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Top Fall Fishing Spots in North Myrtle Beach

When the summer crowds thin out and the mornings start to carry that sweet nip of fall, North Myrtle Beach quietly turns into a fisherman’s daydream. The sun rises later, the air cools down just enough to make coffee taste like it was blessed by angels, and the water stays busy with fish that didn’t get the memo that tourist season is over. Around here, autumn isn’t just football and pumpkin spice — it’s rods, reels, and the promise of a good fight on the line.

Ask any local old-timer rocking on his porch with a cane pole leaning nearby, and he’ll tell you straight: fall’s the time the fish bite like they’re starved. You don’t have to be some slick-talking charter captain to find them, either. Whether you’re dropping bait off a pier, casting straight from the sand, or hopping aboard one of those local boats with more stories than tackle, North Myrtle Beach has fall fishing spots that’ll keep you grinning long after supper’s cooked.

fishing on the beach

Pier Fishing: Where Patience Meets Payoff

The piers along North Myrtle Beach are more than just wooden walkways sticking out into the sea. They’re front-row tickets to the ocean’s dinner table. Fall brings in cooler waters and with them come Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and the occasional red drum that’ll have you hollering like you just won the lottery.

Cherry Grove Pier is the crown jewel, stretching nearly a thousand feet into the Atlantic. It’s the kind of place where strangers swap bait tips and tall tales, and no one bats an eye if you measure a fish with your hands instead of a ruler. Even if you don’t reel in the big one, the salty air and wide view are worth the trip. For nearby stays with an easy stroll to the action, browse our Cherry Grove rentals.

Surf Fishing: Boots in the Sand, Line in the Tide

Surf casting in fall is pure Carolina—quiet as Sunday morning with room to breathe. Work the troughs at low tide, mind your neighbors, and keep one eye on the birds; when they start fussing, something with fins is pushing bait your way. For wide, walkable shoreline and elbow room, explore our beach sections and stays in Crescent Beach and Windy Hill. If you prefer to be steps from the sand anywhere in town, start with our curated list of oceanfront rentals.

Locals say the best time is right at sunrise when the sky turns that mix of pink and gold — “God’s paintbrush,” as the old fellas call it. Just don’t be surprised if a seagull decides your bait looks tastier than the fish think it does. It’s part of the show.

fishing on the beach

Charter Fishing: Stories You’ll Tell for Years

If you’d like to skip the guesswork and chase fish where they’ve been schooling all week, climb aboard a trusted local boat. Our concierge page keeps a handy list of reputable options—start here: Fishing Charters & Head Boats. Captains work the creeks, jetties, and near-shore reefs in fall; you bring the grin, they’ll bring the know-how.

Charter trips aren’t just about the fishing. They’re about laughing at sea spray in your face, swapping jokes with strangers, and the quiet pride that comes from hauling up a fish bigger than your cooler. Plus, you’ll come home with a story, and in the South, a good story is worth more than gold.

Cooler-Month Tackle & Tactics

  • Piers: Medium spinning combo (3000–4000), 10–15 lb braid, fluorocarbon leader. Keep bottom rigs for shrimp or cut bait—and a metal spoon ready when birds start working.
  • Surf: One “soaker” rig with a 2–4 oz pyramid sinker (step up if the breeze lives up to Windy Hill), plus a second rod to walk spoons or jigs along the seam.
  • Charters: Trust your captain’s seasonal playbook—live shrimp under popping corks inshore; jigs and natural baits where the fall bait run draws a crowd.

Dress in light layers for crisp dawns and glowing sunsets, and bring a small cooler—because hope is good, but ice is better.

fishermen with the catch

Know Before You Go (Rules, Licenses & Etiquette)

  • Licenses: Surf and private-boat anglers ages 16+ need a South Carolina recreational saltwater license. Grab one online at the official portal: Go Outdoors South Carolina.
  • Piers: Many public piers operate under a pier license that covers paying anglers—ask at the counter and fish happy.
  • Beach Etiquette: Give swimmers generous space, avoid crossing lines, pack out what you pack in, and mind any posted city notices at public accesses and parks.
  • Launch Points: If you’re trailering a small skiff or kayak for inshore fishing, the Cherry Grove Park & Boat Ramp offers access toward Hog Inlet and the marsh.

Where to Stay: Walk-to-the-Beach Rentals

Make early alarms and easy sunsets part of the plan by staying steps from the sand. Choose from oceanfront beach homes or browse over 200 oceanfront condo rentals. If you like being near the pier scene, start with Cherry Grove; for broad, gentle shoreline and family vibes, see Crescent Beach and Windy Hill. Either way, you’re never far from a sunrise that’ll make you forget your inbox.

deck of a local charter boat returning at sunset

Plan Your Trip with Thomas Beach Vacations

Ready to cast and relax? We’ve got over 400 stays—from oceanfront condos to roomy beach homes—so you can base yourself near the pier, the surf, or the marina. Browse and book at NorthMyrtleBeachVacations.com or call (866) 249-2100. Tight lines, polite tides, and just enough luck to make your fish stories true.

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