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October 24, 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. Three sheepshead (one at 7 pounds). Whiting caught with cut bait. 16 inch flounder caught. Bluefish caught with cut mullet and blue rigs. Spadefish caught with cut bait, shrimp. Lookdown or horsehead also caught.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Some pompano. Spottail with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms. Red drum and black drum also reported.

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. Spottail caught with bloodworms. Trout and whiting caught with cut bait. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hooks. Also some flounder being caught.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. A few spottails caught. Trout caught with shrimp and cut bait. Some whiting caught.

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

The Pier at Garden City: Open 24 hours a day for fishing. Spottail caught with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms. Pompano caught with shrimp. Whiting also reported caught.

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. Slow fishing.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. April through October. Redfish caught with mullet. Black drum, whiting and sheepshead 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. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crab and cast net. Some whiting, flounder and skate also caught. Redfish caught with mud minnows. Sea bass caught with shrimp.

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