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August 14, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel and bluefish caught with live bait, gold hook jigs and Gotcha plugs. Whiting and spots caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Flounder caught with mud minnows and finger mullet.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hook jigs. Spots caught on bloodworms. Flounder caught with live mud minnows.

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. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel caught with cut bait and gold hook jigs. Sheepshead caught on fiddler crabs. Flounder biting live mud minnows. Pompano hitting sand fleas.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Spots caught with bloodworms. Spotted sea trout and red drum caught with live mullet. Flounder hitting mud minnows.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. A few sheepshead caught with fiddler crabs. Spadefish and pompano have also been caught with live shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Flounder and whiting being caught with live shrimp. Some sharks being caught on squid.

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 is open on Winyah Bay called Hobcaw Point Observation and Fishing Pier. Birding and crabbing opportunities available.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Black and red drum caught on shrimp heads and mud minnows. Pinfish have also been caught. King and Spanish mackerel biting live bait.

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. Flounder caught on mud minnows. Spots caught using shrimp.

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