SC Grand Strand fishing report for late July

Grand Strand fishing report is good for multiple species

The late July heat doesn’t seem to be hurting the fishing along South Carolina’s coast too much. Some species are hot some days and not so hot other days. But plenty of fish are biting, and even the most desirable species are biting at some point during each day.

Specks, redfish in Little River

Capt. Patrick Kelly of Capt. Smiley Fishing Charters in Little River said small pieces of cut shrimp are catching lots of croaker and black drum. Live shrimp is producing some good speckled trout action at the jetties with slip float rigs, and along grass lines in the creeks with popping corks.

Kelly said the redfish are also cooperating, especially on live finger mullet and topwater lures. He said fishing along grass lines at higher tides, and as the tide is just beginning to fall out of the grass are good choices. Docks are also producing some redfish.

Apache Pier fishing report includes variety of species

One of the hottest fishing spots on the S.C. coast right now is the Apache Pier. Big Spanish mackerel, big black drum, and hefty flounder have been coming over the rails. And the king mackerel bite is heating back up. Doug Jones recently caught a 25+ pounder, and Logan Thorpe put a 31.5 pounder on the planks in the past few days.

Mixed bag out of Murrells Inlet

The fishing has been plenty hot out of Murrells Inlet for offshore and inshore anglers. Capt. Justin Witten of Ambush Charters has put his anglers on big numbers of king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, amberjacks, cobia, and groupers when venturing offshore. On inshore trips, they’ve loaded up with keeper sized flounder. The speckled trout, black drum, and redfish are also biting sporadically.

Bull redfish in Georgetown

Slightly farther south in Georgetown, the jetties are packed with bull redfish. Capt. Rod Thomas of Capt. Ponytail Charters is keeping his clients busy reeling in some of the biggest redfish they’ll ever see. Chunks of cut bait anchored on the bottom with big sinkers and short leaders has been the ticket.

Thomas expects this bite to last well into the fall. This is one of the best places in South Carolina to catch the biggest fish of your life, and right now is a great time for it.