May 8

Morning surface water temperatures are around 73 degrees at the mouth of Little River Inlet and bait is arriving. Menhaden are becoming more common and they are seeing more mullet, but bait-sized shrimp are not yet around.   

The inshore fishing continues to be strong at the north end of the Grand Strand, although Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that outside of the Cherry Grove area they aren’t seeing many big flounder yet. Black drum continue to be very consistent on low to mid-tides both on the rise and the fall around structure, with cut shrimp working very well. On low water redfish are still schooled up, and they are eating minnows or shrimp. They have even been able to sight-fish for reds at low tide, targeting them with both artificial lures and flipping mud minnows. 

While they are not really targeting trout because of concerns about the numbers, they did catch a 22 ½ inch fish recently and so there are certainly a few good fish around. 

Fishing off the beaches continues to improve, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that good numbers of 17-21 inch flounder are being caught. Additionally they are getting croaker, black drum and bluefish, but so far no king mackerel have been landed. 

Nearshore the bonito are gone in the warmer temperatures, but good numbers of Spanish mackerel and bluefish are around. Cobia should be arriving any day, but so far they have not seen them. There should also be some flounder on the reefs but Captain Buddy has not yet targeted them.

Buddy has been offshore trolling a good bit, and while the numbers of dolphin are decent – especially way out – they also had strikes from four marlin yesterday. They also caught a blackfin tuna. 

April 24

Morning surface water temperatures are around 67 degrees at the mouth of Little River Inlet and bait is flooding back in. Schools of mullet are starting to be seen as well as tons of small menhaden. 

Everything is getting better around Little River as temperatures approach 70, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that all the major inshore species are taking off. In addition to plenty of smaller fish they caught three nice flounder last week, with the best action coming on the falling tide at creek mouths with mud minnows.  At the last of the fall cut shrimp on the bottom are working very well for black drum around most any structure, while the rising tide has been best for trout. If you can get them live shrimp are far better than anything else and fishing them on a slip cork in 3-5 feet of water around creek mouths and oyster beds has been effective. It’s been interesting to see the great diversity in sizes of trout right now, ranging from some very small to large fish. Finally, redfish are mostly broken out of their large winter groups, scattering out, and feeding up. They aren’t too picky about baits and will eat around the tide cycle. 

Fishing off the beaches continues to improve, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that good numbers of bluefish and Spanish mackerel are being caught to go along with whiting and croaker. There are plenty of king mackerel fishermen out there trying to get a jump on the season. 

Speaking of kings, Captain Buddy reports that yesterday they caught their first king mackerel of the year while fishing nearshore for bluefish and Spanish mackerel. When you can get after them the bluefish and Spanish bite is absolutely fantastic, and even though bonito are dropping off there are still plenty around. Weakfish have been very rare. 

April 9

Morning surface water temperatures are around 67 degrees at the mouth of Little River Inlet but seeing low to mid-70s in the creeks is common during the day. 

The inshore fishing in the Little River area is chugging along, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that the exciting news is that the flounder have started to show up. They usually arrive in shallower inlets like the Cherry Grove area first, and already some keeper-sized fish are being caught there. In the creeks around Little River they have mainly been catching sub-keepers.

But still the best action is for black and red drum, with fish feeding pretty well around the tide cycle although the falling tide has still been slightly better than the rising. Most fish are being caught around oyster beds in 3-6 feet of water and dead shrimp has been working the best for both species. 

They are also picking up a few trout as a by-catch while pursuing other species, but honestly trying not to target them too much for now to allow the population to regrow.  

Fishing off the beaches continues to improve, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that whiting, flounder, croaker, black drum, and a few Spanish mackerel are being caught, as well as a large number of bluefish. 

Nearshore, Captain Smiley Fishing Charters reports that Spanish mackerel are just starting to show up but the bonito have arrived in really good numbers. They caught 21 trolling plugs and spoons one day this week. 

March 27

Morning surface water temperatures are around 61 degrees at the mouth of Little River Inlet and the water remains fairly clear.

The inshore fishing in the Little River area continues to be decent, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that about the biggest change this week is that with rising water temperatures croaker, pinfish and perch have moved in.  This can make it harder to fish shrimp baits, but is also a sign of better fishing ahead.

The best action is still for black and red drum, and two days ago they had an “epic” black drum day. Fish are feeding pretty well around the tide cycle, although the falling tide has been slightly better than the rising. Most fish are being caught around oyster beds in 3-6 feet of water and dead shrimp has been working the best for both species. 

Prospecting for trout they have caught a few healthy fish on live shrimp at the mouths of creeks, but it does seem like the numbers are down. 

This week a few more degrees have made a big difference off the pier, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports nice whiting, small croaker, occasional trout, and really good numbers of black drum ranging from 16-23 inches. 

At the nearshore reefs Captain Buddy reports that the Spanish mackerel and bonito have not quite showed up yet, although he did hear of a Spanish caught off the beach. They are still getting bluefish and more species should arrive very soon. 

March 20

Morning surface water temperatures are around 58 degrees at the mouth of Little River Inlet and the water remains clear.

The inshore fishing in the Little River area continues to be decent, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that the name of the game is drum right now. Both black and red drum are feeding pretty well around the tide cycle, although the falling tide has been slightly better than the rising. Most fish are being caught around oyster beds in 3-6 feet of water and dead shrimp has been working the best for both species. 

Prospecting for trout they have caught a few healthy fish on live shrimp at the mouths of creeks, but it does seem like the numbers are down. 

Once again a few more degrees should make a big difference, but for now the catch off the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is just croaker and whiting. 

