As August presses on and early September approaches, the inshore waters around Myrtle Beach settle into one of their most consistent and energetic rhythms of the year. The weather is hot, the tides are strong, and the backwaters are full of life. For the fisherman who knows how to read this season, late summer offers excellent fishing conditions with a wide range of species available and patterns that become more predictable by the day.
Late summer is not a carbon copy of early summer. It is a culmination of the season. The baitfish are thick, the predators are aggressive, and the fish that have been scattered and opportunistic earlier in the year begin to follow stronger and more repeatable cycles. For those willing to work with the tides, temperatures, and shifting forage, this is one of the best windows of the year to fish inshore.
Summer Heat and Shifting Patterns
Late summer water temperatures in Myrtle Beach often reach the upper 80s and hold steady through early September. These high temperatures influence everything. Baitfish activity becomes more condensed around tide-driven movement, fish metabolism rises, and the demand for oxygen forces many species into areas with flowing water and access to depth or shade.
The best fishing typically occurs during the earliest and latest hours of the day. Morning brings a reliable topwater bite across the grass flats and around creek mouths, especially on the outgoing tide. Redfish and trout push bait against edges, and flounder position near outflows to ambush anything flushed out. By mid-morning, most fish retreat to deeper, more oxygen-rich water. The middle of the day is slower, but fishermen who focus on docks, bridges, or deep creek bends can still find a steady bite.
Tides remain a key influence. Unlike spring when fish may feed more freely throughout the day, late summer feeding windows are narrower and more dependent on water movement. Fishing a weak tide usually produces little, while matching your strategy to a rising or falling tide can mean fast action and steady hookups. Fishermen who read the structure and adjust their timing accordingly will have a major advantage.
What Species Are Active in Late Summer and How to Target Them
Redfish
Redfish are present all year in Myrtle Beach, but late summer is one of the best times to target them aggressively. These bronze-bodied fish with one or more black spots on the tail thrive in shallow water when the tide pushes bait into the grass. On an incoming tide during early morning hours, redfish can be found tailing in flooded marsh or cruising mudflats with their backs just below the surface.
Sight casting with soft plastics, weedless spoons, or live finger mullet works well in clear, calm water. When visibility is low or the tide is dropping, redfish shift to creek drains, oyster points, and deeper grass-lined banks. Cut bait such as mullet or menhaden fished on the bottom becomes more effective during these periods. Their willingness to feed in very shallow water makes redfish a top target during the peak of summer heat.
Speckled Trout
Speckled trout remain a popular and productive inshore target in late summer. They are easily identified by their long, lean shape, silver scales, black spots, and sharp teeth. These fish prefer moving water and tend to stage near current seams, creek mouths, and deeper grass lines with steady flow.
Morning is prime time, especially with lower light. Fishermen using walk-the-dog topwater baits can draw aggressive strikes from trout pushing shrimp or glass minnows near the surface. As the sun rises, switching to soft plastics on jigheads, twitch baits, or live shrimp under corks will produce consistent bites. Larger trout often hold deeper and closer to structure, while smaller fish school up around more open current.
Trout feed aggressively in late summer but can become finicky with heavy pressure or high sun. Matching your presentation to the conditions and adjusting depth and speed often makes the difference between a slow day and a solid catch.
Flounder
Flounder are ambush predators with a wide, flat body and both eyes on one side of their head. Their camouflage and stealthy nature make them a rewarding but sometimes difficult fish to target. In late summer, they remain active inshore and are found along sandy creek mouths, drain edges, and channels where bait is pushed by the tide.
Fishermen target them using live finger mullet, mud minnows, or soft plastic jerkbaits rigged on jigheads. The key is to keep the bait moving slowly and close to the bottom, bouncing or dragging it over structure. Flounder tend to hold near hard edges and transitional bottom where current moves over a defined drop or flat.
They feed well on both the rising and falling tide, especially where bait is concentrated. Late summer offers some of the last consistent inshore flounder fishing before the majority of fish begin to migrate toward offshore staging zones later in the fall.
Black Drum
Black drum look similar to redfish in body shape but can be recognized by their darker stripes and slower movement. They feed primarily on the bottom using a downturned mouth to root for shrimp, crabs, and small shellfish. In late summer, smaller black drum are common in creeks and near docks, while larger individuals begin to show up closer to deep structure and jetties.
