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July 17, 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. Flounder biting live mud minnows. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hooks. 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 minnows. King mackerel caught on live bait. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hooks. Pompano caught with sand fleas.

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 hitting gold hook jigs. Spots caught on bloodworms. Flounder hitting live mud minnows.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Red drum caught on shrimp and minnows. Whiting and spots caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hooks.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting caught on cut shrimp. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hooks. Bluefish caught with cut bait. Some red drum are biting live shrimp and live minnows. King mackerel caught on live bait.

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

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. Spadefish biting shrimp and cut jelly balls. Whiting and spot on cut shrimp. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crabs. Red drum caught with live shrimp and live minnows. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hooks.

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.

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