October 8, 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. - Spot, blues, pompano and spadefish are biting cut shrimp. Nice sized flounder are taking finger mullet. A couple of Spanish mackerel in the 2-pound range caught using Gotcha plugs.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. A few spot, whiting, pompano and lots of nice blues were reported caught using any variety of cut baits like mullet. Flounder are still biting mud minnows. - 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. Spot, blues and pompano are biting cut baits. Spotted sea trout will hit live shrimp. Several average Spanish reported on gold hooks. - 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. Pompano caught with live or cut shrimp or mullet. Also, use bloodworms when available.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Spot, blues and pompano are biting live and cut shrimp. Spotted sea trout are taking live bait. A few Spanish mackerel were reported hitting plugs.

The Pier at Garden City: Pier and tackle shop open 24 hours a day. A few whiting, blues and spot are biting live or cut bait.

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. Activity has picked up a bit. Whiting and spot are biting cut mullet.

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