May Fishing Report

May 2nd, 2012

Our fishery is really cooking now! The arrival of seasonal species like ladyfish, bluefish and shark now compliment our redfish and trout. Look around you on the water and you’ll also find plenty of baitfish including mullet and menhaden. You have more reasons now than ever to get fishing!

Recently, we’ve been making the most of live bait when fishing for redfish. Menhaden is a favorite choice whether fished live or as cut bait. Fishing chunks of menhaden under docks has produced some very large redfish. I’ll use a carolina rig with just enough weight to keep the bait pinned to the ground so it doesn’t get snagged. I use size 3/0 circle hooks and let the redfish hook themselves.

It’s that time of year to start thinking about topwater trout action at first light. My favorite lure is a Heddon’s Super Spook Jr. in chartreuse and black. Their silver mullet color works well too. Try a variety of retrieval speeds as you work these lures. When that trout strikes, try to resist the temptation to lift the rod tip and reel the fish tight instead. It’s hard to beat those explosive strikes!

As expected, sharks have returned to our waters with the warmer water temperatures. Look along the shoreline and you’ll see the fins of bonnethead sharks slicing through the water as they seek out prey. Live shrimp and chunks of blue crab both work well on these predators. Fishing for sharks can be a great way to get younger anglers involved as sharks are usually hungry and put up great fights.

Flyfishermen will begin to focus on big high tides or “tailing tides” when the redfish are way up in the grass. This produces very exciting fishing as anglers can see the backs and tails of redfish as they put their noses in the mud to forage for crabs. Dupre’s spoon flies have been particularly effective and I like their root beer color. When casting to redfish, remember to lead the fish by several feet, hitting them square on the head will cause them to spook and race away.

See you on the water!

Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston Charter Fishing providing fly fishing and light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of fly rods, artificial and live bait fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

Tags: Folly Beach Fishing, Folly Beach Fishing Charters, Folly Beach Fishing Report
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Folly Fishing Charter Giveaway

April 20th, 2012

Now’s your chance to fish lowcountry waters around Folly Beach with Capt Geoff Bennett and Charleston Charter Fishing! One lucky winner will be doing that FREE of charge when we randomly draw a winner on May 25th! So, make sure to enter below for your chance to win!

Your free charter is a complete experience with a full menu of fly rods, live and artificial bait, and chrater schedules to fit your schedule.

Captain Bennett’s 16 ft. Hewes Bayfisher will accommodate up to three anglers. All equipment, fishing licenses, snacks and soft drinks are provided.

This is an opportunity for seasoned anglers as well as novices. Avid fishermen will find Bennett’s experience and gear first class, though anyone interested in a new experience should enter the giveaway. One of Capt. Bennett’s goals is to teach the basic skills needed for a family to fish on their own.

A winner will be selected May 25th and be announced the following Monday.

Your charter can be scheduled with Capt. Bennett over a calendar year from the date you win! Fish right away if you are in the area or schedule a time when you are visiting for vacation.

Capt. Bennett, USCG licensed and fully insured, is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages.

Keep in mind you will likely be contacted by FollyBeach.com and Charleston Charter Fishing about this promotion. Your information will not be sold or otherwise shared.

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April Fishing Report

April 1st, 2012

Wonderful sunny weather has continued day after day making for awesome fishing conditions. With all this warm weather, it’s no surprise that our fishery is 4-6 weeks ahead of schedule. The water is teeming with bait and even a few sharks are already cruising around. Expect April to be a fantastic month of fishing.

While redfish remain in large schools, they have begun to break up as the water warms. These fish have left survival mode and become predators again. Over the last few weeks, redfish have been finicky with artificial baits. On some days, paddle tail grubs as well as jerk shad of any color failed to elicit a bite.

When redfish are picky, a great solution is to throw chunks of freshly cracked blue crab. This is simply redfish candy and bait that is rarely refused. Just yesterday, redfish were hitting the crab before it even touched the bottom and in some cases even as we were retrieving the bait. I use size 3/0 circle hooks and put the hook through the bottom flipper hole once I have ripped off the legs. Put the rod in the rod holder and don’t pick it up until the reel is screaming!

The trout bite should really begin in earnest this April. With water temperatures so warm, it’s hard to believe they won’t become aggressive feeders before too long. The preferred rig of live bait under a popping cork is hard to beat. Live shrimp is now available and will give you another option than mud minnows. It’s a good idea to start carrying your cast net and see if you can find some finger mullet. Finger mullet under a cork is just deadly.

With redfish being choosy about artificial plastic lures, they have acted the same towards flies. However, this hasn’t stopped us from having some great days. Focus on fishing around low tide when the fish are out of the grass and easier to target. If you do fish on higher tides, make sure your flies have a good weed guard like a piece of heavy monofilament line. The copperhead fly in rootbeer color has been producing well for us recently.

