It’s one of the hottest king mackerel spots in the Carolinas
For the past several years, Apache Pier in Myrtle Beach has produced the most consistent king mackerel fishing throughout the late spring/summer months. The year 2020 is no exception. As of June 22, anglers at Apache have caught 16 1/2 king mackerel in the month of June so far.
A shark made off with half of what would have been number 17.
Fabian Melendez started things off for the season on June 9. He caught Apache’s first king mackerel of the year, a 24.20-pound fish.
The pier awarded Melendez with a 1-year king mackerel fishing pass for landing the first one of the season. This is a tradition at Apache Pier.
Melendez caught his king with a typical two-rod system. One rod was holding the anchor line; the other was holding the bait. When the king swiped up the bait, that line released from the anchor line and the fight was on.
Very shortly after Melendez wrestled his king to the planks, the second one of the day (and year) bit a Gotcha plug for angler Chase Hinkle. He was casting the plug, a typical Spanish mackerel lure, from near the dance floor on the pier with a 2500-series spinning reel.
The next day, Alan Sharlow caught the third king mackerel of 2020 from Apache. His fish weighed 33.65 pounds. This stands as the largest to date from the pier for 2020.
The kings keep coming at Apache Pier
On June 12, Logan Thorpe got in on the king mackerel action. He caught king number four with a 14.5-pound fish. Thorpe also caught a huge Spanish mackerel on that day.
Eric Moore pitched in with another king on June 13. His fish was the fifth one taken on the pier this year. It tipped the scales at 27.05 pounds.
The trend continued for the pier on June 14, when Kurt Waters caught the sixth king of the year. His fish weighed 22.9 pounds.
It was Dave Tompkins’ turn on June 20. He caught number seven for the pier, a 25.5-pound king mackerel. And Tompkins wasn’t done. A short while later, he caught his second king of the day, number eight for Apache Pier. This one weighed 23.10 pounds.
Another angler, William Martinez, caught the pier’s ninth of the year on June 20. This fish was a 32.9-pound monster.
The kings weren’t finished for the day. As evening came on, Everette Parsons caught the pier’s fourth of the day, and 10th of the year. His fish tipped the scales at 19.5 pounds.
Then, before night took over, Jon Trull landed a 23.65-pound king mackerel. That made number 11 for the year, and number five for the day.
And the kings still weren’t through for that day
Fabian Melendez, who we mentioned earlier catching the first king of the year from Apache, struck again. Or at least he did his part. He had the pier’s 12th king of 2020 on the line, but as he was reeling the fish in, a shark bit the mackerel in half. Melendez landed his half, pushing the pier’s stats to 11.5 kings for 2020.
On June 21, Doug Jones put number 12.5 year-to-date on the pier. His king mackerel weighed 13.95 pounds.
A little later in the day, David Bailey caught number 13.5 for the year, and his first ever king mackerel. This one weighed 12.6 pounds, another perfect eater.
Next up, also on June 21 was repeat angler William Martinez. He caught his second of the year, and Apache Pier’s number 14.5 with a 25.95 pounder shortly after Bailey reeled in his catch.
King bite expected to last for quite some time at Apache Pier
And shortly after Martinez planked his fish, Nick Knotts joined Bailey in the “First Ever” club, landing his first king and the pier’s 15 1/2 for the year. His fish weighed 14.3 pounds.
The hot bite continued on the 21st with Jason Milam hooking up in the evening. His 18.15-pound king mackerel pushes the pier’s total to 16 1/2 so far in 2020.
And king mackerel aren’t the only fish biting at Apache Pier. The Spanish mackerel bite has also been steaming hot, with lots of huge ones landed. Black drum are also biting well on some days. Flounder, croaker, and sheepshead are all in the mix as well.
Apache Pier is currently open from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight and is located at 9700 Kings Road in Myrtle Beach. Their phone number is 843-497-6486.
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