looking for fishin info-Garden City B. area

[JayP]

We're headin' down for a week in Garden City Beach next week. Gonna leave the girls to splash around and tan while we get some fishing in. I've fished off the Garden City Pier a few years back and had fun. We're looking for some places to fish. I've nosed around the internet but have only come up with the Charter boat sites, etc. What's the best bet to catch some fish? We like to eat fish but we would like to catch some bigger ones, maybe some shark fishing. We've considered a head boat or maybe renting a boat to jetty fish. I read on one thread about catching sharks at Litchfield Beach. Any help would be appreciated. The worst part about going to a new place is figuring out the spots about the time you're packing up to leave.

[justinfisch01]

I will also be down there in about a month. I know a little about the fishing in the area. Murrells Inlet which is just a few miles south of there has good fishing in the back waters for flounder, spec. trout, and redfish. I know you are not allowed to intentionally fish for sharks from shore or pier anywhere in horry county. Surfside and Garden CIty piers are also an option, you can catch flounder around the pilings, blues, spot, I am not sure about Kingfsh from the end of there pier. KingFishing is kinda complicated though. As far as the surf goes, I have caught a few huge rays, sharks by accident, blues. YOu can also take some light bass spinning gear and dig up some sandflees , and add a small splitshot to you line with the sandflee on a small hook and fish inside the breakers for Pompano, great eating fish, they can range up to a couple pounds but I have only ever caught a couple. THere is a few jetties inbetween Surfside Beach and Garden City I have never fished them, I just learned about them this year by talking to people on P&S. Not sure what would be hanging around them ,but maybe some black or red drum? ANyone ? For flounderi n most spots try live finger mullet, YOu can catch them with a castnet right on the beach, 40-50 at a time if you can spot the school. Gulp shrimp also work for flounder and reds. But the reds are back in the inlet. I am thinking about trying to rent a Kayak for the week and do some fishing back at Murrells. If anyone has more info please feel free I am trying to get info b/c I am on my way down in Sept. JayP When are you going to be down there? I will be down Sept 9th. Let me know when you are going maybe we can hook up.

[JayP]

We are going down Aug. 12-18 so we'll miss you by a few weeks. I appreciate the info you passed on though. I never thought about a kayak. Are the waters in Murrells Inlet fairly calm that you could fish from a kayak? Is the Inlet pretty good size? I've seen a small map of the area but I need to find a website with a good map. I planned on getting one once I got down there but it would be nice to study one now. I'm actually new to ocean fishing. I used to bass fish nearly every weekend and I just slowly got away from it. My buddy talked me into going to Cape Lookout last October and I am officialy "rehooked" on fishing. Another trip to Fort Macon a couple of months ago just fueled the fire. Anyway, any info concerning ocean/inlet fishing will be well received on this end. Maybe there is other activities--shrimping, crabbing, etc. that could be passed along. We're game to try.

[GCsurfishingirl]

Kayak rentals are available at Captain Dicks in Murrells inlet and Black River Outfitters in Georgetown. Georgetown is a good distance away but I believe they will deliver for free. It's around $100 for a weeks rental, $35 per day at BRO. $40/day at CD's Both places have websites - just google it.

Britt

[justinfisch01]

I have been looking into those two places for kayaks, the problem is that I am not taking my truck so it is going to be hard to transpot. I want to take it out both places. Murrells inlet/Ocean So it would be better to rent from Capt. Dicks part of the time and Black river another part of the time. I might be able put it on or in my Fiances car not sure. The backwaters of Murrells are pretty calm, I have fished from sore and caught some flounder back there. But I have seen people come to the docks with some slot reds. Also try the surf around the jetties, that is the only real structure out there. the beach is flat. So I am sure that has to be something hanging around there. Try some sandflees, maybe hook up with a blackdrum or something.

[Singletjeff]

Kayak rentals are available at Captain Dicks in Murrells inlet and Black River Outfitters in Georgetown. Georgetown is a good distance away but I believe they will deliver for free. It's around $100 for a weeks rental, $35 per day at BRO. $40/day at CD's Both places have websites - just google it.

