From scfishingreport.com
SALTWATER REPORT
Beaufort
Spottail Bass: Good. Fish are spread out and feeding aggressively on the large mullet schools. Spottails are beginning to tail in large numbers in the grass and can be sight-fished for by lure or fly fishermen. Some topwater action is also being reported.
Trout: Few reports. There are scattered reports of some trout up to 4 pounds being caught recently, but most of the local guides are concentrating on cobia or tailing redfish.
Flounder: Good. Flounder are in the inlets and beginning to be caught throughout the creeks. Fish mud minnows along the bottom. Most fish are still at or below the legal limit; this may improve somewhat as the season continues but biologists suspect the average size of the area flounder stock is smaller than usual this year.
Cobia: Very good. Cobia action is still strong in the Port Royal Sound and Broad River, but since the sharks have arrived much of the action has moved towards the mouth of the sound and they are fishing on the top of the water column. Some anglers continue to fish around the bridge in deep holes, too, but with the water so hot sharks are prolific and will rarely let the bait stay down long enough for a cobia to hit. Fish are being caught on all types of baits, such as menhaden, eels, squid, and whiting. Sight fishing with plugs has been off and on, and the fish have been willing to take flies at times, too. Puglisi fly patterns have worked the best. Best fishing is two hours each side of the tide change - when tides are running strongest fish are unlikely to bite. Large number of cobia already seemed to have returned offshore, and cobia action at the Betsy Ross is red hot.
Paradise Pier: Some decent whiting have been caught as well as black tip sharks and stingrays. The biggest catch is blue crabs which are being caught by the 5 gallon bucketful around low tide.
Offshore: Black Sea bass and snapper are still available at offshore reefs, although guides report catching lots of snapper before they get a legal 20 inch keeper. Out at the 20 mile mark kings and Spanish mackerel are being caught, as well as cobia. 45 miles out king mackerel, dolphins, and little tunny are prolific trolling. Further out wahoo, dolphin, and billfish are all being reported in the Gulf Stream.
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Hilton Head
Spottail Bass: Tailing action is strong around high tide and will continue to improve all summer. On the incoming tide fish the edges of the grass with rattle floats and natural colored Gulp Shrimp to catch slot sized fish as well as larger ones. Also use brown Gulp Swimming Minnows, or mud minnows. A few hours before and after low tide good action is still being reported on the low tide flats, but the strongest feeding cycle is starting to be around high tide.
Trout: Good. Trout fishing continues to be surprisingly strong in the marshes and backwaters. Incoming to high tide is the best time to fish, and most trout are being caught up against the grass or in areas where oysters beds abut grass. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
Flounder: Fair. Flounder fishing is not good yet but is improving, and anglers are catching flounder using traditional flounder rigs with a bobber to float the mud minnows off the bottom. Best fishing is around low tide in the same areas as the spottails and trout, or in the mouths of creeks and inlets.
Cobia: Read about cobia fishing in the Beaufort report.
Offshore: Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and jacks are all being caught in the Gaskins Bank reef area. Troll shiny spoons and plugs or sight cast at baitfish busting the surface. The extreme heat and gas prices have grounded many big boats this summer, but snapper and grouper are both being caught offshore on the bottom, and dolphin and wahoo are available trolling futher out.
Saltwater Report
Little River
Surf temperatures are up to 85 degrees!
Spottail Bass: Fair. Anglers are catching spottail bass along structure in the ICW, around creek mouth drains, and in the upper creeks using live mud minnows and Berkeley Gulp. The jetties are also productive right now.
Flounder: Excellent. Flounder continue to be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows. Flounder are also being taken at the Little River jetties. Fish up to 8 pounds are being reported caught.
Sheepshead: Very good. The sheepshead bite has gotten hot in the last couple of weeks. Sand fleas and fiddler crabs are both very productive around the jetties and any inshore pilings.
Spanish mackerel: Very good. Spanish are being caught just off the jetties in good numbers, with some nice sized fish mixed in.
Cherry Grove Pier: Nice flounder are being caught off the pier, with occasional large spottails thrown in (up to 27 inches). The big bluefish seemed to have passed through and most blues are small now, but 12 to 16 inch keeper sized Spanish mackerel continue to be caught. The hot bite right now is black drum, and lots of nice 3 to 5 pound fish are being caught and plenty of bigger ones are breaking off.
Grand Strand
Spottail Bass: Good. Spottails are being caught on the flats and in the backwaters and creeks, and many drum are being caught by flounder fishermen drifting or trolling Murrells Inlet. Some larger fish are also being caught around the Murrells Inlet jetties. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing.
