November 12

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River dropped to about 59 degrees but have now rebounded to about 62. 

This is the prime time for trout fishing on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that catches have been really good. The best fishing continues to be on the low to rising tide, but they will also bite on the outgoing. Overall having some current is still key, whichever way it is moving, and on the slack tide fish usually won’t bite. The trout are still around shell beds near the edge of spartina grass in about 6 feet of water in creeks off the IntraCoastal. Live shrimp have been working the best, but chartreuse-colored Vudu Shrimp have also been good. 

The action for redfish has also been good in the creeks, and – while the fish will also take live bait – Gulp! in new penny colors has been working really well. In the inlet they are catching some fish over the slot. 

The flounder fishing is still pretty good on both sides of the state line. The best action has come on flats with live mullet or Gulp! baits.   

Big black drum are still being caught on shrimp or crab baits off the Tilghman docks. 

While the Spanish mackerel have disappeared, Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are in the middle of a really good whiting run. They are also catching some croaker, pompano, and slot-sized red and black drum. 

Conditions have been so windy that it has limited fishing at the nearshore reefs, but there should be bluefish, bid red drum and some flounder on the bottom.

November 4

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are 68 degrees and on the incoming tide the water is a pretty blue. 

The trout fishing is picking up on the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the best fishing has been on the low to rising tide but the outgoing has also fished pretty well.  Having some current has been key, whichever way it is moving.  The fish have been around shell beds near the edge of spartina grass in about 6 feet of water in creeks off the IntraCoastal. Live shrimp have been working the best, but paddle tail Bass Assassins or Vudu Shrimp have also been good. 

There have also been some redfish in the same areas. 

The flounder fishing has been really good recently, and they have been catching a bunch of 15-23 inch fish on both sides of the state line. The best action has come on flats with live mullet or Gulp! baits.   

Big black drum are being caught on shrimp or crab baits off the Tilghman docks. 

At the jetties there are trout around as well as smaller redfish in the rocks, but the cold front has probably pushed many of the larger red drum out. However, there are undoubtedly still some that will take live or cut menhaden. 

It’s been a pretty outstanding bite for Spanish mackerel off the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), which reports that anglers are limiting out on 12-16 inch fish jigging. They are also catching decent numbers of pompano, bluefish, croaker, whiting, spots and small flounder. 

At the nearshore reefs there are lots of small Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and some flounder on the bottom.

October 20

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are 74 degrees and bait including mullet is everywhere.   

Fall fishing has arrived to the north end of the South Carolina coast, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that while the numbers are not here yet they have caught some very large trout including the 28-inch, 8-pound fish pictured below. Live shrimp are the ticket and more trout will soon arrive.

While the flounder bite has been decent on finger mullet on a Carolina rig, the inshore redfish action has been very good around the grass lines with mullet or shrimp. Bluefish can also be caught on the inside, and throwing topwater plugs can make for some very exciting action. 

With the mullet also prolific at the jetties and in the surf you can catch reds about everywhere, and they are catching some nice bull reds surf fishing with cut bait. There are also some smaller reds in the rocks at the jetties that will eat finger mullet, while the bigger drum seem to be staying a little further off the rocks. Fishing menhaden on a Carolina rig has been the best way to catch these bulls.

There are also a bunch of bluefish in the inlet and around the jetties smashing finger mullet, and Spanish mackerel are hit-or-miss in the same areas. 

The surf is just starting to clear up again, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they have had a few king mackerel this week as well as lots of Spanish mackerel jigging. There have also been some nice pompano caught as well as a few spots, but they are not really running yet. 

Surf temperatures off the pier today are 73 degrees. 

At the Jim Caudle Reef they are catching nice flounder on live finger mullet, and there are also a bunch of 18-20 inch bluefish around. 

October 7

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are 78 degrees. 

While much of the action has been in the inlet, Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that with a ton of bait around the inshore fishing has also been strong the last week or so. While you have to release fish caught in North Carolina waters, there has been some good flounder fishing with live finger mullet on a Carolina rig.  In the Intracoastal Waterway they are also catching some good redfish on cut mullet or live ones, and on lower tides they are also catching shallower redfish on the flats.  At higher tides they are locating them around structure like docks in the Intracoastal or along grass edges.  

