By Captain Jason Webber, USCG-licensed captain, Myrtle Beach Sport Fishing, Murrells Inlet, SC.
The first week of September still feels like summer out here. The water off Murrells Inlet is holding around 83 degrees, the offshore bite has not slowed down, and if you walked onto the dock right now you would think nothing had changed since July. By the last week of the month it is a different ocean.
Water temperature drops about five degrees across September, from roughly 83 in the first ten days to roughly 78 by the end, and that is the switch that flips the whole system. Trout come back into the creeks. Flounder stack up near the inlet before they head offshore to spawn. The king mackerel run builds along the beach. Offshore, September is honestly the best sailfish month we get all year. Here is what we are seeing, zone by zone, and which trip gets you to it. If you missed it, the August forecast covers where the summer left off.
What September looks like on the water this year
NWS Wilmington climatology puts average nearshore water temperature off Myrtle Beach at about 83°F in the first ten days of September and about 78°F in the last ten. Afternoons run in the low 80s, mornings in the high 60s. That slide is the story of the month: the summer pattern holds early, the fall pattern takes over late, and the fishing gets better as it cools.
Inshore: trout come back, flounder stack the inlet
Spotted seatrout rebound as the summer freshwater flushes out of the creeks, and by mid-month they are back on the grass edges and creek mouths in 5 to 25 feet of water. Flounder concentrate around the inlet and the jetties before their offshore spawning move, which makes September one of the two best flounder months of the year. Slot red drum start to school on the nearshore bars, with the bull reds not far behind. All of this is 4-Hour Reef & Wreck Charter water, inside 15 miles, in 10 to 40 feet.
Nearshore: Spanish mackerel and the start of the king run
Spanish mackerel are still thick over the nearshore bait pods in 15 to 40 feet, and September is the tail end of their peak. Behind them the king mackerel run starts building over the reefs and live bottom in 35 to 100 feet of water. Find the bait, find the kings. The 6-Hour Offshore Day Charter reaches the 20 to 30 mile reefs where the first fall kings show, and little tunny blitz the same bait through the fall.
Offshore: the best month of the year for sailfish
Sailfish are the headline. They are still cruising the warm Gulf Stream water and September gives us more shots at them than any other month. Wahoo are strong, mahi are good along the weed lines, and blackfin tuna are on the troll. Yellowfin run through October. This is 12-Hour Gulf Stream Trolling Charter water, 70 to 100 miles out, and it is weather-dependent, which brings us to the honest part below.
Bottom fishing: what is open in September
Limits and closures last checked 4 September 2026. Rules change; confirm on saltwaterfishing.sc.gov before you keep a fish.
- Black sea bass: open, and the backbone of the fall bottom trips.
- Vermilion snapper and gray triggerfish: open.
- Gag grouper: closed since 2 August. This is the one that catches people out.
- Red grouper and scamp: open.
- Greater amberjack: open, and big on the shelf-edge structure.
The 8-Hour Offshore Day Charter works the deep ledges 25 to 35 miles out, and the 10-Hour Continental Shelf Charter reaches the outer shelf where the larger grouper and snapper hold. For the full open-and-closed picture, the NOAA Fisheries Southeast pages carry the federal seasons and eRegulations carries the state limits.
The honest part: September is peak hurricane season
According to NOAA hurricane climatology, 10 September is the statistical peak of the Atlantic season, and roughly 96 percent of major-hurricane days fall between mid-August and mid-October. That does not mean your trip gets cancelled. Most September days are perfectly fishable. It does mean it is worth understanding how we handle weather before you book.
Weather is the captain’s call. If we decide it is not safe or fishable, we reschedule at no charge or refund your deposit in full. A $250 deposit holds your date, with the balance due on the day of the charter.
Which trip to book in September
- Families and first-timers: the 4-Hour Reef & Wreck Charter, trout, flounder and reds inside 15 miles, from $950.
- Kings and cobia: the 6-Hour Offshore Day Charter, 20 to 30 miles, $1,200 to $1,500.
- Our most-booked day: the 8-Hour Offshore Day Charter, grouper, snapper and amberjack on the deep ledges, $1,800.
- Deep water: the 10-Hour Gulf Stream Deep Drop for tilefish and snowy grouper on electric reels, $2,800.
- Sailfish, wahoo and tuna: the 12-Hour Gulf Stream Trolling Charter, $3,200.
Every species above has its own entry in our species guide with distance, depth and peak months. Call (843) 231-5453 between 8am and 8pm, or check live availability.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are biting in Murrells Inlet in September?
Inshore: spotted seatrout, flounder and red drum. Nearshore: Spanish mackerel, the first fall king mackerel and little tunny. Offshore: sailfish, wahoo, mahi and blackfin tuna, with black sea bass, vermilion snapper and amberjack on the bottom.
Is September a good month to go deep sea fishing in Myrtle Beach?
Yes. September is the best sailfish month of the year on the Gulf Stream trips, wahoo and mahi are strong, and bottom fishing on the shelf is open for sea bass, vermilion and amberjack. Offshore days are weather-gated, so we watch the tropics closely.
How warm is the water off Myrtle Beach in September?
About 83°F in the first ten days of September falling to about 78°F in the last ten, based on NWS Wilmington climatology. That five-degree drop is what moves the fall species in.
What happens if a hurricane or storm cancels my September charter?
The call is the captain’s. If we decide the day is not safe or fishable, we reschedule at no charge or refund your $250 deposit in full.