Skip to content
PierCast
Sign In

Pawleys Island Pier

Open

Pawleys IslandFree (beach access)

Surf fishing only, no standing pier

Switch pier

Bite score · Pawleys Island Pier

Great Bite

Wind is the main thing going for you.

80/100Confidence: High (every input reporting)Updated 32 min ago

What is driving it

  • Tide: Rising · turn in 71 min
  • Solunar: 3/5
  • Water Temp: 83.9°F
  • Time of Day: Midday
  • Wind: 7 mph
  • Pressure: falling -1.6 mb/3h

These readings come from the stations nearest this pier. Along a 60-mile beach the tide, barometer and moon are shared, so neighbouring piers often score alike — the differences show up in wind, water temperature and sea state.

See how this score is calculated

What this page is

This is the seasonal picture for Pawleys Island Pier: which months each species runs here, the bait that works on it and the sizes anglers report. It is not a live catch feed — nobody is counting fish on the rail, so nothing below is a report of what came over the rail this morning. Today's live signal is the bite score above, built from tide, pressure, wind and water temperature for the whole pier. For what people actually landed, see the catch reports.

6 species logged

What's biting at Pawleys Island Pier

2 species are in peak season here. Everything else is listed below in the order you are likely to run into it.

Bait for this pier

Peak season

2

Running now. These are the fish worth building a trip around this month.

Red Drum (Redfish)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Mar–Nov
Best bait
Live shrimp, cut mullet
Average size
18–27 in
Pier record
75 lbs (SC state)

The most sought-after species on the pier. Look for them near the pilings during incoming tide.

Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Mar–Nov
Best bait
Live minnows, mud minnows
Average size
14–20 in
Pier record
20+ lbs

Best caught on bottom rigs near the pier structure. Incoming tide is prime time.

Biting

3

Around and catchable, but not the main event. Expect to work for them.

Whiting (Kingfish)

Menticirrhus spp.

Year-round
Best bait
Shrimp, bloodworms
Average size
10–14 in
Pier record
3 lbs

Reliable year-round catch. Great eating fish and perfect for beginners.

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Apr–Nov
Best bait
Cut bait, spoons
Average size
12–24 in
Pier record
31 lbs

Aggressive feeders that hit hard. Use a wire leader to prevent bite-offs.

Spot

Leiostomus xanthurus

Sep–Dec
Best bait
Bloodworms, shrimp bits
Average size
6–10 in
Pier record
2 lbs

Arrive in huge schools in fall. Excellent pan fish and great fun for kids.

Slow

1

Present in small numbers or well outside their run. Treat one as a bonus.

Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

Slow season — but conditions are good right now. That is the pier-wide bite score above, not a report on this species.

Best bait
Sand fleas, shrimp
Average size
12–16 in
Pier record
8.5 lbs

Highly prized for their flavor. Found in the surf zone near the pier base.

How this list is put together

Seasons and records here are what Pawleys Island Pier and regular anglers report — they are not a survey. A fish listed as slow can still show up in numbers on the right tide. Before you keep anything, check the size and bag limits, and see the species directory for full profiles.