I’m a recreational surf fishermen. I don’t (or haven’t yet) sought out beaches specifically to fish. I carry my gear with me when my wife and I go to the beach for the day. We usually get there early (very few people around) and I’ll just set out my line and sit and enjoy the sun and waves…and if I catch some fish, all the better. On an outing last year, I set up and stayed in the same spot all day…was actually putting some fish in the cooler…later in the day, when the beach started to get a little crowded, several people approached me and told me that I had no business fishing on a public beach…even though I was there long before they were…a couple were quite rude. My question is, was is proper etiquette in that situation ? Should I pack it in when people start showing up ? Should I stand my ground and do what I enjoy doing ? Are there DNR rules and regs concerning this ?
Some beaches frown on fishing for fear of attracting sharks “which would be there anyway” but don’t know if a actual law exists against it. My first response probably would have been; am i not part of the public!!!
One thing though , the fact remains that there is just an abundance of certified , top of the list AZZH@LES out there!!!
The only think I know of is you are not suppose to target sharks in Horry county. If I am fishing on the beaches where there are a lot of people like in MB, I typically fish early morning or afternoon. People can be stupid so I usually stop once it gets crowded mostly because I am scared some kid may come along & get in my line / hook. I remember I was fishing in fall late afternoon so not a lot of people out. A lady walks up & tells me to reel my lines in so she can get by. I just gave her that your an idiot look & ignored her. She threatened to call the law so I held my phone out & told her she could borrow it. Told her she was more then welcome to walk around me or go under my lines. She got pissed mumbles some stuff & went under my lines, she barely had to duck to get under them. I guess she just wanted to be a Bxxx that day.
Here in the Lowcountry there no rules against surf fishing. There are some “No fishing/surfing” areas, normally near the piers. The problems are not with the local fisherman but more with the folks that only come to the coast in the summer months. Those of us that fish the beach 2-5 days EVERY week of the year have learned to manage our trips around the tourists. In the summer, off the beach by 10:00-11:00 AM, maybe back out late evening 6:00-9:00. Plus it is freekin’ HOT down here in the summer!
I will ALWAYS give way to a family on vacation, trying to enjoy our beautiful beaches for a week or so ONCE a year like we can ANY day of the year…I can fish anytime.
In this age of Me, Me, Me and the sense of entitlement so many seem to have, they think their wants and rights are more important than yours. Sadly, all it takes is one moron to get hooked and turn around and sue you.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I don’t even go to the Myrtle beach area…I never go north of Pawleys Island…just too touristy and too many people. We usually go to Edisto State park when we want a beach day. It’s a 2+ hour trip for us so I try to make the best of it while I’m there. That particular day, there were more people there than I had ever seen there before…I guess , like all places, word gets out and places get more crowded. I really enjoy going to and fishing at Botany Bay…there are times you may only see 10 people all day. Hunting Island state park is another one of my favorite places to spend the day…and the fishing seems to be much better there. I’ll probably do some surf fishing at Pawleys this year…and I know it can get crowded there, so I was just wondering about any regs. I have definitely had more positive experiences with beach goers than negative…especially when I catch the little shark pups…they, especially the kids, love that…they want to touch it and hold it and just think its cool.
Never fails. You can have the entire beach to yourself and a family walks out and parks it right next to you and the wee ones jump in your spread. Walking away from the board walk entrances cuts down on it dramatically. People don’t want to lug all their junk, and tend to take the path of least resistance. If that doesn’t work act “crazy”. It’s funny how they will give a nut job their space.
Stand your ground. Tell them it is unlawful to harass anyone actively hunting or fishing. I keep the guide, the one that comes with your license, in my tackle box and highlighted the specific law just in case things get heated and DNR or the police get involved.
What I’ve been told by cops dnr and beach patrol is as long as you were there first its fine. I forget the legal distance but as long as you fish that far away your fine if they were there first. If they come to your area there problem. Now does that mean be the first man at the county park every morning no that’s poor ethics. Just take a picture of your setup for potential problems. I’ve had the cops called for fishing to many times. Every time the same thing the person who called them either leave or the cops tell them I’m right. If your not doing anything illegal your fine. Suprising almost all my bad beach experiences are on sullys. Thankfully there cops do there jobs right. They show up quick and handle it well.
I’ve been told that it is against the rules/law? to fish (and also to use a board with fins)at Folly Beach in lifeguard areas while the lifeguards are present.
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I’ve also been told it is against the rules/laws for local municipalities to pass ordinances on state property, i.e. below the high-tide line. Technically Folly Beach and Horry County cannot stop anyone from shark/fishing the surf.
I surf fish some at Edisto. I got to where I only go early or late when I go. Some folks are like they are in a daze or something. They see you casting and two or three rods out. Fluro yellow line that Stevie Wonder could see. And they walk right into it and then want to act pissy about it?? IDK Swimmers are even worst. Thought I had hooked a kid once - I set up at daylight by groins and all was cool until about 10:00. They come down where you are to setup. I stood my spot - just not worth getting your BP up over it.
