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April 10 , 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Catching whiting with cut shrimp. Some spots and black drum caught also.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Spots, whiting and black drum are being caught using 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 caught on shrimp. Some trout and croaker caught.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Skates caught using mullet. Whiting caught on cut shrimp. Some small flounder also caught.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and croaker caught with shrimp. Some flounder caught with small minnows.

The Pier at Garden City: Pier closed to fishing for construction through April 10. Tackle shop open business hours.

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. Mostly crabbing and birdwatching, little fishing activity.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. through March with hours 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting in April. Catching a few whiting, black drum and trout on 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. Flounder caught with mud minnows. Whiting caught on 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