North Myrtle/Little River – March 2025
John, of Dave’s Outpost, reports that red drum has been the main focus of anglers in the area. With the cooler water temperatures, these fish are schooled up relatively thick in the s of creeks, and they’ll hit Carolina-rigged cut mullet or frozen clams.
At times, a few red drum are mixed in the surf.
Some decent sheepshead are being caught around hard structures on frozen sand fleas and clams.
Chris, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, reports that in March, live shrimp will continue to be a top producing bait for all of the inshore species, but many of the red drum and speckled trout will also go after a wide variety of artificial baits, such as paddle tails, jerk shads, Z-Man Trout Tricks, Gulp baits, etc.
The red drum in the backwaters will start to break up and push more towards the middle section of the creeks.
The large portion of trout will still be schooled up out on the waterway.
Out on the jetties, the action will be picking up with over-slot red drum, sheepshead, and black drum around. As water temperatures get warmer, the rocks will also see some of the bigger female trout.
Some black drum, sheepshead, and gray trout will be moving in over the Three Mile Reef. If you can find fiddler crabs, that would be best for the sheepshead and black drum. Gray trout, on the other hand, can be very aggressive early in the season, so just throw anything artificial at them, and color patterns with something in white or chartreuse seem to work best.
Capt. Chris Ossmann, of Fine Catch Fishing Charters, landed this 29″ striped bass in the ICW near Little River using a white and chartreuse paddle tail.
Buddy, of Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, reports that red drum remain the top target for wintertime anglers. You can find these fish schooled up both way up in the creeks or around docks. When back in the creeks, look for these fish to be staged up in holes that have a nearby shallow flat that they could warm up on during the sunnier days. Fishing the low tide that is starting to rise has been best, and for bait options, dead shrimp, live mud minnows, or live shrimp are all producing strikes.
Anglers fishing dead shrimp around docks or deeper ledges are catching some black drum, and those fishing with live shrimp under slip corks can also catch a few scattered speckled trout when drifting baits through some of the deeper holes
Out at the jetties, anglers are finding a mixed bag of sheepshead, black drum, and some red drum. Generally, the jetties have produced better on a falling tide.
When getting the chance to run off the beach, anglers out at the Three Mile Reef have caught some black drum and sheepshead, and the gray trout should pick up anytime.
Bob, of Strange Magic Fishing Charters, reports that anglers are still finding some speckled trout in most of the standard winter places. The trout are willing to hit live minnow offerings and, of course, live shrimp (if you can find it). Gulp, Z-Man, and MirrOlures are also effective but must be worked very slowly. Fishing the lower tides is best, as this will help concentrate the fish a little more. Target areas with shell banks that transition to grass and have deeper water nearby.
Red drum are being found staged up around docks or in larger schools in the backs of creeks. When targeting docks, look for the ones that have a marsh drain nearby or bait in the area.
Back in the creeks, the larger schools are pretty spooky, so a stealthy approach is important. For either area, a slow presentation of scented soft plastics, fresh and live shrimp, or live mud minnows on bottom rigs will generate the most success.
Josh Wallen, of Myrtle Beach, SC, doubled up on these speckled trout behind Little River using live shrimp.
Bevan, of Chilly Water Fishing, reports that the black sea bass bite has been great and should remain strong through the end of March. The standard bottom rig with squid is the preferred method for targeting them over structure in the 60-80’ range.
Getting out a little deeper (90-110’) and dropping the same squid setup is almost a guarantee for triggerfish, vermilion snapper, and big grunts.
March is a great time to target blackfin tuna and wahoo. Trolling ballyhoo anywhere from the 100/400 and Blackjack area out towards the Winyah Scarp or Georgetown Hole have given the best results.
Larry, of Voyager Fishing Charters, reports that around the middle of March, nearshore bottom trips start running in the 15-mile range, and anglers expect to see plenty of big black sea bass and nice-sized porgies.
Offshore bottom fishing action will be focused in the 45-50 mile range. These structures will be loaded with fish, including larger vermilion snapper, triggerfish, keeper-sized black sea bass, and plenty of grunts.
Cameron, of Little River Fishing Fleet, reports that water temperatures are still cold, but one area this doesn’t affect much is the bottom fishing action. Anglers have been catching a ton of jumbo black sea bass in close.
When fishing the deeper end of their range (20-30 miles), anglers are also seeing catches of vermilion snapper and some triggerfish.
Trolling trips are producing wahoo and blackfin tuna.
Calvin, of Apache Pier, reports that anglers getting out to take advantage of the weather are having success catching some black drum.
A bunch of smaller whiting are starting to show up during the runs of better weather.
Moving into March, anglers look forward to some of the bigger whiting moving into the area, and usually not too far behind them, the pier sees the first bluefish show up.
Larry, of Cherry Grove Pier, reports that anglers looking to drop a line are having some success with croakers and a few whiting.
