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July 10, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Some small Spanish mackerel are still biting jigged gold spoons. Pompano and blues are biting live or cut shrimp or mullet. Whiting are also biting cut bait.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. A few flounder, whiting and pompano are biting fresh or cut 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. Whiting and Croaker are being caught with live or cut shrimp. A few Spanish mackerel are still biting jigged gold spoons.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. A few small spots were caught on bloodworms.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Pompano, whiting and trout are biting live or cut shrimp and mullet. Sheepshead, pompano and whiting are biting fiddler crabs.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Pompano caught using bloodworms and shrimp. Use bloodworms also for spots. A few Spanish mackerel were also reported caught jigging with gold spoons.

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. Spanish mackerel being caught on menhaden or Gotcha plugs when the water is clear. Whiting and black drum are being caught on cut bait. A few sheepshead and pompano are reported.

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 are being caught on mud minnows. Whiting are biting live and cut 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