South Carolina · Grand Strand
BLACK DRUM FISHING
IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
North Myrtle Beach is a solid destination for black drum fishing, with good fishing in April, May. Book a charter and target black drum with local experts.
About Black Drum Fishing in North Myrtle Beach
A powerful bottom-feeding species found in bays and passes. Juveniles are excellent table fare.
Black Drum are powerful bottom feeders found throughout Gulf and Atlantic estuaries. Juveniles display 4-5 dark vertical bars on a silver body and are often confused with sheepshead, but lack the prominent teeth. Adults lose the bars and turn uniformly dark gray to black, with large specimens developing a pronounced hump and thick, rubbery lips for crushing oysters and clams. They are the largest member of the drum family.
Scientific name: Pogonias cromis
Black Drum Seasonal Calendar — North Myrtle Beach
Month-by-month availability for black drum in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
How to Catch Black Drum in North Myrtle Beach
Techniques & Bait
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 15-20 lb braid, 30 lb fluorocarbon leader for bull drum. Medium-light tackle for juveniles. Circle hooks (4/0-6/0) are recommended for safe release of oversized fish.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in North Myrtle Beach
Top spots where local captains target black drum and other inshore species.
Cherry Grove Creek
Cherry Grove Creek winds through pristine salt marsh behind Cherry Grove Beach, offering sheltered inshore fishing for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. The creek's oyster beds and grass banks create prime ambush points on falling tides when baitfish pour out of the marsh. It is a top spot for kayak anglers seeking a quiet, scenic inshore experience.
Hog Inlet
Hog Inlet separates North Myrtle Beach from Waites Island and creates a dynamic tidal channel with strong currents that attract a variety of gamefish. Redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and black drum hold along the sandy bottom and rock edges as bait sweeps through on the tide. The inlet is accessible by boat and is especially productive during the spring and fall mullet runs.
Little River Inlet
Little River Inlet is the northernmost ocean inlet on the South Carolina coast, connecting the ICW and Little River to the Atlantic. Its jetty rocks and channel edges attract flounder, redfish, sheepshead, and black drum, while tarpon and cobia pass through during summer months. The inlet serves as the primary departure point for the large charter fleet based in Little River.
Dunn Sound
Dunn Sound lies behind Waites Island and serves as a quiet, less-pressured inshore fishery between North Myrtle Beach and Little River. Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder hold along its grass edges and oyster bars, particularly during fall when the marshes flush cooling waters into the sound. Its shallow, protected waters make it an ideal wade-fishing and light-tackle destination.
Other Species in North Myrtle Beach
More fish you can target while visiting North Myrtle Beach.
Black Drum Fishing in North Myrtle Beach — FAQ
Black Drum fishing in North Myrtle Beach is productive during April, May.
Black Drum fishing charters in North Myrtle Beach are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Fresh-cut blue crab (halved or quartered) on a heavy Carolina rig is the go-to bait for big drum around passes and jetties. Shrimp, clams, and oysters on bottom rigs work well around structure. For juveniles (10-15 lbs), live shrimp under a cork or on a jighead works great around oyster bars. In Texas and Louisiana, sight-casting to tailing drum on shallow flats with shrimp or crab flies is an incredible experience.
No — when you book a charter in North Myrtle Beach, your captain provides all required South Carolina fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Black Drum regulations in South Carolina include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Black Drum in North Myrtle Beach, you may also catch Redfish, Sheepshead, King Mackerel, Pompano, Cobia. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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