Last Updated on October 26, 2023 by Capt. R.C.
Myrtle Beach Fishing Report for July and Outlook for August
Myrtle Beach enjoyed an extended Spring, after a brief heat wave during the month of March, but July brought with it the dog days of Summer we are used to this time of year. There is no doubt that this can be a challenging time of year for inshore fishing, so it is critical that you choose among best inshore fishing guides in Myrtle Beach. Here, I will give you an update on how we have done fishing the Grand Strand in July as well as an idea of what to expect for fishing Myrtle Beach in August.
A Jack Crevalle surprise while trout fishing!
Summer Targets in Myrtle Beach
- Tarpon
- Redfish
- Speckled Trout
- Flounder
Catching a big fish in a small pond
Tarpon Season is Here
I was expecting an early Tarpon Season with the aforementioned warm March, but these fish have been taking their time in this year’s migration. We are finally beginning to see the silver kings consistently haunting their normal locations. I was able to get the wife out there (pictured above) for her first Tarpon of the year! It was a 100 plus pound fish that we got to the leader several times, but ended up breaking off at the boat.
It seems like Myrtle Beach Tarpon season is finally taking off, and I love targeting these early fish as they show up. The best part about the early tarpon bite is that they have not been heavily targeted yet…YET being the key word.
As the tackle shops begin sounding the alarm to every person who comes through their doors, there will be more boats out there than Tarpon. Of course this makes these fish more wary of boats, and tougher to get to bite. That’s where experience comes in to play, so be sure to find a guide that can find some more isolated Tarpon.
August is commonly known as the peak month for South Carolina Tarpon Season, so the action should continue to heat up! Hopefully, the number of fish will continue to increase so we can have a banner year like 2020. If you want to catch the fish of a lifetime, give us a call!
We are catching some decent Reds during the most challenging time of year
Redfish are Being Elusive
July and August are interesting, yet challenging months for targeting Redfish. Water temperatures in the creeks are in the mid to upper 80’s, which probably feels the same as a 100 degree index to us humans. The creeks are loaded with mullet, menhaden, and shrimp; so these fish have a 24 hour buffet at their doorstep.
Warm waters and an abundance of bait make it challenging to get Redfish to bite, and the overabundance of sharks can make Redfish harder to find. Despite what you hear on the news, the shark population is out of control, and we commonly have our target species stolen by sharks. The shark problem causes Redfish to find safety, whether it be in the shallows or in the ocean.
Many guides resort to solely targeting bull Reds this time of year. That’s fine if you are okay with sitting your rod in a rod holder, and waiting for a fish to hook itself. You may catch a few bulls this time of year, but to me, that is boring. I will target bull Reds when the bite is hot, but I try to otherwise lay off of them. Many times these fish end up getting gut-hooked or they become easy prey for sharks due to being worn out. I have other opinions about targeting these fish year-round, but I don’t want to offend anyone. These fish are our breeding stock, and they really should be protected.
For some of my more advanced clients, we target Redfish (and trout) by using topwater baits. Topwater fishing in Georgetown and Myrtle Beach is probably the most fun and thrilling strategy for Redfish and Speckled Trout during the warmer months of the year.
As you can see above (or check out the last page of my photos), I am finding Reds that can be targeted by casting live and artificial baits. Being able to find these fish this time of year can set you apart as a top tier fishing guide.
There is no need to elaborate on where I am finding them, because they are hard to find right now…and I need to keep them in my back pocket for my clients. Check out the last page of our photos to see more of the Redfish caught this July near Myrtle Beach.
August is pretty much here, and I expect the current trend to continue. As long as there is a plethora of bait, you will have to find fish comfortable yet hungry enough to bite.
Blue skies and Speckled Trout caught on paddletails
July’s Speckled Trout Bite Pretty Solid for 2023
I had a surprisingly spectacular day on Speckled Trout this past week. My guests Charles, Little Charlie, and Granddad John were fairly experienced anglers visiting Pawleys Island from Virginia. We arranged an early departure without too many expectations, as they understood summertime conditions. I pulled up to a spot for bait, and quickly loaded up with shrimp and finger mullet!
The first spot did not produce very much. I was able to get one trout to bite, however, and Charlie (see photo below) did a great job managing the fish to the boat. We stayed for a fair enough amount of time to conclude things just were not working there, so we moved on.
Our next spot made it a phenomenal day! We caught a small Trout on the first cast, and it was on for just about every single cast after that. We caught around 20 Speckled Trout of various sizes, Ladyfish, Bluefish, and a couple small Reds. This was a trip that you would be happy to have any time of the year!
Nice job Charlie!
I had to share the story for that trip, but we haven’t really been doing too bad with the Speckled Trout for this time of year in Myrtle Beach. My clients have had days with multiple fish over 20 inches, which were released to catch another day. We have not quite had the numbers like this past week, but the quality of fish has been fantastic! We even stumbled on a Jack Crevalle while Trout fishing one day!
August Trout fishing is typically the same as July, with the exception that live shrimp could be more readily available. It’s no secret that live shrimp are probably a Speckled Trout’s favorite food (I mean I like shrimp too!) There will be some days where it is difficult to find a consistent bite. It will be critical to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right bait!
Flounder are Biting Artificial Baits
We are still catching Flounder, both inshore and on the nearshore reefs. Most of our luck between Myrtle Beach and Murrell’s Inlet has been fishing creek mouths with scented curly tail grubs. Curly tails have also been effective on the reefs when coupled with a Bucktail. Since Flounder are mostly prevalent during the warmer months, they should remain consistent through the months of August to October.
Booking a Myrtle Beach Fishing Charter
Contact Harvest Moon Fishing Charters when your ready to go fishing in Myrtle Beach! My friends and I grew up learning how to fish these waters, and you will get the same experience of how we take on a trip when we go fishing. Call today, find us on Google, or check out the convenient online booking system.
