Red Snapper and Amberjack Are Biting Off Murrells Inlet

Name: Reel Blessed
Address: 4123 US-17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC, 29576
Telephone: (843) 608-9297
Location: Crazy Sister Marina

Reel Blessed

Jun 6

3 min read

The offshore reefs delivered last weekend. Clients came back with red snapper, vermilion snapper, and amberjack — solid fish on all three, caught on structure in 40 to 70 feet off the South Carolina coast.

This time of year is one of the better windows for this kind of fishing out of Murrells Inlet. The water temperature is right, the bait is moving, and the reef fish are holding well before the summer heat pushes everything deeper.

Red Snapper and Vermilion Snapper

Red snapper have been stacking on structure. The fish are eating consistently, and the size has been good. Vermilion snapper were mixed in on the same drops — smaller than the reds but they fight well and they're excellent table fare.

The artificial reefs off the Grand Strand hold snapper well through late spring and into early summer. This is some of the most reliable bottom fishing on the Carolina coast right now, and May is typically when the bite is at its most consistent before summer pressure picks up.

Amberjack on the Reef Structure

Amberjack were mixed in on the deeper drops. If you haven't fought one off the bottom, it's a different experience than anything inshore will give you — they run hard, they go deep, and they don't give up until they're in the boat.

Greater amberjack are a regular target on the offshore reefs here. They show up on the same structure as the snapper and they're a legitimate test of tackle and the angler using it. Clients who want a fight, this is it.

Why May Is a Good Time to Fish Offshore Here

Murrells Inlet gives you a geographic advantage that most people don't talk about. The inlet sits almost due east of the Gulf Stream, which means offshore runs out of Crazy Sister Marina are shorter than they are from most other South Carolina ports. Less run time means more time on the fish.

May sits in a productive window between the spring transition and the full summer push. Water temps are in the mid-60s to low 70s offshore, bait schools are active, and the reef fish haven't moved to their deeper summer haunts yet. It's a good time to go.

The nearshore artificial reef program off the Grand Strand also gives anglers options. There are multiple reef sites within a reasonable run — concrete rubble, structure, and a few wreck sites — all of which hold snapper, grouper, triggerfish, jacks, and spadefish depending on the season.

Offshore Trip Options Out of Murrells Inlet

Reel Blessed runs two offshore-capable boats depending on group size and how far out you want to go.

The 25-foot center console with twin 150s is built for smaller groups of up to 4. Half-day trips run 5 hours from $1,200 — a solid option for reef and bottom fishing without committing to a full day. Full-day trips run 8 hours from $1,200 and give you time to cover more structure.

The 38-foot Rampage Express Sportfisher handles groups of up to 6 and runs 8-hour offshore trips from $1,999. More deck space, more range, and the right setup for serious bottom fishing or pushing further offshore toward the Gulf Stream.

For those who want to reach pelagic water — mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, and billfish — the Gulf Stream trip runs 10 to 12 hours for up to 6 guests from $2,999. That's a different category of fishing altogether, and when the Stream is close and conditions are right, the results speak for themselves.

All trips depart from Crazy Sister Marina, 4123 US-17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.