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

November 14, 2005

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

 
Cherry Grove Pier: Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, 7 am to 2 am on Friday and Saturday. Blues caught by jigging with gold hooks and mackerel trees. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hooks. Spots caught with bloodworms and artificial bloodworms.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Some pompano caught with shrimp. Spots caught with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms. Some whiting also caught. Bluefish caught with cut bait and Gotcha lures.

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. Sea trout, whiting, blues and flounder all caught with cut shrimp.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Whiting and spots caught with cut bait.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Some trout caught on shrimp and cut mullet. Some spots caught with bloodworms. Whiting and blues caught with cut bait. Flounder caught with mud minnows.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 24 hours a day for fishing. Whiting caught with shrimp. Sheepshead caught with sand and fiddler crabs and barnacles.

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 on Winyah Bay has now opened called Hobcaw Point Observation and Fishing Pier. Trout on cut bait and shrimp. Spottail bass caught with mullet. Some flounder also caught.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. April through October. Whiting caught with 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. Redfish caught on minnows. Trout caught with shrimp. Some whiting also caught.

Due to agency budget cuts and staff reductions, the Inshore and Offshore fishing reports are being discontinued for the foreseeable future. We will continue to provide the weekly pier fishing reports.
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.

- Written by Brett Witt -

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/