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January 10, 2005 DNR News (843) 953-9310

SALTWATER FISHING TRENDS:

PIERS: Note changes in hours of operation. Activity slow due to off-season.

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. No activity to report. Water temperature is around 48 degrees.

Springmaid Pier: Open 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, year-round. Spotted sea trout and croaker activity is good. Use cut mullet. Water temperature is 48.

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

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

The Pier at Garden City: Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Closed Jan. 1 through February. No report.

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. Activity is slow. No 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): Water clarity is excellent.

Cherry Grove: Red drum activity is good in shallow grassy flats. Use live shrimp.

Murrells Inlet: Look for red drum on falling tides in the flats. Use mud minnows or artificial grubs

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. A few spotted sea trout were caught in 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 nearshore reefs. Use live fiddlers.

Edisto Area: Red drum activity is still good in the creeks and rivers. 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 reefs. Use live shrimp, barnacles or fiddler crabs.

 

OFFSHORE (Federal Waters) Activity has picked up due to warmer weather and calm waters.

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 black sea bass, snapper, grouper and triggerfish are still good. Fish over live bottoms and structures. Use squid and cigar minnows.

Charleston Area: Black sea bass, snapper and grouper catches are still good in 75 to 100 foot waters. Larger fish are at the ledge and further out in warmer waters. Fish over live or hard bottoms with squid. Bonita and wahoo were reported in 100 to 120 foot waters.

Edisto River/St. Helena Sound: Black sea bass, snapper and grouper activity is good at nearshore reefs. Fish are bigger and more plentiful further offshore. Use squid or cigar minnows.

Beaufort Area: Black sea bass activity is still good around ten miles out over reefs and wrecks. Use squid or cigar minnows. Snapper and grouper are further out. King mackerel were also reported.

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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