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

October 31, 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. Whiting caught with cut bait. Spanish mackerel caught on Spanish rigs. Spots caught with bloodworms and artificial bloodworms. Some pompano also caught.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Spots with bloodworms (1.8 pounder caught). Blues caught with cut bait. Flounder with live minnows. Whiting (2.4 pounder caught). Pompano caught with 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. Spots caught with bloodworms. Trout and whiting caught with cut bait.

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

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting fishing very well with shrimp. Some trout being caught.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 24 hours a day for fishing. Whiting caught with shrimp (1.5 pounder caught). Spots caught with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms.

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. Flounder and a variety of other fish such as whiting are taking cut bait.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. April through October. Spotted sea trout and whiting both 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 and spotted sea trout caught on minnows. Whiting caught on shrimp. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crab. Some flounder caught as well.

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