Latest SC September fishing outlook: coast heats up, lakes turn
☁ 72°F Clear · Myrtle BeachFORECAST
MYRTLE BEACH, SC · GRAND STRAND EDITION · SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2026
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SC September fishing outlook: coast heats up, lakes turn SC shrimp baiting season opens with 60-day window Surfside Beach FD to Host 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Heats Up for Catfish, Bream Myrtle Beach Anglers Advised on Summer Fishing Safety Amid Warm Weather
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Myrtle Beach SC Fishing Report

Live conditions, species status, solunar ratings, water body profiles, SCDNR regulations, and community fishing coverage for Horry lakes and rivers.

Bass: Hot Bite Crappie: Active Catfish: Active 9 Waters Profiled
9 Waters Profiled
Live Conditions
Solunar Rating
2026 Season
First Look • Fishing Conditions
🌖
Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 55%
72°F
62°F
7 mph
1013
as of 1:30 PM ET
Good — fish activity improving as moonlight decreases. Morning bites pick up.
91
EXCELLENT
Excellent bite conditions. Get on the water at first light.
Horry • Grand Strand SC
Your Local Fishing Resource

HERE Myrtle Beach is your local source for fishing reports, conditions, and SCDNR regulations across Horry. Use the waters list to find lakes, rivers, and reservoirs near you, the regulations section for current limits, and the guides directory to book a trip.

Current Conditions • Myrtle Beach Waters
Species Status
Largemouth Bass
HOT
Fall feeding frenzy. Bass are chasing shad and blueback herring. Crankbaits and swimbaits dominate.
Top BaitCrankbait, Swimbait, Jig
Depth10-20 ft structure
Smallmouth Bass
FAIR
River smallmouth in deeper holes and pools. Slower presentations required.
Top BaitTube Jig, Crawfish Pattern, Ned Rig
DepthShoal tail-outs, 3-12 ft
Crappie
FAIR
Summer or late fall. Fish are deeper — target 12-20 ft brush piles with tube jigs.
Top BaitSmall Tube Jig, Live Minnow, Slip Float
Depth12-20 ft brush
Catfish
FAIR
Winter catfish are catchable but slower. Concentrate in deepest lake holes and river pools.
Top BaitCut Shad, Chicken Liver, Prepared Stink Bait
DepthChannel edges, 10-30 ft
Bluegill / Bream
FAIR
Bluegill in slower mode. Small jigs under a float near dock pilings and woody structure.
Top BaitCricket, Worm, Small Jig (1/32 oz)
DepthSpawning: 1-4 ft. Non-spawn: dock edges 4-10 ft
Trout
ACTIVE
Trout active in stocked waters. Cold water temperatures keep fish feeding.
Top BaitPowerBait, Night Crawler, Inline Spinner
DepthStocked areas — designated lakes and streams
Species status is based on seasonal patterns and current conditions for Horry waters. Always verify SCDNR regulations for creel limits, size minimums, and any current advisories before heading out.
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First Look
Weather & Fishing Conditions
72F
Clear
Feels like 72°F
as of 1:30 PM ET
Wind 7 mph E
Humidity 55%
Pressure 1013 hPa
Est. Water Temp 62°F
Moon Waning Gibbous
Sunrise / Sunset 6:33 am / 5:24 pm
Location Myrtle Beach, SC
On-the-Water Tips
  • Water temps in the prime range — bass are active on shallow structure. Topwater lures effective morning and evening.
  • Falling barometric pressure activates feeding. Fish are on the move — work moving baits and cover water quickly.
Solunar Index
Fishing Conditions Dashboard
Air Temperature
72°F
Optimal Bite
Wind Speed
7 mph
Light Breeze
Barometric Pressure
1013 hPa
Falling — Feeding!
Moon Phase
🌖
Good
EXCELLENT
Excellent bite conditions. Get on the water at first light.
Extended Outlook
5-Day Fishing Forecast
TODAY
Partly Sunny
70° / 60°
16 mph wind
GOOD
MON
Partly Sunny
71° / 61°
15 mph wind
GOOD
TUE
Mostly Sunny
74° / 65°
14 mph wind
GOOD
WED
Mostly Sunny
75° / 67°
10 mph wind
GOOD
THU
Chance Rain Showers
76° / 65°
7 mph wind
GOOD
Lakes & Rivers
Water Body Profiles
9 fishing waters within Horry — with species, access, tips, and restrictions.
Lake Busbee
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Lake Arrowhead
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Tanger Family Bicentennial Park Lake
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Withers Swash
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Intracoastal Waterway
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Atlantic Ocean
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Intracoastal Waterway
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Waccamaw River
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Withers Swash
water

Angler Tip
SCDNR Fishing Rules
Did We Miss a Spot?

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Local Experts
Field Guides
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Coverage

In Season Now: Myrtle Beach Fishing · Nov. 1

In peak season
  • Largemouth Bass March-June (spawn), September-November

From this page's species calendar. Check current SCDNR size and creel limits before you fish.

