SALTWATER FISHING TRENDS:

PIERS: Note changes in hours of operation.

Cherry Grove Pier: Closed for winter December 11 until mid February/March. No report.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Bait shop open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Nice black drum and average whiting are still good at the end of the pier. Small croaker are also biting. Use cut shrimp. Water temperature is around 48 degrees.

Springmaid Pier: Open 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, year-round. Whiting activity is off and on, but spotted sea trout is still good. Use cut mullet. Water temperature is 48.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Whiting are taking cut shrimp or cut mullet. Water temperature is around 48 degrees.

Surfside Pier: Closed for winter November 28. No report.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. (Closing January 1 through February.) King mackerel fishing allowed only during tournaments. Average size whiting activity is good at the end of the pier. Use cut shrimp. Water temperature is about 48 degrees.

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. Activity is slow. No report.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. - Feb. No activity to report. Water temperature is 49 degrees.

Hunting Island State Park Fishing Pier: Pier open 24 hours a day. The Nature Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. (Hours subject to change during off-season.) No activity to report.

INSHORE (State Waters):

Cherry Grove: Red drum activity is good in shallow grassy flats. Use live shrimp. Spotted sea trout are good in the creeks using cut mullet or shrimp.

Murrells Inlet: Red drum catches are still good in the creeks. Use shrimp or cut mullet for bait. Spotted sea trout are taking live shrimp in the creeks. Use cut bait. Also lures such as the Electric Chicken have been working well.

Charleston Area: Water clarity is good. Red drum are still schooling in the flats in creeks and rivers. Use gold spoons and artificial grubs, or live shrimp or minnows. Small spotted sea trout are very good in all rivers and creeks. Cold temperatures will move them further upstream. Artificials, such as grubs or Mirrolures work well. Sheepshead are good at the jetties and starting to move further offshore to reefs and wrecks. Use live shrimp.

Edisto Area: Red drum activity is still good in the surf, inlets and creeks. Use live shrimp, finger mullet or artificial grubs. Spotted sea trout activity is good in rivers and creeks using live shrimp under a float or using artificial grubs.

Beaufort Area: Red drum and spotted sea trout activity is good in the creeks and inlets in the shallows at low tide. Use live mud minnows or shrimp as well as artificial grubs. Sheepshead and black sea bass are biting over nearshore wrecks. Use live shrimp, barnacles or fiddler crabs.

OFFSHORE (Federal Waters) Activity has been limited due to bad weather.

Cherry Grove: Bottom fishing for snapper, grouper and black sea bass has been good in 25 to 35 feet of water. Use squid or cigar minnows.

Murrells Inlet: Catches of snapper, grouper and black sea bass are still good. Fish over live bottoms and structures. Use squid.

Charleston Area: Snapper and grouper catches are still good in 70-foot waters and out to the ledge. Fish over live or hard bottoms with squid.

Edisto River/St. Helena Sound: Snapper / grouper activity is good in 120 feet of water over live bottoms or wrecks. Use squid or cigar minnows.

Beaufort Area: Snapper, grouper and black sea bass activity is still good in 80 to 100 feet of water. Use squid or cigar minnows.

Reporters: The S.C. Department of Natural Resources' Marine Resources 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, Harbor Gate Marina-Cherry Grove, Capt. Dicks-Murrells Inlet, Haddrell's Point Tackle-Charleston, Edisto Marina-Edisto, Low Country Outfitters-Hilton Head.

- Written by Becky Fowler -

For South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations: http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/rulesregs/img/saltfishing.pdf

Visit the Saltwater Fishing License Web site at http://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/

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