Trout: Good. Trout fishing is hot at the Sunset Bridge. Also, some trout are being caught on the outside of the jetty walls. Try Mirrolures, Gulp shrimp, or live shrimp.
Flounder: Very good. Flounder fishing continues to be very hot and the average fish keep getting bigger. Drift or troll live mud minnows in Murrells Inlet or the Tubbs Inlet area. Some very large fish, including 9 and 11 pound doormats, have been caught in the surf at Garden City. In the recent Murrells Inlet Rotary Tournament overall catches were very strong and some large fish were taken.
Black Drum: Very good. Traditionally an early spring bite, the black drum have turned on again and some nice sized fish are being caught as well as good numbers. Target deep holes in the creeks, such as the hole off the end of the Murrells Inlet (old Veterans) Pier. Cut shrimp, live shrimp, and crabs are all productive.
Bluefish: Good. Some large bluefish are being caught in the creeks, and these fish seem to be here to stay for the summer as water temps are already very warm. Cut bait fished on the bottom or on "bluefish rigs" is producing.
Sheepshead: Excellent. At both the Murrells Inlet and Georgetown jetties the sheepshead seem to be ravenous. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
Pompano: Very good. Pompano have showed up and are feeding aggressively in the surf. Fish with sand fleas in areas that have not been dredged for best results. The fish are mainly small but a 2.5 pounder was weighed in recently. Perry's Bait and Tackle sells sand fleas.
Piers: The Spanish mackerel and bluefish run has slowed down, and the blues being caught now are small.
Springmaid Pier: Early and late in the day Spanish are being caught. Some bluefish are still being caught, with a few good ones mixed in. Whiting and flounder are occasionally being landed, and no kings have been taken so far this year.
Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: The bluefish bite has slowed down but Spanish are still being caught in good numbers by fishermen jigging. Small bluefish and decent sized whiting are also being landed.
Apache Pier: The bluefish being caught are small now, but some nice Spanish up to 3.5 pounds are being caught. Speckled trout, red drum and black drum are all being taken, as well as some nice catches of flounder. One angler landed 11 keeper sized flounder, mostly ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 pound, in one day.
Surfside Pier: Occasional bluefish are still being caught, and fishermen continue to jig up some Spanish mackerel. The bite for both species has slowed, though.
Garden City Pier: While bluefish and Spanish mackerel have slowed some are still being caught, although the Spanish are mainly in the 11-13 inch range and being caught jigging. Whiting are being caught with some pompano mixed in. Beyond the breakers in the middle of the pier flounder are being caught.
Offshore: Spadefish are prolific at the near shore reefs, such as the Sherman wreck, and large numbers are being caught using jelly ball teasers to draw the fish up and then fishing with pieces of cut jelly balls. The 3 mile reef has been very good. King and Spanish mackerel are stacked up at Belkie Bear and Paradise Reef. Cobia are also being caught at Belkie Bear. The dolphins have moved closer, and some big fish are being caught close in. Grouper and Snapper are still biting out at the Ledge.
Cape Romain/ McClellanville
Spottail Bass: Good. Fish are not difficult to locate on the flats, but at times it is difficult to draw strikes. Try a variety of lures to get them to bite, ranging from DOA or Gulp shrimp to topwater plugs to gold spoons to flies. Mud minnows or live mullet may also be effective. Tailing action is being reported.
Trout: No reports.
Charleston
Spottail Bass: Very good. More and more bait is showing up everyday and tailing action is starting to get hot on the flats. Lots of fish are also being caught in the ICW, creeks, and Wando River. Some monster spottails are being caught out around the Charleston jetties fishing cut bait.
Trout: Good. Fish are in the Wando, Cooper, and the ICW around Wild Dunes, but from day to day they can turn off and then on again. Both live bait and artificials are productive at times, and best fishing is coming to the north of Charleston.
Black Drum: Good. A surprising number of black drum are being caught in deep holes in the creeks. Live and cut shrimp and crabs are all working.
Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing has improved over the last couple of weeks as more and more baitfish have arrived. Catches should continue to improve straight through to October. Target flounder using live mud minnows fished slowly on the bottom in the inlets and creeks. Giggers are reporting good numbers of fish caught.
Sheepshead: Very good. Most any structure, from nearshore wrecks to the jetties to inshore piers and bridges, is holding sheepshead right now. Fish fiddler crabs or cut shrimp.
