Aynor, SC Fishing: The Little Golden Town

Aynor, South Carolina, is located in the northwestern part of  Horry County. It is situated along U.S Route 51 and at the south of Galivants Ferry, with a population of about 934 in 2018. Aynor has a total land area of about 1.9 square miles, which is all land that allows access to different water bodies. 

In the mid 19th century, Anyor was settled as Eyknor's Farm under Jacob Eyknor in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1913, the town was incorporated, followed by an election for the Mayoral post and town wardens. Gabriel Edward was elected as Aynor's first mayor and was re-elected for a second term. 

Aynor began as a railroad terminus along the Conway River. It later became a center for tobacco, cotton, and turpentine. Since then, it has hosted the Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival, which celebrates the city through food, games, music, and dance. Today, Aynor is known as the "Little Golden Town," renowned for its friendliness.

Aynor Fishing

In Aynor, South Carolina, angling gives anglers access to multiple freshwater angling locations, including reservoirs and lakes. It also provides different saltwater opportunities along different beach coasts. Anglers can experience inshore fishing in the various intercoastal waterways.

Visiting the place for the first time can be overwhelming. Although Aynor is a small city with no water, angling is still possible due to its proximity to various bodies of water in neighboring towns. It is surrounded by 168 lakes within a 50-kilometer radius.

Myrtle Beach State Park, located 29 miles southeast of Aynor via US 501, is the first angling location you can visit. The Civilian Conservation Corps developed the 312-acre state park. The park includes a mile of undeveloped beach and a maritime forest home to different species of plants. One could spot some live oaks and southern magnolias as they stroll along the forest. Furthermore, the state park includes sea oats along the beach’s dunes. Aside from the different camping activities offered by the state park, angling in the area is also one of the reasons why people visit. 

Myrtle Beach State Park is known for its amazing and productive surf fishing and pier fishing. The pier gives anglers access to the vast and diverse Atlantic Ocean to catch flounder, stingray, crabs, Spanish mackerel, King mackerel, whiting, trout, spotsfin, and drum. Although sharks have been spotted in the area, it is illegal to capture them.

The second angling spot is a state park about 30 miles from Aynor via US-501 and SC-41 N. The state park is an 835-acre estate that includes a portion of Carolina Bay. People flock to the area for different activities such as bird watching, boating, geocaching, and camping. It houses the Little Pee Dee River, home to multiple species.

The Little Pee Dee River is a blackwater stream with thigh meander bends ranging from four to eight feet. Meanwhile, its width around lake-like sections can vary between 20 and 100 feet. Small motorboats and paddlers can navigate the river during days with normal water levels. The river is home to different resident species like the common carp, golden shiner, redear sunfish, pumpkinseed, lake chubsucker, snail bullhead, flathead catfish, bluespotted sunfish, and many more. It is also home to different diadromous species like the American eel, striped bass, blueback herring, hickory shad, American shad, and striped mullet.

Elvis Lake, located in Galivants Ferry, is the third fishing place near Aynor. It is positioned 29 feet above mean sea level. The lake is home to largemouth bass, who thrive in the area. The best times of day to go fishing are between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

The fourth fishing site is the Wildcat Swamp, one mile from Aynor. The swamp is a wetland with standing water that is poorly drained. It is located 98 feet above mean sea level. Some of the most common catches in the area are common bream, largemouth bass, and bluegill.

The Waccamaw River is the last of the Aynor fishing spots; it is 24 miles outside the city. The stream flows through southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina for approximately 140 miles. The river enters South Carolina and flows southwest through Horry County, which includes the area of Aynor. Some of the most common catches in the area include largemouth bass, blue catfish, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch, bowfin, and southern stingray. The best time to target largemouth bass in the Waccamaw River is in April. This month, bass are getting ready to spawn. They leave their nesting areas in search of food in shallower regions. They are mostly found near current breaks.

Top 10 Fish Species in Aynor, SC

The top 10 fish species in Aynor, SC are blue catfish, channel catfish, black crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch, bowfin, southern stingray,  common carp, hickory shad, and American shad.

Seasonal Fishing

Angling in Aynor is best experienced between late April to December. During these months, fish are most active, making them an easy target for anglers in the area. 

Largemouth bass are available year-round if you target a particular species to land on. However, most of the angling action happens from March to May. Common bream is active throughout the year; their peak months are April to October. Come February to March, anglers will have more opportunities to target some Yellow Perch. King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, and Red drum are some of the best catches come May to November.

The Little Town With Multiple Relaxing Activities

1. Book a Fishing Charter

When visiting Aynor for the first time, finding an angling spot may be difficult due to the town's land-based nature. Booking a fishing charter with experienced guides will help you locate the best angling spots in the area, allowing you to make the most of your visit.

2. Horseback Riding

Nothing would be more relaxing than enjoying the view of South Carolina while riding a horse. Myrtle Beach offers spectacular horseback riding options broken down into two segments. First is riding a horse in the backcountry during summers;  second, exploring the beach during winter. 

3. Visiting Southern Palmetto Farms

Dating back to history, Aynor is already known to host the Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival. Since produce is something the area is known for, visiting the Southern Palmetto Farm will complete your visit. The farm is a family-owned business that offers different activities for children and adults alike. It has a 5.5-acre corn maze, a cotton maze, a farm animal alley, and many more.