May 26

Morning surface water temperatures are about 71-74 degrees around Little River and the water is still pretty dirty with all the wind. 

With windy conditions it’s been all about the inshore fishing the last week or two at the top of South Carolina’s coast, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that the flounder fishing has been pretty good if a bit inconsistent. It seems that because of the fronts and wind some days they bite well and some days they do not, but yesterday even though they only caught 8 fish they had an impressive 5 keepers.

In general the falling tide has been best, and fish are feeding in 3-8 feet of water around creek mouths and oyster beds. Mud minnows are working but some finger mullet are also showing up and producing.  

They are also catching a few redfish in the same areas on mud minnows, cut mullet and sections of blue crab. On cut mullet they caught a monster 41 ½ inch fish this week and on a crab they had a 37 ½ inch bull. With crab you can also catch black drum, but with most of them running a little on the smaller side cut shrimp are working better. 

You will also pick up the occasional trout on mud minnows, and they are averaging 3 or 4 each day. If you had live shrimp you could slay them, but shrimp are hard to net right now. 

While they have picked up a rogue Spanish mackerel or two in the creeks, if you could get off the beaches in 20-25 feet there are plenty. However, it’s been too rough this week. 

May 11

Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s around Little River and the water is still pretty dirty with all the wind. 

It’s been a good week for Spanish mackerel just off the beaches, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that some days he has caught 25 or more trolling Clarks Spoons. When you see balls of menhaden it’s also worth casting at them, and you also have a good chance at picking up some good bluefish running up to about 5 pounds. 

When it’s calm the fish seem be stacked up out to about 25-30 feet of water, and interestingly the few times he has been able to get out there Buddy has found more fish off the beaches than at the nearshore reefs. But mostly though it’s been too rough to fish the jetties or nearshore, and so it’s hard to know exactly what’s out there right now.   

Inshore they have been catching a good number of black drum in typical trout holes back in the creeks, and the best bite seems to be on cut shrimp in 5-8 feet of water. They are also picking up some good-sized trout, almost always in singles, floating shrimp in creek mouths. The keepers are very scattered out right now.

There are also a few scattered redfish around the banks which can be caught in skinny water on the last of the falling tide, but they have not been jumping in the boat. That leads guides to believe there aren’t a ton of them around right now, but another factor is that this week the tide cycle wasn’t good for them. More redfish seem to be coming just over the border in North Carolina. 

Finally, they are catching a few flounder in the creeks right now including a 20-incher on one charters. They are in their normal summer spots in holes and the skinnier backwaters. Mud minnows are working very well and catches should only go up as more fish arrive.

May 5

Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s around Little River and the water quality is very bad after all the wind.

Some larger trout have been showing up at the top of the coast this week, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that they have caught fish up to 24 inches. The key is live shrimp, and the best place to fish is creek mouths in 3-8 feet. It doesn’t matter if the tide is rising or falling, but it has to be moving.  Black drum have also been in the same areas eating the same bait, although they will also take fresh cut shrimp. 

There are also flounder scattered everywhere right now, especially in the Intracoastal Waterway and at creek mouths. The tide hasn’t made too much of a difference, but they do seem to be catching a few more on the falling tide. Mud minnows are working great, but the crabs are so bad right now that artificial lures like Gulp! are sometimes less frustrating.

Unfortunately redfish have been a little rare recently, but they are picking up the occasional one drifting shrimp. Reds may also be feeding better on low water which they have targeted less often. 

The jetties are also holding redfish and black drum, but it’s been too windy to get out there.  The same is true for the nearshore reefs, and when they were last able to get out to the 3-Mile a week ago it was covered up in bluefish and Spanish.   

April 21

Morning surface water temperatures are around 65 degrees around Little River.

The Spanish mackerel fishing is on fire this week, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that from the beaches out to about 5 miles offshore they are wearing them out. Fish are running up to 3-4 pounds, and the numbers are excellent. Spoons are working very well. 

At the nearshore reefs there are also bonito, summer trout, bluefish and more around. 

The flounder fishing has picked up with better weather this week, and there continue to be a good number of flounder in the creeks. As the snot grass disappears they will get easier to target on the bottom.  

Trout are being caught at creeks mouths, along banks and at the jetties. Fish are biting on both the rising and falling tide, as long as there is moving water. The best depth range has been 5-8 feet of water.

While they are catching some fish on Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! and even on the fly, live shrimp is hard to beat.  

