Hey guys - just coming here for some “beginner tips”. I’ve lived and fished in the local area here all my life, but mostly from a boat in freshwater (usually the Cooper or Santee Rivers for bass and catfish).
The lower unit on my boat recently died and it’s gonna be a couple months before I can afford to fix it, but I wanna try to still get some fishing in this summer so I figured I’d try surf fishing :).
Quick questions though: are there any areas of the beach designated for fishing, or are there any spots you can find that generally aren’t too busy? I’m a little concerned about actually being able to find a spot where I can cast and fish without having someone being nearby and risking hooking someone.
Aside from that - any suggestions on lures/bait/equipment would be appreciated. I’ve got some decent sized spinning setups I use for catfish (mostly cheaper stuff there but it works) and some decent baitcasters I use for bass. I’m assuming the spinning gear would be a better choice but not sure.
The piers around are pretty great actually. Folly Pier, Pitt street bridge, or the Mt Pleasant Pier. Cut shrimp work well. If you can get live mullet, mudminnows, or live shrimp, they work great too. Fiddlers if you want sheepshead. Carolina rig on the bottom works fine for 90% of the fishing you’ll do; you don’t need to go fancy. 20-30 lb mono leaders are adequate and 1-3 ounces of lead depending on the current.
If you want to fish from the beach without too many people in the water, try the end of Folly Beach towards the old coast guard station (as you get on Folly, take a left and ride it all the way to the end). There are some jetties out there and that area can be pretty productive at times. Cut shrimp or mullet in the surf. That’s a strong current down there so you might need to bump up your sinker size and be very careful if you get in the water. Seems like someone has a close call with drowning down there every year.
The IOP and Sullivan’s aren’t bad either. IOP at the higher numbered streets has less people, most tend to stay near the pier/park, just get there early as the rules have changed for parking from May15th to Sep15th. On Sullivan’s, anywhere near the fort is good up to station 18 or 18 1/2. But some quieter spots are right up near the Breech Inlet not by the park parking but around the bend behind the church, the beach is divided by several jetties and its pretty quiet. The main thing is to get there early and move away from the access.
No matter what you do, people will set up next to you, swim next to you and let the current take them past your lines.
some people love fishing there. I have only caught a red and some whiting there. not the most productive spot for me. I know some have also caught some big rays. Bad thing about breech is if you cast towards the middle of the opening, there is a lot of vegetation and muck that stuff gets stuck on. If I do fish there I will mostly fish at the point although current is very strong there
If you go the surf route in a normally crowded area - No matter where you go - go early (as in daylight) and plan to leave by 10-11 if not before. You will have the beach to yourself - can setup anywhere you please and usually a good bite early.
If you wait til 8-9 to go - No matter how hard you try and to what pains you go, to get away from folks - someone will bring the kids and setup right next to you and go swim!!! I guess everyone likes some quite and to get away from the crowd. IDK It will happen every time - bank on it!!
