Pawleys Island fishing conditions · South Carolina

Tomorrow, 11 am–7 pmSouthern flounder

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 70°, close to the 70° southern flounder like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for southern flounder, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Southern flounder, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 1004 pm
  2. 96
  3. 96
  4. 967 pm
  5. 91
  6. 91
  7. 9110 pm
  8. 95
  9. 95Sun
  10. 911 am
  11. 91
  12. 91
  13. 964 am
  14. 96
  15. 100
  16. 917 am
  17. 91
  18. 91
  19. 9110 am
  20. 95
  21. 95
  22. 981 pm
  23. 98
  24. 98
  25. 964 pm
  26. 100
  27. 96
  28. 867 pm
  29. 86
  30. 86
  31. 8110 pm
  32. 85
  33. 85Mon
  34. 861 am
  35. 88
  36. 88
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
70°F

Southern flounder range 58–82°

Wind
7 mph

From the north

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:19 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
69°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are South Carolina regulations for these waters.

Southern Flounder

Southern flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

100GoTomorrow, 11 am–7 pm

Water

70°
48°58–82° · ideal 70°92°

Why

Right in southern flounder's ideal range. Southern flounder prefers outgoing tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–20 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Flounder (southern, summer and gulf): 16" minimum, 5/person/day, 10 per boat.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on southern flounder

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

88GoTomorrow, 11 am–7 pm

Water

70°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside summer flounder's active range. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Flounder (southern, summer and gulf): 16" minimum, 5/person/day, 10 per boat.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on summer flounder

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

82Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

70°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in spotted seatrout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 10/person/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on spotted seatrout

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

82Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

70°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Right in sheepshead's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Sheepshead prefers slack tide. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 10/person/day (max 30 per boat).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on sheepshead

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

82Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

70°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Right in bluefish's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5/person/day (7 on for-hire).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

70Worth the tripTomorrow, 1 pm–7 pm

Water

70°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Inside red drum's active range. Red drum prefers incoming tide. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 25" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 18–25" slot, 1/person/day, 2 per boat (state waters), since Jul 1, 2026. No possession in federal waters; no gigging Dec 1–Feb 28.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · South Carolina

Last checked 17 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature70°F
  • Barometer29.96 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:19 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:41 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:50 pm–4:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. South Carolina DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A small barrier island south of Murrells Inlet, with marsh creeks behind it. Red drum, speckled trout and flounder in the surf and around structure (SCDNR puts summer flounder around inlets, jetties and beaches and southern flounder mostly in the estuaries), sheepshead on the pilings and rocks, bluefish in spring and fall.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Garden City Beach13 mi · South CarolinaBest tomorrow 11 am–7 pm
100Go
Surfside Beach (SC)15 mi · South CarolinaBest tomorrow 11 am–7 pm
100Go
Myrtle Beach24 mi · South CarolinaBest tomorrow 11 am–7 pm
100Go
North Myrtle Beach38 mi · South CarolinaBest tomorrow 11 am–7 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Pawleys Island?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Pawleys Island you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Pawleys Island?

Pawleys Island is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Southern Flounder, Summer Flounder, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Pawleys Island?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Pawleys Island against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Pawleys Island have?

Pawleys Island has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Pawleys Island?

state agency regulations apply at Pawleys Island. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Pawleys Island tidal water?

Yes. Pawleys Island sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.