Britt

www.ver-sc.com (vacation equipment rentals) I stayed in Garden City last month. Call and make sure they have one now. You can get a single for 75 for the week and a tandem for 105 for the week. In garden city they will deliver it for free. with the rental you will get a life jacket and paddle, and can rent a seat back for $10 for the week. They were the cheapest down there. The places Britt mentions also rent but they were all more expensive. The black river is roughly the same price, however their week rental is only 5 days opposed to 7 days from Vacation Equipment Rentals. From what I can tell they all pretty much use the same equipment too. I attempted to fish Garden City pier once while I was down there. It was too crowded and not for me. It is completely a tourist pier. With a bar at each end, it isn't quite what I want in a pier. If standing there listening to the rude kids be foul and walk by you with thier rude comments and foul language then have fun at Garden City Pier. My choice is to drive 3 miles back up the beach and visit Surfside Pier. The locals are very friendly, will help you out and show you where you are going wrong. The most fun I had when I was down there was when I took the kayak I rented down to Pawley's Island and yakked some baits out past the breakers. I picked up the bait from Seven Seas Seafood Market, they were more than happy to give me some grouper head, tuna skin and bloodline, all I had to do was ask. these are the rigs, and his is the outcome.
http://fish-aholic.com/coppermine/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCN1266.JPG
http://fish-aholic.com/coppermine/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSCN1257.JPG

Good luck.....

[GCsurfishingirl]

I attempted to fish Garden City pier once while I was down there. It was too crowded and not for me. It is completely a tourist pier. With a bar at each end, it isn't quite what I want in a pier.

That's probably true for this time of year but it will probably be better in September when Justinfisch01 will be there and even better in October when I'm there! I think we have had this conversation before (with somebody - can't remember) but I am partial to GC pier. Yes, there are other piers that are probably just as good but I guess its what you get used to and who you get to know. I have never had a problem with rude people on that pier - kids or adults. The locals are more than willing to help you out - even offer you their home when you come down. But, I am sure this has something to do with the time of year I go and the number of years we have been going.

Nice catch - I'm sure that was lot of fun!!!

Britt

[surfsidesativa]

I don't believe that Garden City Beach is in Horry County so shark fishing is legal (i think). We caught around 20 whiting and pompano in Garden city yesterday evening on blood worms (the GC bait and tackle was closed so no mud minnows.). The pier is kind of annoying if you just want to fish. We went about 10-15 blocks south of the pier and fished the surf by the jetty. The fish were on the smaller side but it was some nice action none the less. Have a great time and keep us informed:cool:

[GCsurfishingirl]

Garden City is in Horry County where shark fishing is illegal. I think someone posted the SC regs at the top of the SC/GA forum. This is not to say that you can't/won't catch a shark - I have hooked a couple (small ones) accidently from both the pier and surf in Garden City.

Britt

[Singletjeff]

You need to go south to Yucca St before you hit the Horry/Georgetown County line. Garden City is in Horry county. And as far as I know there aren't any piers in the area that will allow shark fishing.

[TreednNC]

I remember seeing many many biters around GC pier a few years ago. Anywhere from 3'-8' long. May as well have kept everything you caught, they didnt stand a chance when you threw them back...ANYTHING that hit the water brought out a biter from under the planks. If I saw SEVERAL 6-7' sharks between people swimming/surfing and the beach...Seems like they were spinners? Idk? People called them spinners, the ones I saw were running right in the breakers and jumping and spinning when theyd leave the water.

[justinfisch01]

Surfsidesativa- When you guys fished the Jetty did you catch anything besdies whiting and Pompano? Or where you only targeting them with bloods, You think there is anything bigger hiding in and around them rocks?

[Singletjeff]

yeah, when that water is warm (may-oct) there are sharks everywhere... Spinners, Blacktips, Atlantic Sharpnose etc.....They are easy and simple to catch, but there are regulations on catching them. Horry county is a no-no, high fines from what I've heard. once out of Horry County 54" minimum on some species, and several species are catch and release only.

[justinfisch01]

Besides sharks, anything else out there? Drum?

[justinfisch01]

I think I might some sandflees and fiddlers near the jetties between surfside and garden city. Maybe I can hook up with some sheepshead or drum. Any thougths?

[Singletjeff]

I fished Fiddlers on the pylons at Surfside pier.....TONS of bites, only 4 hook-ups which resulted in 0 fish after getting wrapped in the pylon....Tough little critters to catch

[justinfisch01]

Yeah that is also a thought, I have been out there a few times doing the tourist thing and just looking, I have never taken any gear out there. I might give it a try but I like to stay away from people when I am fishing as much as possible. I have never really seen the jetties but someone on here told me about them. If the sheeps are around the pier they are probably around the jetty, that is a natural place for them to find food. There is so much fishing I want to do down there it boggles my mind. Then I have to find time to squease in the GF. I will probably be in trouble that whole week. Oh well!!! ANy more info would be great, I will have lots of pics when I get back. Promis!!!!!

[surfsidesativa]

Good luck man. I can only catch small whiting and pompano with the ocasional small shark or spot. I'm still trying to learn. I've been fishing by the rocks off of yucca st and guys have been pulling large pomps out with frozen shrimp (which they say is better than sand fleas). I can fish the same area using the same bait and only catch palm sized fish. If you learn how to catch something big in the surf @ GC let me know.