I always try to be on the beach early and off by the time tourists arrive…it’s just easier. But most people I run into are polite and friendly, rarely have I had someone get pissy about fishing and if they do owell. I’m not doing any thing illegal so they can cram it lol.
Pete’s right about acting crazy. I usually stop trimming my beard and getting a haircut in late July. By late September when I start to fish, I look like a homeless person. I wear my most ratty ball cap and tshirt. Be sure to wipe fish blood and guts all over your tshirt. Wear your Buck knife and filet knife on your belt. It helps that I’m 6 ft and 250 lbs.
Usually people will take a wide berth when they see you. If they do approach you, just spit big wad of Redman juice at their feet.
I have had the DNR called on me for pulling in a black tip that hit a finger mullet 200yds out that was soaking for over an hour, had an IOP Police Officer stop on his Police Quad and tell me I could not fish within 100’ of bathers that it was posted on the beach access signs and it is an IOP city ordinance (at 35th/36th st access) and also said I had too many rods in the water ( 3 of my own and 4 next to me that a father and son were tending) North Carolina has a 2 rod with two hooks on one line maximum per person, as far as I can find out on the SCDNR website there is no limits.
My experience mostly is people with questions about equipment, techniques, times, areas, species, etc. Positive as a whole and people stop when your rod tip goes crazy and when they see that its a 30 inch red they keep walking…but if they see that dorsal fin and long tip of the caudal fin, tell tale signs of a shark they stick around???
For those that fish IOP this is all I could find that restricts fishing…if someone knows an actual REFERENCE please post it or let me know.
ARTICLE B. - SWIMMING ZONE
Sec. 7-3-51. - Swimming and wading zone created.
There is hereby created a swimming zone which shall extend in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the Isle of Palms Fishing Pier in an easterly direction along the beach for a distance of four hundred fifty (450) feet to a point at the prolongation of the northeastern property line of the real property owned and operated by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (the “County”), and extends from that point in a straight line into the Atlantic Ocean for a distance of two hundred fifty (250) feet from the shoreline. During such times as County Lifeguards are on duty, this zone is designated for wading, swimming and swimming and wading-related activities and all other water activities are prohibited. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to surfing, kite boarding, kayaking, skim boarding and fishing. Styrofoam belly boards and small floatat
Sadly there are some folks that think the beach is only for wading or swimming. I generally set up early and away from people, and if someone gets upset with me I just politely remind them that I am within my rights. Only once did someone get really upset. I had hooked into a 5’ sandbar, and as I was bringing it in this lady gave me a lecture about how I was endangering the species and shouldn’t be fishing for sharks on a public beach (I wasn’t, it was bycatch but it would have been pointless to try and explain that to this lady).
Honestly, if it gets crowded you really should pack it up in my opinion. Even if you are right, it isn’t worth it of you accidentally hook an unsupervised kid or something. Plus all the people around make it hard to enjoy the fishing anyway.
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Don’t teach a man to fish… and feed yourself. He’s a grown man. And fishing’s not that hard.
-Ron Swanson
I fish IOP all the time, sometimes with 6 rods in spikes and fan casting another. Talk to the IOP police guys often, was never told I had to many poles out? Of course I am NO WHERE NEAR THE PIER. And landing Sharks, of any size, during daylight hours?..Not a good idea. Oh yeah most folks think the small ones are cute, but 4-6 footers scare most everyone in my experience. 200yrds out? Not much out there but sand…and Sharks. If YOU want to catch Sharks, go for it. But do it where and when nobody is around to see; Inlets, barrier islands, after dark.
I really enjoy surf “Fishing”. Hate to see it get messed up but a couple of Sharks landed at the wrong time, in the wrong place, in front of the wrong people. Horry county has a ban, Hilton Head will, eventually, have a limit on beach fishing.
As far as etiquette, don’t be a prick or an a@# hole. If you can’t help it though, just hope Suzy Soccermom don’t got a Glock 39 in here beach bag .
I fish IOP all the time, sometimes with 6 rods in spikes and fan casting another. Talk to the IOP police guys often, was never told I had to many poles out? Of course I am NO WHERE NEAR THE PIER. And landing Sharks, of any size, during daylight hours?..Not a good idea. Oh yeah most folks think the small ones are cute, but 4-6 footers scare most everyone in my experience. 200yrds out? Not much out there but sand…and Sharks. If YOU want to catch Sharks, go for it. But do it where and when nobody is around to see; Inlets, barrier islands, after dark.
I really enjoy surf “Fishing”. Hate to see it get messed up but a couple of Sharks landed at the wrong time, in the wrong place, in front of the wrong people. Horry county has a ban, Hilton Head will, eventually, have a limit on beach fishing.
As far as etiquette, don’t be a prick or an a@# hole. If you can’t help it though, just hope Suzy Soccermom don’t got a Glock 39 in here beach bag .
Just sayin’
If you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything.
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