South Carolina · Grand Strand
REDFISH FISHING
IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
North Myrtle Beach is an excellent destination for redfish fishing, with peak season in October, November and good catches in March, April, May. Book a charter and target redfish with local experts.
About Redfish Fishing in North Myrtle Beach
Also known as Red Drum, one of the most sought-after inshore gamefish in the Gulf. Known for powerful runs and the distinctive spot on the tail.
Redfish — also called Red Drum — are the most popular inshore gamefish along the Gulf and South Atlantic coasts. They are bronze-copper in color with one or more distinctive black spots near the tail, which scientists believe confuse predators into attacking the wrong end. Juveniles (called "rat reds") are bright gold or copper, while bull reds over 30 inches take on a deeper bronze-red hue with a pronounced hump behind the head. Males and females are visually identical, though females grow larger and are the primary spawners.
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Redfish Seasonal Calendar — North Myrtle Beach
Month-by-month availability for redfish in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
How to Catch Redfish in North Myrtle Beach
Techniques & Bait
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
Recommended Tackle
Medium or medium-light spinning rod (7 ft), 2500-3000 size reel, 10-15 lb braided line, 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. For bull reds: medium-heavy rod, 4000 reel, 20-30 lb braid, 30 lb leader.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in North Myrtle Beach
Top spots where local captains target redfish 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.
Redfish Fishing in North Myrtle Beach — FAQ
The peak months for Redfish fishing in North Myrtle Beach are October, November. During these months, Redfish are most active and abundant in the North Myrtle Beach area.
Redfish 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.
Live shrimp under a popping cork is the most reliable year-round technique. Soft plastic jigs (gold spoons, paddle-tail swimbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads) worked along oyster bars and grass flat edges are deadly. For trophy bulls in the fall, fresh-cut mullet or blue crab on a Carolina rig fished near passes and jetties is hard to beat. Sight-casting to tailing reds on shallow flats with gold spoons or fly-rod presentations is the pinnacle of the sport.
No — when you book a charter in North Myrtle Beach, your captain provides all required South Carolina fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Redfish 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 Redfish in North Myrtle Beach, you may also catch Sheepshead, King Mackerel, Pompano, Cobia, Black Sea Bass. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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