Horry County, SC · Atlantic Ocean
Surfside Beach (SC)
Surfside Beach — the incorporated "Family Beach" just south of Myrtle Beach in Horry County — is anchored for anglers by the 814-foot Surfside Pier, rebuilt in concrete and reopened in March 2024 after Hurricane Matthew destroyed the old wooden pier in 2016. The pier reaches past the inshore bar for whiting, pompano, spot, and croaker close in, with Spanish and king mackerel worked off the T-end in summer. Along the surf, reachable from 36 public beach accesses, shore anglers find red drum, black drum, flounder, bluefish, and sheepshead around the pilings year-round.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout & Black Drum — tied at the top (33/100)
3 species tied for best of 7 tracked at Surfside Beach (SC).
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:15 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 5:57 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 12:04 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 6:26 PM | High | 6.4 ft |
Species at Surfside Beach (SC)
7 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 3 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Red Drum Skip the Red Drum trip today. In season 33/100
What's helping
- 84°F water — inside red drum's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — red drum prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Sciaenops ocellatus — Also called channel bass, redfish, or (as juveniles) puppy drum. Summer and fall target around the lower Bay shoals and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Big "bull reds" cruise the surf in fall.
Prefers. Water 65–85°F (ideal 75°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–20 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Min size
- 15"
- Max size
- 23"
- Daily creel
- 2
15–23" slot, 2/person/day (max 6 per boat).
Source: South Carolina regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Spotted Seatrout Skip the Spotted Seatrout trip today. In season 33/100
What's helping
- 84°F water — inside spotted seatrout's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Cynoscion nebulosus — Popularly called "speckled trout" or "specks." Summer-fall target in the lower Bay grass beds and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Topwater walkers at dawn and soft plastics on jigheads are standard.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–15 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Min size
- 14"
- Daily creel
- 10
14" minimum, 10/person/day.
Source: South Carolina regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Black Drum Check local Black Drum regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 33/100
We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Black Drum in SC on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.
What's helping
- 84°F water — inside black drum's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — black drum prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Pogonias cromis — The red drum’s heavier, bottom-grubbing cousin — a deep-bodied sciaenid that roots crabs and shellfish off mud and oyster bottom across the Gulf and South Atlantic. "Puppy drum" in the slot are excellent eating; the giant bull black drum that mass to spawn around passes and jetties in late winter and spring can top 80 lb. A staple of Louisiana and Texas inshore fishing alongside redfish and speckled trout.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 2–40 ft.
No regulations on file for South Carolina / atlantic. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.
#4 Summer Flounder Skip the Summer Flounder trip today. In season 13/100
What's helping
- outgoing tide — summer flounder prefers outgoing tide
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- 84°F water — above summer flounder's active range (58–75°f) — fish move deep
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Paralichthys dentatus — Locally called "fluke." Flatfish that ambushes bait off sandy and mixed bottom. Drifting bucktails tipped with Gulp! or live minnows through Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets is the classic method.
Prefers. Water 58–75°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 10–100 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Min size
- 16"
- Daily creel
- 5
Southern flounder: 16" minimum, 5/person/day (max 10 per boat).
Source: South Carolina regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#5 Sheepshead Skip the Sheepshead trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- 84°F water — above sheepshead's active range (60–82°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — sheepshead prefers slack tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Archosargus probatocephalus — Structure-oriented crustacean eater with famously human-like teeth. VA piers, jetties, and the rocks and pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are the classic targets. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or small pieces of shrimp on a knocker rig right against the structure. Expect to lose tackle.
Prefers. Water 60–82°F (ideal 72°F) · slack tide · depth 5–40 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Min size
- 14"
- Daily creel
- 10
14" minimum, 10/person/day (max 30 per boat).
Source: South Carolina regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#5 Bluefish Skip the Bluefish trip today. In season 0/100
What's helping
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- 84°F water — above bluefish's active range (60–80°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Pomatomus saltatrix — Toothy, aggressive pelagic predator. "Snapper blues" invade the lower Bay and coastal bays in summer; bigger choppers along the Atlantic coast. Hits metal jigs, topwater, and cut bait savagely — wire leaders recommended.
Prefers. Water 60–80°F (ideal 70°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–50 ft.
Last verified 44 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
No minimum size. 5/person/day (7 on for-hire).
Source: South Carolina regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#5 Spanish Mackerel Check local Spanish Mackerel regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 0/100
We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Spanish Mackerel in SC on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.
What's helping
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
- Falling barometer (1016.9 mb) — fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop
What's hurting
- 84°F water — above spanish mackerel's active range (65–82°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — spanish mackerel prefers incoming tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Scomberomorus maculatus — Fast-running summer migrant. Runs the lower Chesapeake and VA Atlantic coast in schools from late June through September. Targeted by casting small metal jigs (Kastmaster, Hopkins) into busting fish, or trolling #1-#2 Clark spoons behind planers at 6-8 knots. Wire leaders not required — just use long-shank hooks and fluorocarbon.
Prefers. Water 65–82°F (ideal 74°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–40 ft.
No regulations on file for South Carolina / atlantic. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.
Location Info
Water Body
Atlantic Ocean
Region
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
South Carolina
Coordinates
Notes
SCDNR saltwater regs. As of July 1, 2026, red drum tightened to an 18–25" slot at 1 fish/person/day (max 2 per boat). Spotted seatrout 14" min (10/day), flounder 16" min (5/day), black drum 14–27" (5/day), sheepshead 14" (10/day). The Surfside Pier fishing pass covers your license; surf and shore anglers need a SC Saltwater Recreational Fishing License. No shark fishing from the pier.
Local reports & rules for Surfside Beach (SC): South Carolina DNR fishing report → · fish-consumption advisories (EPA directory) →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Surfside Beach (SC)?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Surfside Beach (SC) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Surfside Beach (SC)?
Surfside Beach (SC) is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Summer Flounder, Sheepshead, and 3 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 Surfside Beach (SC)?
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 Surfside Beach (SC) 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 Surfside Beach (SC) have?
Surfside Beach (SC) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. SCDNR saltwater regs. As of July 1, 2026, red drum tightened to an 18–25" slot at 1 fish/person/day (max 2 per boat). Spotted seatrout 14" min (10/day), flounder 16" min (5/day), black drum 14–27" (5/day), sheepshead 14" (10/day). The Surfside Pier fishing pass covers your license; surf and shore anglers need a SC Saltwater Recreational Fishing License. No shark fishing from the pier.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Surfside Beach (SC)?
state agency regulations apply at Surfside Beach (SC). 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 Surfside Beach (SC) tidal water?
Yes. Surfside Beach (SC) sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.