Saltwater Fishing Trends
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North Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that weather will affect the quality of the bite in August, but even in the heat of July they had some very good days for flounder and redfish and that should continue. With so much bait around live shrimp, finger mullet, and mud minnows will be better than artificial lures for most species this month. Black drum will also eat fresh, dead shrimp fished around structure. In fact, if you want steady action fishing cut shrimp is often the most productive pattern because of the numbers of species that will eat it.
Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625) predicts that whiting, pompano, bluefish, black drum, trout, and flounder should all continue to be caught in August. Spanish mackerel fishing should stay good this month, and when the water is clean the king mackerel bite should heat up heading towards September. At the end of July the flounder fishing was off the charts and they are hopeful this will continue.
Nearshore: aptain Smiley Fishing Charters (843-361-7445) reports that Spanish mackerel should be abundant this month when the weather allows boats to get out there, with trolling spoons on planer boards the easiest way to catch them.
Most detailed North Grand Strand Updates
South Grand Strand
Inshore: Captain Caleb Hartley (843-241-7706) reports that sometimes in August fishing starts off slow but picks up later in the month, but with a good late July it may be decent all month. In August a cooler period can improve the creek bite for flounder on mud minnows, and during the heat of the day you usually have to target deeper holes in the creeks. Early and late fish can be shallower. Trout fishing can be good in slightly deeper water with live shrimp, and at the jetties there should be some big redfish caught on mullet. Inshore some reds should also continue to be picked up although they are moving a lot, and there should be also sheepshead at the jetties this month.
Beach and Nearshore: Captain Caleb Hartley reports that just off the beaches Spanish mackerel should continue to be prolific when anglers can target them, and if so they can be caught casting or trolling spoons. There should also be spadefish, flounder, cobia and more at the reefs.
Most detailed Southern Grand Strand Updates
Georgetown
Inshore: Captain Greg Holmes (843-241-0594) reports that August should be a fair month for trout, redfish, flounder, and more, although in the heat fishing can be a grind. On hotter days fish are likely to hold a little deeper – or at least near deep water – while overcast or cooler days can activate the bite. They will usually feed better early and late. The redfish bite should continue to be good on finger mullet or cut bait after a strong July, and they expect to continue to pick up large trout here and there. Flounder will be caught on finger mullet, menhaden, or mud minnows fished near the bottom, although the bite can slow when it is very hot. Expect plenty of sharks to continue to provide action this month and keep your eyes open for tarpon and tripletail!
Charleston
Inshore: Captain Rob Bennett (843-367-3777) and Captain Addison Rupert (843-557-3476) report that bait is easily available in the creeks, and after a very strong late July for redfish they expect August to continue the same way. All you need is live shrimp under a popping cork, but mullet will also work. Trout will be caught from time to time but will get better as fall approaches, while they hope to continue to pick up unexpectedly good numbers of (mostly smaller) flounder – with a few better ones mixed in. August is also the best time of the year to catch a tarpon around sandbars and inlets as well as deeper in the rivers, and bull reds will be in residence in the harbor and around the jetty rocks. Finally, don’t overlook sharks for excitement.
Surf and pier: Folly Beach Pier (843-762-9516) reports that in August the best fishing should continue to be early and late, as by the middle of the day the surf just gets too warm for much action. Black drum, whiting, pompano, bluefish and trout should continue to be caught this month, and Spanish mackerel should continue to be caught off the diamond. Kings can be around in August although September is frequently better.
Most detailed Charleston updates
Edisto Island
Inshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. (843-513-0143) reports that the creeks will continue to teem with bait shrimp and finger mullet this month, and mullet and menhaden should run the beaches. The trout bite should continue to be fair around main river points with live shrimp or finger mullet, and after a good late July for small redfish they hope for a productive fall. It should continue to be an above-average year for numbers of flounder with live minnows or mullet, and mostly smaller sheepshead should also be around all this month. This is peak tarpon season in South Carolina around the inlets, sand bars, and deep holes at creek mouths, and you can catch them with menhaden or mullet. The most important consideration to remember in August is that you need to fish in cooler times of day to get bites from almost all inshore species.
Nearshore and offshore: Captain Ron Davis Jr. reports that it’s been a tough year so far for Spanish mackerel, but this August they may be found from a couple of miles out to about 60 feet. Bottom fishing should be strong for a mixed bag in 90 feet and even better by the ledge, and the wahoo bite should get better and better in the bluewater zone – especially around the full moon. It’s an excellent year for sailfish which should continue in August, but for tuna it will likely need to cool off.
Most detailed Edisto Island Updates
Beaufort
Inshore: Captain Tuck Scott (843-524-5250) and Captain Patrick Kelly (843-962-3503) report that in late July young-of-the-year redfish showed up in droves, which provide a ton of action for anglers and also indicate that it should be a good fall for fishing. Anglers can still pick up some bigger fish in the creeks, particularly around creek mouths with oyster beds, but in August targeting tailing fish on the flats may continue to be one of the best ways to find a bigger grade of fish. July also saw good catches of trout on live shrimp, and the trout should only get bigger this month as we approach the fall. While legal fish are still relatively uncommon there have been more flounder caught this year than usual, particularly around structure, and a few good ones. At the rocks they expect to continue to catch lots of black drum this month, and with fiddler crabs you can also catch numbers of sheepshead. Later in the month more big sheepshead should be landed if there is a little cooling. Migratory species like jacks, tripletail and tarpon should be around until the fall and, finally, don’t overlook sharks which can provide a ton of action for anglers.
Most detailed Beaufort Updates
Hilton Head
Inshore: Captain Kai Williams (843-816-7475) and Captain Trent Malphrus (843-301-4634) report that July was good for fishing and they don’t expect much of a slow-down in August, although with very warm water temperatures fish are sometimes more active early and late this month. Redfish and some trout will be picked up on finger mullet, and tarpon, bull reds, jacks, Spanish mackerel, and more that are feasting on menhaden and mullet schools should continue to be prolific in areas like the Port Royal Sound, Calibogue Sound, and on the front beaches.