It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Cherry Grove Fishing Pier gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Cherry Grove, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Cherry Grove Oceanfront Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local SeaBlue Restaurant & Wine Bar or visit Cherry Grove Oceanfront Park, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Cherry Grove, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cherry Grove, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Cherry Grove, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – (February 24, 2025) –HomeToGo, the leading platform offering a wide array of vacation rentals globally, has recently published its yearly 2025 Beach Index, showcasing the premier 35 beach spots in the United States just in time for the upcoming spring break season.Cherry Gove Beach shares the number 2 ranking wit...
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – (February 24, 2025) –HomeToGo, the leading platform offering a wide array of vacation rentals globally, has recently published its yearly 2025 Beach Index, showcasing the premier 35 beach spots in the United States just in time for the upcoming spring break season.
Cherry Gove Beach shares the number 2 ranking with Kure Beach, N.C.
According to a recent survey by HomeToGo, sunny coastal getaways are a major focus for 66% of American travelers this year. The company examined internal vacation rental prices and search data, along with information on temperature, rainfall, visitor satisfaction, and dining choices, to pinpoint the best beaches that combine budget-friendly lodging, great weather, amenities, and local appeal.
“Spring Break continues to be a highly popular time for beach trips across the United States, and with so many destination options available, we are excited to share our annual Beach Index to help travelers navigate the vacation planning waters,” said Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo Travel Expert and Spokesperson. “Every traveler rides their own wave when it comes to planning the perfect beach getaway, which is why we have enhanced this year’s comprehensive ranking to span seven factors. Whether travelers are after blue-sky breaks, savvy stays, or under-the-radar retreats, we hope this report will help pinpoint ideal trips exactly according to personal preferences.”
To rank each beach, HomeToGo researched the following key indicators, calculating scores based on the findings:
? Hidden Gem Score: The number of searches on HomeToGo between March and April, with fewer searches equaling higher scores.
? Affordability Score: The median nightly price per person for a vacation rental on HomeToGo between March and April, with lower prices equaling higher scores.
? Heat Score: The average temperature in March and April (°F), with higher temperatures equaling higher scores.
? Clear Skies Score: The average days of rain in March and April, with fewer days of rain equaling higher scores.
? Visitor Satisfaction Score: The rating according to visitor reviews via sources such as Google, Tripadvisor, Yelp, Facebook, with higher ratings equaling higher scores.
? Food & Drink Score: The number of dining establishments within a 15-minute drive, with more places equaling higher scores.
? Local Secret Score: The average distance, in miles, journeyed by travelers to reach each destination, according to search data for vacation rental stays carried out via HomeToGo, with shorter distances earning higher scores, reflecting a location’s status as a regional gem favored by locals.
Here’s a glimpse of what travelers can expect in the top five destinations:
1. Avila Beach, California: Situated in a sheltered cove on California’s Central Coast, Avila Beach is a gem of a destination with golden sand and warmer waters than many nearby beaches. Travelers can kayak and paddleboard, or stroll along sections of the pier extending into the Pacific, offering ocean views and fishing spots.
2. Kure Beach, North Carolina: With wide, sandy shores and a relaxed pace, Kure Beach offers a quieter alternative to North Carolina’s busier coastal towns for vacationers. Beyond the beach, maritime forests and sand dunes create scenic hiking trails, and the area’s calm, residential feel makes it perfect for those looking to unwind by the sea.
2. Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina: A peaceful retreat on the northern tip of the Grand Strand, Cherry Grove Beach is known for its wide, inviting shoreline and the iconic Cherry Grove Pier. Visitors can look forward to the gentle surf that makes it a favorite for families and enjoy the beach’s quiet atmosphere that offers a contrast to the livelier beaches farther south.
4. Saint Joe Beach, Florida: Saint Joe Beach is a laid-back stretch of the Gulf Coast, offering sugar-white sand, shallow waters, and panoramic sunset views. Free from high-rise development, it maintains an open, natural feel, with clear water ideal for swimming, paddleboarding, and spotting dolphins just offshore.
5. Vilano Beach, Florida: Across the water from St. Augustine, Vilano Beach combines a rugged shoreline with sweeping coastal views. Its slightly coarser sand and shifting sandbars make it unique among Florida’s Atlantic beaches. A scenic waterfront offers stunning sunset views over the Matanzas River.
Additional key takeaways from HomeToGo’s 2025 Beach Price Index include:
? Average Median Price of a Vacation Rental: In 2025, beach-goers can expect to pay an average median nightly price of $121 per person across the featured destinations on the Gulf, East and West Coasts.
? Beach Bargain: Surfside Beach, Texas (11) offers the most wallet-friendly waves boasting a median price of just $66 per night per person.
