Pinfish

Season

NC DMF: larger fish move offshore in fall and winter to spawn. UF/IFAS: tolerates 50 to 95 F, which Springmaid Pier water stays within all year. (Our inference)

Where to find them

Pier pilings, jetty rocks, docks.

Right against pilings and rocks.

What to look for

Small silvery fish with yellow and blue stripes and a dark shoulder spot stealing your bait.

Bait

Small pieces of shrimp, Squid, Bloodworms. Two-hook bottom rig with small hooks, or a sabiki rig.

Leader

Light line, small hooks.

Common mistakes

• Hooks too large to catch them

Landing

Swing it up.

Handling

• Sharp dorsal spines
• Incisor-like teeth

Smooth the dorsal fin down before gripping.

Keep or release

No SC limit found in the published tables. Mostly caught as live bait for bigger fish (NC DMF).

Recipes for pinfish

Typical: 2 to 4 in. Large: Up to 8 in.

South Carolina limits

No state limit entry.

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

Sources

• NC Division of Marine Fisheries: pinfish (Official source)
• UF/IFAS FA168: pinfish (temperature and salinity) (Official source)
• NWS Wilmington: Myrtle Beach water temperature by month (Springmaid Pier, 2005-2025) (Official source)

All the fish of Myrtle Beach