May 25

Morning surface water temperatures are up to about 74 degrees in Murrells Inlet and all the wind has the water muddy.   

It’s still all about the flounder in Murrells Inlet, and Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that with conditions too rough to get out to the jetties and look for redfish or trout, or head to the nearshore reefs, they are very thankful for flukes!

Of course the keeper ratio is still low, and most days about one out of ten fish is over 16 inches. They are still catching fish around the tide cycle as long as you keep moving to likely spots, but moderate tides are usually the best. Most of the fish seem to be in 1-6 feet of water in typical early summer spots and mud minnows have been working very well.  Gulp! baits have also been productive. 

Remember that flounder, like all fish, don’t eat 24 hours a day, and so don’t expect to get a bite on every cast. Certainly there are peak feeding times, but in general if you are getting a couple of bites every thirty minutes you are doing well.

 

When the wind lays down nearshore there should be Spanish mackerel and bluefish should be getting closer in, and with menhaden pods getting closer to the beaches it shouldn’t be long until people start picking cobia or kings out of them. 

May 11

Morning surface water temperatures are around 70 or 71 in Murrells Inlet and the water is usually a pretty green. 

There were more major tournaments for flounder Friday and then Saturday on the Grand Strand, and Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that on Saturday he threw his hat in the ring. About a four-pounder won Friday and a fish over five won Saturday, and Tom didn’t catch either of those. But he did catch about 25 flounder, and lost about the same number. However, keepers are very rare right now.  But he may or may not have hooked a doormat, as it’s hard to know what a big fish that gets off in the creeks is – and he had several. 

There are obviously a ton of flounder around and more seem to be moving in each day, and so you can basically catch them around the tide cycle as they look for haunts where they can ambush bait. In general moderate tides are the best, dead tide is okay, and very heavy current is the worst – but even on very strong tides they are catching some fish. Most of the fish seem to be in 1-6 feet of water in typical early summer spots. 

Live bait is hard to beat. 

There haven’t been many trout or redfish caught in the creeks recently, but bluefish are keeping the bait shops in business selling mud minnows. 

The jetties seem to be slow right now but with all the wind it’s hard to know too much about the bite outside the creeks. 

Nearshore Spanish mackerel and bluefish should be getting closer in, and with menhaden pods getting closer to the beaches it shouldn’t be long until people start picking cobia or kings out of them. King mackerel were already showing up about 12 miles offshore last week.

May 5

Morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 60s in Murrells Inlet. 

There was a major tournament for flounder last week on the Grand Strand, and another today and another tomorrow, but Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) is optimistic that the fish won’t be feeling too heavily pressured right now since from Sunday to Wednesday the wind blew 30 miles per hour or more. He is still catching them on all his spots around the tide cycle, and they are taking both live bait and artificials. 

At the same time there has not been a lot of news on trout or redfish inside the creeks, although there have been some catches out at the jetties for both.   Of course, this is always a tough time on the inside for both species. There are tons of bluefish inshore though. 

Nearshore Spanish mackerel and bluefish are starting to get closer in, and with menhaden pods getting closer to the beaches it shouldn’t be long until people start picking cobia or kings out of them. King mackerel are already showing up about 12 miles offshore. 

April 21

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-60s in Murrells Inlet. 

It’s been a big week for flounder fishing on the south end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that he is catching fish casting at pretty much all of his spots right now. And while usually he prefers to fish either side of low tide, the bite has been so good that he has been catching fish around high tide too.

The catch is that the keeper ratio is very low right now, and usually you get about 12 fish under 16 inches for every one over 16. However, that percentage should improve in the coming weeks.   

It’s still a transition period for redfish, and they are still making their way down the creeks and out of the skinniest water and starting to think about feeding again. They will be moving around a lot looking for good places to eat and so anglers need to do the same. At times they will head into the ocean looking for food, and so the jetties can be a good place to target them.  There have been no reports on trout inshore, but the jetties are also a good place to look.

