A buddy and I are wanting to do a little surf fishing this coming Saturday. We both have pier carts that we would like to get down to the beach. I was thinking about the Isle of Palms park but the last time I was there swimmers were everywhere. Looking for drum, trout, or sharks. Any beach access spots would be appreciated.
In the surf, Black and Red drum bite is pretty good right now. Whiting will continue to bite till water temp hits mid 60’s. Trout bite has slowed a bit. I have not caught a shark since the water temp was in the 80’s. Sting rays are starting to move back in. Water is getting a bit chilly on the toes so I don’t think swimmers will be a problem, some surfers may be around the piers. All the pilgrim traffic is gone, if you arrive early the beach should be yours. If you fish IOP, lots of off street parking, be sure you are 4’+ off the pavement or you WILL ge a ticket. Good luck! Post some nice pics.
Tight Lines
If you don’t mind a little drive, head down to Folly’s east end. Go to the stop and turn left, go to the end and park on the side of the street. Remember to keep your wheels off the pavement when you park. You will have to walk a bit to get to the inlet. But you won’t have any swimmers and only a few beach walkers to bother you.
j
I guess I’ll report back as to how we did. We went to the IOP park and fished on the right hand side of the pier from the beach. We got there at about 10:30ish which was close to high tide and stayed until around 4ish when the weather started getting too bad. Caught several pretty good size whiting and a 16in red. Took home two whiting that were about 12-14" and the 16" red. All fish were caught on live shrimp on a carolina rig with a 3oz weight. Should have gotten there a little bit earlier because most of the action was as soon as we got there at high tide.
Stingrays move back in? Are they in the surf during the winter? Or still in Shem creek maybe? We use them as bait but thought they are gone in te winter
For more reports and photos Like Us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/requiemfishing
How do you use stingrays as bait…???
Rusty Hopkins
stanjwarren, As for the rays in the surf. They will move out of the creeks and rivers not unlike the Red Fish on their way out to sea. When I start catching them this time of year means the water is gettin cool. Last trip out I caught as many Rays as Whiting! No Drum black or red. Will be going out on Sunday 12/1. I’ll let you know. Maybe get some ray pics to post. I know, funny right?
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
Rays=Shark Bait.
Chuck
if you are fishing on the east end of folly beach at the inlet, what would be the best bait to use, as I am new to surf fishing.
Also after u park,are u allowed to walk down the roast, or do u have to walk the beach? any help would be greatly
Appreciated.
Thanks
Frank,
Sure you can walk down the coast. I would stay on the beach and keep an eye out for no trespassing signs. I personnaly like to bring my cast net and a couple dozen shrimp (live or frozen). Cast net to catch schools of mullet that run by every now and then and I’ll use shrimp until that time comes. High tide seems to be the best time to fish. If I don’t find any mullet the small whiting that I catch turn into bait. Surf fishing is always fun because you never know what you’re going to catch.
Ok, so it took 2 weeks but here are some Ray pics from today. Two pretty slow weekends, Rays and small whiting. Rays are maybe 12-14" wide. Really foggy at times.
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
What size reel and what length rod are you using in those pictures. Was looking at a 9 foot or 10 foot rod to buy. I want to get into surf fishing at Folly but am still figuring it all out.
Right now I use 9’ two piece Quantum med/hev rods with Boca pt50 reels. In the spring I will spool 15lb mono. Starting maybe Oct. I’ll change line to 25lb mono when the bulls move in. The larger line sucks in the current but I can horse the fish in quickly. I used to saltwater fish from a boat…
This is WAY more relaxing.
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
I fished Saturday the 7th and did pretty good. We ended up catching 2 black drum (1 keeper at 18.5") 2 red drum (both just shy of 15") and 9 whiting (biggest came in at 16.5"). We caught most of the fish on a falling tide.
I fish with 7’ abu garcia baitcasters. My thinking is if you throw too far you’re going to catch rays. But if you though where the waves are breaking, you’ll catch plenty of whiting and drum.
Oh and we fished the left hand side of the pier at the IOP park.
I fished Saturday as well, but the area I’ve been fishing is more of a low tide hole. 2hrs before to 2hrs after. Low tide was late and the weather started to turn. I left the beach about 2:30PM. The fish probably turned on about 4:00. Here is a shot of “The Hole” 1hr. before low back in November…can you see it? 
On this trip you could see the Black Drum. The bottom of their tales were worn from rubbing on the bottom. Couldn’t use both rods, bite was to fast!
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
That looks like a pretty sweet spot. Fishing at the IOP park can sometimes be a challenge. Always seem to be surfers and some idiot that wants to swim exactly where you’re fishing. I’m gonna have to search for a spot like this.
Here are 2 “free” hint’s.
- Search for your holes at low tide ( High holes move daily )
- Go were the people aren’t or don’t want to be.
These are not the holes your looking for. They are usually gone at the next turn.
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”
nice…you catchin all those black drum a few yards from the sand? may have to get back out in florida/georgia if i can pull myself outta the woods.
Yeah, not a cast really, more like a light pitch. Don’t let the picture fool you. The ditch is probably waist deep in spots and ran south for maybe 200yards. I think the pic above was early Nov. Some weeks the rip will fill it in a bit and its not as productive, usually after a full moon tide. But it cleans out before the new moon. The sweet spot moves north or south 2-3 blocks often. Used to be a hole between 9th-12thE on Folly, was very productive, have not fished it in a couple years. I’m sure it’s still there. And it is a long way from the pier/people/surfers/swimmers/pilgrims/canadians etc. you get the point.
“If it were catching, Everyone would be good at it.”