Re: Any fellow Garden City/Murrell's Inlet fisherman here?

If you are fishing the South Jetty then I would assume you are parking at the State Park. After that be prepared to walk a mile...in the sand.

A few pointers...if you so happen to get a surf cart make sure you walk to the jetty when the tide is low and then make your way back when the tide is going back out. The tide is rather high there and if you are pulling a cart you want to pull it in the "hard sand" and not the soft sand.

Doubtful you will be able to rent a cart as I've never seen a surf cart rental.

Let me make this easy. Fish the north side of Pawley's island. The sea wall and rocks there will present a great place to fish that is equal to and sometimes better than the Jetty with a tenth of the hassle. The North end of Pawley's will have an inlet that dumps into the Atlantic. The inlet has a bit of current which is a good thing so I would plan on fishing with something that will hold the bottom. Be prepared for pinfish after pinfish (if you catch them use them as live bait) but maybe you'll work your way into something worth while. I've fished there for years and have since moved to Pensacola but I learned everything I know about saltwater fishing in the area I have suggested

The water will be warm so I suggest the early morning bite or late evening/night.

Good Luck!

wueagle86®

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May 28, 2019, 10:39 PM

My dad and I fished Murrells Inlet for about 12 years. It took us 2 years to learn how to fish the inlet. The first thing I would do is by pass Perry’s bait shop. Get you a cast net go into the little creeks in the inlet and catch you own mullet. If you want to use live bait. Mullet work well with Flounder in about 3 to 4 feet of water in the creeks. If you are fishing for Spot Tail Bass, Sea Trout or Spanish Mackerel I would use jigs and crank baits that you would use in fresh water or live finger mullet. If you want to fish for Sheep’s Head use a small hook , 10lb test and fiddler crabs. Sheep’s Head will give you one heck of a fight.

This best times we found to fish was when the tide was coming in. The best places for most fish are up against the grass shores. One particular place is just around a bend heading into the main channel across from a store or restaurant. Another great place is in near the rocks that show as you go out of the inlet into the ocean. To your left is a house on at the end of the shore there is a place where the shore curves around. This is near the row of rocks. These were all successful spots for us.

I spent a ton of money at Perry’s Bait shop and did not catch many fish on the stuff we bought there. I learned to use simple rigs usually with a steel leader because flounder , trout and Sheep Head have a set of teeth. And I discovered that if a flounder takes your mullet it usually will take it in two bites so set the hook on the second bite. Sheep’s Head you barely fill their bite and you need a hard hook set or the tend to get off. You can catch Blue Fish with flashy lures and spoons but they pretty oily and not good to eat. Out of all the above Sheep’s Head is the best sweet white meat.

If a pan fish called Spots are bitting use blood worms but watch out those worms love to stick you in you finger. If you get into Spots you could actually get tired of fishing you catch so many.

I have shared what I learned over 12 years. I hope you and your dad have as much fun as my dad and I did. Good luck and I hope the tips help you out. Let us know how your trip was.