Where to go Crabbing On Folly Island, SC

If you aren’t lucky enough to have access to a pier, like these lucky ducks, to go crabbing, I found three great public crabbing/fishing spots.

Folly Beach County Park

This is my favorite and, in my opinion, the very best public spot to go crabbing on Folly Island. It has clean restrooms, changing booths, outdoor showers, and plenty of parking spots.

It’s such a great spot that this can almost be a downside: too much competition. The spot, along with its breathtaking views and white and sandy beaches, has ice cream, lifeguards, and beach sports such as volleyball. It can definitely get crowded on the weekends, so I recommend coming early.

With its ups, comes its downs. Parking is fairly priced and varies depending on the time of year. For parking fees, as well as chair and umbrella rentals feel free to check out Folly Beach County Park’s website.

To go crabbing, we’re gonna head to the west side of the island, at its tidal creeks, where the blue crabs hang out. I like the spot most compared to the other tidal creeks on the island because of the plentiful amount of sandy areas to use hand lines from. Be sure to bring a dip net, cooler, and plenty of sunscreens.

Also, be sure to bring everything you need for a perfect beach day. Beach chairs, an umbrella, a packed lunch, and a good book to pass the time. I’m getting pretty jealous writing this on February 11th in the middle of a snowstorm…

Looking for a less-popular spot to go crabbing? Don’t blame you. Let’s look at Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.

Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve and Beach Access

It’s a bit out the way from the excitement of Folly Island, and the perfect spot to get the real South Carolina beach feel. It’s one of the best spots on the Island for a beach day, and to go crabbing.

Before we get into how to go crabbing, I want to sell the spot a little more. The preserve has a gorgeous that has developed a likable, quaint look over the years of being exposed to the forces of the mighty Atlantic. It’s a great spot to go surfing, fishing, bird watching, and so much more.

For crabbing, we’re going to focus mainly on the tidal creeks found on the west side of the island. If you’re brave enough to take on the Atlantic, go for it. I’m sure you can snag a few keeper crabs with the right fishing rod and crab snares. A youtube channel named Fisherman’s Life made a video which did an outstanding job teaching how to use crab snares. Check it out.

On the west side of the preserve, there’s plenty of tidal creeks and saltwater marshes full of South Carolina blue crabs. There are no piers leading out into deeper waters, so you’ll have to do some exploring for deeper waters closest to land.

Once you do, depending on how high over the water you are, you should either use ring nets or hand lines. I don’t recommend using a crab pot unless you feel safe enough leaving the trap unoccupied for longer periods of time. Those things start getting expensive after having to replace them after getting stolen.

I recommend hand lines because of their simplicity. They’re also much easier to lug around instead of bulky crab pots and ring nets. Going to the beach shouldn’t feel like a chore. Also, be sure to bring boots to wading into deeper, muddier marsh waters. It may be the only way to get a good vantage point to use hand lines.

Parking is free but very scarce. You better be an early riser to get a spot closest to the preserve. However, It’s rarely visited, so you should be fine.

I wanted to mention that there is no swimming allowed at the preserve due to “dangerous currents.” Please be respectful of the posted rules. It’s still a great spot for a walk, finding seashells, and seeing South Carolina’s sea life such as dolphins, fish, and crabs.

If you want a spot where you can go swimming, let’s take a look at Folly Beach Pier.

Folly Beach Pier

Being the second longest fishing pier on the east coast, Folly Island Pier is a great spot to go crabbing if you want to be near the exciting shoreline and delicious restaurants.

If you aren’t familiar with the pier, relax and enjoy yourself! You can expect annual events including fishing tournaments and dances. They have a delicious restaurant and a gift/tackle shop for all your fishing and crabbing needs. The pier has bathrooms, which is a definite plus compared to the other locations on this article. If you are ever in the Charleston area, be sure to spend a day at Folly Island Pier.

You will need to purchase a fishing pass and pay for parking. You can expect around $7.00 for all-day parking, and it fills up fast. I recommend arriving early carpooling to make sure you get a spot.

Crabbing here can be a bit more difficult with the rough waters of the Atlantic, and definitely more expensive than Lighthouse Inlet and Folly Beach Park.

You need to plan your trip accordingly. If there was recently a storm, or a storm is on its way, plan your trip for later. I recommend going crabbing during May-April, some of South Carolina’s driest months (Source). This is also when catching crabs are at their prime.

To help with the rough waters of the Atlantic, you will need more durable traps. I recommend using box traps, pyramid traps, and heavy duty ring nets. They each work perfectly on piers and are sturdy enough to withstand the currents and waves.

Speaking of currents, you will most likely need to weigh down your traps. With box and pyramid traps, you can get away with a few cut pieces of rebar zip tied down to the bottom of the cage. 5-8 pieces should be fine. If you feel your trap drifting, try adding more or wait until the water isn’t so trough.

Like all the other spots mentioned in the post, you will need a South Carolina Recreational Fishing License to go crabbing on the pier, along with a pier fishing pass. Here are the current rates:

Normal Fishing / Crabbing
Visitors………………………………$8.00
Charleston County Residents………$5.00
Seniors 60 yrs. & older……………….$3.00
Children 12 yrs. & under…………….$3.00
Groups of 10 or more………… $4.00 per person in a group
Mackerel Fishing
Visitors…………………. $10.00
Charleston County Residents………$8.00

The pier is a beautiful spot along the South Carolina coast with plenty of things to do but still has a relaxing atmosphere. It’s very possible to go crabbing, but if I had the choice I would go with either Folly Beach County Park or Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve solely because of their tidal creeks, which make crabbing much easier. Also, I’m a bit of a cheapskate and I hate paying for fishing passes, but it’s up to you.

Nearby Crabbing Spots in Charleston County, SC

Not a fan of these three spots? Or, if maybe you want to explore the rest of the Charleston area, be sure to check out these nearby crabbing spots.

James Island

Just south of James Island on the Atlantic coast, you’ll find a quaint spot named Folly Island.

The island has plenty of spots to go crabbing. On the north and south end, you’ll find county parks and reserves that welcome recreational crabbing. You’ll have more luck catching crabs in the saltwater marshes on the west side of the island.

Click here to read our article: Where To Go Crabbing in James Island, SC.

Charleston

Just north of James Island across the Ashley River, you’ll find Charleston, one of the most popular and busiest spots in South Carolina. You might think it would be hard to find a nice crabbing spot in this bustling city, but thanks to their beautiful park grounds you can easily catch a crab dinner without leaving the city limits.

Click here to read our article: Where To Go Crabbing in Charleston, SC.

Mt. Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant, just across the Cooper River from Charleston, is home to plenty of saltwater marshes and tidal creeks. It’s the perfect spot to catch blue crabs in Charleston County Area.

Click here to read our article: Where To Go Crabbing in Mt. Pleasant, SC.