Plan B

Really missed coming to GS this October as I have been an annual guest since 1985. Delta and Gov Ivy put the kibash a couple days before departure. Plan B is Myrtle Beach area, and we have never been here before. All I have to say is wow, the aquatic life along the beach is utterly amaizing. The amount of pier access along the grand strand is also quite mind blowing. While the fish are similar to GS such as whiting, red fish, pompano, they do have something called Spot, I think it’s a larger pinfish or something very similar. It is also quite something to see the schools of mullet and bluefish that extend as far as the eye can see. I do want to say something tho about the difference between GS area local anglers and the S Car locals. The locals here are not quite as helpful or cordial to a non local as they are GS. They kinda made fun of my light tackle and said I couldn’t handle the fish. Well I kinda got the last laugh as I pretty much outfished everyone every day since last Saturday. Pompano(no size limit or creel limit) redfish, bull whiting, blues, and two black nose sharks in the 42-46” range all on noodle rods with 10lb braid. I appreciate this forum and I appreciate the local people I meet on the beach in GS! Tight lines all

Yep, Sally, Delta and Governor 'Meemaw' ruined a LOT of folkses plans this fall.
Glad to hear you got in some good fishing though.
We have 'spot' around here too, but they don't garner the attention of mid-Atlantic coastal fishers...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot_(fish)

Missing all the busted up venues in GS/OBch reminded me of a verse from Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi...

Quote:

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Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you've got til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

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Reading your report regarding the Grand Strand I feel compelled to comment. As a native South Carolinian who grew up spending an ample amount of my misspent youth along the shores of Garden City, Surfside and Myrtle I will admit to having the same misgivings. Having left the area as a teenager and temporarily returning after a quarter century of military service the area morphed from a quaint little vacation spot to an overly commercial, exceedingly crowded, and overbuilt tax haven for the state. One can only wonder why Interstate 20 stops in Florence, SC some 90 miles from Myrtle Beach when westward it extends to El Paso, Tx. I guess losing a house to Hugo back in '89 was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I must say that Gulf Shores, while some may refer to the area as the "Redneck Riviera" with its mix of tourists, military, and locals is unbeatable. My humble opinion.

Hey Gooseboy what are you finding as far as accommodations helpful to fisherman and what kind of cost? I also lost my annual fall trip and searching for alternatives.

I paid 700 for an older 9 story 1 bedroom ocean front condo in north Myrtle. We found that to be a little less busy and I could fish all day with very few swimmers. I will tell you the tide moves 100 yds. Thursday the cherry grove pier lit up with bull reds. I saw the Carolina version of the mullet run with thousands of blues in the middle of it. Out of state license was 11 bucks for 14 days. Need any more info feel free to ask

Just a suggestion for you guys headed to the Grand Strand to fish. Yes, the traffic and crowds are significantly smaller during the off season so getting south down towards the Garden City/Murrells Inlet area has proven over the years to be the "preferred" fishing area. Specifically, for me surf fishing near the north jetty south of Garden City has produced fine results. There is a substantial walk required unless you can get a gate pass. The other suggestion is the Garden City Pier where most of the "old timers" hang out.

We visited garden city after dinner by the marinas. It was more similar to gulf shores than n Myrtle If we need a plan B again that will be the destination or pawleys island.