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May 29, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Bluefish biting cut bait and gold hook jigs. Red drum caught using shrimp. Pompano caught with sand fleas. Spanish mackerel caught on 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. Whiting caught on squid and shrimp. Bluefish caught with Gotcha plugs and cut pinfish. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs.

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 with cut bait and shrimp. Spanish mackerel hitting gold hook jigs.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are biting gold hook jigs and Gotcha plugs. Flounder and whiting caught on shrimp and minnows.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting caught on cut shrimp. Flounder caught using minnows. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs. Trout are biting shrimp. Bluefish caught with live bait.

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.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crabs and live shrimp. Flounder caught on live shrimp and minnows. Spanish mackerel hitting Gotcha plugs.

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.

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