? Quieter Coastlines: Spring breakers seeking secret shorelines can head to Duxbury Beach, Massachusetts (35), or explore Bal Harbour Beach, Florida (16), and Avila Beach, California (1), each earning a 9.25+ Hidden Gem score out of 10.
Methodology: For the full methodology and more information as to how this guide was created, please visit https://www.hometogo.com/california/beach-vacation/#beach-index-2025-methodology.
*Survey insights are based on research conducted by HomeToGo among a sample of 800 respondents in the United States. To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 or older. The survey was carried out online between September 3, 2024 – September 5, 2024. Respondents were able to select multiple answers across a number of questions.
About HomeToGo
HomeToGo is the SaaS-enabled marketplace with the world’s largest selection of vacation rentals, listing millions of offers from thousands of trusted partners, including Booking.com, Vrbo and TripAdvisor.
From vacation homes, cabins, beach houses, apartments, condos, house boats, castles, farm stays and everything in between, HomeToGo combines price, destination, dates and amenities to find the perfect accommodation for any trip worldwide.
Big push inshore from wintering flounder fills smallish, shallow estuary.Within feet of the state line, the northern end of the Grand Strand harbors a unique estuary with local and worldly significance. On a grand scale, Walter Maxwell’s 1,780-pound tiger shark — caught from a Cherry Grove pier in 1964 — remains untouched after almost 50 years, and is the only all-tackle world record from South Carolina waters. But light-tackle anglers recognize this area for an entirely different reason as April arrives. The two-l...
Within feet of the state line, the northern end of the Grand Strand harbors a unique estuary with local and worldly significance. On a grand scale, Walter Maxwell’s 1,780-pound tiger shark — caught from a Cherry Grove pier in 1964 — remains untouched after almost 50 years, and is the only all-tackle world record from South Carolina waters. But light-tackle anglers recognize this area for an entirely different reason as April arrives. The two-lane boat ramp on the north end of 53rd Avenue in Cherry Grove gets more than its fair share of traffic, and for good reason. April means flounder around these parts, as Cherry Grove’s pocket-sized estuary fills up with hungry flounder moving in from the ocean through Hog Inlet when the rest of the region’s fishing barometer remains cold.
The Cherry Grove region has only 1,000 acres of shallow marsh between the mainland and the narrow barrier island that’s full of houses and high-rise hotels — and only 10 percent of that marsh has fishable depths for anglers with small boats. But this shallow estuary supports a tremendous invasion of flounder early in the spring when warm days become a regular happenstance.
Capt. Keith Logan of Feeding Frenzy Charters begins his spring charter season in Cherry Grove’s tepid waters. According to Logan, the regionally-unique locale is the hottest place around.
“The shallow water and protection from the wind allow the water to warm quicker than others,” said Logan (843-907-0064). “It’s shallow in there; the water will be five degrees warmer than the ICW and Little River Inlet.”
The bottom of Cherry Grove’s shallow estuary is covered with dark-colored sand and mud. On low tide, inhabitable water is restricted to the main channel and a few choice tributaries. Yet, these fish will pour into these estuaries as soon as the water temperature climbs into the mid- to upper 60s.
“Some flounder will be caught in cooler water, but 68 degrees is the key temperature to watch for and it’s when the fish start to bite well,” Logan said.
Capt. Mark Dickson of Shallow Minded Fishing Charters also participates in the spring flounder run in Cherry Grove — and in a big way.
“It’s a pretty unique place that produces a lot of fish,” said Dickson (843-458-3055). “Bring dozens of mud minnows, (because) plenty of flounder will be in there to eat them up.”
Flounder move into Cherry Grove’s estuary to feed and prepare for spawning, but they don’t all come in at once, even though it sometimes seems that with the huge numbers of fish available in spring.
“They move in from their offshore wintering grounds,” he said. “It’s mostly small fish at first, but the fish progressively get bigger as it warms up.”
As flounder arrive, they pile into the estuary’s waters, looking for a familiar place to set up for their spring feast, ambushing passing bait. While not too much of a surprise because they sport a low stature, flounder have evolved to blend in with the pluff mud and dark sand. The estuary is made of mostly shallow flats and marshland drained by a few confined channels and the main creek channel.
Dickson prefers to fish Cherry Grove on the lower end of the tide when the waters pack flounder into the deeper reaches of the sound.
“A lot of Cherry Grove is shallow and in low water, the fish will have few places to go,” he said. “Creek mouths collect fish on the falling tide in holes with six to eight feet of water.”
Dickson drops his Power-Pole and works the deep water slowly, fan-casting around. If he doesn’t get a bite in a dozen casts or so, he drifts down to the next hole and repeats the procedure.
