North Myrtle/Little River – September 2025
Kayden, of Daves Outpost, reports that anglers are still finding all of the typical summer species when fishing from the sand. Flounder, croakers, and whiting are all scattered throughout the surf zone.
The piers, in particular, have been catching a bunch of flounder.
Some spanish mackerel are being caught both nearshore and off the piers.
Tarpon have been around, with pier anglers seeing a few hookups.
Inshore anglers are catching a ton of flounder, red drum, and sheepshead.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that mullet are all over the inshore waters and out to the jetties, and with shrimp plentiful in the creeks, the fishing action will only pick up more as the waters cool.
Docks up around the Swing Bridge are holding striped bass, red drum, and some big flounder.
The flounder bite remains strong. Finger mullet on the bottom fished around creek mouths is a great tactic to put keeper flatfish in the boat. Sandy bottoms and shell bottoms have both produced equally.
Redfish are moving down the banks and along flooded grass. If the oysters are hanging up your rig, a slip cork will let you work the same area.
Black drum and sheepshead are hanging around deep structure in the ICW.
Out around the inlet, red drum and some speckled trout are holding around the ends of the jetties.
A ton of ribbonfish are at the jetties and have made getting baits deep a challenge.
Out on the 3-Mile Reef, plenty of flounder are around. Use larger baits when fishing off the beach, as the larger baits not only attract a bigger bite, but they keep the trash fish at bay.
Steven Houser, of Lexington, caught this cobia near the Little River Inlet on a finger mullet. He was fishing with Capt. Bevan Hunter of Chilly Water Fishing.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that the mullet are starting to move around in the creeks as they prepare to start flooding out the inlet.
Flounder have been the favorite target, with action scattered around just about any inshore structure. Live mullet or mud minnows on Carolina-rigs tossed around docks, oyster or shell banks, out to the jetties, and on the nearshore ARs (such as the 3-Mile Reef) are all that is needed.
This same tactic is also producing strikes from red drum.
Anglers grabbing and utilizing live shrimp are catching speckled trout and black drum. Both species are very structure oriented right now. Topwater plugs are another option for producing trout, especially in the early mornings.
As more baitfish has started to move through the inlet, the jetties are a great place for trout, slot reds, over-slot reds, and flounder.
Outside the inlet, spanish mackerel numbers are picking back up, and fishing live baits will give a better chance for the larger class of spanish. Both shallow areas right off the beach and out over nearshore reefs will produce action.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that the flounder are currently tuned in to any variety of live mud minnows, live mullet, live shrimp, or an assortment of soft plastics (Gulp, Z-Man, etc.). Anglers on falling tides have done best targeting structure such as creek or marsh openings, ICW grass to shell transitions, creek intersections, and deeper holes in the backs of creeks. When the tide is pushing in or high, focus more on the banks and holes.
The annual mullet run will be kicking off soon, so be on the watch for the bull red drum to hang around the local inlets. The large reds will fall for mullet or fresh shrimp fished on the bottom and held in place with 3-4 oz. of weight.
Black drum have been around all the local docks and deeper holes, and they bite best on live or fresh dead shrimp.
For speckled trout, live shrimp on a popping cork is a killer combination.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that good-sized vermilion snapper, triggerfish, grunts, and scamp grouper are making up the majority of the bottom fishing catch. The best tactic has been working 80-110’ bottom areas and using cut squid (or live menhaden for the grouper).
Plenty of amberjacks are biting in this range when dropping down live baits, and a few cobia have popped up, too.
Moving into September, look to use high speed tactics to cover ground and target the wahoo that will be moving in, and tuna may also be in the mix.
Joe Devenow, of Sunset Beach, caught (and released) this 29” flounder on a Z-Man soft plastic near Sunset Beach.
Josh, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that anglers have been successfully hitting the bottom for vermilion snapper and keeper scamp grouper. The vermilions, especially, have been in great numbers.
A bunch of cobia are around while set up over these deeper structure areas.
Closer to the beach, the spanish mackerel fishing has been a bit hit or miss. A much more consistent bite should evolve as bait starts pushing out of the inlets.
Norma, of Apache Pier, reports that a nice king mackerel was landed (30 lbs.), hopefully a sign that the kings are moving back onto the beaches soon.
Spanish mackerel fishing has been productive for anglers casting plugs.
Bottom fishing is producing whiting, croaker, and flounder.
Ed, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers are having success sight-casting to schools of spanish mackerel.
A good-sized king mackerel was caught, which was the first one for the pier in a while.
Bottom fishing is producing flounder and whiting.
