5/30/2007

News Release
May 28, 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. - Blues caught with gotcha plugs and cut bait. Flounder caught on mud minnows. Some whiting reported. Pompano caught on shrimp. Spanish mackerel with gotcha plugs.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Blackdrum and sheephead reported caught. Spanish mackerel on gold hooks. Blues caught with cut bait. - 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. Blues will take shrimp. Spanish mackerel on gotcha plugs. Flounder caught on minnows. Some whiting and croaker also reported caught. - 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. Some whiting reported. King mackerel caught using live bait and blues hitting cut bait.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Blues and Spanish caught with shrimp.

The Pier at Garden City: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (starting May 11 open 24-7). Whiting and Spanish mackerel on gotcha plugs. Blues caught on fiddlers.

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.

Folly Beach Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. 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 caught with shrimp. Flounder caught on minnows.

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