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Sept 18 , 2006

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Slow fishing, but some blues reported caught with gotcha plugs and shrimp. Whiting also caught with shrimp. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hooks.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Pompano and red drum caught on shrimp. Blues caught with cut bait. Good catches of flounder and whiting 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. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hook jigs. Whiting and blues caught on shrimp. Croaker caught with cut bait and shrimp.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Slow fishing. Some whiting and pompano reported caught with shrimp. Kings reported running too far out from the pier to catch.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Slow fishing, but some black drum caught with small whole creek shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Slow, but a 38-pound red drum reported caught and released.

Murrells Inlet: Big schools of mullet at the jetties reported. Crabbing reported as excellent.

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. Birding and crabbing opportunities available.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Slow fishing, but some small whiting reported caught.

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. Tuesday through Saturday. Slow fishing, but some whiting caught on shrimp and at least one spadefish 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