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October 17, 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. Some spottail caught with bloodworms and shrimp. Bluefish caught with Gotcha plugs with gold hook rigs. King mackerel (15.8 pounder). Pompano caught with shrimp.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. Bluefish caught with cut mullet and blue rigs. Some pompano. Spottail bass 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. Bluefish also caught with bottom rigs and gold hooks. Spottail caught with bottom rigs and worms. Trout caught with cut mullet.

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 with redworms. Whiting and trout caught with cut bait. Bluefish doing well.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Some flounder and pompano caught. Trout, whiting and bluefish caught. Spottail bass doing well with bloodworms, shrimp and synthetic bloodworms.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 24 hours a day for fishing. Pompano caught with shrimp and bluefish with bottom rigs and mullet. Spottail caught with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms. 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. Black drum and whiting 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. Black sea bass, red drum both caught with shrimp. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crab. Some whiting also caught.

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