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Fish of Myrtle Beach

Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas.

A stout gray bull shark with a short, broad, rounded snout swimming in murky green water

Not a target here: shore and pier shark fishing is banned by Horry County Code Sec. 5-11, Myrtle Beach Code Sec. 5-5 and the Surfside Beach town code (source: Horry County Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-11, Fishing from shore or pier (Ord. No. 27-11, 2011), eLaws code library). Release any shark caught by accident.

Season

Peak months: Jul, Aug.

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Florida Museum: bull sharks migrate north along the US coast in summer and return south as coastal water cools. SCDNR: frequently caught by anglers through the summer. (Our inference)

Where to find them

Deep holes and drop-offs at inlets and sounds, and the bottom off the beach in summer.

On the bottom in deeper holes, inlet mouths and drop-offs.

What to look for

Very stout gray shark with a short, broad, rounded snout and small eyes; no ridge between the dorsal fins.

Bait

Large cut menhaden or mullet, Cut stingray, Large cut bluefish. Heavy fish-finder rig with a 6 to 16 oz spider weight, steel or heavy mono leader, large non-offset, non-stainless circle hook (around 16/0), 100 to 200 lb line.

Leader

Soft steel or heavy wire leader; circle hooks around 16/0.

Common mistakes

  • Fishing gear too light to end the fight quickly
  • Trying to land a big shark on the sand instead of releasing it in the water
  • Putting hands near the mouth

Landing

Lead it into the shallow wash and keep it in the water there. Do not drag it up the dry sand or lift it by the tail.

Handling

  • Teeth
  • Abrasive skin
  • Sudden thrashing

Keep it in the water: do not drag it up the beach and keep hands away from the mouth and gills. If the hook is deep or you would have to reach near the mouth, cut the leader as close to the hook as you can; carry a cutter that can cut the leader or hook. Prohibited sharks (sandbar, sand tiger, dusky and others) must be released without removing them from the water; treat any shark you cannot identify as prohibited.

Keep or release

Where shore shark fishing is legal: SC minimum 54 in fork length and 1 shark per vessel per trip for this group, so nearly every shark from the beach is released. Banned from shore on the Horry County coast.

Typical: 6 to 8 ft. Large: Over 10 ft. SC record 477 lb 12 oz (Stono Inlet, 1985).

South Carolina limits

  • Minimum: 54 in FL
  • Maximum: none
  • Bag: 1 shark per vessel per trip (the limit SC publishes for its blacktip, bull, finetooth, spinner and other large coastal group)
  • Season: No closed season listed
  • Rod and reel or handline only
  • Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks required with natural bait (not with flies or artificial lures)
  • Land with head, tail and fins naturally attached
  • Federal waters (past 3 miles) need a federal HMS permit with a shark endorsement
  • Check local rules: many beach towns ban shore shark fishing
  • Sandbar sharks look like blacktips and bull sharks and are prohibited: if unsure, release it in the water

Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC DNR fishing regulations.

Sources

All the fish of Myrtle Beach

Bull Shark in Myrtle Beach: season, lures and limits | FishOS