As the summer days get hotter, the fishing around Pawleys Island also heats up. Along the remote stretches of the coast, you'll find some of the best waterways for fishing. The tidal marsh, inlets and bays are prime spots for flounder, specked trout, redfish, and black drum. Local experts weigh in on tips for fishing this time of year.
Late-summer Fishing Tips to Reel 'em in
First, fish in early morning hours. Aside from beating the heat, cool temps and low sun offer the best opportunity to get your line in the water while fish are biting. Redfish for example, hit best in the early morning or late evening. Tarpon can be found around the Winyah Bay jetties and up in the Waccamaw River.
Book a charter with a pro. Pawleys Island Guide Service provides an experienced captain, fishing licenses, and rods, tackle, and bait. Their charter trips head into the rivers around Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, and Pawleys Island. Carolina Guide Service offers carters for anglers of all ages and skill levels. These are light tackle and fly-fishing excursions, also with everything provided. Harvest Moon Fishing Charters specializes in redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and tarpon.
If you don’t book a fishing charter, be sure you get your South Carolina fishing license. You can purchase online or by mail. Nonresidents can get a seven-day saltwater license for $35. A one-day license is $10. Children under 16 years of age don’t require a fishing license.
Anglers with their own boat can explore many fishing holes, and there are marinas and boat ramps where you can get in the water.
No boat? No problem. The North Causeway on Pawleys Island is a popular spot for shore fishing. The North Beach and jetties at Huntington Beach State Park are other go-to fishing holes, as are the jetty rocks around Murrells Inlet.
As for bait, use mullet and shrimp for surf and pier fishing. Throw a cast net for mullet and minnows to use for cut bait. For speckled trout and redfish, try artificial shrimp and grubs. For inshore boating, use soft plastics and floating live baits. On offshore charters, your guide will know what the fish are biting.
It should go without saying that you need sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, cover-up clothing and plenty of water for your fishing excursion.
Book a Pawleys Island property with creek access to offer fishing anytime during your stay. Log Inn is a rustic, five-bedroom property that sits in the marsh with a path leading to the creek and dock. The seven-bedroom, ocean-front Dolphinview property provides spectacular views of the sunrise from its porches, along with sunsets from its creek dock.