August 23
Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid- to upper-80s, and even though the water has been really murky the past few days Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that it has not slowed the action. Overall it’s been a really good summer in the Little River/ North Myrtle Beach area, and as we move towards fall there is a very healthy shrimp population. Netting bait at low tide is easy.
There have been some really nice black drum caught this week, including a big eight-pound fish caught yesterday on live shrimp. The best action has been on the falling tide along deeper ledges in about 12 feet of water in the channels and the Intracoastal Waterway. There have also been some good fish caught around docks.
Redfish have been eating live shrimp fished up shallow on the flats under a popping cork, with the best bite on the falling tide. A lot of the fish have been over the slot, but sub-15 inch fish are also pretty plentiful.
A few flounder have been caught here and there on live finger mullet and Gulp! new penny shrimp and swimming minnows. The best bite for flounder has been on the low to rising tide in deeper holes in 5-10 feet of water.
Most of the trout that Captain Smiley’s boats have picked up have been very small, and overall the bite has been pretty slow the past couple of weeks. When they do catch trout it’s usually at creeks mouths or the edge of oyster beds on moving tides. Live shrimp or Vudu Shrimp under a popping cork will both work. Remember that SCDNR is asking anglers to practice catch and release of all spotted seatrout through the end of September. To read the full news release click here.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) reports that a few whiting, croaker and sheepshead have been caught off the pier. Overall conditions have been really muddy and there have been no king mackerel or Spanish caught.

Jay A’Hern
Angler’s Headquarters (www.AnglersHeadquarters.com)
P.O. Box 50225
Columbia, SC 29250
jay@usfishingreport.com