March Fishing Report

One of the warmest Winters on record has our fishery set to get going early this year. You could even say it never fully turned off as days in the 70s have kept water temperatures far higher than normal. Bait fish that are usually nonexistent have been present and kept the redfish active. Trout should be ramped up and ready to go in March. It’s time to break out your rods and reels and get ready for a great season!

Having spent the last few months laying low and avoiding dolphins, redfish are no longer just focused on simply surviving but now on feeding as well. Low tide will be the best time to focus on big schools of redfish that can number in the hundreds. These fish are still pretty wary, so a quiet approach is very important. On many days, it pays to settle in one spot when you find a school and wait for them to return to you instead of pushing them away.

When these reds are being spooky, I’ll try to disturb them as little as possible by keeping my casting to a minimum. This is a time to fish with bait on the bottom. I’ll put a chunk of blue crab or frozen mullet on a size 3/0 circle hook and just let it sit until the redfish swim over it. Make sure the barb of your hook is fully through the bait and exposed. Place your rod in the rod holder and wait for it to whip over once the circle hook sets itself!

As trout begin to appear, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with mud minnows. I usually pair a size 1 circle hook with an 18”-24” fluorocarbon leader. While there is no shortage of options, I use oval shaped corks that are heavier and can be cast further. When using a popping cork, do your best to keep slack out of your line and when that cork goes under just reel to set the hook. You’ll find that the circle hook seldom misses as long as your line is tight.

See you on the water!

For a decade, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of 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 [email protected].

Folly Gras 2019

Over the past 11 years, Folly Gras has been one of the most loved festivals on Folly Beach. Guests from all over come to Folly Beach dressed in festive costumes and beads to spread Mardi Gras cheer. This year the Folly Gras Parade & Block Party is set to take place on Saturday, February 23!

Folly’s Mardi Gras celebration will feature dozens of arts, crafts and fashion vendors, and, of course, lots of delicious food and drinks. There will be live music across three stages, with performances by Dangermuffin, Sunny Ledfurd, and more. Plus, a dedicated children’s area will feature the Good Clean Fun crew, caricatures, face painting, inflatables, and crafts. In addition, participating restaurants and bars will be whipping up New Orleans inspired dishes and serving $5 Deep Eddy cocktails all day.

For more information about the 11th Annual Folly Gras Parade & Street Festival and to purchase tickets today, please click here.

Monthly Spotlight: Jeannie Hefti Fanjoy

Owner of 3 Mouse Pals

Jeannie is an independent contractor with “Ears of Experience” and specializes in booking and planning your Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise, Adventures by Disney and Universal Studios vacation with no cost to you! Let Jeannie take the hassle out of your planning, sit back, relax, and enjoy making memories. For more information, contact [email protected]

Folly Beach to commemorate Independence Day with a Grand Fireworks Display

Celebrate the nation’s holiday the best way we know how..on FOLLY BEACH! Grab your best friends, hang out in the sun and soak away the day. Then, at 9:30pm, watch a spectacular firework display from 3rd block west on Folly Beach. Stare in awe as we celebrate the holiday with a stunning display of fireworks in array of colors and bursts. “We are excited to be able to host one of our favorite summer traditions on July 4th this year,” said Lewis Dodson, President of the Folly Association of Business. “There’s nothing better than celebrating the 4th on Folly Beach and watching the fireworks surrounded by friends and family.”

Living on the beach, one especially like Folly Beach is a tremendous blessing. We know, we love our island. For those visiting, aren’t you lucky to live in a country where freedom lets you take those trips, lets you sit on the beach and relax and lets you live your life the way you want to live?

In the case of inclement weather, these details may change. Keep an eye on Folly Beach’s visitor facebook page for weather related updates.

As we enter May, few can remember a Spring with so many windy days combined with lots of rain. Our fishery is a few weeks behind but is now poised to come alive! Water temperatures have been jumping higher and summer seasonal species have begun to appear. Put a line in the water and you won’t be disappointed!

As redfish begin to feed in earnest, popping corks cast along grass banks and over oyster beds will be a good bet paired with mud minnows and live shrimp. From the popping cork, I attach a 18”-24” fluorocarbon leader to a size 1 circle hook. Should smaller fish make short work of your live bait, try using D.O.A.’s 2.75” shrimp in their Glow colors.

Trout have been slowly coming around after a challenging and chilly few months. Artificials have been producing the most consistent trout action. When worked slowly in the water column, smaller plastic artificials that mimic baitfish have been getting crushed. Z-Man’s Finesse TRD lures are a go-to choice in their Mud Minnow color. Tie these lures with a loop knot to give the lure extra action in the water.

Spanish mackerel are already slashing around the harbor and can be best found at first light. When you find schools of fish knifing across the surface, throw reflective casting jigs (1/2oz. or smaller) and reel them as fast as you can through the school. Spanish are toothy critters so no matter how fast the action remember to pause and check your leader frequently for cuts and nicks.

With warmer waters, sharks have begun to arrive. Of all the different species of shark we see, bonnetheads are not only among the most common but also the most accessible. These sharks can be caught in a foot of water or in the middle of the harbor. Live menhaden, chunks of blue crab or cut mullet can all be used as baits. These great fighters are good fun for young and old anglers alike.

See you on the water!