Finally, it’s late for things to just be getting started at the nearshore reefs but Captain Buddy notes that they are finally able to jig up some bluefish. Usually by now they should be covered up in blues and more, but with water temperatures only about 58 things are definitely a little behind. 

February 27

Morning surface water temperatures are around 51-52 at the mouth of Little River Inlet and the water remains very clear.

It’s decent winter inshore fishing at the top of the South Carolina coast, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that they are still in the period where fish don’t feed as much as they will when temperatures warm just a few more degrees. Catching a half-dozen fish is a good day. 

The bulk of the catch is still black drum and redfish, but they are also picking up the occasional trout and seeing more. At this point it doesn’t quite “feel right” to target trout, especially with the certainty of kills to the north and uncertainty about the South Carolina population. They also look really lethargic sunbathing in the shallows and trying to warm up!  

Reds and black drum can both be caught in the same holes in the creeks on low tide, and of course there are still big schools of redfish back in skinny water. Black drum can also be caught around the tide cycle in 3-5 feet of water when there is current moving across structure. Interestingly, the best bait for both species is cut, dead shrimp right now instead of live shrimp or anything else. And fresh shrimp is not working as well as smellier bait that has been in the cooler for a day or two!

A few more degrees will make a big difference, but for now the catch off the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is just small whiting and croaker.   

Finally, while Captain Buddy has not been out there himself the nearshore reefs are holding sheepshead and black drum. However, the problem is that they are so covered up in small black sea bass that it can be impossible to fish for them. One guide friend caught 68 sub-legal sea bass on his last trip and never could hook anything else. In a few weeks bonito and weakfish should start to arrive.

February 13

Morning surface water temperatures are in the high 40s in the creeks around Little River and the water is very clear.

After some extreme low (and then high) temperatures we have returned to normal winter patterns at the top of the coast, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that it’s been a good winter inshorebite this week. 

The bulk of the catch has been redfish, and they have multiple schools that are producing way back in skinny water up the creeks. There are also some fish around docks and rock piles, and the jetties are a good target this time of year – especially with less fishing pressure. 

While fish won’t always bite, the last of the fall and beginning of the rise is the best time to fish. Cut shrimp have generally been the best bait, but fish can be finicky at this time of year and so the best bet is to have a bunch of baits available including live shrimp, cut shrimp, perhaps mud minnows, and a range of artificial lures. You also need to keep moving and looking for more active fish, because not every group of fish will eat every day at these temperatures.  

Black drum are mixed in with the reds that are on structure and will eat shrimp, and at the jetties there are sheepshead. Perhaps one in four or five is a keeper right now.

While they have not fished for trout at all, in part for conservation reasons, Captain Buddy has picked up (and released) a few incidentally and is looking forward to the spring trout fishing.  Friends in Morehead City, North Carolina report seeing hundreds of trout lying dead on the bottom of the creeks, but there is nothing like that on the Grand Strand.  Buddy is seeing good numbers of fish warming in the shallows, and while they look cold they also look healthy

January 29 

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low-40s in the creeks around Little River and the water is very clear.

While the temperatures are mostly in the lower 40s inshore at the top of South Carolina’s coast, Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that it’s not unusual to see shallow areas with temperatures only in the upper 30s right now. Which makes it all the more impressive that they continue to find a decent bite for three species!

Like everything the redfish are heavily schooled up, and while you can definitely sight-fish for them in skinny water they are finding the best action around structure. Rock, shell banks, and docks can all hold fish, and when you find one there are almost certainly more. However, don’t expect them all to bite in the cold conditions.

There are also some good schools of black drum around, and inshore they are relating the most to oyster beds. However, the biggest concentrations are at the jetties. Fresh cut shrimp is hard to beat.

While time will tell just how much of the trout population survived, they have been pleasantly surprised at the numbers of trout they have caught even since the snow. Like everything else they are in big groups, and schools could be found along creek banks, at creek mouths, or around shell beds. Live shrimp are available at some area tackle stores but they are also eating artificials. 

January 8

Morning surface water temperatures are around 48 degrees in the creeks around Little River and the water is very clear.

It’s an interesting time for inshore fishing at the top of South Carolina’s coast, and Captain Buddy Love of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that – like largemouth bass fishing in the winter – the fish don’t have to feed every day and certainly not on every tide. Additionally, most if not all species are extremely grouped up, all of which makes for some really feast-or-famine fishing. The result is that they have had some outstanding days and then some days where they feel lucky to scratch out a few fish. 

With the tide cycles recently the falling tide has been most conducive to fishing, and they have been catching redfish, black drum, sheepshead, and a few trout. For some reason the trout seem to feed a lot better on the rising tide, and so if we can get back on that cycle and it’s not too cold the trout should bite better – particularly around creek mouths. 

Right now everything they are catching is coming around structure like docks, shell beds, or rock in 5-8 feet of water, and most of the time fresh cut shrimp on the bottom is working the best.  They have also picked up some redfish on artificials like Gulp! and Vudu shrimp. The jetties are also holding fish. 

There are also some schools of redfish on the skinny water flats, but again they will have to wait for a well-timed rising tide cycle to fish that or else get stuck!

Perhaps the most important consideration for fishermen is to try to target the warmest periods each day, and it can be extremely noticeable how on a day that starts off very cold the fishing can turn on when water temperatures bump into the low 50s. At those times even croaker and perch will start biting, showing that many species haven’t left but are just feeding when it’s warm.

Finally, along those lines check out this two-plus pound flounder caught over the Christmas break!  While most of the better flounder leave in the winter some obviously don’t – as Captain Buddy sees gigging in the dead of winter…