croaker, whiting and a few sharks are also around. They are also getting some flounder but so far they have all been small. Reds and trout have not arrived.
At the nearshore reefs they are catching lots of weakfish on jigs by bumping the structure. You can also catch them on chartreuse and white Gulp! shrimp patterns or most any live bait.
Spanish mackerel fishing is also very good with casting spoons, and when the weather allows there is very productive fishing. You will also encounter a lot of blues fishing this way.

April 8
Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s inshore around Little River and with big winds and rains again this week the water has been pretty stirred up.
It’s been impossible to get away from wind and rain at the top of the South Carolina Grand Strand, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports they have made the best of it and gotten in some good fishing. They have been able to dodge the wind dock hopping along the Intracoastal Waterway around Little River, and with either live or fresh cut shrimp they are picking up some redfish. At higher tides the fish seem to move up on the docks.
The flounder have also started, including some keepers, and the reports from Cherry Grove indicate that they are showing up there early in good numbers like they usually do.
They are also picking up some trout drifting shrimp inshore around oyster shells and drops, but if you get into bluefish immediately switch over to metal spoons or you can run through a lot of expensive bait! They are also catching some trout on the rocks at the Little River jetties on moving tides with live shrimp under a slip float.
Things continue to pick up at the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), with croaker, whiting, lots of bluefish from 6-14 inches and keeper Spanish mackerel running up to the 15-inch range. They are also getting some flounder but so far they have all been small. Reds and trout have not arrived.
Wind has made it almost impossible to get offshore but at the nearshore reefs there should be weakfish and Spanish. The Spanish are also being caught trolling Clarks Spoons right off the beaches.

April 1
Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s inshore around Little River and with big winds and rains the water has been pretty stirred up.
Unpleasant weather conditions have made for some tough days at the top of the South Carolina Grand Strand, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that when they have been able to get out there has been some good fishing.
Lots of 18-20 inch bluefish have showed up recently, and if they are fishing for trout with live shrimp and start catching blues they immediately switch over to metal spoons like Hopkins Spoons or something similar to conserve precious live bait. They are also catching some redfish inshore in the marshes and Intracoastal, but they aren’t seeing the huge schools that were around in the colder months. There are also some random striped bass being caught in the ICW but that action has slowed down.
A few early flounder are being caught in the Intracoastal and Captain Smiley expects the Cherry Grove area marshes to really turn on first like they do every year.
Things continue to pick up at the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and in addition to whiting they are now getting lots of small bluefish, croaker and a few early keeper Spanish mackerel.
Perhaps the best area bite is coming in the Little River Inlet for trout by floating live shrimp under a slip float off the rocks on moving tides. There are also lots of blues at the jetties as well as some redfish.
Since the Spanish and weakfish have showed up around Murrells Inlet they should get to the reefs at the top of the coast very soon if they have not already. Again, wind has limited nearshore fishing.

March 17
Morning inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are up to the low 60s and conditions remain very clear.
Fishing continues to improve at the top of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that just this week they have caught a mixed bag of trout, black drum, and redfish as well as the first good flounder of the season!
Starting on the outside and working in, before the fishing started to pick up inshore they were heading out to the Caudle Reef when conditions allowed. They were getting good numbers of black drum as well as small black sea bass and bluefish on fresh cut shrimp fished on a heavy split shot rig right over the structure. They would also pick up the occasional sheepshead, but with fiddler crabs you will catch more.
Moving in towards the jetties, the action has been a little slow but Captain Smiley’s boats have been catching redfish drifting live shrimp – available at Perry’s in Murrells Inlet – along the rocks. The most bites have been coming about 20 feet out on a slip bobber, and the key is to adjust the depth until you find the fish. They have also picked up some sporadic fish on a paddletail swimbait.
The best trout catches have come in the Intracoastal Waterway, and off the ledges they are picking up some really nice fish. They are anchoring in 5-6 feet; on one side there is a flat and on the other side it drops off to 13 or so feet, and the key is to always cast into and fish the line of current. Live shrimp under a slip cork has been working very well but Vudu shrimp on the same rig or casting are also catching fish as are paddletail grubs. Be sure to add some Pro-Cure shrimp scent to soft plastics.
Finally, inside in the tidal marshes they have been able to creep up on a few reds and the occasional flounder in deeper holes. The best bite is coming around low tide, either rising or falling. Cut shrimp and mud minnows are working as is Gulp! on a jighead. They are occasionally seeing big schools of reds pushing water, and while they are seeing trout back there they are usually not biting.
There’s more improvement in the action at the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and they are starting to catch some nice whiting. There are also an assortment of small bluefish, croaker, sting rays and pufferfish being caught. Off the pier surface temperatures are about 59 degrees.