For a decade, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of 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 [email protected].

Folly Beach Named One of the Top 20 Most Charming Summer Beach Vacation Rentals

Folly Beach has recently been named one of the top 20 most charming summer beach vacation rentals on the East Coast!  Check out the full article here!

Thanks for the Shout Out, TripAdvisor!

Folly Beach was recently featured in TripAdvisor’s “8 Top Honeymoon Spots In America You Never Knew Were So Romantic”

“The relaxing pace of life, ocean-fresh air, and soothing coastal views of Folly Island make this a top choice for a couples’ getaway. Folly Beach encompasses 12 square miles of barrier island scenery, which you can explore on a gentle eco tour—or on a surfboard, if you prefer.”

To read the full article, click here

7 Reasons Why Folly Beach is Best in Winter

With the relatively colder weather fast approaching our coast, most people count out the beach when thinking of ways to spend their free time. When visiting Folly Beach, winter time is seriously underrated. Don’t mistake that for a lack of love for summer but instead more of an equal love of winter. To a local beach town resident, winter at the beach may even beat summer at the beach and here is our list of reasons why:

1. Peaceful Privacy
With the summer season gone, this quiet time of year on Folly gives you more room to enjoy all that the beach has to offer. One can bundle up and enjoying a good book in privacy with the soundtrack of waves crashing in the background. This means more privacy, enjoy a romantic walk or have the perfect backdrop for photos without any unwanted photo bombers.

2. Christmas Parade
The majority of the summer and spring seasons are spent tending to crowds and enjoying the warm sun, but winter brings in a different kind of happiness. Folly Beach’s events in the holiday season bring out the spirit the holidays in wacky ways. Each year the Christmas parade that marches up and down main street is decked out with the funkiest of parade features alongside some of the classics. Street stores and vendors open up their shops selling gifts that would fit the just about the largest range of people possible.

3. New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Folly Beach’s take on New Year’s is just as outlandish as one would expect from the free spirited town. Main Street does its own version of Time Square’s famous Ball Drop. As the clock strikes midnight and the New Year is ushered in Folly does a “Flip-Flip Drop” and it’s just as it sounds. A giant pair of lit up flip-flops descends upon main street at midnight to mark the New Year! It might be a tradition for people everywhere to take a polar-plunge into ice cold winter water on the first day of the New Year, but Folly does it differently. With Bill Murray as one of our proud locals, Folly Beach hosts a “Bill Murray Look-alike Polar Plunge”. Participants dress as their favorite Bill Murray character and dive into the deep blue!

4. Cold Sand
Okay, so this sounds strange, but hear us out! There is nothing that quite beats the feeling of the cold sand beneath your toes and the ocean breeze on your cheeks when you’re all bundled up. It’s a peaceful sensation that should be experienced as often as possible. Not to mention it’s a break from the scalding sensation that comes accompanied with sand in the summer months. The sunshine and warm waters smell of summer, but don’t knock the coastal winter weather at Folly until you try it for yourself!

5. Empty Waters
If you are brave enough bear the cold water, throw on a wet suit and paddle out into the waves at the Washout. It’s nearly guaranteed that the waves will be less crowded with a more peaceful experience on the water.

6. Beautiful Sunsets
Sunsets in winter are better. That might be a subjective statement, but until you experience a sunset that’s brought in after a cold winter rain storm you’ll just have to take our word for it.

7. Dogs Allowed!
If you are familiar with Folly you know that dogs are allowed year round. In the busy seasons from May – September dogs are only allowed specific hours in the morning and the evening. In the winter, dogs are always allowed during beach hours! All through the off seasons feel free to bring your furry friend to the beach at any time of day (as long as they are on a leash)! Nothing is better than your pup enjoying the beach as much you!

Your Folly Beach Holiday Gift Guide

Whether you’re just visiting Folly Beach or happen to be a local, we’ve come up with the perfect Folly Beach Holiday Shopping Guide to help you cross everyone off your shopping list this year! The best part of shopping local is avoiding crazy malls and mainstream retailers. Not to mention, if you haven’t already heard of the shops on Folly, this is the perfect opportunity to get familiar with the local businesses and to support retailers from right here on Folly!

Folly Girlz – We all have that girly girl in our life! This clothing store is full of colors, dresses and other trendy pieces. It’s perfect for the girls that love warm weather fashion and beach themed accessories.

McKelvin’s Surf Shop – Having a hard time finding the perfect gift for your husband or teenage son? This surf shop has t-shirts, hats and surfing items for for anyone who loves to surf and stay active!

Bert’s Market – This is for that foodie in your life! Bert’s has local delicious food items and was voted “Best Corner Market in Charleston”! Not to mention they have free coffee all day to keep you caffeinated while you shop. Pick up some organic goodies to top off a stocking or bring to a holiday party.

Sugartime – For anyone with a sweet tooth! This candy shop is perfect for the kids or candy lover’s stocking stuffers!

Urban Izzy – For the artsy people in your life! This unique boutique is run on wheels and features a collection of items from local artisans and designers. Find lots of one-of-a-kind handcrafted treasures here.

Treasure Island – This is for the beach goer! Find an entire wall of boogie boards, beach chairs and more! If you’re spending the holiday season somewhere tropical or know someone who loves the beach this is a must stop shop.