Coastal conditions

Myrtle Beach / Springmaid Pier

Shore · South Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Grand Strand

Back to home NOAA tide source

Current Coastal Rating

Fair · 56

Beta

Conditions are mixed. Review the details below before heading out.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Should I Go?

Consider

Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.

High confidence in the evaluated inputs — observational coverage is partial. — Required data sources were available and the key inputs were current.

Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.

Provisional public-Beta coastal rating. Methodology is not formally calibrated.
Numeric class: NEEDS_BOUNDED_PRODUCT_POLICY_DEFAULTS. Not an empirical fishing freeze.
Does not inherit Northeast or cross-region fishing thresholds.
Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
Verdict capped at Consider while calibration remains incomplete or evidence is limited.

About this recommendation

Uses StrikeTracks coastal policy 2026-07.

Recommended window

Saturday · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM EDT

Window score

Max wind: 8 mph
Max gust: 16 mph
Daylight: 100% of window
Tide state: rising

Why

Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.

Current Readings

Updated Sep 5, 2026, 3:50 AM

NOAA Station

Source

NOAA CO-OPS
Springmaid Pier station
0.0 mi from destination

Water level: 4.2 ft MLLW
Water temperature: 85.3°F
Wind: SW · 8 mph
Wind gust: 11 mph

Past 7 Days

NOAA Station

Water level

Window Aug 29, 2026, 3:50 AM – Sep 5, 2026, 3:50 AM (rolling 168 hours)

Readings increased over the available period.

1679 observations · from Aug 29, 2026, 3:54 AM · to Sep 5, 2026, 3:42 AM

NOAA CO-OPS · Springmaid Pier · Station 8661070
Station at destination
Approximately 0.0 mi from destination
Observation type: observed
Unit: ft
Datum: MLLW

Nearby coastal destinations

Murrells Inlet12.1 mi
South Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Grand Strand / Murrells Inlet · Inlet
Approximately 12.1 miles away
Oak Island / Ocean Crest Pier52 mi
North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Brunswick / Oak Island · Shore
Approximately 52 miles away
Kure Beach Fishing Pier62.6 mi
North Carolina · Southeast Atlantic / Southern North Carolina · Shore
Approximately 62.6 miles away

Predicted Tides

Predicted

Falling

Next low tide

Sep 5, 2026, 8:25 AM

In 4 hr 34 min

0.6 ft MLLW

High · Sep 5, 2026, 2:25 AM · 4.7 ft MLLW

Following

High · Sep 5, 2026, 2:56 PM · 6.0 ft MLLW

Tide station at destination

Springmaid Pier · NOAA 8661070

Predicted Tidal Current

Predicted

No representative tidal-current prediction station is configured for this destination.

Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.

Fishery Profile

Fishery Overview

Myrtle Beach Springmaid Pier fishery

A Grand Strand Atlantic ocean pier fishery at Springmaid Pier, Myrtle Beach. NOAA 8661070 is the at-location source. This is not a generic Grand Strand covering every inlet, not Georgetown / Winyah, and not Charleston Harbor.

Fishery type: Ocean pier surf
Fishing modes: Shore
Habitat and structure: Springmaid Pier deck and pilings · Adjacent Myrtle Beach surf

Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 23, 2026

Not a live bite forecast.

Fishery Targets

Red drum, spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish are representative Grand Strand pier targets. Seasonal movement is qualitative.

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations

Red drum
Primary
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: AUGUST — NOVEMBER
May also be present outside this peak window.
SC DNR lists red drum among coastal recreational species. Pier and surf occurrence.
Spotted seatrout
Primary
Cynoscion nebulosus
No seasonal pulse known
Grand Strand surf and creek-mouth occurrence.
Spanish mackerel
Secondary
Scomberomorus maculatus
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING — FALL
Warm-season pier occurrence.
Bluefish
Secondary
Pomatomus saltatrix
No seasonal pulse known
Coastal migratory occurrence along the Grand Strand.

Typical Seasonal Targets

Red drum — AUGUST — NOVEMBER
Spanish mackerel — SPRING — FALL

Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.

How to Fish Myrtle Beach / Springmaid Pier

Typical September approaches include pier and surf casting for Red drum.

Pier and surf casting
Cast jigs, paddle tails, and swimming plugs along the pier, wash, and bait seams.
Best for
- Red drum
Modes
- Shore
Setup
- Ocean-pier casting setup

Common Tackle Setups

Ocean-pier casting setup
Shore spinning tackle for pier and adjacent surf.
Rod
Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod long enough to clear pier railings
Reel
Spinning reel with a reliable drag
Main line
Braided main line with abrasion resistance near pilings
Leader
Fluorocarbon or abrasion-resistant leader
Terminal tackle
Jig heads matched to current and wind
Presentation
This profile does not score a trip window. Use the Current Coastal Rating for conditions.
Used for
- Pier and surf casting

Typical September Lures and Flies

Common lure and fly families associated with this month’s techniques.

Minnow-style swimming plug
Lure
- Red drum
Shallow to midwater · Steady, twitch, pause
Cast across seams and let the plug track with the current
Soft-plastic paddle tail
Lure
- Red drum
Shallow, Midwater, Variable · Steady, twitch, jig
Swim steadily through seams or hop lightly near bottom transitions
Bucktail jig
Lure
- Red drum
Shallow, Midwater, Bottom, Variable · Jig, twitch, steady, drift
Hop, swim, or drift depending on depth and current speed

General seasonal guidance, not a live recommendation, product endorsement, or guarantee of success.

Access, Safety and Regulations

Access

Public pier access at Springmaid Beach / Myrtle Beach. Confirm pier hours, fees, and Horry County / City of Myrtle Beach beach rules.

Primary hazards

Ocean swell and pier spray. Do not treat missing waves as calm.

Fishery considerations

Tidal current is not a pier-deck scoring input.
Onshore wind steepens the wash. Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation.

Regulations

Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.

View current recreational saltwater regulations

Fishery Sources

Editorial and agency sources supporting this fishery profile. Live and predicted conditions use the separate Data Sources section.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Marine Resources (opens in a new tab)
South Carolina DNR

Location and Access

Cataloged coastal fishing destination

Shore · South Carolina

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Get Directions to Map Location

The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

Data Sources

NOAA CO-OPS · Springmaid Pier · Station 8661070
Tide predictions, water level, water temperature, wind
Tide station at destination

Planning limitation

Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.

This is a bounded Grand Strand ocean pier, not a generic Grand Strand covering every inlet.
Waves are unsupported. Nearby buoys are not pier-deck surf.
Tidal currents are not applicable on the pier deck.