Fishing News HERE

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Local — Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand
Local
SC September fishing outlook: coast heats up, lakes turn
September marks the swing month for South Carolina anglers, when the water begins to cool from its late-summer peak, bait clouds concentrate...
Sep 12, 2026
Local
SC shrimp baiting season opens with 60-day window
South Carolina's recreational shrimp baiting season opened at noon Friday, Sept. 11, giving licensed shrimpers along the entire coast — from Beaufort...
Sep 12, 2026
Local
Surfside Beach FD to Host 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
Myrtle Beach SC Fishing The Surfside Beach Fire Department and the Town of Surfside Beach are preparing to host their third annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. This community event, dedicated to honoring the lives lost in the terrorist attacks 25 years ago, is scheduled for September 11 at the Surfside Beach Fishing Pier. Participants can […]
Sep 6, 2026
Local
Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Heats Up for Catfish, Bream
A public comment period for a proposed red snapper season, which could impact South Carolina anglers, is set to close on August 25. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries is currently accepting feedback on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' Exempted Fishing Permit proposal. If approved, this permit would allow South Carolina to
Aug 24, 2026
National — Bass, Fishing Regulations, and Conservation
National
Louisiana draws down six waters this fall to slow salvinia
Louisiana wildlife officials are lowering five lakes and one complex this fall to slow giant salvinia; drawdown windows are now set.
Sep 9, 2026
National
Michigan launches Great Lakes whitefish rescue this fall
Michigan will collect spawning Great Lakes whitefish this fall backed by $350,000 in state funding and Great Lakes Fishery Trust dollars.
Sep 9, 2026
National
Bassmaster Elite 2027 schedule set, Florida opener Feb. 11
The 2027 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series will run nine events from Feb. 11 through Aug. 22, opening on Lake Okeechobee.
Sep 9, 2026
National
Lights Out Boston Leads Atlantic After Grand Slam
Myrtle Beach SC Fishing Lights Out Boston secured a significant lead in the Atlantic Division Championship on Sunday, August 23, 2026, by completing a billfish grand slam. This achievement pushed them to 1,025 points, establishing a 275-point advantage heading into Championship Sunday. The second day of the Atlantic Division Championship weekend in Ocean City saw […]
Aug 24, 2026
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SCDNR
SCDNR Regulations
License requirements, bag limits, and size limits for Horry waters. Always verify current regulations at dnr.sc.gov.
SC Fishing Licenses
Licenses, current fees, age requirements, and any free fishing days are set by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Buy or check a license at dnr.sc.gov.
Bag & Size Limits — Myrtle Beach Waters
Largemouth Bass · Freshwater
5 black bass/day combined
Size:No statewide minimum
14" minimum on Lakes Blalock, Greenwood, Jocassee, Marion, Monticello, Moultrie, Murray, Secession, Wateree and Wylie; 12" minimum and 10 black bass combined on Hartwell, Keowee, Russell, Thurmond. 5-fish limit combines smallmouth, largemouth and redeye bass.
Smallmouth Bass · Freshwater
Counts toward 5 black bass/day
Size:12" minimum statewide
Lake-specific exceptions apply on Hartwell, Russell, Thurmond and other Savannah River system waters.
Spotted Bass · Freshwater
15 per day
Size:Any length
Statewide; Savannah River system lakes fall under a 10 black bass combined limit.
Crappie · Freshwater
20 per day
Size:8" minimum statewide
Bream (bluegill, redear, warmouth, etc.) · Freshwater
30 per day
Size:Any length
Redbreast sunfish are a separate 15 per day.
Striped / Hybrid Bass · Freshwater
10 per day statewide
Size:Any length statewide
Exceptions: Lake Murray and middle Saluda 21" minimum Oct. 1 – May 31, 5 per day; Santee system and listed coastal rivers have seasonal closures June 16 – Sept. 30.
Walleye & Sauger · Freshwater
8 per day combined
Size:Any length
Blue Catfish · Freshwater
150 per day on most waters
Size:—
25 per day on Lakes Marion and Moultrie, the upper Santee River and the Pee Dee River (NC line to U.S. 301); no more than 2 over 32" there and on the Congaree and Wateree rivers. Effective May 15, 2026 (Act 120).
Red Drum · Saltwater
1 per person/day, max 2 per boat
Size:18"–25" TL slot
State waters only; possession prohibited in federal waters. No gigging Dec. 1 – Feb. 28. Circle hooks required with natural bait on 4/0 or larger hooks. Effective July 1, 2026.
Spotted Seatrout · Saltwater
10 per person/day
Size:14" TL minimum
Rod & reel or gig only; no gigging Dec. 1 – Feb. 28.
Flounder (Southern, Summer & Gulf) · Saltwater
5 per person/day, max 10 per boat
Size:16" TL minimum
Limit applies to hook and line or gig.
Sheepshead · Saltwater
10 per person/day, max 30 per boat
Size:14" TL minimum
Black Drum · Saltwater
5 per person/day
Size:14"–27" TL slot
Special Rules & Alerts for Myrtle Beach Waters
  • Free fishing days for South Carolina residents in fresh water: Memorial Day (May 31, 2027) and July 4, 2027 (S.C. Code § 50-9-730).
  • A total of 40 game fish may be kept per person per day across all freshwater species limits.
  • State parks, city reservoirs and county lakes can set their own limits — check posted rules.
Regulations shown are for general reference (checked 2026-10-16). Special rules apply on many individual lakes and rivers. Always verify current rules with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at dnr.sc.gov before keeping fish.
Spawn Timing & Key Dates
Season Calendar
May 25, 2026
Free Fishing Day (Memorial Day)
SC residents, freshwater only; creel and size limits still apply (SCDNR).
Statewide
Jul 4, 2026
Free Fishing Day (Independence Day)
SC residents, freshwater only; creel and size limits still apply (SCDNR).
Statewide
Spawn timing is approximate and based on typical Horry water temperature patterns. Actual timing varies by year and water body. SCDNR trout stocking schedules are published annually — visit dnr.sc.gov for exact dates and stocking locations.
Questions and Answers
Fishing FAQ
Common questions about fishing in the Myrtle Beach area, answered.
  • Yes. South Carolina requires a fishing license for anglers 16 and older. South Carolina's 2026 free fishing days are Memorial Day (May 25) and July 4, for SC residents fishing freshwater only; all other rules still apply.
  • Myrtle Beach fishing is Grand Strand water — inshore creeks, the Intracoastal Waterway, surf, and nearby Waccamaw / Pee Dee influences — not Upstate municipal reservoirs. See the water body profiles above.
  • Freshwater crappie are available in some inland ponds and Waccamaw basin waters; most Grand Strand trips target inshore saltwater species. Confirm freshwater vs. saltwater license needs for your spot.
  • Yes. Marsh creeks and ICW backwaters around Myrtle Beach are popular kayak fisheries. Tide and wind matter — wear a PFD.
  • The Waccamaw and connected coastal rivers hold bass, catfish, and panfish in freshwater stretches, with redfish and trout in brackish zones. Match tackle and license to the salinity.
  • Grand Strand ‘trout’ usually means spotted seatrout in saltwater, not Upstate stocked rainbows. For freshwater trout, you will be traveling to SCDNR mountain plants listed at dnr.sc.gov.
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FISHING NEWS NEAR MYRTLE BEACH SC

