To begin with I want to say thanks to all of you who take the time to post your wisdom on CharlestonFishing. I just ran across this website a few weeks ago and since then I have spent no less than an hour a day reading each others posts. There is some really good information on here and great people it seems.
I grew up taking annual tips to the NC Outer Banks with my dad and his friends. We would surf fish all day and night. A few years ago I moved from Charlotte to Summerville where I started a family and currently reside. I went fishing at Folly Pier a few weeks ago and was instantly hooked on fishing again. I would really like to take advantage of living so close to the coast and become a more regular fisherman. Not to mention, my two young children will soon be old enough to start tagging along so I need to brush up on my skills. I basically have all of the gear I need minus one of those fancy carts to put it all in.
My questions are geared specifically to surf fishing on folly. I am ok with catching ANYTHING, big or small. I wouldn’t keep anything unless using it for bait. I would be most interested in catching a red but any action is welcomed.
I plan on going all the way north, parking, and walking the trail towards the jetties and inlet. Where do I go once I get there? I am not asking for anyone’s secret spot. Maybe the better question to ask is where should I NOT go? Any places the water is too shallow etc…
Also, if I am up on that end of folly is it reasonable to expect to catch some bait with a castnet? I was planning on taking about a dozen live shrimp and catching more or some finger mullet with the net.
Does it get crowded in this area with people fishing or just enjoying the beach?
What about using any artificial baits? Good idea? If so, what exactly. I have never fished saltwater with anything artificial but i think it would be fun to try.
Thanks for the help everyone!
With time you will find places on the way to catch bait on Folly, I have seen a lot of people at the end near the light house and other days one or two, be aware that no trespassing after 9 is heavily enforced on the north end over the gate. Also if the fish are biting be it whiting that dozen shrimp won’t last long I would take some frozen shrimp (it is cheaper and available everywhere) Good luck tell me how you do
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
welcome, SP.
x2 on the frozen shrimp- bang for the buck and it’ll work. just a week ago i saw a guy catch a 15" flounder on a frozen shrimp from last year. the area you’re talking about will hold finger mullet that you’ll see schooling near the surface. they’re spooky, so stalk them and close/retrieve the net as soon as it hits the water if you can. catching shrimp on north folly, not so much… unless you go all the way back to where it meets the creek behind folly beach. that’s the first place my dad took me oystering (currently out of season, of course), first place i can remember “chicken necking” for crabs, etc. also been caught 2 miles from the car in a couple thunderstorms 
that creek intersection is really the furthest place you can walk into lighthouse inlet from the public access. good place to fish, and you might find a few shrimp there. it seems at any time of day or night, and any tide, there are dolphins right at the intersection too. closer to the beach access where you were referring to, the entire front beach (especially places with troughs that you can see at low tide) and all the rock groins are good. bring all the tackle you can carry, rigged every different way you can think. only artificial i would rig is something like a small spoon or gotcha plug that you can cast a long distance- probably with a short, stout mono leader for the toothy critters like jacks, spanish and blues that you might see busting bait. the inlet side has much to offer from what i understand, but i am most acquainted with fishing a rising tide on the front beach for whiting in the troughs. sand spikes (pvc with a pointed end) are your friend, especially until you get that cart… i’m sure more people will add extra knowledge of the area for you, and i’ll probably think of a few more things soon too.
good luck… when the wind lays down… maybe thursday!
I usually fish close to the groins on the east end so as to minimize any confrontation with swimmers.Better to loose a rig to the rocks than to hook a human.
Me and my buddy( me 14 tall with Brown hair and my buddy a short blonde kid) will be fishin folly Monday for pompano Spanish sharks and reds. If you see us say hey! You can fish with us. East end by lighthouse.
I’m a high class redneck.
Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in pfgs and buffs.
one thing to be aware of when you are fishing the end towards the light house is that near the inlet there are places where the water drops off very fast. At low tide you can walk out to your knees and it will drop straight down about 10ft. If you arn’t aware of this you can cast far out and your fishing line will slice into the bank on the edge of the drop off. Good luck
Yak- thanks for the invite. I’ve got to work Monday or I would be back out there!
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I am thinking about trying out Sullivan’s Island next time around Station 12. Any thoughts?
if you’re not busy saturday ride out to folly pier.i’ll glad to tell you a few spots.i’ll be helping with the kids tournament.it’s free to all kids 13 and under.rods,tackle and bait is provided if they don’t have any.it’s from 8-1.there is different age groups.
Got to work Saturday too…seems like working sure gets in the way of some good fishing. Yak- any luck on Monday?
quote:
Originally posted by yakman72
Me and my buddy( me 14 tall with Brown hair and my buddy a short blonde kid) will be fishin folly Monday for pompano Spanish sharks and reds. If you see us say hey! You can fish with us. East end by lighthouse.
I’m a high class redneck.
Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in pfgs and buffs.
How did it go yesterday ??
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
I was all setup to go, then at the last minute my buddy’s mom sais that he couldn’t be down there just with me and that we needed adult supervision eventhough my dad works on folly… but I will try the surf soon and definitely post a report
I’m a high class redneck.
Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in pfgs and buffs.
Gah dang parents, how dare they ruin your fun …
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
Exactly!!
I’m a high class redneck.
Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in pfgs and buffs.
i fished for about twenty minutes on the north end last night.
tide was real high, but i caught two small black drum and a decent whiting on fresh brown shrimp.
Yesterday afternoon I took a family member who had never been saltwater fishing to hit the Folly surf. We were using old frozen shrimp. Two minutes after his rig hit the bottom he caught a 12" spotted sea trout. Of course he said to me, " I didn’t realize this was so easy." 
i was at the end of the pier for kings and caught a skunk monday eve