Pawleys Island, South Carolina Fishing Report (May 2022)

For for the first time, this will give you just a quick update of kind of what’s biting what baits are working and just a few quick spots, uh, on our, around the Island that may work for you. So right now, uh, Redfish, um, maybe some black drum flounder are starting to come around and see trout are still there. Um, are all biting along with, you know, random other little fish that you may get a bunch of pen, fish, lady fish, things like that. Um, so what I got loaded up here is, uh, Google earth and we’re just going to start kind of like down at the bottom of the Island. Um, so if you can get down to this point here and cast into some of these darker spots, uh, on the outgoing tide, usually, um, it’s going to be a great spot to be able to maybe pick up some red fish, uh, or some other stuff there all usually a good, good Redfish spot right there. And maybe a little bit on the other side, if you can, sometimes you can even walk out here and to the shallow water and castrate over to there. Um, if you’re going up and down the beach, just look for rip tides. Um, so like it’s just going to be a channel of water that’s pouring outward into, uh, the ocean. Uh, usually best times there’s, there’s like apps and stuff that are better at just, you know, making generic information like this or statements. Um, but best times usually going to be like an hour before or after, uh, maybe two hours before or after a low tide. So, uh, just a good general rule of thumb. And what you want to do is find like a rip tide, uh, that is pulling, you know, lots of sand fleas, and maybe some bait fish out into the ocean there a little bit. And what happens is the bigger game fish. Um, we’ll sit out there and just wait for some stuff to get sucked out to them and they’ll attack it. So if you can kind of toss a live shrimp, uh sandfly um, or any kind of bait like that, even fish bites, if you get like the oyster, uh, scent and just chop it up real small, like those little tiny oysters that you’ll see on the beach there, um, then usually those will work. Um, another good in shore spot is going to be right here where this Creek mouth opens back up to the main channel. Um, that’s going to be more of a kind of outgoing tide.

So when the tide’s going out and the currents coming out of there, um, what you’ll have is your, uh, big game officials sit off to the side there. So just try not to spook them, um, and just kind of creep up. So to them doubt, you can probably get a cast all the way from land over there, but maybe, um, but that’s the type of area you really want to work, uh, down in Pawleys Island is the Creek mouths. Um, and then just kind of like follow the tide in and out. Okay. So you, you prefer to have like an early morning time or like a sunrise sunset, a timeframe, and just kind of want to work the tide and the current. So you want it to be moving one way or the other and just think about if you were a big red fish, uh, where would you be sitting, waiting on the little stuff to float by so you can attack it. Right. So right here is a good example. It’s a little bit more shallow than I would prefer. Um, so actually I would say usually on an outgoing tide, uh, you know, red fish would maybe be sitting right back in here and then come out and attack here. Uh, but it looks pretty shallow there, right? So maybe a better spot would be on an incoming tide. They would sit back here and the deeper areas and then eat food off of this sandbar here that kind of sticks out. Okay. So that’s the type of spots you want to be looking for? Uh, again, these Creek mouths back in here, um, this one looks pretty shallow. This one looks a lot better. It looks like you’d have some kind of, um, my cell phone out of the way here. Uh, some kind of oyster bed there, maybe zoom in a little bit more. Yeah. So it’s pretty shallow over here. So probably during like a low tide cycle, this is probably going to be sticking out of the water or very close to it. Uh, which is kind of a good thing because you probably have some oysters here, lots of Fiddler crabs and just random sea urchins that are going in and out there. And then the bait fish usually will kind of school up right here. You can even go and throw a cast net on them and get some of them probably. Um, but as, see, this is a little bit deeper here. So depending on where you want to position and where the current’s running and, or out, you most likely are going to have some ambushing going on in this area, most likely they’re sitting over here and ambushing this way, usually on an incoming tide like that. So if you can park over here and position yourself here and cast into there without spooking them, or slowly, maybe drift past them, anchor here and cast back in maybe a good spot there. So I’m not going to go over every single spot, but that’s what you’re looking for. You’re looking for the Creek mouths that have some kind of hole next to them near them or in them. And when you find that, usually you’re going to find bait, fish, oysters, um, and other things that the bigger game fish are going to feed off of. So great Island here. Um, so you got, you only got really one way. Sure. Like, you know, water’s going to flow right here, but most likely there’s bigger game fish are gonna go right through here. So depending on which way the current’s going, um, you know, they’re not going to usually be out in the middle of the channel. They’re going to be sitting up here trying to ambush, um, in little schools and pockets. So maybe like, right. It’s probably too far in the middle of the channel. So like right here and look at that. So like on an outgoing tide, this is really shallow looking to me, get a little bit closer here and then it drops off into like a deep hole. Um, so great spot right there, most likely. And what you want to do is kind of just look at Google maps, look at Google earth and plot out a few good spots that you can go and just try. And really your goal is just to kind of weed out a lot of spots and then pick a few and then just go hit them early in the morning, sunrise or late in the evening, sunset. Um, and again, you know, there’s only so many ways for fish to get in and out of here too. So, I mean drop in like a bait shrimp, you know, fresh cut shrimp out in here on a circle hook. Um, you’re probably gonna catch something. Um, it’s, it’s highly likely, uh, something’s going to be swimming through here. Uh, and, um, so when it comes to the flounder to, uh, that’s one thing that is a little bit different in terms of the game fish that are like ambush predators, um, and the way they feed usually founder, uh, from my experience are going to be up against the bank. Um, and, uh, a lot will be kind of by these docks and stuff. Uh, so what I like to do is, is just kind of drift down and then just bump the proper set up. So you can put like, there’s all kinds of things flounder will eat. Um, but everyone can have access to some frozen frozen shrimp, um, whether you get them from the grocery store or, you know, uh, Pawleys Island outdoors is a great bait shop that I go to all the time, um, and just, you know, bump that on a jig head, um, or something that’ll get you down to the bottom, um, and just kind of drift and bumping along the shore. And most likely you’re going to literally hit one on the head or close to it and it’s going to bite. Um, same thing goes for these docks, just cast up under it, as close as you can get without getting snagged on anything, um, to the sea wall and then just kind of like bump out or bump down as much as you can. Uh, and you know, that’s, that’s where I catch all the fonder that I catch is right on the shore lines and up on docs. And sometimes you’ll stir up something else, um, under these docs as well, depending on the water depth and maybe like a sheet set or something similar to that. So guys, I hope this was helpful. Um, I’m in this area all the time, fishing and love to do these videos and try to help people, uh, kind of learn the stuff that I’ve learned over the years and continue to learn. So if you’re from Pawleys Island and you have a great fishing spot and make sure to leave it down in the comments below, if you want to share some people want to share some people don’t, um, or if you have any other tips or tricks for this area, that’d be awesome. It would all help me out cause I love to learn and, uh, help anybody else that watches the video. Thanks for tuning in guys.

