Last Updated on October 26, 2023 by Capt. R.C.

Myrtle Beach Fishing Report for August and Outlook for September

This is the Myrtle Beach fishing charter report for August. The temperatures have been extremely hot, and the fishing has been pretty good! This time of year can be challenging, but we have had some pretty good luck on most of our fishing trips.

Smaller reds make steady action, and are a good sign of Myrtle Beach’s healthy fishery

Why Can August Fishing in Myrtle Beach Challenging?

• Hot Weather
• Warm Water Temperatures
• Abundance of Bait

Hot Weather

The heat and humidity in Myrtle Beach can be brutal this time of year. Some mornings, when I walk out the door, it feels like it’s 90 degrees as early as 6am! Being out on the water helps, but you almost do not realize how hot it actually is.

This can be especially hard on children under 10 years of age, as they are required to wear life jackets while on board. Most of the time they do fine, and some children do better than others. I always let you know how the conditions will be, and let the clients make the decision on whether or not to book a family fishing trip.

Warm Water Temperatures

Warmer water temperatures can make fish more active, and sometimes tougher to locate. However, extreme water temperatures in the upper 80’s can also make Myrtle Beach inshore species dormant. It can be similar to how humans feel on a day with 100 degrees heat index. When temperatures get this extreme the fish can behave just like us, and focus on finding a cooler climate rather than eating.

I usually try to work around hot water temperatures by scheduling our departure times earlier than normal. Getting on the water before daylight can produce some extraordinary fishing this time of year, especially for topwater fishing. Of course waking up that early on vacation isn’t for everyone; so I will provide my best advice, and allow my clients to make a decision based on that.

Abundance of Bait

The creeks, inlets, and bays are flooded with bait from Myrtle Beach to Pawleys Island. Schools of mullet, shrimp, and pogies (menhaden) are teeming the waters, creating a 24 hour buffet for predatory species. This abundance of food can sometimes create a challenge in getting the fish to bite.

We have been catching our own bait to more closely match what the Reds, Trout, and Flounder are eating. This can take some time, but I feel like it adds to the overall experience of fishing South Carolina’s inshore waters. Most guides do not want to spend the time catching live bait, but it is worth the effort in the long run.

I try to get creative when it seems like the inshore fish are content with the amount of food available to them. If I notice this behavior, I will try to align the tides and solunar tables up in certain Myrtle Beach fishing spots. Certain places are productive on certain tides, and this time of year means trying to hit this them when everything is hitting on all cylinders. It is definitely a time of year to hire an experienced Myrtle Beach fishing guide!

What Fish are Biting in Myrtle Beach Right Now?

• Redfish
• Trout
• Flounder
• Black Drum
• Tarpon 
• Tripletail

This afternoon in Myrtle Beach provided a great family outing!

Redfish

We have had some more luck with the Redfish along the Grand Strand this August. The bite has improved, and should continue to get better as we get closer to September (the best month for fishing in Myrtle Beach).

Live bait around oyster bars, and along grass lines, has been the ticket here lately. Shrimp has been the best bait for August; however, croakers and pinfish can go through a lot of them. It seems like the redfish have preferred live finger mullet over pogies (menhaden).

If you want to try your hands at fishing artificial baits for Myrtle Beach redfish, we are also having some luck on Berkeley Gulp shrimp. Various colors with chartreuse tails seemingly the one consistent preference.

As we look ahead to September, I expect the Redfish bite to continue improving.

Live shrimp are irresistible to speckled trout

Speckled Trout

We have been having some luck with Speckled Trout throughout August, in what I would consider our pre-season. Sometimes Trout can be difficult to catch during the Summer months, until the shrimp begins to show up. I have been catching shrimp for bait since mid-June; and we’ve had some luck on the Trout.

As September nears, we will get a little cool snap that seems like a whiff of Fall. The fish will recognize this as a que to step up their feeding patterns. If you can catch live shrimp this time of year, you can have days of catching over 40 fish on a half day fishing charter.

Flounder fishing will continue to be productive through October.

Flounder

While I have not necessarily been targeting Flounder, we are still catching a few. The only reason I have not been targeting them, is that I have mostly been running Tarpon fishing charters this time of year. There has also been more action chasing Redfish and Trout; however you can expect the Flounder to stick around until late October.

I have done more Flounder fishing with artificial baits than live bait this year. When using live bait, I have mostly been fishing it under corks; rather than using the traditional trolling method. We have caught some really nice fish this year, including the 7 pounder pictured below.

Black Drum

We are not getting Black Drum in large quantities, yet; but it is worth mentioning since we are catching a few. This inshore species can really make your day for some of the best Myrtle Beach fishing charters we have ever had.

I feel that, pound for pound, the Black Drum fight harder than Reds. Sometimes you can really get on a hot bite too! We will be looking forward to catching more of these guys later in the year.

Tarpon

We are 2 for 6 out of about 6 Tarpon trips this year. It has been a fairly productive year of getting bites, but we have had a hard time getting our hands on the fish by the boat. We have been able to get the leader on 3 of those fish which is technically a release. Oh well…that’s Tarpon fishing, but the most important part is getting the bite!

We are getting in to peak season for Tarpon in Myrtle Beach, and it should stay busy through September. If you want to try for the fish of a lifetime, give us a call today!

Tripletail

Tripletail is one of the most delicious fish you can catch. It has a taste similar to that of Lobster, and they make for a fun species to target on Myrtle Beach fishing trips near me. These are one that takes the right timing, and it can take some time to locate one. We generally target the Tripletail if we happen to be out there around dead low tide when they like to hang around the buoys.

Booking a Myrtle Beach Fishing Charter

Contact Harvest Moon Fishing Charters when looking for a fishing charter near Myrtle Beach! When you book with me, you will get the same experience as being on the boat with me and my friends as we learned to fish the waters from Murrells Inlet to Georgetown. Call today, find us on Google, or check out our convenient online booking system.