Spanish Mackerel: Very good. The Harbor is full of Spanish mackerel right now, and these can be caught trolling or sight casting Gotcha Plugs, Castmaster or Drone spoons - most anything shiny and fast should draw strikes.
Folly Beach Pier: Baitfish is swarming around the pier, and birds are constantly diving into the schools. Some Spanish mackerel up to 5 pounds are being caught, as well as occasional kings. Nice black drum are being landed, and a dozen or so trout have been caught in the last week. An occasional flounder is being pulled up, and whiting are still prolific. Small spadefish are also being caught around the pier.
Offshore: Spadefish are swarming at nearshore reefs and wrecks, and Haddrell's Point says they've never seen so many jelly balls - use pieces of these for bait. Dolphin have slowed down a little bit in the last week, and some boats report having trouble finding them. Over all they seem more prolific closer in. Wahoo fishing is still good, although not as strong as last year. Barracuda are out in full force, and blue marlin and sailfish are both being reported.
Edisto
Spottail Bass: Good. Anglers are catching spottails in all of the area creeks and rivers using live mud minnows. The bite was a little stronger, and sight fishing possible, until the new moon brought very strong tides this last week and muddied the water. Waters will clear again with weaker tides.
Trout: Excellent. Trout fishing has been very hot, and mud minnows, live shrimp fished under a cork and most any artificial are all producing.
Whiting: Good. Whiting continue to be prolific in the surf and can be caught using shrimp or cut bait fished on the bottom.
Flounder: Fair. Flounder fishing is improving as the water continues to warm but is still not where it will be in several weeks. Fish live mud minnows on a Carolina rig on the bottom.
Offshore: Lots of dolphins are being caught, with some real bulls mixed in, as well as a few wahoo. Blackfin and yellowfin tuna are still being caught occasionally.
FRESHWATER REPORT
Mountains Area
Lake Jocassee
Trout: Very good. Trout are in a transitional stage right now between spring and summer patterns. They have not moved very deep yet but are going that direction. Very nice catches of large rainbow trout are being reported trolling in 50 - 70 feet of water using trolling spoons or large plugs; also pull large live shiners in the same zone. Night fishing continues to be productive with large fish and good numbers being caught; troll the rivers for best success.
Largemouth and Redeye Bass: Excellent. Fish have finished spawning but are still up against the banks. The hot lure remains dark swamp crawler green pumpkin Zoom worms. Also try topwater plugs and Texas rigged worms fished on the bottom.
Smallmouth Bass: Excellent. Very nice fish in the 5 to 7 pound range are being caught. Fish Texas rigged worms around rocky points and shallows.
Lake Keowee
Largemouth Bass: Good. Fish Carolina rigged worms in watermelon, chartreuse, and pumpkin seed colors around islands and boat docks. Around the North end of the lake Lake Fork swimbaits in magic shad, blue back herring, and pearl white are producing good numbers of fish slow rolling around points and coves. Early and late topwater action is good.
Spotted Bass: Very good. Spots are biting very well on shallow running crankbaits fished in 18 to 25 feet of water. Fish the upper part of the lake around Mile Creek and High Falls. As with largemouth, around the North end of the lake Lake Fork swimbaits in magic shad, blue back herring, and pearl white are producing good numbers of fish slow rolling around points and coves.
Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved out to 20-25 feet of water and can be caught fishing up against bridge pilings at night.
Lake Hartwell
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Good. From 5AM to 9AM lots of fish are breaking water all over the Seneca, but many of them are short. Later on large schools of fish are being marked from 30 to 35 feet, but enticing them to bite is difficult. There also seems to be a lot of activity around Coneross Creek with fishermen pulling lead core line and downriggers from the mouth to the bridge near Friendship.
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Some bass are still shallow and being caught on spinnerbaits. In deeper water many anglers are targeting bass fishing large worms like the Zoom Mag 2 in Tequila Sunrise, black and green pumpkinseed colors. Later in the day many people are Carolina rigging around points.
Bream: Good. Bream have moved into very shallow water and are feeding aggressively. Expect a spawn on the June full moon.
Chattooga River
Trout: Good.
Fly Fishing report: The dry fly season is winding down, and fishermen are starting to head north for colder waters. On May 14 the area south of Reed Creek opened to "catch and grease" fishing, and soon it will be largely fished out. The area from Pig Pen Creek up to the North Carolina border should still hold trout, though, and dry flies like the Light Henderson, Light Cayhill, Addams, and lighter caddis flies tied out of elkhair should produce. Sizes generally get smaller as the season goes on, and sizes 12 to 16 will be most effective. Also, any nymph will work and in 2-3 weeks the transition to terrestrial food sources should begin.
