Briarcliffe Acres, SC Fishing: Easy Access to Epic Grand Strand Fishing

Briarcliffe Acres is a small town between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach in southeast Horry County, South Carolina. It was initially envisioned as a retirement area by Kenneth Ellsworth, who married a South Carolina native, Ginny Gasque. They developed the land they had acquired back in the early years of the 20th century when the area was becoming popular as a vacation home community. Over the years, they rebuilt Briarcliffe Acres to attract permanent retired residents and families to invest in real estate in the area.

Hurricane Hazel largely affected the region in 1954. However, Myrtle Beach reached another boom after a deal with the United States Air Force a few years after. This boom benefitted Briarcliffe Acres as it became a thriving residential area for Air Force veterans, artists, and investors. 

Today, Briarcliffe Acres is still very much the quietly stunning residential area visitors can escape to away from crowds at its more popular Grand Strand neighbors. It is situated off US Route 17 North, making it easily accessible while maintaining its off-the-beaten-path feel. It has retained traces of its more elegant past with its mansion-style homes, looking just as it did in the 1960s. Amidst resident houses, the community still has its pristine lakes and lush forests home to wild animals. Briarcliffe Acres offers a quiet respite and an ideal home base for anglers who want to enjoy the excellent fishing at Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach.

Briarcliffe Acres Fishing

Briarcliffe Acres is minutes away from the unbeatable fishing experiences that anglers have access to in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Both coastal cities are not only popular tourist destinations but also every angler’s dream hotspot, with the best of saltwater and freshwater fishing that South Carolina has to offer.

Saltwater fishing is the bread and butter for anglers in the Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle district. It has 60 miles of Atlantic coastline, with the Gulf Stream just near enough to make its waters even more exciting. But the fun is not limited to its access to the open ocean. Its bays, inlets, and rivers are just as productive year-round.

One of the easiest ways to enjoy saltwater fishing in the Myrtle-North Myrtle Beach areas is through numerous fishing piers. The Apache Pier, the longest pier in the east, juts out into the Atlantic and has its parking lot. It's the best spot to fish for black drum, spot croaker, and Spanish mackerel. Another Atlantic Ocean pier, the Cherry Grove Pier, belongs to some of the best spots in the Carolinas, apart from offering astounding views of the horizon. It attracts a wide variety of fish species, including sheepshead, spot croaker, redfish, bluefish, sea trout, pompano, summer flounder, gray trout, weakfish, king mackerel, and Spanish mackerel. Both piers have long fishing seasons and offer excellent facilities, including full bait-and-tackle stores. 

The district likewise offers fantastic inshore fishing spots accessible from the shore and on a kayak. Jim Caudle Reef is an artificial reef - the largest of its kind in the state. Several acres of steel structure attract plenty of trophies, including king mackerel, flounder, cobia, and wahoo. If you want to kayak fish, consider heading south of Myrtle Beach to the barrier island of Pawley’s Island, where you can catch plenty of tarpon, flounder, speckled trout, weakfish, and Spanish mackerel. 

For the deep sea fishing experience of your life, you cannot miss out on the Gulf Stream, which you can easily access from Myrtle Beach. If you’re ready with your sea legs, hop on a fishing charter towards the legendary stream to fish for common dolphinfish, sailfish, yellowfins, and wahoo.

While most people focus on the region’s saltwater fishing, you’ll be missing out if you don’t at least try some of their freshwater and inland fishing. Briarcliffe Acres offers access to the Great Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers, two bodies of water connected to the Intracoastal Waterway’s rich waters, emptying into the Atlantic. The best way to maximize fishing here is via the backwaters, where you can catch crappie, largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill. Boat ramps near Myrtle Beach include Peachtree Landing, Bucksville Landing, and Enterprise Landing, where you can launch a kayak or canoe to fish. If you’re keen to catch some trophy catfish, consider using fresh bait like bluegill and mullet straight from the river. 

While in the area, seek out some of the lakes near Briarcliffe Acres and North Myrtle Beach, where you can catch trophies. These lakes include Lake Arrowhead, Flat Lake, Live Oak Lake, Big Savannah Bluff Lake, and Tilly Lake.

Top 10 Fish Species in Briarcliffe Acres, SC

The top 10 fish species in Briarcliffe Acres, SC, are redfish, bluefish, black drum, sheepshead, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, cobia, wahoo, and common dolphinfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Briarcliffe Acres and the rest of the Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach region is an excellent fishing hotspot year-round. May to November experiences a peak for many species, with winter coming in with some surprise catch. Around April, you can expect to catch some black drum and shark, while May sees redfish and king mackerel biting. Many of these fish are around well into October and November. Speckled trout and flounder join the fray in June and are around for most of the summer season. You can cast in around late May if you’re keen to challenge yourself with the tarpon. January and February offer a short winter window for the silver king, so you can also try those months, as long as you look for them in the less crowded waters. Other late spring to summer fish species that you should look for are common dolphinfish and cobia. Fall is likewise an excellent fishing season for the area, with giant redfish heading for the river and inlets on the tail of mullet schools. For tasty table fare, you can’t go wrong fishing for spot croaker around October to November. As the weather turns colder, you can expect to catch some striped bass and speckled trout moving into creek mouths using artificial bait.

Enjoy the Grand Strand without the Crowds in Briarcliffe Acres

Making Briarcliffe Acres your home base puts you in the perfect spot to enjoy the shopping, sights, and activities all over the Grand Strand without competing with the crowds.

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Experience the legendary deep-sea fishing in the Gulf Stream, enjoy the nearshore and inshore fishing in the artificial reefs near Myrtle Beach, and try a once-in-a-lifetime shark fishing - all these and more are available for anglers fishing in this part of Horry County.

2. Bring Your Entire Family to Broadway at the Beach

Broadway at the Beach is a Myrtle Beach entertainment complex with a variety of attractions for the entire family. WonderWorks, a unique science-based amusement park where you can enjoy some edu-tainment with your children, is one of its highlights. The rest of the complex is divided into zones where you can walk around, shop, and eat South Carolina fare.

3. Relax at Barefoot Landing

If you’ve had enough excitement at Broadway at the Beach, consider hopping over to Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. This complex is a little more relaxed, known for its live entertainment at Alabama Theatre and House of Blues. With its location along the Intracoastal Waterway stretch, the best way to enjoy it is on a scenic night stroll with a sunset view over this unique channel.