Will be visiting some relatives that have rented a beach house on Folly. thinking of bringing my rigs and letting my boys drop a couple lines in off the beach. Have not surf fished before. what are the rules and etiquette, other than common sense? Is it ok to fish if people are swimming in the general area? This is my biggest question. Are there any special rules around surf fishing? I have both fresh and salt SC licenses and figure i will use a fish finder rig with shrimp. thanks!
Your not allowed to surf fish unless you live within a 50 mile radius of the beach. A lot of people don’t realise this, but I’ve been stopped by DNR before and they’ll ask for your ID to make sure your somewhat local. If your not local, a special permit must be purchased. Unfortunately, no information is available about this permit online, you must stop at the DNR office to apply. They run about $150 for a temporary 5 day. My cousin gets the permit everytime he comes down, DNR has been cracking down on people.
Knotty,
Take your boys fishing. You’re not breaking any laws by doing so. If theres people in the water do not fish near them. I like to either get out in the water deeper than they are or give them a distance where you are not concerned for their safety if you hook a large fish. If you can’t give them a reasonable distance try later in the evening.
Capt. R. Killin
21 Contender “Killin Time”
Fish near the inlets where people have no business in the water to begin with. It may be a little walk but often that is where the best fishing is anyway.
Olde Man Charters
843-478-1538
Oldemancharters@gmail.com
286 Seafox/Twin 300’s
Fishing is best early morning and evenings this time of year on sunny blue sky days. The north end is pretty cool if you never been there and has decent fishing. Your not supposed to fish within 50 or 150ft of people swimming. If your there first and people come swim close to you just becareful and let them know they are near fishing lines. Fishing is usually better by the rocks and wood jetties. The double drop/high low rig is good with shrimp and so is a carolina rig if your holding your rod. There is a no alcohol on the sand rule and they check random coolers and patrol on 4 wheelers looking for drinkers and people acting like idiots. Folly is a good place and the fishing has gotten better.
Thanks everyone! I am local and licensed, so no worries there. I know Folly very well, been going there 40+ years, just never fished there or surf fished. It sure has changed a lot over the years! I have two 7’ ugly stick tigers with 6500 spinfishers on them, 40lb braid, so may not be able to cast as far but think will be fine with the rigs. As far as a leeder, would 6 or so feet of 60lb mono work? And do you suggest wire for the drop rigs or can I tie them with the mono and be fine? Again, thanks for all of the tips! I would be happy if the boys caught anything, big or small! Oh, and what size hook would you recommend and can the be stainless or not?
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Originally posted by KnottyFisherThanks everyone! I am local and licensed, so no worries there. I know Folly very well, been going there 40+ years, just never fished there or surf fished. It sure has changed a lot over the years! I have two 7’ ugly stick tigers with 6500 spinfishers on them, 40lb braid, so may not be able to cast as far but think will be fine with the rigs. As far as a leeder, would 6 or so feet of 60lb mono work? And do you suggest wire for the drop rigs or can I tie them with the mono and be fine? Again, thanks for all of the tips! I would be happy if the boys caught anything, big or small! Oh, and what size hook would you recommend and can the be stainless or not?
Most fish in the surf are very close. If you can cast 15-25 yards, that’s plenty far enough. Fish around the low to mid tide. Scout the beach at dead low tide looking for troughs, cuts, ditches, holes, any area with deeper moving water. Get your bait in those areas.
Fresh shrimp pieces will catch everything. Keep your hooks small, 2/0 would be the max, I prefer a #2, pretty small. Premade beaded double drop rigs are my #1 choice, use them 90% of the time. 3-4oz weights.
Good Luck
Dparker has good advice. Structure makes or breaks a trip. And by structure I mean something like amino sandbar out in the surf with a trough tuning parallel to beach. Also, just tie your own dbl dropper (google chicken rig) and use enough weight. Shrimp PIECES. Go to a seafood market and get 5$ worth of their small shrimp. I got 3-4 pieces out of small shrimp. Small hooks, like he said, 2/0 circles work great.
Also, you’ll need a rod holder. Buy a 10’ section of 2” pvc, cut it in half in the center at a 45. Now you have 2 rod holders that’ll keep your rods way up in the air w a 45 degree angle to hel work them into the sand.
There’s a dock on the back side of the island, just st on the other side of the bridge from the boat landing. I’m 99% sure it’s a public park. Take him for some crabbing there. Either free line n net or 5$ for a trap from store. Is fun n tasty.
Try a sabiki rig to. Size 12 or so.
Just read your last post. I use 40lb leader or 20lb leader. 4/5 fish will be whiting so lighter tackle is way to go imo
2002 17’SeaHunt
Just want to say thanks for all the tips! We fished from about 1-4 using cut shrimp. Caught a small stingray and had plenty of bites. Had fun and could easily make this a habit! Can see why people buy those nice carts!