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June 5, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Bluefish caught with bait and gold hook jigs. Red drum caught using shrimp. Use sand fleas for pompano. Spanish mackerel caught with Gotcha plugs and gold hook jigs.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Bluefish caught with Gotcha plugs, cut pinfish, and live bait. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs. Red drum and black drum caught using live bait.

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 are biting cut bait and shrimp. Spanish mackerel hitting gold hook jigs. Flounder caught on minnows. Spots caught on bloodworms.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Bluefish biting cut bait. Whiting caught on shrimp and minnows.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs. Trout biting live shrimp. Bluefish caught with live bait. Pompano caught on sand fleas and gold hook jigs.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel hitting gold hook jigs and Gotcha plugs. Red drum caught on cut bait. Flounder caught on mud minnows and pompano 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. Mostly crabbing and birdwatching, but some catfish are being caught. 

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting, black drum and pompano biting live or cut shrimp. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crabs and live shrimp. Flounder caught on live shrimp and minnows.

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 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