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

October 10, 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 croaker caught with bloodworms, shrimp. Bluefish with gold hook rigs and shrimp. Also some whiting and spottail caught.

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 mullet. Spottail caught with sand fleas. Also some whiting and flounder 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. Spottail caught with bottom rigs and worms. Bluefish also caught with bottom rigs and gold hooks. Some flounder also 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 with redworms. Bluefish caught with cut bait (4.8 pounder).

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Trout caught with cut bait. Whiting caught with shrimp. Also some flounder and pompano caught.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 24 hours a day for fishing. Flounder and spottail being caught. Spanish mackerel caught with gold hooks. Pompano caught with shrimp and bluefish with bottom rigs and mullet.

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