Piedmont Area
Lake Russell
Largemouth and Spotted Bass: Fair. Bass fishing has slowed down on Lake Russell, and public ramps have been quiet. Try Carolina Rigging or fishing finesse worms in 10 to 15 feet of water. Green pumpkinseed and purple worms are good choices, as is watermelon color.
Catfish: Good, using cut bait and nightcrawlers along the bottom.
Bream and shellcracker: Good. The June full moon should bring a strong spawn as the May spawn was weak; fish have already moved into shallow water.
Lake Thurmond
Striped and Hybrid Bass: Very good. Striper fishing in 45 feet of water under the 378 bridge is very strong using live herring. Cut bait fishing around points is also producing.
Largemouth Bass: Good. Early in the morning bass are being caught around secondary points using Zara Spooks. Later in the day it may not even be worth trying.
Crappie: Good. Crappie have moved back out to deeper water but can be caught around brush piles and bridges at night. Look for brush in 20 to 25 feet of water; minnows are producing better than jigs.
Shellcracker: Excellent. Fish have moved very shallow and are spawning on the banks. Target shellcracker using red worms, pink worms, and crickets.
Savannah River
Yellow Perch: No report. Huge yellow perch are still in the Savannah River below Lake Thurmond but no one seems to be targeting them.
Striped/ Hybrid Bass: Hit or miss. When the correct gates are open on the Lake Thurmond Dam action can be fast, but at other times fish are not feeding. Further down the Savannah River, below the New Savannah River Bluff Lock and Dam, action is slow right now. Mullet are starting to come up the river, however, and the striper will not be far behind them.
Lake Wylie
Largemouth Bass: Fair. First thing in the morning fish topwater Pop-Rs over main channel points in about 8 feet of water. After 10 AM or so move deeper and fish the drops using Carolina rigs with an extra long leader- a strong color is watermelon seed dipped in chartreuse glow dye. Finesse worms in cotton candy, kudzu and green worked very slowly are also productive.
White Perch: Fair. Fish in 18-24 feet of water next to river channels and look for sandy bottoms. Use a minnow or small spoon lowered to the bottom and then bumped slowly. Small and medium sized perch are making up the bulk of the catch right now, and some anglers are having trouble locating the fish.
Shellcracker: Very good. Fish deep drops using red worms fished on a dead line.
Catfish: Very good. Anglers are catching large numbers of catfish fishing with mussels, shrimp, and stinkbaits. Fish are also being caught trolling with minnows using traditional crappie fishing methods.
Midlands Area
Lake Greenwood
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Early, late and nights are the most productive times to fish for bass right now. Use floating worms around rock piles, brushpiles and drop-offs along the bank.
Crappie: Slow. Crappie have moved out over deep brush piles.
Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish 2-5 feet of water using crickets and red worms. There was a small spawn two weeks ago; expect a larger spawn on this full moon.
Catfish: Very good. Fish on the bottom using cut bait or worms, and try fishing at night.
Lake Murray
Striped Bass: Good. Striped bass fishing improved a bit in the last week, although anglers continue to have difficulty catching big fish. Best action is coming fishing down rods with live bait in 30 to 60 feet of water. Cut bait is also working well in the middle of the day, and early and late look for schooling fish chasing bait up to the surface. The lower lake is the most productive area right now. Expect summer fish kills to reduce the percentage of short fish being caught to more normal levels.
Largemouth Bass: Fair. As water temperatures rapidly rose this week fishing dropped off, but early morning topwater with pencil poppers, Zara Spooks, and buzzbaits may be productive. Later in the day switch to shaky head worms in watermelon candy and green pumpkinseed colors fished in 2 to 15 feet of water.
Crappie: Poor. No one seems to be finding the crappie right now, except a few anglers who have favorite deep brushpiles.
Shellcracker and bream: Good. While a few anglers have productive secret spots, perhaps because of high water levels bream and shellcracker are proving hard to locate in good numbers. Fish red worms and baby nightcrawlers around the banks and a few feet off. The full moon may bring strong action.
Catfish: Good. Cut herring and nightcrawlers are producing over most of the lake.
Saluda River
Striped Bass: Slow to fair. The water is very low right now and striper are not on the move and feeding aggressively; the fish trapped in popular holes are already picked over. If recent rains raise lake and river levels, or SCE&G otherwise decides to release water, expect fishing to improve. Throw large plugs, topwater poppers, or fish live shad or herring under corks or on the bottom. For now target the area closer to the dam.
