Blue Water Adventures and Backwater Action: June Fishing Report from Folly Beach with Capt. Gates

Summer fishing is officially underway along the South Carolina coast, and according to local captain and longtime Folly Beach fishing guide Capt. Gates Roll, June is delivering action both offshore and in the marsh.

From early-morning runs into the Gulf Stream for wahoo, mahi mahi, grouper, and snapper to productive days chasing redfish, trout, and flounder closer to shore, the variety of fishing opportunities around Folly Beach is hard to beat this time of year.

Each month, Capt. Gates shares what he’s seeing on the water, offering local insight into seasonal fishing patterns and the species currently biting. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or planning your first charter, his reports provide a firsthand look at what makes fishing around Folly Beach so special.

Capt. Gates’ June Fishing Report

This past Saturday, while most people were sleeping, we were pushing off the dock at the early hour of 4 a.m. and pointing the bow towards Portugal. We wouldn’t go quite that far, but still, 50 miles offshore isn’t a short run.

As the sun rose and the open ocean world was revealed to us in the morning light, we noticed the shimmering flying fish that would glide away from us as we bounced across the waves. We also noticed rafts of sargassum and seams of current congregating into weed lines of the buoyant seaweed.

At 6:15 a.m., we had lines in, trolling skirted ballyhoo across the surface at seven knots, mimicking the abundant flying fish we saw all around us. And at 6:20 a.m., we had our first fish on, the drag not screaming, but roaring as it poured off the reel. Ten minutes later, we had a 70-pound wahoo in the boat.

After trolling for four hours, we had landed one big wahoo and several dolphin. We decided to switch gears and do a little bottom fishing on our way back to land. In 150 feet of water, we dropped lines to the bottom and pulled up several large grouper and assorted snapper species. We also caught triggerfish and grunts.

Every time I run a trip offshore, I marvel at the blue of the Gulf Stream. I’m amazed by the flying fish that seemingly glide across the waves. I’m enamored by the colors of the mahi mahi, with every green and every blue represented. Alive and fresh from the water, they appear as if a light were lit inside them. It is hard to believe we are only a two-hour boat ride from the dock. The change in the environment, the colors, and the abundance of life seem like they should have required a flight on a jet airplane to achieve.

May and June are special months for our offshore fishery. It is a time of pelagic fish migration, with large, iconic gamefish making their way north up the Gulf Stream. But back in the marsh, the bite is strong as well, and we are enjoying catching every residential species we have, along with an influx of migratory species like sharks and tarpon.

So far, this June has proven to be a great month for larger redfish and big trout. Artificial and live baits are catching both, with larger mullet fresh-caught and cut to size producing the largest reds.

But looking back over the past few weeks, I’d have to say the flounder fishery has outshone it all. We have had trips with dozens of flounder caught. These fish are all across the board in size, are plentiful, and are especially happy to bite jigs and mud minnows presented under corks or bounced across the bottom along shelly banks during the first couple of hours of the incoming tide.

So far, it has been a great start to the summer, and there is a lot more to come. If you’d like to get out on the water and enjoy some of the action, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Experience Folly Beach Fishing for Yourself

Whether you’re hoping to chase trophy redfish in the marsh, target flounder along the tidal creeks, or venture offshore in search of wahoo, mahi mahi, grouper, and snapper, summer is one of the most exciting times to fish the waters surrounding Folly Beach.

A day on the water offers more than just great fishing. It’s an opportunity to experience the beauty of the Lowcountry from a different perspective and create memories that last long after the trip is over.

To learn more about fishing opportunities around Folly Beach or to book a charter with Capt. Gates Roll, visit:

• TallTideFishing.com
• FollyBeachFishingTrips.com

We thank Capt. Gates for sharing his monthly fishing report and look forward to hearing what’s biting next month.