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Additional Questions

What kind of fish can I catch in Pawleys Island SC?

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Pawleys Island, you’re in for a real treat. The scenic Pawleys inlet is a fruitful fishing spot known primarily for its rich variety of marine life. Here, you’re likely to hook **flounder, red fish, and spotted seatrout**. Before heading out, though, I highly recommend getting acquainted with locals who know the waters well. Folks like Captain Nick Brown are seasoned fishing experts who can provide invaluable tips and guidance for your fishing adventure.

Additionally, Pawleys Island Outdoors is the perfect pitstop for all your fishing essentials. They offer a wide range of fishing supplies and quality bait. More importantly, the helpful and knowledgeable staff can also share insights on what fish are currently active and biting. Trust me, this local wisdom can drastically increase your chances of a successful catch.

What species of fish are in biting season currently in SC?

Sportfishing in South Carolina can be exhilarating all year round, thanks to the diverse range of species inhabiting its freshwater and saltwater bodies. Currently, **crappie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, trout, stripers, and hybrids** are predominantly active and biting. But remember, the time of day can significantly influence your fishing outcome. Most local anglers have found that setting out early increases the likelihood of a bountiful catch.

Which bait works best for fishing at Pawleys Island?

Effective bait can spell the difference between a fruitful fishing expedition and a disappointing one on Pawleys Island. From personal experience, I’ve discovered that **live bait such as shrimp, mullet, and mud minnows** tend to attract a wider variety of fish and record higher catch rates. Hence, using live bait will not only enhance your chances of landing a big catch but also add an extra thrill to your fishing experience.

Any specific tips on how to snag flounder on Pawleys Island?

Flounder fishing in Pawleys Island can be quite an adventure. Over the years, I’ve found slow trolling to be most effective in coaxing out this flatfish species. Both **live baits and artificial ones, particularly mud minnows and finger mullet**, have proven successful.

One of my favorite flounder fishing spots is alongside the rock jetties on the North Side of the Island. Remember, patience is key when fishing for flounder. They are notorious camouflage experts playing a waiting game, and slow trolling can lure them out. Trust me, the taste of freshly caught flounder will make the wait worthwhile!