Trout: Fair. Fly fishermen should cast Wooly Buggers or similar flies; several hatches have already taken place. Stock fish are being caught, and spinners are also effective. If water levels rise expect trout fishing to improve, until the striper clean them out.
Lake Wateree
Largemouth Bass: Tough. Lake Wateree bass have been reluctant to bite ever since the spawn ended, and recent tournaments have featured small sacks taking prize money. Some schooling action is beginning to be reported and spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastic worms are all producing off and on - people are throwing everything and have yet to find a pattern that is consistently working.
Crappie: Fair. Crappie have finished spawning and moved back out to deeper water. Trolling with jigs and minnows is most effective, and the June Creek area has been productive.
Catfish: Very good. Multiple 40 pounders are still being taken as well as lots of smaller fish. Target big blue cats using cut bait fished on the edges of holes. 8 to 10 pound fish are being caught on stinkbaits, worms, cut bait, and live bait fished on the bottom.
Bream: Very good. Bream are shallow and should bed on the June full moon. Fish 1 to 5 feet of water using worms and crickets.
Pee Dee Area
Water levels are low right now and threaten to get lower.
Great Pee Dee
Catfish: Good to very good. Catches of catfish are picking up in the main river using eels, large minnows, and goldfish. Fish on the bottom in holes and around channel breaks.
Striped Bass: Around Highway 34 striper should begin schooling very soon near the rock beds.
Bream: Very good. Bream are feeding aggressively with some nice sized fish mixed in.
Little Pee Dee
Bream: Very good. Numbers of fish are not being caught but some very large redbreasts are being caught on worms and crickets. In the late evening popping bugs are producing.
Lynches River
Bream: Very good. As in the Little Pee Dee, numbers of fish are not being caught but some very large redbreasts are being caught on worms and crickets. In the late evening anglers are catching fish on big popping bugs.
Santee Cooper System
Lake Marion
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Largemouth bass fishing has slowed down with warmer temperatures. Some really large bass are still being caught, though; fish Texas rigged worms in slightly deeper areas.
Catfish: Good. At the upper end of the lake some large catfish are being caught in shallow water but not consistently. Towards the dam catfish are staying deep during the day but being caught shallow at night.
Crappie: Slow. Crappie seem to have disappeared and are likely making their way towards deep water haunts for the summer.
Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish shallow water along the banks near Rimini Swamp, Santee Park, Stump Hole. Fish have moved shallow and will continue to spawn and feed aggressively.
Diversion Canal
Bream and Shellcracker: Very good. Fish are being caught throughout the canal; some fish are spawning and others have backed off into slightly deeper water.
Catfish: Very good. Flathead catfish up to 50 and 60 pounds are being caught in the canal at night. Anchor or slowly drift cut bait.
Bass: Good. Largemouth are stacked in the canal around drops where the water goes from shallow to 15 feet almost vertically.
Lake Moultrie
Largemouth Bass: Fair. Bass fishing has slowed down in the last week or two, and most of the fish seem to have headed to deep water. Try deep Carolina or Texas rigging.
Catfish: Good. At night large flatheads and blues are both being caught in shallow water. During the day bigger fish seem to be keying on the sides of hills and underwater humps in 18 to 24 feet of water, although they may be shallower at times. Drifting is productive, as well as anchoring and fishing cut bait on the bottom when the lake is too calm to drift. Best catches are coming using cut mullet and herring.
Crappie: Fair. Crappie are moving into a summer pattern right now and fishermen who have located deep brush piles are doing well. Look for structure in 20 to 25 feet of water and fish minnows vertically.
Shellcracker: Very good. Really large fish weighing two pounds and better are being caught around cypress trees, especially where they meet lilies. Fish worms shallow. Look for fishing to improve around the full moon spawn.
Coastal Rivers
Waccamaw River
Fishing in the river remains strong for now, and water levels are still okay, but without rain in the very near future the river will get too dried up for best fishing.
Largemouth bass: Excellent. Bass are feeding very well and fishermen targeting them with Texas rigged plastic worms are having best success.
Crappie: Very good. Fishermen in the Waccamaw are reporting nice catches of crappies. Use minnows around structure and current breaks.
Bream: Good. Bream fishing is still a bit short of peak conditions but expect excellent fishing as the full moon approaches.
Catfish: Good. Use large goldfish or shiners to target big catfish. Anglers are having success using set hooks and trotlines but the same baits will work rod and reel fishing.