See you on the water!

Tags: Folly Beach Fishing, Folly Beach Fishing Charters, Folly Beach Fishing Report
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22nd Annual Sea and Sand Festival

March 19th, 2012

You know it’s summer when the Sea and Sand Festival comes around.

This weekend the 22^nd annual Sea and Sand Festival on Folly Beach kicks off on Saturday, March 24 and promises to be better than ever.

Since 1990 the Folly Beach community and visitors from all over get together for this festival to celebrate its unofficial stamp of approval that as far as Folly Beach is concerned, summer has begun.

There will be live music, food, art, and all sorts of activities for the entire family (including the dog) to come out and enjoy. More than 100 vendors will line Center Street selling everything from arts and crafts to clothing to toys to food so there will definitely be something for everyone at the event.

Admission is free.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m. festival-goers will be able to rock out to the live music pulsating through the streets. The first band to take Follywood Stage located by The Grill/Kangaroo, will be Reid Stone and Jeff Davis. Folly Beach Bluegrass Society will take over from 12:50-1:50 p.m., Shakin’ Martinis comes on from 2:10-3:10 p.m. and Concrete Jumpsuit will play from 3:30 -4:50 p.m.

Four other bands will play from the Chill and Grill Stage located next to Snapper Jacks/Beachwear and Gifts. Beginning at noon Champagne with Friends will play followed by Weigh Station at 1:10 p.m., Jupiter’s Garden at 2:30 p.m., and Stereo Reform at 3:50 p.m.

The East Coast Party Band will headline the festival and they will play from 3-7 p.m. at the Tides Folly Beach.

In addition to music, activities for the whole family begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with a scavenger hunt. The street party beings at 10:30 a.m.

On Sunday, the Tides Kickoff Classic Surf Competition starts at 8 a.m. and will be followed by the 2^nd Annual Sand Sculpting Contest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The East Coast Party Band will play again from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Along with the Sea and Sand Festival, the Folly Art Guild will also be celebrating locals art and artists during its Tides of March Festival on Saturday in the Folly River Park, so be sure to check that festival as well.

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First Annual Folly River Shamrock SUP Race

March 13th, 2012

Folly Beach-based company Charleston SUP Safaris is celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day by inviting the community out to take part in the first annual Folly River Shamrock SUP Race from 8 am. – noon on Saturday, March 17 to benefit Pet Helpers on James Island and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation.

The race will get everyone from well-seasoned paddleboard enthusiasts to novice paddleboard fans and even kids and dogs out there on the water (granted dogs can only get on the paddleboards with a person).

There will be four races the day of the event. The 10k Elite Race begins at 9 a.m. and has a registration fee of $35, the 5k Recreational Race begins at 9:05 a.m. and has a registration fee of $35, the Kids Race begins at 10:45 a.m. and has a registration fee of $20, and the Dog SUP event begins at 11 a.m. and has a registration fee of $20.

SUP boards will be available for rent for $10 the day of the event.

To register for the event now, contact Charleston SUP Safaris. Registration can also be done the day of the event. Meet the Charleston SUP Safari group at 83 Center Street.

Because the race takes place on Saint Patrick’s Day, participants are encouraged to get into the spirit and dress up in as much green as possible for the chance to win prizes.

In addition, there will be a silent auction and raffle.

This event marks the season-opening for Charleston SUP Safaris and owner Jon Ory said anyone interested in getting out on the water for the stand-up paddleboard experience should come out and give it a try.

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March Fishing Report

February 29th, 2012

What a winter! Or rather, what winter? Day after day of unseasonably warm weather has been an angler’s dream. Our fishery has remained active throughout the last few months and is building towards what should be an awesome spring.

Redfish remain in massive schools numbering in the hundreds as they try to avoid dolphins and stay warm. You’ll find these schools on mud flats as well as shallow banks that provide cover. On sunny days, redfish are especially drawn to the flats as the mud retains an extra few degrees of warmth. You’ll find the best fishing tends to be around low tide when these reds are balled up tight together.

Artificial jerk shad lures are a very popular option when casting to these schools. Bigger 4”-5” lures in darker tones that imitate the natural bait in the water have been quite effective. We’ve been particularly lucky with grey lures that have some sparkle or pearl white. I always pair these lures with a flutter hook, usually size 3/0. The flutter hook when combined with a loop knot provides great action and really entices those redfish.

For trout aficionados, this winter has been a welcome change to the past two winters that had very cold temperatures that pushed the trout bite back weeks if not months. We’ve been catching trout in modest numbers and often while targeting reds. It really feels like trout will be flourishing in March as opposed to May this year.

