Last Updated on October 14, 2021 by

Myrtle Beach is a popular family vacation destination along the South Carolina coast. This area is also home to one of the most productive coastal fisheries, the Grand Strand. If you are looking to spend a day on the water with family and friends, there are a few options that will provide excellent fishing action, exposure to an amazing ecology, and a friendly atmosphere. We’ll go over the most common options below.

Inshore Fishing

Inshore fishing near Myrtle Beach is the most family-friendly type of fishing you can go on, especially with younger children. These take place inside of protected backcountry estuary systems that are both amazing to explore and teeming with fish.

From Myrtle Beach, the best area to achieve this style of family-friendly fishing charter is to launch into Winyah Bay, Georgetown being the most popular area to launch from.

To get here from Myrtle Beach is just a short drive, and you will find that the area is home to calm waters, popular inshore species, and reduced boat traffic (when compared to surrounding areas).

a fisherman with a flounder

The fish species you can expect will vary season to season, but there are a few popular ones I will mention below:

  • Redfish
  • Seatrout
  • Black Drum
  • Sheepshead
  • Flounder
  • Tarpon

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anglers with redfish

Nearshore Fishing

Nearshore fishing charters are the type of fishing excursion where you will find offshore quality fishing but within sight of land. While Myrtle Beach has many options available in the direct area, those looking for reduced boat traffic and adventure will again find the better-suited options to exist to the south. Launching from Georgetown or Pawleys Island is the most popular.

From these launch locations, you will start in protected backcountry waterways and then head to the coast for your nearshore fishing adventure. In this process, you will again be exposed to an amazing ecology inside of Winyah Bay and be just a short boat ride to this part of the fishery.

a fisherman with a kingfish

You will find that waves will play more of a role out here and that should be considered if you have any family members sensitive to motion sickness. But, since we launch from these backcountry areas, the trip can always be diverted back inshore if it suits your family best.

Along this portion of the coast, there are numerous wrecks and reefs that hold a number of fish species that vary by season.

These include, but are not limited to:

  • Kingfish
  • Cobia
  • Big Flounder
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Sharks

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Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon fishing charters do exist as a seasonal option for your Myrtle Beach vacation. There is a yearly migration that brings out a number of people looking for their shot at landing “The Silver King”. This species will migrate along the coast, but the best family-friendly tarpon fishing exists inside of the backcountry estuary system of Winyah Bay.

a fisherman fighting a tarpon

When tarpon are in the migration along the east coast they are on a long journey that starts in the Florida Keys. In this, they must feed heavily to provide themselves the energy to make it the whole way. So, tarpon tend to follow baitfish pods that are also migrating during this part of the season. Baitfish themselves are always looking for places to hide and that provide protection. They tend to dive into these backcountry waters to do just that.

When this happens, tarpon follow them right in. This gives you the unique opportunity to target tarpon inside of a protected coastal watershed, be exposed to less boat traffic, and do sight fishing for this world-renowned species while inside of these calm waters. When done this way, it is a memorable experience, surrounded by a safe, family-friendly atmosphere.

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Fish With Harvest Moon Fishing Charters

Captain R.C. Ferdone here at Harvest Moon Fishing Charters takes dozens of families out for a day of fishing from Myrtle Beach every season. He is your go-to local guide for this amazing fishery that lies just south of your vacation destination. If you are looking for an epic family day on the water, this is the way to do it.

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