While at times they are too heavily pressured to fish very well, a cornucopia of species is passing through the nearshore reefs, wrecks and live bottom areas. Bonito seem to have mostly come and gone, but bluefish, Spanish mackerel, weakfish, redfish, black drum and more are all around at times. 

Finally, with menhaden pods starting to show up they are optimistic that cobia and king mackerel will arrive before too long. 

April 11

Morning surface water temperatures are around 60 in Murrells Inlet. 

As the weather improves later this week Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) is optimistic that the fishing will pick up. Flounder are creeping back into the area, but as the snot grass breaks up it can be tricky to troll for them. One trick is to get out of the current where there is less grass flow, and you can also fish minnows under a bobber.  Of course, avoiding current and fishing off the bottom will usually decrease your catch but there can be no alternative. 

This is always a transition period for redfish, and as other species and baitfish arrive the dolphin become less monomaniacal about devouring them and so they can come back down the creeks and out of the skinniest water and start thinking about feeding again. They will be moving around a lot looking for good places to eat and so anglers need to do the same.  At times they will head into the ocean looking for food, and so the jetties can be a good place to target them.

Speaking of the jetties trout should be all over them, and they will also be on shell banks in 3-8 feet of water.  Live shrimp are still hard to beat. Bluefish should also be feeding all over the jetties, and hopefully the sheepshead will show up again soon. 

March 22

Morning surface water temperatures remain in the low 60s in Murrells Inlet. 

There’s no change to report this week on the south end of the Grand Strand, and Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that the black drum should still be anywhere from about 5-25 feet with 10-20 feet still producing the best.  They are in current flowing over holes and depressions, and both shrimp and crabs will work for them. Right now the bite is usually very subtle so it’s important to keep your line tight. 

While Tom has not targeted the trout they should still be in deep sloughs and sandy bottoms near oyster bars, and shrimp, available at Perry’s, is probably still out-fishing artificials. About 4-8 feet has been the best depth range, and usually the bait is 2-4 feet below a cork. Typically you need current but sometimes the fish have been biting right at low water. 

The redfish remain all over the place, sometimes on the shallow flats or related to oysters in a foot or two of water, and at other times in the middle of the creeks.  They aren’t too picky about what they eat but live shrimp are also working very well.  

March 9

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 60s in Murrells Inlet. 

We only have limited reports this week from the south end of the Grand Strand, but Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that the black drum are still anywhere from about 5-25 feet with 10-20 feet still producing the best.  They are in current flowing over holes and depressions, and both shrimp and crabs will work for them. Right now the bite is usually very subtle so it’s important to keep your line tight. 

While Tom has not targeted the trout they should still be in deep sloughs and sandy bottoms near oyster bars, and shrimp, available at Perry’s, is probably still out-fishing artificials. About 4-8 feet has been the best depth range, and usually the bait is 2-4 feet below a cork. Typically you need current but sometimes the fish have been biting right at low water. 

The redfish are still all over the place, sometimes on the shallow flats or related to oysters in a foot or two of water, and at other times in the middle of the creeks.  They aren’t too picky about what they eat but live shrimp are also working very well.  

February 24

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 50s in Murrells Inlet. 

It’s still good fishing in Murrells Inlet, and Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that black drum can be found anywhere from about 5-25 feet but 10-20 feet is usually the best at this time of year. They seek out current flowing over holes and depressions, and both shrimp and crabs will work for them. Right now the bite is usually very subtle so it’s important to keep your line tight. 

The trout continue to be in deep sloughs near oyster bars and over sandy bottoms again near oysters, and once again shrimp, available at Perry’s, are significantly out-fishing artificials. About 4-8 feet has been the best depth range, and usually the bait is 2-4 feet below a cork. Typically you need current but sometimes the fish have been biting right at low water. 

The redfish are all over the place, sometimes on the shallow flats or related to oysters in a foot or two of water, and at other times in the middle of the creeks.  They aren’t too picky about what they eat but live shrimp are also working very well.  

