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PierCast

Garden City Pier

Where the Strand meets the inlet

  • 110 S Waccamaw Dr, Garden City Beach, SC 29576
  • 668 ft
  • $7/day
  • Official site
Open

Bite score

Hot

Updated 23 hr ago

Water temp

82.2°F

Air 79.2°F

Wind

7 kn SW

Gusts 9 kn

Tide

Rising

From NOAA CO-OPS

Pressure

1021 mb

Low Hazard

Beach flag: Low Hazard

Calm conditions. Exercise normal caution.

Full conditionsWhat's bitingBait for this pier

About Garden City Pier

Garden City Pier sits at the southern end of the Grand Strand near Murrells Inlet, one of the most productive fishing estuaries on the East Coast. At 668 feet, it's shorter than some Grand Strand piers, but its proximity to the inlet means excellent fishing for flounder, red drum, and sheepshead. The pier is known for its relaxed, local atmosphere.

House rules

  • No cast nets from the pier (SC law on public piers)
  • No shark fishing from the pier deck (most piers)
  • Keep your area clean. Dispose of bait and fish scraps properly
  • Be courteous to other anglers. Don't cast over someone else's line
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult

House rules are set by the pier. State-wide size and bag limits are on the regulations page.

18 species

What you can catch at Garden City Pier

4 species are in peak season here right now.

Full breakdown
Peak season

Red Drum (Redfish)

Sciaenops ocellatus

Mar–Nov

Best bait: Live shrimp, cut mullet

Peak season

Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Mar–Nov

Best bait: Live minnows, mud minnows

Peak season

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Apr–Oct

Best bait: Gotcha plugs, spoons

Biting

Whiting (Kingfish)

Menticirrhus spp.

Year-round

Best bait: Shrimp, bloodworms

Biting

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Jan–Apr

Best bait: Fiddler crabs, barnacles

Biting

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Best bait: Shrimp, clams, crab

Biting

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Apr–Nov

Best bait: Cut bait, spoons

Biting

Spot

Leiostomus xanthurus

Sep–Dec

Best bait: Bloodworms, shrimp bits

Bait that works here

What to buy on the way

Full bait guide

Live Shrimp

live

Red Drum, Flounder, Sheepshead, Black Drum

Rig: Carolina rig or float rig

Bloodworms

live

Whiting, Spot, Croaker, Pompano

Rig: Two-hook bottom rig (pompano rig)

Cut Mullet

cut

Red Drum, Black Drum, Bluefish, Sharks

Rig: Fish-finder rig on the bottom

Fiddler Crabs

live

Sheepshead, Black Drum, Tautog

Rig: Small hook, light weight, near pilings