News Release
August 21, 2006
DNR News (803) 734-3950

Saltwater Fishing Trends:

Cherry Grove Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and spot caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Bluefish are biting cut bait and gold hook jigs. Flounder biting live mud minnows. Pompano caught on and shrimp. Spanish mackerel are being caught on pogies.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach North): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Whiting caught with shrimp and squid. Flounder, including one 7-pound, 10-ounce specimen, are being caught using mud minnows and mullet. Black drum caught on shrimp heads and mud minnows. Some pinfish have also been caught, using small pieces of shrimp on a No. 8 or No. 6 size hook. Pompano have been caught in the 1- to 3-pound range, using shrimp. A few good-sized spots have also been caught with shrimp.

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. Few spots caught on bloodworms. Flounder caught with mud minnows. Whiting are biting shrimp. Croakers being caught with shrimp. A couple of Spanish mackerel were caught jigging with gold hooks.

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Whiting and spots caught on cut bait. Pompano caught with cut bait. Flounder caught using mud minnows. Bluefish caught with Gotcha lure, and jigging with gold hooks.

Surfside Pier: Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hook jigs. Spots have been biting bloodworms. Flounder caught with mud minnows. Pompano and croaker have been caught with shrimp. Some spadefish have also been caught with shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and spot caught on shrimp and bloodworms. Bluefish are biting cut bait and gold hook jigs. Spanish mackerel and bluefish hitting live bait, gold hook jigs and Gotcha plugs. A few pompano have been caught using shrimp.

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. Catfish: Good, biting regular worms. Flounder: Fair, biting live mud minnows. Crabbing has been good.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting and spot on cut shrimp. Bluefish hitting Sabiki rigs. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crabs. Small whiting caught with shrimp. Pompano have been biting shrimp. Black drum caught on cut and live 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. Tuesday through Saturday. Some flounder being caught on mud minnows. Shark: Poor, using shrimp. White Perch: Fair, using shrimp. Flounder: Poor. Spadefish: Poor, using shrimp. Whiting: Poor, using shrimp. Some stingrays are being caught with 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.

- Written by Brett Witt –

For South Carolina marine recreational fishing regulations:

http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/regs/pdf/saltfishing.pdf

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