The Spanish Armada
It’s a long run from Little River Inlet to the bluewater where the tuna, dolphin, wahoo and billfish swim, and with fuel prices moving into the $4 neighborhood, you can’t blame a lot of fishermen for choosing to stay closer to port. Capt. David Cutler doesn’t have to be convinced that he saves money by sticking close to his home port of Little River along the South Carolina-North Carolina border. In fact, it’s like B’rer Rabbit and the briar patch. Tell him to stay within a few miles of the beach, and he’s right at home – especially this month, when Spanish mackerel invade the waters close to the state line.

Cutler, of Low Country Fishing Charters in Little River, is perfectly happy to mine the tremendous fishery for Spanish that cranks up and will last for the better part of two months, all within a couple of miles from the shoreline, within sight of the high-rises along Grand Strand beaches.

Cutler and Capt. Ed Elliott of Lucky Strike Charters in Little River, are happy to fill their parties’ coolers with tasty Spanish whenever the opportunity presents itself. And that can mean great fishing through June until the real heat of the summer arrives and slows down just about everything with fins.

"They should be here around the end of April; they should show up...