Folly Beach
Fishing Pier
Judy Moody with a 2-pound,
8-ounce black drum
This month, Folly’s big fish story might be titled: Giants in the Shallows! The cooler weather has brought trout, sheepshead and drum to the Folly Pier. As always, the hurricane season is unpredictable and can bring either calm water or strong northeastern winds that transform the Atlantic Ocean surf into a washing machine. When the strong northeastern winds blow in, conditions are unfavorable for mackerel fishing but great for drum fishing. These chaotic waters stir up a lot of the crabs and crustaceans on the ocean floor giving the drum a cue to feast on the easy meal. Anglers will need to toss shrimp or fiddlers on the bottom with a heavier 3- or 4-ounce weight to counter the strong current.
Moving out of the surf and onto the deeper water off the pier diamond… many believe October can be too late for Folly mackerel fishing. Think again my friend! We’ve seen king mackerel caught off the Folly Pier as late as November with a mild fall. The cooling temperatures will attract kings as they pass through Charleston heading south. In addition, their not-so-distant relative, the Spanish mackerel, have been abundant and continue to run when the water conditions are clean.
Last but not least, don’t forget the Reel-It-In Weekly Challenge runs until October 22nd. Congratulations to all of those who made the top of the leader board.
Joey Crawford
Folly Beach Fishing Pier
Jcrawford@ccprc.com