We’ve been enjoying some fantastic weather and some really good fishing the last few weeks in the Myrtle Beach area. As a more stable weather pattern settles in, inshore fishing has really improved and we’ve seen some great catches of trout, redfish, and flounder. Water temperatures are now reaching into the 70’s and I’m starting to see lots of baitfish and shrimp return to the creeks and inlets which is usually a good indication of the presence of larger gamefish like cobia, red drum, flounder and sea trout. Trout fishing has been the best option for the last few weeks and when weather allows, the nearshore wrecks are loaded with spawning Grey Trout(a cousin of speckled trout) which we are catching using a variety of artificial lures and live bait. Most of the trout we’re catching are large females in the 5-8lbs range.
Further back in the creeks, redfish are beginning to break up into smaller schools and locating big numbers has been challenging. Most of the redfish we’re catching on our fishing charters are juveniles in the 16-18in mark but I expect to see a good push of breeder size redfish any day now. Flounder have also started showing up in good numbers the last couple of weeks, but most of the flounder we are catching are below the minimum size limit which is currently 14in. For anyone flounder fishing in South Carolina waters this year, please take note of any changes in the size limit as the state will be increasing the size limit to 15in at some point this year.
For anyone who may be considering a fishing charter in Myrtle Beach in the coming weeks, please contact me well in advance to ensure you can get on the water during optimal tides.
-Capt. Jordan Pate
