North Myrtle/Little River – September 2026
Kayden, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that pier and surf anglers have seen some decent bottom fishing action that includes catches of whiting, croakers, sharks, and some spots.
Good numbers of spanish mackerel are being hooked from the piers when the water is clean.
Inshore anglers have been catching a bunch of flounder and scattered red drum.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that bait is all over the place despite the hot weather and water temperatures.
Anglers fishing up the ICW are catching slot-sized red drum by throwing live mullet up around the docks or near deeper structures.
Small sheepshead and black drum are also up the ICW, and they will fall for the live shrimp, too.
Flounder are all over the place, but especially around deeper creek mouths, grass banks, or oyster beds. One tip for the flounder is to fish larger (5-6”) mullet as it will keep the trash fish off your bait and the flounder don’t mind these bigger baits.
If closer to the inlet, the same areas that hold flounder will also hold a mix of red drum and a couple speckled trout.
Out on the jetties, plenty of flounder are holding along the rocks, with many of these flatfish being a better quality of fish (to 20”).
Some over-slot red drum are hanging around deeper structure just inside the inlet. A Carolina rig with a chunk of mullet has been best for the reds. There can be a lot of current out there, so be sure to use enough weight to hold your bait steady.
Off the beach, plenty of spanish mackerel are around for anglers looking for them, whether trolling or casting.
Camryn Martin, of WV, caught this misty grouper in 500’ of water offshore of Little River on cut squid. She was fishing with Capt. Bevan Hunter of Chilly Water Fishing.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that red drum can be found up on the shallow flats, and they will fall for a variety of bait offerings, including live shrimp and finger mullet, and then occasionally they will hit an artificial.
Flounder are all over the place, especially in areas closer to the inlet. Anglers are doing best by targeting them with live mullet.
Speckled trout can be found while fishing live shrimp.
Off the beach, spanish mackerel are in good numbers from the inlet out to 40’.
Jessey, of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters, reports that despite the heat, the red drum bite has been good overall, with fishing during a moving tide helping to entice these often sluggish fish to feed.
Around the jetties, sheepshead can be caught while fishing with live crabs.
Offshore, anglers are seeing some great grouper and snapper fishing.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder remain the main focus inshore, with the flatfish responding well to a variety of Gulp or Z-Man soft plastics. Anglers will find the best action by throwing baits up on shell banks and around creek drains, and make sure any area you target has moving water.
Red drum are in their main summer patterns of roaming in small groups along marsh edges and ICW banks. The trick for finding action is to keep moving around until locating active fish.
Some speckled trout are showing up for anglers who are on the water early, with that first light being crucial for the best results. Most of the trout strikes are coming from soft plastics under popping corks.
Black drum are scattered inshore, with the best locations being the deeper holes in the backs of creeks or near dock structure. Fresh shrimp fished on the bottom is the best approach for the black drum.
Ben Alongi, of TN, landed this 50″ gag grouper 50 miles offshore of Little River on a whole squid. He was fishing with Capt. Josh Gaik of Little River Fishing Fleet.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that with gag grouper season closed, the bottom fishing efforts are moving a little deeper (80-100’) to target vermilion snapper, black sea bass, and porgies. When targeting all these bottom species, anglers can’t go wrong with cut squid.
Wahoo are starting to show up, and they will be one of the main focuses on any fall offshore trolling trip.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that running a little further out (to 52 miles) has produced great bottom fishing action, with tons of big vermilion snapper, triggerfish, amberjacks, grouper, and grunts.
The drift lines have been a little quiet.
Those trolling offshore are finding spotty action due to the hot water temperatures. When there is action, wahoo and blackfin tuna make up the majority of the bites.
Bottom fishing in the 5-10 mile range is seeing lots of black sea bass and porgies.
Spanish mackerel and plenty of sharks are anywhere from outside Little River Inlet to the nearshore reefs.
Josh, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that although gag grouper may be closed, anglers are still finding quality scamps in the 45-mile range. Also in this area are big triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and jumbo black sea bass.
As a bonus, a couple of hogfish have come over the gunnels, but anglers need to be out deep (46+ miles).
Cobia are around all the same areas where anglers are bottom fishing, so keep an eye out for what comes up under the fish reeled in.
King mackerel are starting to show up a little better. Water temperatures are beginning to slightly cool, and that shift should help the king action pick up.
Scott, of Apache Pier, reports that anglers sight-casting Gotcha plugs are catching spanish mackerel, and the early and late hours are best.
Bottom fishing is mostly focused on catching flounder.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has picked up for anglers casting jigs and Gotcha plugs. The numbers of spanish have picked up, as well as the sizes (to 4 lbs.).
Bottom fishing is seeing the typical summertime mix, along with some keeper flounder.