As trout become more active, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with mud minnows. I usually use a 18”-24” leader and a size 1 circle hook. When working the popping cork, always try to keep slack out of your line and when that cork drops just reel tight to set the hook. You’ll find that the circle hook will do most of the work for you.

This a great time of year for fly fishing. Sight fishing abounds and stalking a school of a hundred plus fish is so exciting you almost fall off the bow with anticipation. Smaller flies in darker colors are working best and a black clouser minnow is a fine example. Remember when the fish hits, resist the temptation to lift your rod tip and strip strike instead.

See you on the water!

Tags: Folly Beach Fishing, Folly Beach Fishing Charters, Folly Beach Fishing Report
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Folly Beach at your Fingertips

February 28th, 2012

Remember way back in the day before the Internet existed and planning a trip to Folly Beach meant that you had to wait for the rental booklets to come in the mail, select a house, and then call the agency to see if it was available for summer? And that was only for those who already knew about Folly Beach.

Other vacation-hopefuls looking for a beach trip in the pre-Internet days had to go one step further and consult a travel agent. These agents would listen to what the vacationers wanted and then try and meet those needs by showing glossy brochures and rental magazines to them. Many times customers had great vacations using travel agents, but there were also the unhappy customers who didn’t get what they wanted out of a vacation.

Using a travel agent was hit or miss back then and millions of people in the world who wanted to get away, but didn’t know where to go, needed some kind of answer.

Then the Internet rolled around.

This enabled people to search for where they wanted to go and use global travel sites to book hotels, flights, and car rentals. Over the years, the features on these sites improved so visitors could find out if they were going to be staying in an area under construction, but for the most part, not a lot of information was available.

That is still true to this day and it is why sites like FollyBeach.com offer such a unique way to book a vacation.

FollyBeach.com connects visitors Folly Beach by providing ample information about what they want to know about. Want to stay on front beach and have a pool? Book it on the site. Want to find out what restaurants in town serve crab legs? Check out the restaurant tab and browse menus.

All of these questions can be answered because the site is devoted to being local because the objective of the site is to let everyone, near and far, feel like Folly is just a click away. And now, thanks to the new free app offered by FollyBeach.com to Android and iPhone users, that local touch just got even better.

The app takes everything that FollyBeach.com offers to smartphones so that Folly Beach is never farther away than one’s fingertips.

The app allows for users to do everything they can do on the site like checking the weather, booking rentals, posting videos and photos and comments, and finding out just about anything you’d want to know about Folly Beach.

Imagine sitting at work, far, far away from the coast, and thinking, “I wish I was at Folly.” All smartphone users need to do is take out their phone and use their Folly Beach app to scroll through photos and videos. The feeling of sitting in the sun-warmed sand while the ocean crashes at the shore will come in an instant.

So wherever you are, if Folly Beach is your favorite place on earth, get the app and visit anytime you feel the need. To get your free app, visit follybeach.com from your smart phone to be prompted for the right version, or visit the applicable store below to down free of charge.

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Charleston Charter Fishing

February 26th, 2012

It’s said time and time again that even for the people out there who have traveled the world there’s just something about Folly Beach. Capt. Geoff Bennett is no exception.

Bennett’s fished in the waters off of New Zealand and Belize, but he always found himself coming back to Folly Beach because even he will admit that nothing can compare to the area. That is why he is the owner/operator of Charleston Charter Fishing, a charter company that offers fishing trips off of the coast of Folly Beach and Kiawah Island for everyone from beginners to the experienced to families and corporate travelers

He got his experience in his early years fishing with his father and has been casting lines into the water ever since. He said that although he has fished his entire life, it was those early times with his dad that made him realize that not only did he have a passion for fishing, but he also loved how it could bring families together.

Bennett said that getting out on the water is the best way to learn how to fish and so he encourages anyone, regardless of their skill level, to book a trip with him. From there, clients will learn the basics of knot tying, casting, and tackle selection. He said he also likes knowing that what families learn on a trip with him could be the start of a new family tradition – much like he had with his own father.

“I realized that I got a thrill out of my clients catching fish as much if – if not more – than when I was fishing on my own,” Bennett said. “It is rewarding when you have clients who have not fished much before if at all and they start catching fish. Not much beats the comment, ‘that’s the biggest fish I ever caught.’”

When going out on a fishing charter with Capt. Bennett, customers will board a 16-foot Hewes Bayfisher. This type of boat allows for fishing in the shallowest of creeks where the majority of other boats are unable to get to – which means Bennett can offer customers some competition-free fishing areas so they are almost guaranteed to go home with some catch.

Bennett said there are many spots in the area that he likes to take customers to because there isn’t much competition and there is a high-chance for some productive catches to be had, some of which can be quite impressive.

“What I love about fishing is the unknown promise and unlimited potential of every charter,” he said. “You never know what you’ll find out there. Unlike the certainty of other spots, there are no tee times to reserve or specific start times. When you do have that charter when you knock them dead, it is the sweetest feeling in the world.”

