Myrtle Beach fishing conditions · South Carolina

Today, 2 pm–11 pmBluefish

The bite peaks at 85. Water is 67°, close to the 70° bluefish like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Small Craft Advisory until Tuesday 1 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 71 for bluefish, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Bluefish, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 713 am
  2. 71
  3. 71
  4. 716 am
  5. 81
  6. 75
  7. 719 am
  8. 71
  9. 66
  10. 6612 pm
  11. 70
  12. 85
  13. 813 pm
  14. 81
  15. 81
  16. 856 pm
  17. 85
  18. 81
  19. 819 pm
  20. 81
  21. 66
  22. 66Tue
  23. 70
  24. 85
  25. 813 am
  26. 81
  27. 81
  28. 816 am
  29. 81
  30. 66
  31. 709 am
  32. 66
  33. 66
  34. 6612 pm
  35. 66
  36. 85
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
67°F

Bluefish range 60–80°

Wind
10 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:29 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
57°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are South Carolina regulations for these waters.

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

85GoToday, 2 pm–11 pm

Water

67°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Right in bluefish's ideal range. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5/person/day (7 on for-hire).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

73Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–11 pm

Water

67°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 25" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 18–25" slot, 1/person/day, 2 per boat (state waters), since Jul 1, 2026. No possession in federal waters; no gigging Dec 1–Feb 28.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on red drum

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

73Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–11 pm

Water

67°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 10/person/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on spotted seatrout

Southern Flounder

Southern flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

65MarginalToday, 2 pm–11 pm

Water

67°
48°58–82° · ideal 70°92°

Why

Right in southern flounder's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–20 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Flounder (southern, summer and gulf): 16" minimum, 5/person/day, 10 per boat.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Mar–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on southern flounder

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

65MarginalToday, 2 pm–11 pm

Water

67°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Flounder (southern, summer and gulf): 16" minimum, 5/person/day, 10 per boat.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Apr–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

67°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside sheepshead's active range. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 10/person/day (max 30 per boat).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

The water

  • Water temperature67°F
  • Barometer30.31 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:29 am
  • Sunset today6:29 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:00 pm–7:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. South Carolina DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The center of the Grand Strand, with several fishing piers along the beach. Red drum, speckled trout and flounder in the surf and around structure (SCDNR puts summer flounder around inlets, jetties and beaches and southern flounder mostly in the estuaries), sheepshead on the pilings and rocks, bluefish in spring and fall.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Surfside Beach (SC)9 mi · South CarolinaBest today 2 pm–11 pmSmall Craft Advisory
85Go
Garden City Beach11 mi · South CarolinaBest today 2 pm–11 pmCoastal Flood AdvisoryBeach Hazards Statement
85Go
North Myrtle Beach14 mi · South CarolinaBest today 2 pm–8 pmSmall Craft Advisory
85Go
Pawleys Island24 mi · South CarolinaBest today 2 pm–8 pmSmall Craft Advisory
85Go
Holden Beach36 mi · North CarolinaBest today 2 pm–8 pmSmall Craft Advisory
85Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Myrtle Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Myrtle Beach you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Southern Flounder, Summer Flounder, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Myrtle Beach?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Myrtle Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Myrtle Beach have?

Myrtle Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Myrtle Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Myrtle Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Myrtle Beach tidal water?

Yes. Myrtle Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.