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

May 8, 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting are biting with shrimp. Spanish mackerel caught jigging with gold spoons.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting caught with shrimp. Some red drum reported caught.

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 and a few blues caught on shrimp and squid.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Blues caught with gold hooks.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting, croaker and blues caught on cut shrimp and cut mullet. Also catching pompano and Spanish mackerel.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and croakers caught with shrimp. Several flounder taken on mud minnows.

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. Several flounder caught on mud minnows.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and black drum caught on shrimp. Blues caught with gold hooks.

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. Some flounder caught with 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