Redfish (also known as red drum) are one of the area’s several most popular game fish. They can be caught near the shore, inshore and near shore using live bait or a variety of lures and relatively lightweight tackle. If you are interested in trying to catch redfish in Myrtle Beach, our guide shows you an overview of where and how to hook them.
Tips For Catching Redfish
As with any game fish, it helps to understand the diet and habits of redfish. Adults and juveniles feed on or near the bottom. Inshore, juveniles tend to forage near the edge of marsh grasses. Juveniles tend to eat small crabs, minnows, and juvenile spot. Adults mainly feed on small fish, like adult spot, and crabs. Adults tend to congregate on sandy bottoms near beaches, in tidal creeks, and in oyster beds. Juveniles tend to congregate in estuaries, at the edges of marshes, and in shallow tidal creeks.
Rig For Success To Catch Redfish
This total shall not exceed more than the limits or exceptions listed below. Any game fish or species with a size limit listed must be landed with head and tail fin intact. All freshwater fish species in the state of South Carolina are measured using total length. Special limits and regulations apply to SCDNR managed lakes. Most anglers use the term for any redfish over the slot limit set by their state. Others don’t consider a redfish to really be a bull until it’s over 3 feet long. North Carolina anglers would likely chuckle about what some other places call bulls. This is for good reason, as they commonly catch true giants in the Tar Heel State.
These aren’t big fish, so serious deep-sea fishing gear is unnecessary and might even make fishing harder. A spinning rod and reel filled with 20-pound test line is good enough. You will also want medium-sized hooks, if using live bait, and an 18-inch wire leader. In live bait, menhaden, mud minnows, pinfish, and anchovies make good live bait. Lures that simulate the look or motion of those common bait fish are also good choices. A 1/4 ounce spoon or a specialty redfish lure like the Rapala Skitter Walk, are good options.
Spots To Fish In Myrtle Beach For Redfish
Several locations and techniques are worth trying out. Sport Fishing Magazine recommends going to a jetty and looking for a drop-off in depth, if you are on a boat with a depth finder. Otherwise trying casting along the jetty. The tops of sandbars also seem to attract redfish. If you can cast to one from the shore or from a boat, the other rules about baits or lures apply. You can also wade in grass flats or drift across them in a shallow boat and wait until you see a redfish in the water. In the grass, go for a soft-body lure rigged to make it snag resistant. Casting around potholes in the seabed or around the edges of marsh grass can work too.
Recommended Tides To Target Redfish
Sc Redfish Slot Limit
The tides are the most important consideration when going for redfish in Myrtle Beach. We recommend studying local tide tables and planning your fishing accordingly. Otherwise, the fishing is better in spring and summer. Mornings might be better for catching young redfish.
Rules & Regulations On Keeping Redfish In Myrtle Beach
Photo credit: Reel Action Fishing Charters – Captain John Schuchman
As with many fish species, a number of federal and state rules govern the taking of redfish. Anyone who wants to go saltwater fishing in South Carolina must have a saltwater license. No redfish may be caught in federally protected waters. There is a limit of 3 fish per person per day. Finally, state law puts size limits on redfish, as they do with other game fish. Redfish must have a minimum total length of 15 inches and a maximum length of 23 inches to keep. This is commonly referred to as a ‘slot Redfish’ by locals. The larger Redfish over 39″ are referred to as ‘bull Redfish’.
South Carolina Hunting & Fishing
TL=Total Length, FL=Fork Length; See General Information for information on how to measure a fish.
AIW=Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; State Waters extend from the saltwater-freshwater dividing line to the 3-mile limit. Federal Waters extend from the 3-mile limit to 200 miles offshore (international waters).
Up to date fishing regulations can be found on the SCDNR website atwww.eregulations.com/southcarolina/huntingandfishing/general-information/
Check out South Carolina saltwater fishing regulations on the Fish Rules App at www.fishrulesapp.com.
All species in this section must be landed with head and tail intact.
Redfish Slot Limit Scale
An operator or crew member onboard a for-hire or commercial vessel must have a valid Operator Card when underway fishing for Dolphin/Wahoo.
These species are also managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in federal waters. Regulations may change. Please contact the SAFMC at 843-571-4366 or www.safmc.net to get the most up to date regulations on these species.
The harvest and possession of coastal migratory pelagic species by commercial and recreational fishermen will be limited to the recreational bag limit within the Special Management Zones. See “Special Information” (General Information) for information on SMZs.
Inshore & Offshore | ||||
Species | Closed Season | Bag Limit | Size Limit | Restrictions |
Inshore Finfish | ||||
| American Shad | No closed season for recreational hook & line harvest; For all other gears, seasons as for commercial harvest. | 10 shad per person per day except in Santee River and Rediversion Canal (20 per person per day) |
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| Herring | See Freshwater Nongame Fishing Regulations for closed areas. | 1 US bushel of herring per person per day |
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| Black Drum | 5 per person per day | 14-inch to 27-inch TL | ||
| Bluefish | 3 per person per day (5 per person in the for-hire fishery) | |||
| Flounders (Southern, Summer & Gulf) | 10 per person per day not to exceed 20 per boat per day | 15-inch TL |
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| Red Drum | May not be harvested by gig Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 | 2 per person per day (state waters) not to exceed 6 per boat per day Possession prohibited in federal waters. | 15-inch to 23-inch TL |
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| Saltwater Catfishes (Hardhead & gafftopsail catfishes) | Possession prohibited | Possession prohibited |
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| Sheepshead | 10 per person per day not to exceed 30 per boat per day | 14-inch TL | ||
| Spotted Seatrout | May not be harvested by gig Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 | 10 per person per day | 14-inch TL |
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| Striped Bass | Possession prohibited: June 1 – Sept. 30 except in lower reach of the Savannah River (2 per person per day year round; see Freshwater Fish Size & Possession Limits for details.) | Possession prohibited: June 1 – Sept. 30; 3 fish per person per day: Oct. 1 – May 31 except in lower reach of the Savannah River (2 per person per day year round; see Freshwater Fish Size & Possession Limits for details.) | 26 inch TL except in lower reach of the Savannah River (27 inch TL; see Freshwater Fish Size & Possession Limits for details.) |
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| Hybrid Bass, White Bass, & Combinations | In lower reach of the Savannah River: 2 per person per day All other saltwaters: no bag limit | In the lower reach of the Savannah River: 27 inch TL All other saltwaters: no size limit | ||
| Tarpon | 1 per person per day | 77-inch FL |
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| Tripletail | 3 per person per day not to exceed 9 per boat per day | 18-inch TL | ||
| Weakfish | 1 per person per day | 12-inch TL | ||
| Atlantic Croaker, Spot, Whiting | 50 per person per day aggregate bag limit |
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Offshore Finfish | ||||
| Cobia | May 1 to May 31 in state waters south of 032° 31.0’ N latitude (Jeremy Inlet, Edisto Island) In federal and all other state waters, closed when Annual Catch Limit (ACL) is met | 1 per person per day and no more than 3 per boat per day in State waters south of 032° 31.0’ N 1 per person per day and no more than 6 per boat per day federal waters and state waters north of 032° 31.0’ N | 36-inch FL |
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| Dolphin | 10 per person per day not to exceed 60 per boat per day. Headboats have no boat limit | 20-inch FL |
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| King Mackerel | 3 per person per day | 24-inch FL |
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| Spanish Mackerel | 15 per person per day | 12-inch FL |
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| Wahoo | 2 per person per day |
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