Hi Folks,
First time poster here. I moved down to Charleston in April for work but grew up fishing the surf in the OBX and Hatteras. I’ve mostly been catching whiting and black drum off of some of the small jetties near Folly Beach park, but could really use some tips on where to go after the famous big reds down here. I’ve tried the pier with a ghost rig and frozen shrimp but only caught whiting. I’ve also tried fresh whiting on a fishfinder rig but have only hooked up with a few bonnetheads. I was going to do a little exploring on the northern side of Folly this evening, but if anyone could offer some suggestions of where to go I would greatly appreciate it. I promise not to steal all of the fish :).
you can get reds at the park, I would suggest you try using fresh cut mullet. That is what I have had luck with and seems like those on the pier are using the same.
WandoRed
http://wandored.com/
I’ve caught three 30+ reds at North Folly this season - two on frozen mullet, one on frozen shrimp. Mullet and shrimp were frozen, but they were caught locally by me, so I knew where they came from and how “fresh” they were. All three were caught between the cul-de-sac access path and the first groin, and all three with a double-dropper rig (2/0 or 3/0 octopus inline circle hooks). Lately, I’ve had more luck (in general) about two/three hours before high tide. North Folly’s beach has been noticeably eroded this summer/fall. It’s getting hard to fish about 1 1/2 hours on either side of high tide, especially with an onshore wind. Good luck.
Either end is good, I fish the double bottom rig with fresh cut mullet, mid size circle hook, an 2-3oz weight depending on tide, and sit it in a holder and watch for action. I usually fish this about as far out as the tip of the rocks but a little ways away so I don’t have to worry about the tide or fish tangling me as much. Then with a lighter rod I fish shrimp with a 1 oz Carolina rig and keep it in my hand and work around the rock pile and current rips near them. As for areas, the last set of pilings by the last house before the park is great for big trout and whiting and slot reds with the shrimp rig. Then on the other side the 1st rocks past the cul-de-sac going toward the lighthouse, right at the no dog sign is good used to be excellent but the shifting of the sand had some effects on it. Black drum, mangrove snapper medium sized whiting and over slot reds are what I the main catches are, though it may have gotten to cold for the snappers.
17ft Key west
Folks, thank you so much for the replies and advice, this is all very helpful. I’ll be out there all Friday, green shirt and blue swimming trunks. My name is Brandon, feel free to say hi.
BT…great to meet you and your friend on the pier at Folly this past Saturday…Rusty
Rusty Hopkins