The big black drum that were around last week have vacated, but there have been smaller ones in the same 15-20 foot areas inside the main channels. Shrimp or crabs will work. 

Inshore the trout fishing has still not really turned on, but floating live shrimp along the ledges has been decent. There have also been some fish caught at the jetty rocks. 

In the surf the fishing has been outstanding recently, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that in the last 24 hours as the water has gotten dirtier the spots have been biting furiously. Every day this week they have had king mackerel, usually after lunch time, and the Spanish mackerel have also been biting well.  They have also picked up plenty of whiting, bluefish, and even a few red drum. 

Surf temperatures off the pier today were also 78 degrees. 

In the Little River Inlet they are still catching red drum in the 30-40 plus inch range even though the bite has been a little more up-and-down, and cut menhaden have been key this week. The fish have been towards the end of the rocks or in some of the well-known 30-foot holes. 

With acres of mullet still around at times Captain Smiley also reports that along the beach or right outside the inlet there are still lots of big Spanish mackerel around chasing the mullet. You can catch them on big topwater plugs or live chumming with mullet and then doing a bait-and-switch!

Even though he hasn’t been offshore this week, at the Jim Caudle Reef there should still be lots of flounder as well as bluefish and Spanish mackerel.

September 29

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are about 77 degrees. 

It’s a really good time to fish in the Little River area, and from inshore to the inlet to the beaches to nearshore it’s getting to be a strong fall bite. Perhaps the most exciting bite is in the Little River Inlet, and big red drum in the 30-40 plus inch range are being caught. The incoming tide has been the best time to fish and live or cut mullet and menhaden will both work. 

Further inshore they are also catching redfish and very good numbers of black drum in a little deeper water inside the main channels, typically in 15-20 feet.  Both species will take shrimp and crabs, while the live menhaden or mullet will catch redfish. 

On lower tides they are also catching shallower redfish on the flats, while at higher tides they are locating them around structure like docks in the Intracoastal or along grass edges.  

The trout bite inshore has been decent with live shrimp fished under a float along the ledges, and fish can also be caught on slip floats at the jetties. 

There’s not a lot of change in the flounder fishing, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that live mullet on the bottom as well as Gulp! baits are both working. 

For the last few days the fishing off Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) has been very strong, and yesterday they had three king mackerel caught as well as some big Spanish mackerel on the king rigs – including a 6 pound 2 ounce fish! They are also catching some smaller Spanish jigging. Today the water was a little dirtier, but it should get back to clear very soon.

Occasional keeper flounder and drum are being caught, as well as some whiting, spots, and croaker. However, the fall run of these species has not started in earnest.

Surf temperatures off the pier today were 79 degrees.  

Unsurprisingly considering the catches at the pier, Captain Smiley reports that along the beach or right outside the inlet there are lots of big Spanish mackerel around chasing the mullet. You can catch them on big topwater plugs or live chumming with mullet and then doing a bait-and-switch!

At the Jim Caudle Reef there are lots of flounder as well as bluefish and Spanish mackerel.

September 17

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped in the upper 70s. 

The North Carolina flounder season ended this week, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the brief season was a mix of good days and bad days. Now that they are back to only fishing South Carolina waters for flounder they are having similar, patchy success – but there are definitely still some fish to be caught. 

Probably the best thing going inshore is the redfish, and using live finger mullet they are catching lots of 18-30 inch fish.  On lower tides they are catching fish on the flats, while at higher tides they are locating them around structure like docks in the Intracoastal or along grass edges.  

The trout bite inshore has been decent with live shrimp fished under a float along the ledges, and while Pat has not targeted them out there they should also be at the jetties. 

It’s getting to be an exciting time in the surf, and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that in the last 24 hours they have had a couple of king mackerel and some large Spanish mackerel on the king rigs. They are catching some smaller Spanish jigging. The only flounder caught recently have been small, while whiting, croaker and a few spot are around. 

With mullet going down the beach there are also lots of 2-5 pound Spanish mackerel on the shoals near the jetties.  They can be caught on live bait or any walk-the-dog style topwater plug. There are also some big drum in the inlet that can be caught on cut mullet, cut bluefish or live mullet on the bottom.

