Folly Beach Tide Chart

Folly is Charleston’s bohemian beach — and its best fishing is at the wild northeast tip where Lighthouse Inlet cuts between Folly and Morris Island.

What runs when

• Red & black drum: spring and fall; the inlet’s outflow is a drum magnet, and bull reds come close in October.
• Flounder: summer along the inlet drop and pier pilings.
• Sharks: blacktip and bonnethead in the summer surf — heavy gear and a long cast.
• Spanish mackerel & blues: summer from the pier end.

Where to cast

Lighthouse Inlet on the last two hours of the outgoing is the local institution (park at the county lot, walk north). The Folly pier for kings-in-fall and Spanish; the “Washout” surf break for drum when the swell is up.

Tide timing here

The inlet is unfishable at slack and a washing machine at max ebb — the sweet spot is the first half of the outgoing. Today’s curve on this page tells you when the turn happens; the fishing window covers the pre-high push for the surf.

Rules to know

SC saltwater license; drum slots apply; Morris Island side is a heritage preserve with access rules. SCDNR regulations.