News Release
May 21, 2007
DNR News (803) 734-3815

Saltwater Fishing Trends

Cherry Grove Pier: Open Sun through Thurs 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Fri and Sat 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Flounder, blues, Spanish mackerel and a few pompano have been taken.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Spanish mackerel on gotcha hooks. Whiting and blues caught with shrimp. - Check weather and water conditions>>>

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 p.m. daily. Spanish mackerel on gotcha hooks. Whiting and blues are still being caught with shrimp. - View the pier cam>>>

Myrtle Beach State Park Pier (Myrtle Beach South): Pier open 6 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week. Tackle shop open 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Whiting using shrimp. Catching a lot of whiting.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Whiting and some good size blues on shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (starting May 11 open 24-7). Whiting are biting great with shrimp. Spanish mackerel caught with gold spoons.

Murrells Inlet: Some big flounder being taken at the start of the ebb tide. Creek is full of small blues, great for grilling not frying. Not much from offshore, because it’s been difficult to get offshore. Large size mud minnows now cost $7.50 per dozen, making an investment in a trap look good.

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. Activity is slow, but some catfish reported caught.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Whiting caught with cut shrimp. Spanish mackerel on gotcha plugs. Flounder is being caught on live shrimp, sheepshead on fiddlers.

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. Whiting and a few flounder being caught.

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.

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