February 16

Morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-50s in Murrells Inlet. 

Until the last couple of days weather has recently presented some challenges for fishing along the Grand Strand, but Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that overall the fishing is still very good. 

The biggest change this week is that Tom is starting to target black drum, and he notes that they can be found anywhere from about 5-25 feet but 10-20 feet is usually the best at this time of year. They seek out current flowing over holes and depressions, and both shrimp and crabs will work for them. Right now the bite is usually very subtle so it’s important to keep your line tight. 

The trout continue to be in deep sloughs near oyster bars and over sandy bottoms again near oysters, and once again shrimp, available at Perry’s, are significantly out-fishing artificials. About 4-8 feet has been the best depth range, and usually the bait is 2-4 feet below a cork. Typically you need current but sometimes the fish have been biting right at low water. 

The redfish are all over the place, sometimes on the shallow flats or related to oysters in a foot or two of water, and at other times in the middle of the creeks.  They aren’t too picky about what they eat but live shrimp are also working very well.  

February 2

Morning surface water temperatures are around 54 degrees in Murrells Inlet. 

Despite a little bit tougher trip yesterday in Murrells Inlet, Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that overall the fishing is still remarkably good. There’s no doubt that January has been better than October and November. With temperatures getting very cold this Saturday and Sunday that could change, but overall it’s been a very productive month plus – and they hope it stays that way.   

The big trout continue to be in deep sloughs near oyster bars and over sandy bottoms again near oysters, and 4-8 feet has been the best depth range. While artificials may work, shrimp are easy to get at Perry’s Bait and Tackle and they definitely seem to be out-fishing lures. Usually the bait is 2-4 feet below a cork. Typically you need current but sometimes the fish have been biting right at low water. 

The redfish are all over the place, sometimes on the shallow flats or related to oysters in a foot or two of water, and at other times in the middle of the creeks.  They aren’t too picky about what they eat but live shrimp are also working very well.  

The most surprising catch yesterday was that Tom caught several 13-14 inch flounder on live shrimp. It would seem an aberration to get flounder at the beginning of February, but lots of people are reporting the same. 

January 20

Morning surface water temperatures are in the low 50s in Murrells Inlet and this week the water has been dirtier. 

It continues to be a shockingly good January bite in Murrells Inlet, and Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that the fishing continues to be much better than expected. The last few times out he has caught big trout up to 20 inches and good numbers on live shrimp. The best areas seem to be deep sloughs near oyster bars and sandy bottoms again near oysters, and 4-8 feet has been the best depth range. Usually the bait is 2-4 feet below a cork. Typically you need current but recently the fish have also been biting right at low water. 

Yesterday Tom was surprised not to catch any redfish, but generally they are around. He is certainly seeing some on the shallow flats or related to oysters in a foot or two of water, but there have also been times where they are just out in the middle of the creeks. 

The jetties continue to be disappointing for all species. 

January 6

Morning surface water temperatures are about 50 degrees at the Murrells Inlet jetties and 53 degrees inshore and the water is as clear as the Caribbean. 

It took long enough, but Captain Tom Cushman of Cush’s Calmwater Charters (843-997-5850) reports that the fishing on the lower end of the Grand Strand finally seems to be dramatically improved. It’s mostly a mystery why the fishing didn’t pick up until early January, when it is usually starting to slow down, but right now there seem to be good numbers of both trout and redfish in the area. The trout are also big.

For both species the key seems to be fishing with live shrimp, available at Perry’s, but the trout are suspending higher in the water column while the reds seem to be running the bottom. The best pattern for trout has been fishing the bait under a cork in 3-8 feet of water around oyster bars, and moving water at mid-tide has been the best.

The redfish are biting the best in slower-moving current with baits on or near the bottom. 

Both species are grouped up in pods. 

The one disappointment is that the fishing at the jetties has been slow. It’s still worth looking out there but recently Tom has been skunked around the rocks and had to come to the warmer water inshore to find fish.