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Latest Myrtle Beach Fishing News

  1. SC September fishing outlook: coast heats up, lakes turn

    September marks the swing month for South Carolina anglers, when the water begins to cool from its late-summer peak, bait clouds concentrate in the creeks and lakes, and…

  2. SC shrimp baiting season opens with 60-day window

    South Carolina’s recreational shrimp baiting season opened at noon Friday, Sept. 11, giving licensed shrimpers along the entire coast — from Beaufort County waters up to the Grand…

  3. Surfside Beach FD to Host 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

    The Surfside Beach Fire Department and the Town of Surfside Beach are preparing to host their third annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. This community event, dedicated to honoring…

  4. Santee Cooper Lakes Fishing Heats Up for Catfish, Bream

    A public comment period for a proposed red snapper season, which could impact South Carolina anglers, is set to close on August 25. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric…

  5. Myrtle Beach Anglers Advised on Summer Fishing Safety Amid Warm Weather

    As fishing remains a popular activity along the Grand Strand, a new guide provides detailed recommendations for anglers to safely navigate the summer conditions prevalent in Myrtle Beach…

  6. Myrtle Beach Anglers Urged to Prioritize Safety Amid Summer Heat

    As summer continues in Myrtle Beach, anglers heading out to the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, or local fishing piers are reminded to take stringent precautions against the…

  7. Myrtle Beach Anglers Urged to Review Summer Fishing Safety Guidelines

    As summer fishing activity continues along the Grand Strand, a comprehensive safety guide has been issued, detailing crucial measures for anglers to protect themselves against environmental hazards. The…

  8. OnDemand Legal Course Explores Land Access Agreements for Hunting and Fishing, Relevant to Myrtle Beach Attorneys

    A new OnDemand legal course, titled “Leases, Easements, and Access: Legal Insights for Hunting and Fishing,” is now available, providing attorneys with a detailed examination of the legal…

  9. Beginner’s Guide to Freshwater Fishing in Myrtle Beach Area Outlines Essential Gear and Techniques

    Freshwater fishing continues to attract new participants across the United States, with an estimated 40 million individuals now engaging in the activity. For those in the Myrtle Beach…

  10. Myrtle Beach Anglers Advised on Summer Safety Measures

    A new safety guide has been distributed, providing comprehensive recommendations for individuals engaging in fishing activities in and around Myrtle Beach, particularly during the summer season. The document…

  11. SC Fishing Regulations Every Angler Should Know: Bag Limits, Size Limits, Seasons

    A plain-language summary of South Carolina's key bag limits, size limits, and seasons for Myrtle Beach anglers fishing Waccamaw River — from bass and crappie to redfish and…

  12. How to Fish Waccamaw River: A Complete Guide to South Carolina’s Premier Fisheries

    A Myrtle Beach angler's guide to Waccamaw River, with the five SC lake and river tactics — from herring-fed stripers to full-moon shellcracker beds — that work across…