There's plenty of fish in the sea, the Intracoastal Waterway, and marshes in North Myrtle Beach! Here, every season is fishing season. Our spot along the southeast coast ensures a variety of species throughout the year. Some migrate while others stay in the area.
One thing that doesn’t change is the amount of fun to be had and all of it can be had on any budget. The only question is – what will you catch during your fishing adventure? A lot of it depends on the time and place.
Catch of the Season
Fishing is a year-round pastime in NMB, but each season brings its own prize-worthy catches.
In the springtime, the water warms and becomes a hot spot for blue crabs. And sea trout and flounder, which start appearing around inlets and off beaches by late March.
The summer brings even warmer water, attracting more variety – from sharks and mackerel to big redfish and black drum. You can still catch flounder and sea trout during peak vacation season. Since the water becomes hot in the middle of the day, it’s best to go fishing in the early morning or late evening, also during low tide cycles.
You can check out our tide forecast before heading out or planning your fishing excursion.
Cool temperatures in the fall bring out tarpon, sharks, and trophy red drum. And redfish and speckled sea trout, which gather together in shallow waters.
Winters are mild, but the fishing’s still wild in NMB. Big schools of redfish chill out in shallow water, meaning you can almost choose which one you’ll reel in. Another big catch this time of year is speckled sea trout. The best time to fish in the winter is in the afternoon.
Put your skills to the test with other anglers and vie to reel in the biggest trophy. Several fun tournaments are held in the waters of NMB every year.
Pier King Mackerel tournaments take place in June and September. And the Rumble In the Jungle King Mackerel Tournament is every October. Pose with your mega-catch and post it on social media and have the photo framed... just to make sure everyone knows you’re the king or queen of the NMB shore!
Keeping It Reel
When it comes to choosing where to throw in your line, NMB has nearly limitless options, from the pier and deep-sea fishing to offshore, inshore, and surf.
For prime pier fishing, take your place on the Cherry Grove Pier, which features a full-service bait and tackle shop staffed with local experts who can get you started on mastering the pier, which attracts bluefish, red drum, and king mackerel, among other types of fish. The Cherry Grove Pier is slated to reopen in the Spring of 2024.
North Myrtle Beach fishing charters take you out to sea and often return with a cooler filled with fresh fish. Experienced captains and crew know where to find the best fishing any time of year. Companies like Calabash Fishing Fleet and Voyager Deep Sea Fishing and Dolphin Cruises have modern fleets and will help both first-timers and old pros get to know the waters and bring back memorable catches.
If you’re looking to explore the inland rivers and streams, companies like Captain Smiley Fishing Charters are the way to go. They can help you get your line up close to the best fishing spots.
NMB is also home to public boat landings with easy access to our waterways via a small boat or kayak.
Culinary Catch
Once you catch it, you'll want to cook it! Generations upon generations of NMB'ers have grown up catching, preparing, and cooking fish, and you can take part in the tradition back at your beach home or condo rental.
If you catch blue crab, you may want to stuff them into mushrooms for a delightfully unexpected meal. Speckled sea trout is perfect when pan-fried in a touch of oil and served with capers. If you’ve reeled in a tasty tarpon, the entire family will feast. The filets are cut into portions and are great when seasoned with olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper.
If you want to skip the cooking, find delicious sea-to-table cuisine at some of our local seafood restaurants.
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a quiet spot along a riverbed, on a pier, or a boat charter, a fun day of fishing is waiting for you to take the bait any time of year.