There are black drum mixed in with the trout being caught on the same live shrimp, but you can probably pick up more black drum fishing on the bottom with fresh cut shrimp. The best concentrations are also a bit deeper in 10-15 feet of water. 

Unfortunately most of them are small right now.

A few redfish are being landed as well, mostly on low tide in skinny water or holes. Some are also being caught around creek mouths on the dropping tide when everything is being flushed out of the creeks. The fish are generally now in medium-sized schools on low water. 

Fresh cut shrimp is also working the best. 

April 10

Morning surface water temperatures dropped drastically after this weekend’s rain and cold weather to about 60 degrees around Little River.

When you can get out to the nearshore reefs the fishing is phenomenal right now, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that 3-5 miles offshore there are tons of Spanish mackerel, bonito, summer trout, bluefish and more around. They aren’t seeing mackerel and bonito schooling on the top quite yet, but both species will take spoons. Trout seem to prefer Gulp! baits fished slowly on the bottom.

Cooler weather temporarily hurt the inshore bite over the weekend, and today on the water they had to work to catch trout and flounder. Still, there seem to be a surprisingly good number of flounder in the creeks because they are catching them just on float rigs without really targeting them. The snot grass is still prevalent and makes it hard to fish on the bottom. 

Trout are being caught at creeks mouths, along banks and at the jetties. Fish are biting on both the rising and falling tide, as long as there is moving water. The best depth range has been 5-8 feet of water.

While they are catching some fish on Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! and even on the fly, live shrimp is hard to beat.  

There are black drum mixed in with the trout being caught on the same live shrimp, but you can probably pick up more black drum fishing on the bottom with fresh cut shrimp. The best concentrations are also a bit deeper in 10-15 feet of water. 

Unfortunately most of them are small right now.

A few redfish are being picked up as well, mostly on low tide in skinny water or holes. Some are also being caught around creek mouths on the dropping tide when everything is being flushed out of the creeks. The fish are generally now in medium-sized schools on low water. 

Fresh cut shrimp is also working the best. 

March 30

Morning surface water temperatures range from about 60-64 degrees around Little River, and even though the water got dirty clarity is now improving again. 

Spring is arriving at the top of the coast, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that an exciting new arrival this week were flounder. So far most of the fish are sub-16-inch males, but the bigger females won’t be far behind them.

The most consistent thing going is still the trout bite. While the keeper ratio is slightly up this week, they are not seeing as many monster fish. 

They are catching trout at creeks mouths, along banks and at the jetties. Fish are biting on both the rising and falling tide, as long as there is moving water. The best depth range has been 5-8 feet of water.

While they are catching some fish on Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! and even on the fly, live shrimp is hard to beat!

There are black drum mixed in with the trout being caught on the same live shrimp, but you can probably pick up more black drum fishing on the bottom with fresh cut shrimp. The best concentrations are also a bit deeper in 10-15 feet of water. The jetties have been good for black drum. 

A few redfish are being picked up as well, mostly on low tide in skinny water or holes. Some are also being caught around creek mouths on the dropping tide when everything is being flushed out of the creeks. The fish are generally now in medium-sized schools on low water. 

Fresh cut shrimp is also working the best. 

3-5 miles out the nearshore fishing is fair when you can get out there, with some Spanish mackerel, bonito and bluefish around. There are also getting to be a ton of bluefish in the creeks.  

March 22

Morning surface water temperatures are about 57-60 degrees around Little River, and due to all the wind the water is fairly dirty.  

The fishing has picked up at the top of the coast, and Captain Buddy Love with Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that the most consistent thing going is the trout bite. Some bigger fish are also beginning to arrive.

They are catching trout at creeks mouths, along banks and at the jetties. Fish are biting on both the rising and falling tide, as long as there is moving water. The best depth range has been 5-8 feet of water.

While they are catching some fish on Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! and even on the fly, live shrimp is hard to beat!

There are black drum mixed in with the trout being caught on the same live shrimp, but you can probably pick up more black drum fishing on the bottom with fresh cut shrimp. The best concentrations are also a bit deeper in 10-15 feet of water.  The jetties have been good for black drum. 

A few redfish are being picked up as well, mostly on low tide in skinny water or holes. Some are also being caught around creek mouths on the dropping tide when everything is being flushed out of the creeks. They are not seeing big groups of reds anymore. 

Fresh cut shrimp is also working the best. 