Dead shrimp, blue crab chunks, or sand fleas fished on a Carolina rig are excellent bait choices. The bite is often subtle, so fishermen using sensitive rods or braided mainline will have better hookup success. Black drum fight hard and pull deep, making them a strong option for fishermen looking for a challenge that does not require speed or long casts.
They feed best when water is moving and tend to hold in places where current bends around structure or funnels through constricted channels.
Tarpon
Tarpon are the ultimate prize in late summer inshore fishing around Myrtle Beach. Known for their immense size, silver scales, and explosive jumps, these fish are rare but catchable during a short window from mid-August to early September. Most are found near bait schools along inlets, surf-facing channels, or deep holes that connect marsh systems to the ocean.
Hooking a tarpon typically involves live bait such as large mullet or menhaden presented near large schools of forage. Fishermen use heavy gear, long fluorocarbon leaders, and circle hooks to give themselves a chance at landing one of these giants. Sightings are unpredictable, and the window for action can be short, but those who connect with one will never forget it.
Tarpon do not stay in the area long. Once September ends, they move south with the water temperature drop, making late summer your last opportunity for the year.
Terrain Breakdown: Where the Bites Happen
Myrtle Beach offers a wide range of inshore fishing environments, and each reacts differently during late summer. Flooded grass flats are ideal for redfish on incoming tides. These areas provide cover for baitfish and crustaceans, and redfish push deep into them looking for a meal. Fishermen who approach quietly and cast ahead of moving fish are often rewarded with visual eats in just inches of water.
Creek mouths and drain points are flounder hotspots. These areas act as bait funnels, concentrating shrimp and small mullet as the tide falls. Fishing slowly along the bottom through these funnels with jigs or natural bait produces consistent flounder strikes.
Oyster bars and shell banks serve as structure for both trout and redfish. When the tide rises, baitfish move over the tops of these bars, and predators line up along the edges. The key is to work your bait along the edge rather than over the top, which reduces snags and keeps your presentation in the strike zone.
Inlet edges and surf-side creeks see more tarpon movement and larger predators like big redfish or jacks. These deeper cuts allow access to cooler water and larger bait concentrations. Using live bait or large profile lures fished deep along current seams is often the best approach.
Docks, rock walls, and other hard structures come into play during the heat of the day. Fish hold under the shade, and fishermen who can pitch baits under cover or skip along shadows can pull redfish, black drum, or even flounder out of surprisingly tight areas.
Tactics That Match the Season
Late summer requires both awareness and restraint. It is not about speed or noise. Successful fishermen slow down their retrieve, match their bait profile to the hatch, and learn when to wait for fish to show rather than force the action.
Topwater baits are excellent at dawn but should be swapped out quickly once the sun breaks over the horizon. Live bait becomes more valuable, especially during slack water or slower moving tides. Mullet and shrimp are the top choices, rigged under corks or fished with just enough weight to reach the bottom.
Soft plastics scented with natural attractants can outfish traditional lures when the water is hot and the bite is delicate. Shorter casts, longer pauses, and more controlled movement all perform better during this season.
Gear should be adjusted for abrasion resistance around shell and structure. Lighter braid and longer fluorocarbon leaders offer both stealth and strength. The ability to place a bait quietly and exactly is more important than being able to bomb it across the flat.
Patterns That Define Late Summer Success
Fish are still feeding in late summer, but they are no longer chasing blindly. They move with the tide, follow bait, and hold in places that offer oxygen, food, and security. Recognizing bait behavior becomes essential. If shrimp are skipping across the surface, something is pushing them. If mullet are stacked tight against a bank, something is nearby watching.
Redfish and trout follow schools from flat to point, and flounder wait on the edges. Tarpon lurk near deep holes, following the smell and sound of nervous bait. Each of these patterns exists daily, but they shift based on wind, weather, and tide. The best fishermen adapt rather than repeat.
Making the Most of the Late Summer Window
Late summer is a season built for confident, capable fishing. It is not for the fisherman who wants luck. It is for the fisherman who understands that precision, patience, and planning catch more fish than casting volume. The water is alive, the fish are eating, and the structure is holding.
Book a late summer inshore fishing trip with Myrtle Beach Guide Service and take advantage of a window that rewards the fisherman who shows up prepared. There is no better time to match your knowledge against the tide and bring home results.
