** Archived Article - please check for current information. **

February 20, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, 7 am to 2 am on Friday and Saturday. Closed until March.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Some spots and skates.

Springmaid Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier is open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, year-round. Tackle shop open 6 a.m. to 11 pm. Some dogfish caught using cut bait.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Some sharks caught on cut mullet.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Closed until March.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 24 hours a day for fishing. Some whiting caught on cut bait and frozen shrimp.

Winyah Bay Fishing and Observation Pier (Georgetown): Open 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, with free parking and fishing. Visitors also enjoy great bird watching. A Freshwater Fishing License is required due to brackish water. A second fishing pier on Winyah Bay has now opened called Hobcaw Point Observation and Fishing Pier. Mostly crabbing and birdwatching, little fishing activity.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. April through October. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Nov. Open 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Dec. through Jan. Slow activity, but some red drum using cut or live shrimp.

Hunting Island State Park Fishing Pier: Pier is open 24 hours a day. The Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues. though Sat. Slow activity.

Reporters: The S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Marine Resource Division thanks the following participants for their cooperation in compiling this week's report: Cherry Grove Pier, Apache Pier, Springmaid Pier, Myrtle Beach State Park, Surfside Pier, The Pier at Garden City, Winyah Bay Fishing and Observation Pier, Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Hunting Island State Park and Dr. Donald Millus.

For South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations:

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/saltfishing.pdf

Visit the Saltwater Fishing License Web site at http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov