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. - Some spottail caught with bloodworms and shrimp. Bluefish caught with Gotcha plugs with gold hook rigs. Pompano caught with shrimp.

Apache Pier (Myrtle Beach): Pier and bait Shop open 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. Bluefish caught with cut mullet and blue rigs. Some pompano. Spottail bass with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms. Red drum and black drum also reported. - 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. Bluefish also caught with bottom rigs and gold hooks. Spottail caught with bottom rigs and worms. Trout caught with cut 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. A few spottails caught with redworms. Whiting and trout caught with cut bait. Bluefish doing well.

Surfside Pier: Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Some flounder and pompano caught. Trout, whiting and bluefish caught. Spottail bass doing well with bloodworms, shrimp and synthetic bloodworms.

The Pier at Garden City: Pier and tackle shop open 24 hours a day. Pompano caught with shrimp and bluefish with bottom rigs and mullet. Spottail caught with bloodworms and synthetic bloodworms. Whiting also reported caught.

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. Black sea bass red drum both caught with shrimp. Sheepshead caught with fiddler crab.

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