August 18
Morning surface water temperatures are around 82 degrees inshore around Little River, and with less wind the last few days water clarity is picking up.
With a couple of calmer days Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that they have been able to get out to target the Spanish mackerel around the inlet. If you chase the birds you will see the fish feeding on small pods of glass minnows or menhaden, and you can cast topwater plus or castings jigs at them. Bluefish in the 18-20 inch range are also mixed in with the Spanish mackerel.
Inshore fishing is still pretty good for a wide variety of species including redfish, trout, croaker and more. Live shrimp and mud minnows have been working in holes in the creeks as well as around oyster beds and grass lines.
The black drum fishing has finally slowed down, and while there are still some fish at the Tillman docks it’s not like it was a couple of weeks ago.
There are also big drum at jetties, and they have been caught on the bottom with live menhaden. Sharks are also mixed in.
You can also float live shrimp off the rocks for trout.
The flounder fishing continues to be outstanding, although inshore it’s best on the North Carolina side where it’s strictly catch-and-release. Small live menhaden, live finger mullet and mud minnows are all working.
With the cleaner water the king mackerel fishing has turned on off the Cherry Grove Pier (843-249-1625), and they report a 28-pound fish today, another good one lost and a 16-pound fish yesterday. Other than that the bite has been a little spotty with small flounder and occasional croaker, whiting and sharks.