One good way to fish is to put out baits on the bottom and then cast for Spanish.

There are also some tarpon at the jetties. 

September 2

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped to about 82 degrees and with all the wind clarity has dropped. 

Because the north end of the South Carolina Grand Strand pushes up against the North Carolina border, when it makes sense Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) likes to fish both sides of the state line. With the opening of the two-week flounder season in North Carolina this week, this was one of those times he likes to target North Carolina state waters. Howver, even though they caught a lot of fish most were in the 14-15 ½ inch range and getting a 16-incher was rare. 

Probably the best place to target bigger flounder is at the nearshore reefs, but conditions have been so rough this week that wasn’t really possible. 

Note that effective July 1 SC flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat (from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

The hottest bite continues to be for redfish, and the best action continues to come on higher tides when fish are feeding on large schools of finger mullet in and around the edges of the grass. Naturally the best bait is mullet, and if you find areas where the redfish are feeding the bite can be really strong. Sometimes you want to put baits inside the grass, and sometimes the fish are feeding just along the outside the grass line. 

They have also caught some redfish around docks, and there have also been some trout around the docks too. Trout are also being caught on live shrimp fished under a slip float out at the jetties. Fish are often about ten feet off the rocks.

Before the storms fishing was very good off the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), but when the storm came through on Tuesday the water got dirty and the fishing really dropped off. They had one king mackerel at the beginning of the week, but since then the catch has only been a few croaker and whiting.  

It’s been too windy to get offshore this week.

August 25

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid-80s. 

This week there’s no doubt the hot bite on the north end of the Grand Strand is for redfish, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the best action has come on higher tides when fish are feeding on large schools of finger mullet in and around the edges of the grass. Naturally the best bait is mullet, and if you find areas where the redfish are feeding the bite can be really hot. Sometimes you want to put baits inside the grass, and sometimes the fish are feeding just along the outside the grass line. 

There are also some trout being caught along drops in the Intracoastal Waterway and around shell beds, with live shrimp the ticket. They are also catching trout on live shrimp fished under a slip float out at the jetties. Fish are often about ten feet off the rocks.

The black drum fishing has been slow, but there are some flounder being caught in deep holes in the marshes or along the same grass edges where reds are feeding. While live finger mullet are working, jigging Gulp! jerk shad has been just as good and sometimes better. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

While you can catch some flounder insides the creeks, if you want to get into the big ones the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is the place to be! In addition to plenty of smaller fish, even with only limited numbers of anglers targeting them some monster flatfish have been caught. They have had two 7.3 pound fish as well as one 6.5 pound fish in the last few days, caught midway along the pier. 

Lots of croaker, good numbers of whiting and too many small sea robins have also been caught.

While they are not getting any kings right now, lots of big Spanish mackerel have been caught on the king mackerel rigs.

Clarity in the ocean depends on whether the tide is coming in or going out, and water temperatures are about 84 degrees. 

Out at the jetties there have been a ton of sharks and some big drum are on the bottom.

August 5

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are around 84 degrees. 

It’s been a good week for trout on the rocks out at the jetties, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that live shrimp under a slip float rig are working very well. They are also picking up some black drum this way. 

Inshore they are still catching trout on live shrimp under a popping cork along grass lines, and topwater plugs are also working well in the morning. 

The action for redfish has also pretty good, although the large schools of mullet seem to have pushed out a bit with the rains and aren’t running the banks in the same numbers. Still, cut mullet, live finger mullet or even topwater baits along grass lines on higher tides have been working. Fishing has been especially good when the water first starts coming out of the grass. There have also been some reds caught around docks. 

While tide cycles affect the bite from week to week, inshore flounder fishing remains good along the South Carolina/ North Carolina border. While live bait will certainly work, the best results have actually been coming on white Gulp! jerkshad. The fish are a little easier to hook on the artificial bait. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

When other species aren’t biting kids’ camp can still count on plenty of croaker and smaller black drum being caught inshore with fresh cut shrimp on a #4 hook.  

The water is a little milky, but Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that they are still getting several nice 3-5 pound Spanish mackerel every day even though kings have been absent recently. They have also had some giant trout in the 5 plus pound range each day, as well as some big flounder. There are also lots of croaker, whiting and small spadefish. 

