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May 15, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel hitting gold hook rigs and Gotcha plugs. Whiting and flounder caught use shrimp and bloodworms.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting caught on squid and shrimp. Flounder are hitting 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. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are hitting gold hook jigs.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Flounder, trout and whiting caught on shrimp and mullet.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs. A few trout and pompano biting shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Black drum, pompano and trout biting live or cut 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 is open on Winyah Bay called Hobcaw Point Observation and Fishing Pier. Mostly crabbing and birdwatching. Several flounder caught on mud minnows.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Blues caught with gold hooks. Whiting and black drum caught on 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