Myrtle Beach SC
Fishing
News
Live conditions, species status, solunar ratings, water body profiles, SCDNR regulations, and community fishing coverage for Horry lakes and rivers.
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.
- 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.
- New and full moons are the best fishing phases. Solunar peak periods fall near sunrise and sunset — be on the water at first light.
Know a Myrtle Beach-area fishing lake, pond, or river stretch that should be on this list? Let us know.
Report a Fishing SpotGet listed in the Field Guides section and reach active anglers across Horry and the HERE City Network.
List Your Guide ServiceFishing News HERE
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Get featured in the Essential Gear section and reach active anglers across the HERE City Network — 100+ cities.
Learn About Gear Advertising- Local reservoirs: Boating permit required from Myrtle Beach Water. Gas motor HP restrictions — check current Myrtle Beach Water rules before launching.
- Size limits: Confirm black-bass minimums and closures for your specific lake in current SCDNR eRegulations.
- Lake Craig & Edwin Johnson: No gasoline engines — electric trolling motors only. Lake Edwin Johnson also enforces SCDNR creel limits: 10 bream, 3 bass, 3 catfish.
- Free Fishing Days 2026: May 25 (Memorial Day weekend) and July 4 — no fishing license required on these two days.
- Rivers (Pacolet, Tyger, Lawson's Fork): Statewide creel limits apply. No boating permits required. SCDNR fishing license required for anglers 16+.
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Yes. All anglers age 16 and older need a SC fishing license to fish public waters in Horry. SC residents pay $10 for an annual freshwater license. Non-residents pay $35 annually or $11 for a 3-day license. Licenses are available at SCDNR.sc.gov or at local sporting goods and tackle shops. Two Free Fishing Days — May 25 (Memorial weekend) and July 4 — require no license.
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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.
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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.
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Yes. Marsh creeks and ICW backwaters around Myrtle Beach are popular kayak fisheries. Tide and wind matter — wear a PFD.
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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.
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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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