Are you just aching to get your line in the water? Now is an excellent time for fishing the myriad of Hammock Coast waterways. While the water’s still warm, cooler weather offshore starts pushing the fish inland. Grab your rod and reel, and head to the coast for late summer action.
Where to Fish
Murrells Inlet. Winyah Bay. Waccamaw, Black, Great Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee, and Sampit rivers. Those are just a few of the spots where fishing enthusiasts find the fish. Anglers with a boat can explore many fishing holes, and there are marinas and boat ramps where you can get in the water.
The North Causeway on Pawleys Island is a popular spot for shore fishing. The north beach and around the jetty at Huntington Beach State Park are another go-to fishing hole, as are the jetty rocks around Murrells Inlet.
For charters, Pawleys Island Guild Service offers expert guided Eco-tours, in-shore and inland fishing excursions through the area’s backwaters and saltwater estuaries.
Booking a property with creek access gives vacationers a prime spot for fishing and crabbing. Our six-bedroom Dolphinview home offers guests access to Pawleys Creek and the Atlantic Ocean. Altman House, a five-bedroom property, also has access to both the creek and ocean.
What to use for Bait
Mullet and shrimp make excellent bait for surf and pier fishing. Throw a cast net for mullet and minnows to use for cut bait. For speckled trout and redfish, try artificial shrimp and grubs. For inshore boating, try soft plastics and floating live baits. On offshore charters, your guide will know what the fish are biting.
When to Fish
The stereotype of a fisherman getting up before daylight rings true. Early morning fishing remains the best time to entice fish.
What to Catch
This time of year, red drum, sea trout, flounder, black drum, bluefish, ladyfish, and sharks take the bait. Offshore, target billfish, wahoo, tuna, Mahi, King, and Spanish mackerel and amberjack. In backwaters and saltwater estuaries, search for redfish, trout, flounder, tarpon, black drum, and sheepshead. If you’re surf fishing, bull drum and large sea trout run the beaches and inlets during late summer/early fall.
What to Know
A South Carolina fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older unless you are fishing from a public fishing pier. No need to worry if you book a charter fishing trip. The price includes a fishing license.