In addition to fishing in the best areas with the best tackle around, customers also get the unique experience of viewing the abundant marine and wildlife that call the South Carolinian waters and marshland home. It is not uncommon to go out and see dolphins, alligators, ospreys, sea turtles, herons, the occasional bald eagle, and more.

To book a trip with Bennett, call 843-324-3332.

Tags: Folly Beach Fishing Charters
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Folly Gras 2012

February 13th, 2012

Did you get a taste of New Orleans last weekend during Folly Beach’s annual Mardi Gras celebration?

From 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday Folly River Park came alive with food, drinks, music, and family fun during the aptly named “Folly Gras” celebration.

Every year Folly Beach does its own spin on the traditional feast day that celebrates the last day of the Festival of Carnival by taking it upon itself to enter into a one-day period of over-eating and maybe a little over-drinking before starting a 40-day period of fasting during the Lenten season. While this celebration is Catholic in its roots, it’s safe to say that many people just recognize what it is on the surface: A great excuse to party.

This year, the event featured a parade, food vendors, bands, games, and fun for the whole family.

The parade featured folks dressed up in full-on Mardi Gras apparel, lined up along West Arctic Street by the Tides Hotel. Cars joined in on the parade fun and were decorated fender-to-fender with all kinds of Mardi Gras bling. As always, pets were welcomed to attend in the festivities as long as they came along sporting some beads or other festive garb.

Even after the city’s events ended for the day, the party continued at area bars and restaurants well into the night!

Did you attend this year’s Folly Gras? Share your pictures by uploading them here.

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A Folly Kind of Wedding

January 21st, 2012

The new year has only just begun and it brought with it millions of newly engaged couples.

It’s safe to say that of those millions, a good handful or two will decide to start their lives together by getting married on Folly Beach.

Some people opt for traditional church weddings or quiet courthouse ceremonies, but others dream about the setting only the beach can provide. These people want to say their vows while waves softly lap at the shore and dolphins dive in and out of the water in the distance and for anyone who’s ever made Folly Beach a part of his or her heart and soul then it’s only natural that those people would want to include the beach on their special day.

Spring and summer are the most popular months for beach weddings, with autumn a close second, and while it seems like those months are far off, now is the time to plan.

Although a beach wedding seems pretty cut and dry in regards to what it means, tell that to all the different brides out there planning one.

Take a look at the two biggest concerns for couples to be:

Location: Getting married on the beach might mean different things to different people. Some might want to be barefoot in the sand and feel the water under their toes. Some might want to get married directly in front of their favorite rental home. Some might want to get married down on the beach by the Morris Lighthouse (we recommend doing it during low tide to maximize the amount of space on the beach for you, your wedding party, and guests; plus, it makes for a beautiful setting).

Some people might decide to get married at the Folly Beach County Park in one of the shelters. The county park offers day rentals or day and night rentals for a fee. Day rentals are $450. All day rentals, which are from 10 am to 11:30 pm are $825. Contact the state park for more information at (843) 795-4386.

Couples might also choose to get married in a church in Charleston and then have their reception in Folly Beach in a rental house or restaurant.

Price: Weddings can cost as little or as much as a couple wants to spend. Couples who want the full enchilada can use the Folly Beach Wedding Guide to hire stylists, wedding planners, caterers, photographers, and just about anything else necessary.

Lodging on Folly is all across the board. The Tides Hotel is the largest hotel on the beach and has affordable rates for just about any budget. In addition, FollyBeach.com offers listings for condos, beach cottages, modest homes, and high-end luxurious rentals with the best of everything. To view rental homes on Folly, click here.

It’s important to book lodging far in advance to ensure that the location of your dreams is available for the big day.

One of the biggest things couples need to remember before getting married is that they will need a marriage license. Licenses can be obtained for $70 from the State of South Carolina. Licenses are available in Charleston as the county courthouse located at 100 Broad Street, suite 469, anytime between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Contact the county courthouse at 843-958-5182 for more information.

There is a waiting period of 24 hours from the date the application is filed before couples can get their license. Also, for anyone out there with a case of puppy love, licenses can only be granted to couples 16 years of age and older. Be sure to bring photo ID to obtain a marriage license.

With all of that information in mind, planning a wedding might seem a little daunting, but FollyBeach.com makes it easy by listing all of the people, places, and businesses that can help make your big day go off without a hitch. Just click here and get started.

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May Fishing Report

Folly Fishing Charter Giveaway

April Fishing Report

22nd Annual Sea and Sand Festival

First Annual Folly River Shamrock SUP Race

March Fishing Report

Folly Beach at your Fingertips

Charleston Charter Fishing

Folly Gras 2012

A Folly Kind of Wedding

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