Years of experience have taught Dickson that flounder will not move much during periods of steady current flow and will be packed together in small groups. But as soon as the current subsides to low tide, Dickson expects flounder to scatter out, looking for bait in a wide variety of places. The current packs flounder in small groups, usually against an undulation or slope along the bottom.
As the water begins to flow back into the estuary and pick up speed, Dickson will shift his position to catch the flounder as they change stance.
“As the tide begins to rise, the fish will move out of the holes and move up into the shallower places nearby,” he said.
Dickson will fish shallow places adjacent to deeper areas through a couple of hours into the rising tide. Logan also prefers to fish when the waters rise toward the high end of the tide.
“I like the two hours before and after the high tide in Cherry Grove,” he said. “The sun-baked mud flats heat up the water quickly. The top of the bars are good too.”
The solar-heated water on top of the mud and sandy flats attract any baitfish and crustaceans in the area, and flounder will take advantage of these unique places.
Typically, baitfish either swim with the current or get washed downstream by the strong currents. As a result, flounder orient facing into the current, anticipating meals gliding along with the tide. Logan uses a natural presentation of bait or lures that flounder will recognize and have no issues seeing.
“Cast upstream and work back towards the boat, bouncing along bottom and working very slow,” he said.
Logan and Dickson use a combination of live and artificial lures. Mullet minnows and peanut menhaden won’t be along until May, leaving tough-natured mud minnows as the staple live-bait option.
“We use minnow traps to catch mud minnows this time of year,” Dickson said, “but most bait shops will have minnows available in April.”
When the flounder bite hits its normal April stage, Logan said that a dozen live minnows will not last too long. He recommends bringing a few extra dozen minnows or a few packs of scented soft plastics as a backup.
“Flounder with a hearty appetite can be prolific this time of year. Never arrive without plenty of bait options,” Logan said.
For flounder, both Dickson and Logan prefer Gulp! shrimp and swimming mullet in white or new penny. While a 1/4–ounce jighead is generally preferred for Gulp! baits under these conditions, Logan employs small, white bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp! curlytails. The added hair gives these baits a realistic appearance and provide a real mouthful for flounder.
When using live bait, Dickson uses a Carolina rig with a ½- to 1-ounce weight and a No. 2, short-shanked 5180 Series Owner Hook.
DESTINATION INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE/WHERE TO GO: Cherry Grove’s marshes are easily-accessible from the public boat ramp at the north end of 53rd Avenue in Cherry Grove Beach. From US 17 at the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, turn onto Sea Mountain Highway and continue towards the ocean until the road runs into Ocean Drive. Turn left and proceed to 53rd Avenue. The boat ramp is at the end of the street, adjacent to the sound. Flounder will associate with the deeper channels and holes in the estuary. Fish deeper spots in the mouth of creeks and sandbars in the same immediate vicinity. All small or large channels will hold fish, as well as nearby shallows.
WHEN TO GO: While some small flounder winter in Cherry Grove’s estuary, most flounder migrate in from the ocean through Hog Inlet when water temperatures rise into the mid-to upper 60s, with 68 degrees a key temperature break. April 1 through May offers the best flounder action.
BEST BAITS/TECHNIQUES: Live mud minnows are the staple live-bait choice during the spring flounder run in Cherry Grove, but any live minnow, including mullet minnows, peanut menhaden and small croakers will produce. Bring lots of bait. Use small Carolina rigs with 1/2- to 1-ounce egg sinkers to get the baits to the bottom and a No. 2 5180 Series Owner Hook. Artificial lures will fare well, with scented soft plastics like Gulp! shrimp and swimming mullet in white and new penny fished on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigheads or bucktails. Fan-cast to deep holes and adjacent areas, casting upstream and working baits or lures slowly downstream. Baits can also be drifted or trolled downstream in the current at very slow speeds. Cherry Grove is littered with boat docks; fish the ones close to deeper water.
GUIDES/FISHING INFO: Capt. Mark Dickson, Shallow Minded Inshore Charters, 843-458-3055 or www.fishmyrtlebeach.com; Capt. Keith Logan, Feeding Frenzy Charters, 843-907-0064 or www.northmyrtlebeachfishingcharters.com; Fish-On Outfitters (843-249-2600). See also Guides & Charters in Classifieds.
ACCOMMODATION: Cherry Grove’s Public Information Portal, www.cherrygrovesc.info; Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.mbchamber.com; South Carolina Association of Visitors Bureaus, www.discoversouthcarolina.com.
MAPS: Navionics, www.navionics.com, 800-848-5896; 800-423-9026; Maps Unique, www.mapsunique.com, 910-458-9923.
336-270-4352