While there should still be flounder, spadefish, Spanish and more out at the reefs, the ocean has been so rough recently that it’s been hard to get out there. Just today there were 4-5 foot rollers at the jetties. 

July 28

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped a little to about 83 degrees. There is tons of bait around including shrimp, mullet and more.

One major change this week is that Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that the inshore flounder fishing has really picked, particularly along the South Carolina/ North Carolina border. While live bait will certainly work, the best results have actually been coming on white Gulp! jerkshad.  The fish are a little easier to hook on the artificial bait. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

It’s also a good time for trout on topwater plugs in the morning with so much bait around, and they are also still getting good action out at the jetties or inside the creeks along grass lines with live shrimp. At the jetties they are fishing them off the rocks under a slip float rig, while inshore popping corks along grass lines have been the ticket.  

The action for redfish is also pretty good, and with large schools of mullet running the banks fishing cut mullet, live finger mullet or even topwater baits along grass lines on higher tides have also been working. Fishing has been especially good when the water first starts coming out of the grass. There have also been some reds caught around docks. 

When other species aren’t biting kids’ camp can still count on plenty of croaker and smaller black drum being caught inshore with fresh cut shrimp on a #4 hook.  

The water is still pretty dirty, but Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) is pleased to report that they have had several king mackerel and some big Spanish mackerel up to almost 6 pounds caught on the king rigs recently.  There have also been a decent number of keeper-sized flounder, trout and some bluefish caught recently, as well as plenty of croaker and whiting. A few sheepshead have also been landed. 

At the nearshore reefs there is still good flounder fishing around the edge of the structure, and Carolina rigs on the bottom with live mullet or menhaden will both work. 

There are also some spadefish and a few Spanish mackerel around at the reefs, as well as a lot of sharks.

In the Little River Inlet there have been some big redfish caught on menhaden, and there are also lots of Atlantic Sharpnose sharks around.  Truthfully everywhere is pretty “sharky” right now.

July 21

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid- and even upper 80s.

Kids’ camp is a success with plenty of croaker and smaller black drum still being caught inshore with fresh cut shrimp on a #4 hook, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they are also getting good action from trout which can be caught out at the jetties or inside the creeks along grass lines with live shrimp. At the jetties they are fishing them off the rocks under a slip float rig, while inshore popping corks along grass lines have been the ticket.  

 

The action for redfish has also picked up a little, and with large schools of mullet running the banks fishing cut mullet, live finger mullet or even topwater baits along grass lines on higher tides has been working. Fishing has been especially good when the water first starts coming out of the grass. There have also been some reds caught around docks. 

While the water is starting to clear, it’s still pretty dirty and Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that the pier catch is still mostly limited to whiting and croaker. They have had a couple of keeper flounder today but not much else. 

Speaking of flounder, while inshore flounder fishing has been slow (the action seems to be a little better in North Carolina) at the nearshore reefs there has been some decent flounder fishing. The best flounder action is usually around the edge of the structure, and Carolina rigs on the bottom with live mullet or menhaden will both work. Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat (from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

There are also some spadefish and a few Spanish mackerel around at the reefs, as well as a lot of sharks.

In the Little River Inlet there have been some big redfish caught on menhaden, and there are also lots of Atlantic Sharpnose sharks around. Truthfully everywhere is pretty “sharky” right now. 

July 9

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are in the mid-80s, and while the surf is dirty it is unclear how much yesterday’s tropical storm will affect water conditions inshore.

For the past couple of weeks Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) has been doing a kid’s fishing camp on his boat, and even though the fishing hasn’t been off the charts inshore there have been plenty of fish to bend a rod. There are lots of croaker and small black drum around, and they are hungry. There have also been some redfish and a few trout caught around docks and grass lines, and one trend is that the low to rising tide has been by far the best. 

There are also some improved reports for flounder in the Hogg Inlet area of Cherry Grove, and again the low to rising tide has been the best. 

Note that effective July 1 flounder regulations changed, with a new limit of 5 fish per person (from 10) and 10 per boat(from 20). The minimum size moved to 16 inches (from 15). 