The weather has made nearshore fishing tough, but at the last warm patch a few Spanish mackerel showed up. They should return as it warms again. Bluefish, sheepshead and black drum are also around. 

March 9

Morning surface water temperatures are about 60-62 degrees around Little River and the water clarity is still very good.

The fishing has picked up a little at the top of our coast, and Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that there is a very good trout bite at the jetties and on the ledges in the IntraCoastal Waterway.  The key continues to be live shrimp, which can be bought from Perry’s Bait and Tackle in Murrells Inlet, and they are drifting the shrimp on float rigs. 

They are also picking up some redfish at the jetties, but the best place to target the redfish is in shallow holes in the creeks at low tide. They are also excited to be catching some very early flounder. 

There are still some good keeper-sized black drum being caught off the Tilghman Docks. Fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom in 18-20 feet are working. 

The days when you can get nearshore aren’t frequent, but small black sea bass, bluefish and various reef fish are all around. 

February 24

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s around Little River and the water clarity is still very good.

The fishing has been a little inconsistent at the top of the coast, but Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that they are catching some trout at the jetties, in the Intracoastal, and in the creeks. The key continues to be live shrimp, which can be bought from Perry’s Bait and Tackle in Murrells Inlet. 

There are also some redfish at the jetties, but they aren’t thick and you have to have the time and location right. Live shrimp is probably the best bait for reds too, but if you can’t suspend live shrimp under a cork you can also fish fresh cut mullet on the bottom. Gulp! will also work – scent is important.

While the reds should also be inshore in their winter haunts like the pot holes and low tide flats, they have been a little hard to find. 

Note that if you know where to look there are still some mullet around, and live mullet can be dynamite for reds and trout.  

There are still some good keeper-sized black drum being caught off the Tilghman Docks. Fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom in 18-20 feet are working. 

On days when you can get out nearshore, small black sea bass, bluefish and black drum are around. Sheepshead should also be there but they have not caught any recently.

February 2

Morning surface water temperatures are in the lower 50s around Little River and the water clarity is still very good.

It’s a pretty stable time of year at the top of the Grand Strand, and Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that live shrimp continue to out-fish everything else. They can be bought from Perry’s Bait and Tackle down in Murrells Inlet, and they are working the best for redfish and trout, while black drum will eat live or fresh dead shrimp.  

The best place to catch trout has still been on the ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway, and the fish are biting baits presented under a slip cork. Redfish can be caught in the same areas, but they are also being caught inside the creeks in the shallow potholes. The best time to catch them is the low incoming tide, but outside of that the latter half of the falling tide can also be good. 

Finally, there are some good keeper-sized black drum being caught off the Tilghman Docks. Fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom in 18-20 feet are working. 

January 19

Morning surface water temperatures are around 52 degrees inshore around Little River and the water clarity is still very good.

It’s a pretty stable time of year at the top of the Grand Strand, and Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that the key to catching fish remains… shrimp. Live shrimp from Perry’s Bait and Tackle down in Murrells Inlet are working the best for redfish and trout, while black drum will eat live or fresh dead shrimp.  

The best place to catch trout has been on the ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway, and the fish are biting baits presented under a slip cork. Redfish can be caught in the same areas, but they are also being caught inside the creeks in the shallow potholes. The best time to catch them is the low incoming tide, but outside of that the latter half of the falling tide can also be good. 

Finally, there are some good keeper-sized black drum being caught off the Tilghman Docks. Fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom in 18-20 feet are working. 

January 5

Morning surface water temperatures are around 51 degrees inshore around Little River and the water clarity is very good.

There has been some really good fishing at the top of the South Carolina coast this week, and Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that in particular they have found a strong trout bite. On the outgoing tide they have found good action inshore in the smaller creeks, and then at low the Little River jetties have been productive fishing over the rocks. They have also caught black drum, small sheepshead, and redfish on low at the jetties. Then on the rising tide they have found the best action back inshore fishing the ledges in the Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to a few keeper trout they have found tons of sub-14 inch fish in the waterway. 

The key to everything has been live shrimp, and the hike down to Perry’s Bait and Tackle in Murrells Inlet has been worth it. While the fish will bite artificial lures like Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! and Zman scented plastics, the action is much faster on live shrimp. Black drum seem just as happy with fresh dead shrimp on the bottom. 

The other major pattern right now is sight-fishing for redfish, and in the clear conditions you can find the fish inside the creeks stacked up in the shallow potholes. The best time to target them is on the low to rising tide.