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

Sept 11 , 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.  A few blues and whiting were reported.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Fishing picking up a bit with red and black drum both caught. Some red drum caught, tagged, released. Flounder caught on mud minnows. Good-sized whiting caught on cut shrimp. Pompano also caught on shrimp.

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 caught with gold hook jigs. Some whiting caught on shrimp. Blues also reported caught.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Trout caught with cut mullet. Some Spanish mackerel caught with gold hooks. Croaker and whiting also reported caught.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Trout caught on cut mullet and shrimp. Flounder caught with mud minnows. Float fishermen at end of pier catching Spanish mackerel. Some whiting caught on shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Pompano hitting fresh shrimp and sand fleas. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hooks.

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 drum caught (one reported at 3 pounds 14 ounces.) with cut and live shrimp. Small whiting, blues and croaker caught with cut 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. Tuesday through Saturday. Lot of whiting caught on cut shrimp. Pinfish, sea bass and spadefish caught with shrimp. A 44-inch stingray reported caught.

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