In the Little River Inlet there have been some big 40 plus inch drum caught, and with so many croaker in the creeks these have made good live bait on the bottom. There are also plenty of sharks and stingrays out at the jetties, and if you float live shrimp off the rocks there are some trout around. 

A day after the storm Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that the water has gotten dirty, and today the catch has been pretty much limited to whiting and croaker.  Even before the storm the Spanish mackerel catch had been a little slow due to dirty water, but they had been catching some flounder and some really nice trout up to 6 ½ pounds. Conditions should improve again very soon.

Out at the reefs they are catching some flounder, Spanish mackerel, and too many small black sea bass. The best action for flounder is usually around the edge of the structure, and Carolina rigs on the bottom with live mullet or menhaden will both work. You can also fish a one-ounce bucktail.  For Spanish you can fish live bait on the surface on a short wire leader with a treble hook and catch fish. 

You can also chum over the structure to pull up spadefish. 

June 23

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River have dropped just below 80 degrees, and with all the wind recently the water has been pretty stirred up.  

Quite honestly it’s been a tough couple of days of fishing as the storm blew through, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that in the past week there has been some good action and it should get back there again soon.

Inshore there are plenty of black drum and redfish being caught on the bottom with live or cut shrimp, and on low tide they are in small depressions while on higher tides they have been around grass, oyster beds and even docks this week. 

While the flounder bite has been slow inshore, a massive influx of croaker has kept lines tight and is very good for keeping children happy.  The croaker are about everywhere and will take cut shrimp on the bottom, and there have been some good ones mixed in. 

In the Little River Inlet there are a few trout and redfish being caught in the rocks floating live shrimp under a slip float, and there are also a ton of sharks around now that the water has gotten warm. 

As the water has gotten very dirty it’s also been a slower couple of days off Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), but they are still catching a slow trickle of spot, croaker and whiting. Sunday there was a good catch of trout on live shrimp. In the last week or two there have been a few Spanish mackerel caught before the water got really nasty, but the kings have been absent. In the next few tide cycles they expect the water to clear up and better fishing to return. 

Perhaps the best action is out at the reefs, and this is certainly the case for flounder. To target the flounder you want to get a little off the reef and cast, and a variety of live baits will work.  However, with so many other species around sometimes artificials such as Vudu Shrimp, Gulp! or bucktails are a better way to target flatfish.

There are also a lot of generally smaller cobia on the reefs, and for them you often want to get right over the reef and drop down live croaker, pinfish or another big bait. Spanish mackerel and some kings are also around, and the reefs are also covered up in Atlantic Sharpnose sharks.  

June 9

Inshore surface water temperatures around Little River are up to 78 degrees. Shrimp are now big enough for bait. 

Fishing at the jetties has been really good recently, and Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that floating live shrimp about 5 feet under a slip cork 15-20 feet off the rocks they have been doing really well for trout. Ladyfish and bluefish are also out there, but for some reason they are not getting many redfish on the live shrimp rigs. 

If you fish on the bottom with cut menhaden there are plenty of sharks as well as some big drum around, and there have even been some tarpon sightings.

Inshore fishing is about the same and there are plenty of smaller trout being caught around grass lines and ledges, and small reds and black drum are eating well in 4-foot holes in the shallow creeks on the low rising or low falling tide. On high water the fish are hard to find in the creeks. Redfish seem to want mud minnows more than shrimp right now, while black drum will devour shrimp. 

Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that there continue to be really good catches of spot as well as some croakerand whiting caught off the pier. Even though the spot are doing very well they will only eat blood worms. In addition to tons of small sharks, stingrays and some bluefish, they are also getting decent numbers of flounder, with a keeper ratio of about 50/50.  

It’s been tough sledding for Spanish mackerel and king mackerel since the water got dirty, but they should return when it clears.   

Surf water temperatures are 77 degrees. 

While inshore flounder fishing has been slow in South Carolina, at least for big fish, Captain Smiley reports that 2 ½ miles out there are plenty of keeper flounder at the nearshore reefs. Usually the second week of June is a better time for big flounder inshore. 

Cobia can still be found at the nearshore reefs, and they are being caught on live menhaden, pinfish or most any small baitfish.  King mackerel are also around about 10 miles out.