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July 31, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and spot caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Bluefish are biting cut bait and gold hook jigs. Sheepshead caught on fiddler crabs.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Flounder caught using mud minnows. Whiting biting shrimp and squid. Black drum caught on shrimp heads and mud minnows. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crabs.

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. Spots caught on bloodworms. Flounder hitting live mud minnows. King mackerel caught using live bait.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Pinfish have been caught.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Spots have been biting bloodworms. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel and bluefish hitting live bait, gold hook jigs and Gotcha plugs. Whiting and spots caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Flounder biting mud minnows and finger mullet.

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. Whiting and spot on cut shrimp. Spotted seatrout and black drum biting live shrimp. Bluefish hitting Sabiki rigs. Red drum biting live minnows and 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. 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