Mahi season off Little River
Reports log mahi-mahi off Little River from May to October, with the fishing running from late spring through summer. Every trip starts at Little River Inlet. The Little River port page covers the port itself, and the Atlantic Southeast mahi guide (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide) describes the wider migration along the coast.
FishingBooker’s Little River guide says mahi bite through summer. The reports mark the window but don’t say which day the weed lines hold fish. The rest of this page covers where boats run, the grounds on the way, how locals fish, who runs trips from the port, and the rules.
- Window in reports: May to October
- Departure point: Little River Inlet
- Summer: the bite runs through it, per FishingBooker
Where boats run and the grounds on the way
Boats run to weed lines and current rips, with about 150 ft as the depth benchmark. Mahi associate with floating sargassum, per NOAA’s mahi-mahi species page, so weed lines are the target rather than the reefs.
Weed lines move, so the 150 ft contour only tells you where to start looking. Find the weed lines along it and work the rips from there. The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint can show you the 150 ft line before you leave the dock. Chart layers are not for navigation.
SCDNR artificial reef locations cover this stretch of coast. These are the named grounds you will pass or fish on the way:
| Name | Type | Depth | Distance/Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little River Reef | Reef | 25 ft | – |
| Ninety Ninety Rock | Nearshore spot | – | Within a few miles of land |
| Three Mile Reef | Reef | – | – |
| General Sherman Wreck | Wreck | 48 ft | – |
| Little River Offshore Reef (PA-02) | Permitted reef | 55 ft | 156 degrees, 10.5 nm from Little River Inlet |
| Ron McManus Memorial Reef (PA-04) | Permitted reef | – | – |
| BP-25 Reef | Reef | 92 ft | – |
| Blackjack | Offshore fishing area | – | – |
Nearshore reference points
Little River Reef sits at 25 ft and General Sherman Wreck at 48 ft. Ninety Ninety Rock is within a few miles of land, and Three Mile Reef is another named mark close in. Use them as reference points on the way out and as places to keep a drift line in the water. Mahi aren’t the target there.
Permitted reefs
Little River Offshore Reef (PA-02) is at 55 ft, bearing 156 degrees, 10.5 nm from Little River Inlet. It works as a staging point and a drift-line stop on the way to deeper water. Ron McManus Memorial Reef (PA-04) is the other permitted reef in the area.
Deeper structure
BP-25 Reef, at 92 ft, is the deepest named structure here and still well inside the 150 ft benchmark. Blackjack is a named offshore fishing area that holds blackfin tuna and mahi.
How mahi are fished out of Little River
Rigging and spread layout are in the mahi-mahi fishing guide. Locally, three methods cover most of it: ballyhoo first, small baits when fish refuse them, and a drift line while you bottom fish.
Trolling ballyhoo
Trolling ballyhoo along current rips and weed lines is the default local method. Work the rips and weed lines you find near the 150 ft benchmark, keep the pattern simple, and cover water until you find the edge.
Small baits for finicky fish
When fish refuse ballyhoo, switch to small baits on sea witches or chugger heads. Fish that ignore a full ballyhoo will often take a smaller bait, so make the change before you leave the weed line.
Drift lines while bottom fishing
Keep a drift line out while you bottom fish reefs such as PA-02 or BP-25, as a local captain’s report describes. It costs nothing and covers the chance that a fish swings by.
Who fishes for mahi from this port
These operators out of Little River and the Myrtle Beach end of the Grand Strand list mahi-mahi among their targets:
| Operator | Boat(s) | Captain/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Fishing Fleet (also marketed with Hurricane Fleet as a sister operation) | Hurricane II (Gulf Stream trips); Southern Tide (private fleet) | – |
| Voyager Fishing Charters (Voyager Deep Sea Fishing & Dolphin Cruises) | Super Voyager III; Continental Shelf trips | – |
| Chilly Water Fishing | 27 ft Triton 2690, two 200 HP Suzuki outboards | Captain Bevan Hunter |
| Big O’s Fishing Charters | 35 ft Triton 351, twin 425 HP Yamaha | Captain Orlando |
| Fish Screamer III (Fish Screamer Charters) | 41 ft custom fiberglass boat | Captain Danny Juel |
FAQ: mahi-mahi fishing out of Little River
What months are mahi off Little River?
Reports put mahi off Little River from May to October. FishingBooker says mahi bite through summer.
How far offshore for mahi out of Little River?
Boats run to weed lines and current rips around 150 ft. Named structure on the way includes PA-02, 10.5 nm from Little River Inlet on a bearing of 156 degrees.
What depth do mahi hold off Little River?
About 150 ft is the benchmark. Weed lines move, so treat it as a starting point.
What methods do locals use for mahi?
Locals troll ballyhoo along rips and weed lines. When fish are finicky they switch to small baits on sea witches or chugger heads. They also keep drift lines out while bottom fishing.
Which Little River charters target mahi?
Little River Fishing Fleet (Hurricane Fleet), Voyager, Chilly Water, Big O’s and Fish Screamer III all list mahi-mahi. Hurricane II runs Gulf Stream trips.
Do mahi show up on the nearshore reefs?
Locals keep a drift line out while bottom fishing reefs like PA-02 and BP-25, and mahi can pick it up. Blackjack holds blackfin tuna and mahi. For other species, see the offshore gamefish guides.
