I was trying to scout locations on Google Maps, but I was hoping to get a little advice on fishing the Pawley’s Island area from some of you that are more experienced! I’m heading up there Wed-Sun to visit my girlfriend’s family, but none of them are into fishing so I doubt they would have much advice for me.
I put my girlfriend on her first red last year, so she’s pumped about going fishing with me a little bit during this trip. I’m not bringing the boat, so I will be fishing from the beach or a pier/dock if I can find one available.
It looks like the inlet just north of the island is probably better/easier to fish from the beach than the inlet south – has anyone had much success in either inlet? I would love to target tarpon, but I want to be realistic. If tarpon aren’t worth it and I should stick to reds, should I just fish from one of the roads that run into the waterway behind the island?
You can fish both ends of Pawleys. The south end has easy parking right by the inlet. You can fish the ocean side or the creek side. You can catch just about any of the inshore species. Early morning and the right tide give you the best chance to catch some Trout. The North end has a nice rock wall to fish along. Parking at the north end is a little trickier. You have to find the “hidden” parking areas. Do not park along the road or you will get a ticket. The North end can be good for Trout, Flounder, Blues, Reds and everything else. The ocean at either end right now is producing Whiting, Spot, Flounder, Blues, Black Drum and Pompano. “Everything” eats a shrimp.
Wayne nailed it. You can however park along the road, just make sure that all of your tires are over the white line and off the roadway or you get a ticket. Fish the groins for pompano.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Thanks for the advice, guys. I’m panning on buying bait locally, plus I’m definitely bringing shrimp as well as throwing a cast net when I get there. If I get a few live mullet (or even menhaden, though that’s probably unlikely without being a boat), how far-fetched is the idea of targeting tarpon from the beach?
I grew up in Murrells. I never saw a Tarpon but would occasionally hear of them being caught. I’d focus on other species in Pawleys. Let us know if you get lucky!
South end walk all the way to the end and fish outside of the breakers. North end at low tide walk out to the end of the beach by the inlet and throw your baits south.
Bring big gear and plenty of hooks you’ll have to battle the sharks but the tarpon are showing up.
Came back because I felt bad about poo pooing the Tarpon idea, especially in light of the cooker’s statements. What do I know? It could happen. Still, I’d rig for bull reds, then if you luck into a Tarpon, drive straight to the quicki mart and buy a lotto ticket.
Thank you all for the input! I actually didn’t end up fishing anywhere other than the groin right out by the house. The trip was to visit my girlfriend’s family, so it wasn’t just a fishing trip. I did catch a bluefish and a flounder off of the groin, plus I hooked a decent ray off of a chunk of whiting the one time that I threw out a surf rod.