March 2
Morning inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the low to mid-50s and conditions remain very clear.
The fishing is just starting to pick up at the top of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly(843-361-7445) reports that with temperatures just a little bit warmer species like redfish are getting more active. They have had some decent days recently sight-casting for fish on the low to rising tides in skinny creeks when the water is just starting to come up. In contrast, docks are fishing very slowly.
They are seeing a ton of trout in the same areas, but it is harder to get them to bite.
There have been some inshore trout caught at the swing bridge, where there is a lot of structure in 6-13 feet for the fish to get around. Anglers are throwing Rapalas, Mirrolures and paddletail grubs and catching a mixed bag including trout, striper, and some reds. The same smorgasbord of species is also available at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club on the same baits.
There’s some marginal improvement at the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), where they are now catching some small bluefish, croaker, whiting and pufferfish. Off the pier surface temperatures are about 55 degrees on the top and 54 at the bottom.
Out at the Little River jetties Captain Smiley’s boat has caught some trout with live shrimp fished under a slip cork. Most of the fish are within 20 feet of the rocks. They have been fishing the falling tide, but moving water in either direction is really the key.
They have also caught some black drum and small black sea bass at the Caudle Reef on shrimp. While they have not picked up any sheepshead, if you have fiddler crabs you can catch them.

December 16
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are about 57 degrees and the water is pretty clear. Out in the inlet on the incoming tide there is beautiful blue water coming in.
Trout are all over the place right now, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they are catching them in the backs of creeks, on the ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway, and out at the jetties. Many of them are undersized but there are also plenty of better ones mixed in. Moving tides are still fishing the best and live shrimp under a popping cork are hard to beat. Chartreuse Vudu Shrimp are also working well.
Out at the jetties they are picking up plenty of sheepshead on live shrimp while trout fishing, and if you want to target them specifically use fiddler crabs.
The redfish and black drum are also biting pretty well in the shallower creeks, where the largest trout also seem to be, and on the incoming tide they are doing well with fresh cut shrimp around structure. Reds will also take Gulp!
There are also some big schools of redfish in the Intracoastal.
There is inconsistent action on the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) for croaker, whiting and pufferfish.

December 2
Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are about 58 degrees and the water is pretty clear. In skinny water it appears to be gin clear.
It’s been really good inshore fishing for black drum and redfish on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they are catching both species with fresh cut shrimp fished on the bottom in the Intracoastal Waterway. Fish are related to docks in about 7 feet of water as well as oyster beds, and on lower tides the reds are schooled up in only 1-2 feet of water around the ICW. They are very spooky and so casting artificials to them is tricky, but you can cast a piece of cut mullet nearby and wait for them to eat it.
The trout fishing is still really good in the area and Captain Smiley reports that the larger fish seem to be in the Intracoastal. Moving tides are important with the incoming fishing best. Live shrimp are the best bait, but a DOA Shrimp, Trout Trick or Vudu Shrimp will also catch fish.
There are still plenty of small flounder around.
It’s getting to be that time of year where it’s spotty fishing on the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and they are still having some times where the whiting fishing is really good but other days when they barely bite. They are also picking up some small black drum, flounder, croaker and perch.