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.

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.

January 21
Water temperatures have ranged from about 48-52 over the last week, and water conditions are gin clear in the creeks.
Despite the really cold temperatures, the fishing has been excellent on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that if you have some good spots the redfish and black drumare very willing to eat. Fish are highly schooled up, and they can be found around deep holes in the creeks on low tide and dock piling on higher tides. However, you need some current to catch fish as 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.
The trout have also been biting pretty well, and Captain Smiley’s boats have been catching them drifting the ledges or out at the jetties. Live shrimp have been the ticket for catching trout, although they will also hit Vudu Shrimp and paddletail grubs.
Out at the jetties anglers can also pick up redfish fishing shrimp under a slip float, and fish can also be caught on a split shot rig and a #4 hook. Again, you need current moving in either direction for the ledges or the jetties to be productive.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is closed for renovations.

January 6
Water temperatures are in the upper 40s and lower 50s and water conditions are gin clear in the shallows when there isn’t a bunch of recent rain.
On some parts of the South Carolina coastline artificial lures are out-fishing live bait, but on the north end of the Grand Strand Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that there are plenty of trout to be caught – if you have live shrimp. It is very hard to get bites on artificial lures. With shrimp trout seem abundant, including some big fish up to 20 plus inches, and the jetties seem to be holding the most trout.
Creek mouths close to the inlet are also holding trout, as are creek mouths close to the ocean. However, the main run of the ICW is a trout desert.
Redfish are in a typical winter pattern, and they are up shallow feeding on the low incoming tide – especially if you can catch a low tide in the warmer part of the day. The best place to look for them is in the potholes and surrounding ditches with 2-4 feet of water where they will school up. Casting pretty much any artificial lure will work but Gulp! or small paddletail grubs have been really good.
In holes, around deeper docks, and at the jetties there are also plenty of black drum that can be caught on live or fresh dead shrimp. There have been good numbers of fish in the 17-19 inch range.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is closed for renovations.