October 1 , 2007

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. - Spanish mackerel on gold hooks and gotcha plugs. Four king mackerel recently caught (largest was 20 pounds). Pompano caught with shrimp. Spots doing very well with red worms.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. King mackerel caught with live mullet and pinfish. Pompano caught with shrimp. Spanish mackerel on gold hooks and gotcha plugs. Some whiting also reported caught. - 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. Whiting, spot and pompano are biting cut baits. Some blues and flounder are biting shrimp or finger mullet. - 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. 5 kings mackerel recently caught with live mullet or on blues (largest was 20 pounds 13 ounces). Some whiting and pompano also reported caught.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Spanish mackerel on gold hooks and gotcha plugs. Whiting are biting live and cut shrimp. Trout also biting cut bait or shrimp. Some blues also reported caught.

The Pier at Garden City: Pier and tackle shop open 24 hours a day. Whiting on shrimp. Spanish mackerel caught on gold hooks. Flounder and blues caught with live and cut bait. Nice size pompano (2-3 pound range) caught on whiting and sand fleas.

Winyah Bay Fishing and Observation Pier (Georgetown): Open 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, with free parking and fishing. 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. No report.

Folly Beach Pier: Marina building, fishing pier and Locklear's Restaurant (which leases space inside the marina) closed for repairs until March 2008. Call Charleston County Parks and Recreation at (843) 795-4386 for more information.

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, spots and red drum 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.

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