North Myrtle Beach Inshore Slam: Redfish, Flounder, and Trout

Chasing the Inshore Grand Slam Near North Myrtle Beach

The marshes behind North Myrtle Beach — from Cherry Grove's tidal creeks south to Hog Inlet and north into the Little River system — hold redfish, flounder, and speckled trout year-round. Landing all three on a single trip constitutes the inshore grand slam, and few places along the South Carolina coast offer better odds than this stretch of the Grand Strand. The habitat is a patchwork of oyster bars, spartina grass banks, mud flats, and deep channel edges that cater to each species' preferred feeding zones.

Redfish: The Backbone of the Slam

Redfish in North Myrtle Beach waters are the most cooperative of the three target species. Slot-sized reds (15 to 23 inches) cruise the oyster bars and grass edges on incoming tides, tailing in knee-deep water as they root out crabs and shrimp. The Cherry Grove marsh system between 17th Avenue and the Cherry Grove Pier holds fish throughout the tidal cycle, with the mid-tide periods producing the most consistent sight-casting opportunities.

• Spring (March–May): Reds scatter across shallow flats as water warms past 65 degrees — target them with gold spoons and soft plastics on jig heads
• Summer (June–August): Early morning topwater bites are explosive; switch to cut bait along channel drops once the sun gets high
• Fall (September–November): Schools of bull reds stage at Little River Inlet and Cherry Grove Inlet — this is trophy season
• Winter (December–February): Slow the retrieve down and fish deeper holes in the ICW with live shrimp under a popping cork

Flounder: Working the Bottom

Flounder inhabit the sandy-mud transitions along channel edges in the Little River and ICW system. They are ambush predators that lie flat on the bottom, waiting for baitfish and shrimp to drift within striking range. The most reliable technique is bouncing a live mud minnow or finger mullet along the bottom on a Carolina rig, letting the current sweep the bait across likely holding spots. Flounder fishing around North Myrtle Beach peaks from April through October, with the fall flatfish run in September and October producing the thickest concentrations as fish stage near inlets before heading offshore to spawn.

Speckled Trout: Dawn and Dusk Feeders

Specks favor the deeper grass edges and oyster shell bottom in the ICW between Little River and Nixon Crossroads. Low-light periods — first thing in the morning and the last hour before dark — produce the most consistent trout action. Suspending twitchbaits like MirrOlure MR17s and soft-plastic paddletails on 1/8-ounce jig heads are the go-to presentations. During winter, trout push into deeper holes in the ICW where water temps stay a few degrees warmer than surrounding shallows.

The inshore grand slam is as much about patience and tide management as it is about skill. Plan your day around the tide — start shallow for reds on the flood, move to channel edges for flounder at mid-tide, and finish on deeper structure for trout as the light fades.

Slam Strategy by Tide Phase

Gear Recommendations

• A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod with 10-pound braid and a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader handles all three species
• Carry a selection of gold and copper spoons (1/4 to 1/2 ounce) for reds
• Pack 3-inch and 4-inch paddle-tail soft plastics in natural colors (white, chartreuse, root beer)
• Popping corks in both loud (concave) and subtle (oval) styles cover different conditions

Check current size and bag limits at the SCDNR website before heading out. Redfish limits in South Carolina are currently 3 per person per day within the 15- to 23-inch slot, flounder have a 16-inch minimum with a 5-fish limit, and speckled trout are 10 per day at 13 inches minimum.