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The newest Southern Grand Strand fishing report, updated September 15, can be found at: http://www.anglersheadquarters.com/ahq-insider-southern-grand-strand-sc-fall-fishing-report/
September 5
Water temperatures in the Murrells Inlet area are in the lower 80s and clarity has been very good – before the storm.
The annual bait run is taking place right now, and along the beaches to the north of Georgetown mullet and menhaden from finger-size on up to a pound or more are running – at times only a few feet from the shore. Following and feeding on them are a variety of species, including tarpon, sharks, bluefish, drum and more. You can certainly fish cut or live bait on the bottom, but the best bet for tangling with a big blacktip or spinner shark, or a silver king, is to cruise the beaches and look for large fish crushing the bait. Once you find the action cast a large, live menhaden or mullet on a circle hook 5-6 feet under a float. And then hold on!
– photos courtesy of Associated Press
Spanish mackerel are also thick in 15 plus feet of water; follow the birds to locate them.
August 31
Water temperatures in the Murrells Inlet area are in the low to mid-80s.
Fall is starting to arrive along the south end of the Grand Strand, and Captain J of Fishful Thinking Guide Service (843-902-0356) reports that the bull red drum are just starting to show up. A few fish are already being caught around the tips of the jetties on cut or live mullet and menhaden, and as the season progresses more and more will arrive. Black drum are also biting well around the jetties on cut shrimp, and they also continue to be caught in the inlets.
Early in the morning there has been some good trout fishing on topwater lures, but the live bait fishermen are waiting for the pinfish to leave so that they can fish the way they want to.
Flounder fishing inside Murrells Inlet has picked up, especially at the top of the outgoing tide. However, all summer long the fish have been smaller than usual. There have been some really nice flatfish caught at the reefs, including a 27-inch, 7-pounder off Captain J’s boat.
For the last couple of weeks there have been some big Spanish mackerel caught at the reefs. They have also been caught trolling live mullet, menhaden or artificial lures close to shore.
Tarpon reports have been strong.
On the offshore side, Georgetown Landing Marina (843-546-1776) reports that they have had some bottom fish hit the docks as well as good numbers of wahoo, some blackfin tuna and the occasional king mackerel.