North Myrtle/Little River – May 2026
John, of Daves Outpost, reports that Atlantic bonito and spanish mackerel are two of the best bites in the area right now. Nearshore anglers are getting most of the action, as are anglers sight‑casting jigs and Gotcha plugs from the piers.
Inshore fishing has been steady, with red drum scattered throughout the area. Anglers are also catching some flounder (to 22”) while targeting the red drum.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that the speckled trout fishing has fired up. The specks have come out of their wintering creeks and are scattered throughout the waterway, such as around docks, ledges, and other structure. Live shrimp under a cork has been the top producer, though mud minnows on the same setup are also getting plenty of bites.
Red drum are in the area, and they’re holding tighter to docks and structure. Shrimp or mud minnows rigged on jig heads and fished on the bottom have worked well. Occasionally, red drum anglers will run across striped bass, black drum, and sheepshead in the same stretches of water.
Out at the jetties and shell banks just inside, some speckled trout are being landed by using live baits under a slip cork (to stay above the snot grass on the bottom). There are also some over-slot red drum around the ends of the jetties.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that Atlantic bonito is the top nearshore bite. Spanish mackerel are showing up in good numbers, too, so expect the bonito to start moving on shortly. For both of these nearshore species, trolling with Clarkspoons and planers have been a sure bet to put fish in the boat.
Stopping to fish bottom spots, such as the Three Mile Reef, can produce flounder and gray trout.
Inshore, the speckled trout fishing is finally starting to get better. Anglers are having success targeting 3-6 foot areas over shell banks or around creek mouths. The key to trout fishing is that rising or falling tide seems to matter less than simply having water moving. Live shrimp will outproduce anything else. If your shrimp is floated or fished on the bottom, expect to see the occasional black drum mixed in.
A few smaller flounder are moving inside.
Out at the jetties, anglers are catching a mix of speckled trout, red drum, and sheepshead.
Elizabeth Edwards, of Columbia, SC, landed this 25 lb. king mackerel 45 miles offshore of Little River on a skirted king rig. She was fishing with Capt. Josh Gaik of Little River Fishing Fleet.
Jessey, of Shallow Minded Charters, reports that black drum are showing up in good numbers, along with some big speckled trout in the mix, and the red drum fishing has been consistent.
For most inshore fishing, the falling tide has been better, and focus on areas either around the inlet or back in the brackish water around Little River and North Myrtle Beach.
Around the jetties, sheepshead are starting to move in. Flounder are also starting to push inside, with a bunch of smaller flatfish and just a handful of keepers mixed in.
Offshore trolling trips are producing solid action on blackfin tuna and wahoo.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that flounder have returned and are falling for live mud minnows dragged slowly on the bottom. They will also hit soft plastics such as Gulp and Z-Man. The key for flounder is keeping your bait tight to the bottom.
Red drum have broken out of their winter schools and are now in smaller groups. These fish are hungry and will strike anything from live minnows to soft plastics. A good technique, especially at high tide, is to throw a popping cork up onto a creek bank and let the tide work the bait down the shoreline.
Black drum can be found under docks in the ICW, and they’re feeding on fresh shrimp, blue crab quarters, or fiddler crabs. Anglers can also find them concentrated in deeper holes in the backs of creeks during lower tides.
Speckled trout will be starting their spawning season soon, and that should get them more willing to hit both live shrimp or soft plastics rigged under a cork.
Atlantic bonito and spanish mackerel have shown up in large schools just off the beach. Trolling with spoons or casting jigs with a super-fast retrieve works great.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that offshore boats are seeing more life on the surface, and that has translated into strong wahoo and blackfin tuna action. Both high speed trolling and pulling ballyhoo have been productive when working offshore ledges.
On the bottom, the black sea bass fishing is still great. These fish are starting to move deeper, with most of the action in the 70-80 foot range.
Moving into May, grouper and mahi will become the main focus.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that offshore bottom fishing in 120-feet and deeper is seeing a ton of rudderfish, vermilion snapper, and triggerfish.
Moving into May, scamps, reds, and strawberry grouper will all be part of the catch, and anglers who bring cigar minnows tend to do best.
Trolling trips out in the Gulf Stream are seeing some great wahoo action.
Nearshore trips have enjoyed a strong Atlantic bonito bite, and bottom fishing nearshore structure is producing black sea bass and porgies.
Walter Burnham and Jeffery Wright, of Stokesdale, NC, doubled up on red drum using live shrimp near the Murrells Inlet jetties. They were fishing with Capt. Jimmy Dever of Murrells Inlet Fishing Charters.
Josh, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that offshore bottom fishing anglers have been on some great vermilion snapper action, with limits of jumbo black sea bass also mixed in. Almaco jacks are in these same depths.
Anglers have been picking away at Key West porgies and white grunts, and everyone is looking forward to red porgies opening up (since they are so plentiful).
Inshore, the spanish mackerel have started to show up, with some Atlantic bonito also around. All of the action for these two species is happening inside of 10 miles.
Norma, of Apache Pier, reports that anglers out doing some sight casting with plugs are having plenty of success with bluefish. Spanish mackerel have also started showing up in good numbers, with the same Gotcha plugs and casting jigs enticing them to strike.
Bottom fishing is producing good numbers of whiting, and some better flounder (to 22”) have been caught.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that lots of spanish mackerel are around, alongside a mix of bluefish.
Bottom fishing continues to produce a steady whiting bite.
