It's gonna feel weird...

We have a opportunity to make a quick trip to our local coast next weekend - and we have not fished there in over 10 years. We fell in love with salt water pier fishing at Folly Beach in Charleston - but learned how to CATCH salt water fish on the Gulf Shores pier.
Based on historical memory, I just could not get very excited about the trip. Baby sharks and rays just don't cut it any more. I even thought more than once about not even taking a rod. Just for giggles, I cashed a Google Token and searched for some recent reports and info. I must admit I perked up a bit when I read several local reports that said the Spanish bite was strong with Kings and bulls showing up in spurts through out the day.......Oh My!
The butterfly's started churning and an immediate anxiousness flooded me to my core! I was not prepared for such.
We're going East Coast Snobblin'!!!!!

It may be a bit different! The last time I was at Folly Pier they used the two pole trolley setup for kings. Better pack two poles just in case.

Tight lines

I went to school at the IronMan academy of travel fishing. I don't leave the house with less than 12...+ 2 spares rods

My just-in-case tackle exceeded the luggage for 4, at least according to my wife and kids.

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Originally Posted by RamZ

I went to school at the IronMan academy of travel fishing. I don't leave the house with less than 12...+ 2 spares rods

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Got to have extra's just incase of failures being far from home....if room why not....packing is my specialty with years of practice

http://i63.tinypic.com/15mecfc.jpg

Now, I don't feel bad about all the stuff I bring!!

My last trip, my pack was perfection. It is absolutely amazing what you can get in the back of a SUV with the seats down....and I am paranoid about not having anything blocking my view back and to the sides...
I took pictures and notes for the next trip.

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Originally Posted by RamZ

We have a opportunity to make a quick trip to our local coast next weekend - and we have not fished there in over 10 years. We fell in love with salt water pier fishing at Folly Beach in Charleston - but learned how to CATCH salt water fish on the Gulf Shores pier.
Based on historical memory, I just could not get very excited about the trip. Baby sharks and rays just don't cut it any more. I even thought more than once about not even taking a rod. Just for giggles, I cashed a Google Token and searched for some recent reports and info. I must admit I perked up a bit when I read several local reports that said the Spanish bite was strong with Kings and bulls showing up in spurts through out the day.......Oh My!
The butterfly's started churning and an immediate anxiousness flooded me to my core! I was not prepared for such.
We're going East Coast Snobblin'!!!!!

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I know this board is about Gulf Shores pier but I noticed that you have fished Folly Beach pier. Do they have much success there for Spanish, Blues, Kings, etc.? I have fished there a few times with little success. My daughter lives in Hilton Head so I may try Folly again. I now fish the Fl Panhandle which I really like. Getting ready to try Gulf Shores in about a month, looking forward to it.

Greg - I’ll let you know when I get back. I have not been there in years - and have since learned a lot about catching target species

I used to haul it all back and forth. Found a deal on a storage unit. That deal has gone up every year, so its no longer a deal. Too much stuff in there to haul now. Oh well.

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Originally Posted by J55

Now, I don't feel bad about all the stuff I bring!!

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5 gallon Bucket, and a half of reels
in the picture there were a few that made the trip to sell (full roller guide trolling rods) but most were for the pier....this trip extra are coming to sell, both rods & reels ....thinning the extra I don't use any more.....maybe

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Originally Posted by Hogman

I used to haul it all back and forth. Found a deal on a storage unit. That deal has gone up every year, so its no longer a deal. Too much stuff in there to haul now. Oh well.

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I thought about doing the exact same thing (renting a unit). I haul so much stuff, I have to come to come by myself. The only problem with renting a unit is you won't have it if you decide to do fish somewhere else. I guess you could have 2 sets of gear, one in the storage unit and another set of tackle at home in case you decided to go somewhere different.

Was at that pier for a week last summer. Only thing we caught of note was a decent black drum and a slew of good sized whiting. Traffic into/out of Folly is insane due to it just being a single 2 lane road to get on the island! Parking was rough as well. I don't know how it is off season though. If you can check our Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston. Far and away the best I've ever had in my 36 years.

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Originally Posted by Hogman

I used to haul it all back and forth. Found a deal on a storage unit. That deal has gone up every year, so its no longer a deal. Too much stuff in there to haul now. Oh well.

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Hey Haywire....I see potential money making deal for an enterprising young local fisherman...Sears has a metal storage buildings for under $600. Rent out rod storage for $100 a year (probably the price per month at a commercial storage lot). You could even offer a reel cleaning service for a reasonable fee. I figure You could could fill the shed and make enough money to fund your hunting camp. could have plenty of room for several pier carts for the same cost or offer a buy one get one half off service! :) :) :)

So here's the scoop on Folly. Same old song. Dirty water. Chocolate soup. Tried snobblin, gotcha's, bubbles and loony's for days. ONE strike from a King that was obviously lost. It was an AWSOME feed I must admit - knocked my cig about 5' out of the water but missed. My best angling skill could not bring him back for another try.
I was not alone in my lack of luck - I did not see one single King, Spanish, Red, Jack or any other sport fish worth noting come over the rail.
In the end, I did manage to make the Folly TriFecta - Ray, Puffer and a Baby Shark.

But all was not lost - My two nephews chartered an inshore trip to thank their Unkle for early years of baiting hooks and pier trips - Reds, Flounder and trout all boated and released in respectable numbers and sizes.

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Originally Posted by RamZ

In the end, I did manage to make the Folly TriFecta - Ray, Puffer and a Baby Shark.

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Too bad you didn't land a catfish and make it a quad.

I've never had any success fishing there

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Originally Posted by GregInAtl

Too bad you didn't land a catfish and make it a quad.

I've never had any success fishing there

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Greg - it was too muddy for cats...