[Captain C.T.]

Grand Strand

Sheepshead catches around the Murrells Inlet jetties or most any inshore structure remain strong; fish inside the south jetty wall on lower tides. Black drum catches have picked back up inside Murrells Inlet in the last week. The mouth of Oyster Cove and the docks below the mouth of the Garden City Canal are good spots. Fiddler crabs available at Perry's Bait and Tackle are a choice bait for both species and cut or live shrimp will also work.

Perry's Bait and Tackle reports that the flounder bite continues to be strong in Murrells Inlet-area creeks, but the number of fish caught each day is still down from June. However, the average size of fish continues to get bigger. Mud minnows trolled in the inlet are producing well, particularly on the falling tide, and there are also good flounder being caught around the jetties. Both standard Carolina rigs and double rigs will work. Visit Perry's for the best sized mud minnows on the Grand Strand.


Catches of keeper red drum remain consistent, and on higher tides the fish will move alongside and then into the grass. Mud minnows, live mullet and cut shrimp will all work. Bull red drum continue to be caught on the end of the south jetty from two hours before dead low tide until one hour into the rising tide. Fresh cut mullet, bluefish or menhaden are the best bait - bull drum don't like to chase live bait but instead wait for baitfish to be cut up by bluefish or Spanish mackerel.

At the south end of Garden City Beach some nice sized pompano are being caught on shrimp or sand fleas. Around Litchfield Beach and at a swash a mile from the Surfside Pier are also good areas. One angler reported catching 11 pompano off Surfside Pier a few days ago.

Small speckled trout are being caught off the beach early in the morning near the north jetty wall. There have also been some trout reports from Surfside Beach. Live shrimp or mud minnows under a popping cork will both work.

A few bluefish are still around and whiting are also being caught in good numbers; spot are also in the area. Spanish mackerel fishing is slow. See the pompano report.

Nearshore: Good. At the 3 Mile Reef king mackerel are biting well, especially early in the morning. Live menhaden worked best a couple of days this week but generally properly rigged cigar minnows are the best bait because they can be trolled faster.

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