Winter Fishing

This is Captain Jordan Pate with your Winter fishing report for the Myrtle Beach area. Im happy to report the inshore fishing has been fantastic as we continue to experience a mild Winter. Water temperatures are hovering around 50 degrees and redfish have been a reliable option particularly on the warmer days with ideal tides. Seatrout are also biting good along the coast from Little River to Murrells Inlet. Redfish continue to school in the shallow estuaries while sea trout are still holding in the deeper areas of the creeks and inlets from 4-10feet of water. 

Winter is perhaps my favorite time of year for fly fishing the Myrtle Beach area since it provides some of the best sight fishing of the year. The water clarity is best in the colder months and redfish tend to school up as they forage the shallow water for small shrimp, crabs, and minnows. Crab and shrimp pattern flies have been the hot ticket lately. We are primarily throwing 8-9wt outfits using floating line with 8-12lb leader. I like to drop down leader size in clear water but careful not to go too light due to abrasion against oysters. 

For spin fisherman, soft plastics are always a reliable option when fishing in the Winter months. One of my favorite winter plastic baits is the DOA Arkansas Glow rigged on a 1/4oz jig head. This is also a great option for sea trout as long as it is retrieved slowly along the bottom. 

I expect the excellent fishing trend to continue as long as we avoid any prolonged freeze. Redfish will continue their shallow water schooling patterns until April or May. Flounder will begin to show back up in the creeks over the next 8 weeks and sea trout will also be a good option until mid Summer. Sheepshead are also beginning to really bite good at the nearshore reefs which is a great option thru March or April. 

If you are visiting the Myrtle Beach area later this Winter or Spring and would like to try some inshore fishing, feel free to give me a call or contact me thru the website. 

Thanks for reading!

-Captain Jordan Pate

843.814.7900

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FLy Fishing Captain Jordan Pate

 

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