For casual fishing off a pier, try the well-equipped new Folly Beach Fishing Pier (101 E. Arctic Ave., 843/588-3474, $5 parking, $8 fishing fee, rod rentals available) on Folly Beach [1] or the North Charleston Riverfront Park (843/745-1087, www.northcharleston.org [2], daily dawn–dusk) along the Cooper River on the grounds of the old Navy Yard. Get onto the Navy Yard grounds by taking I-26 north to exit 216-B. Take a left onto Spruill Avenue and a right onto McMillan Avenue.
Key local marinas include Shem Creek Marina (526 Mill St., 843/884-3211, www.shemcreekmarina.com [3]), Charleston Harbor Marina (24 Patriots Point Rd., 843/284-7062, www.charlestonharbormarina.com [4]), Charleston City Marina (17 Lockwood Dr., 843/722-4968), Charleston Maritime Center (10 Wharfside St., 843/853-3625, www.cmcevents.com [5]), and the Cooper River Marina (1010 Juneau Ave., 843/554-0790, www.ccprc.com [6]).
Good fishing charter outfits include Barrier Island Eco Tours (50 41st Ave., 843/886-5000, www.nature-tours.com [7], about $80) out of Isle of Palms [8]; Bohicket Boat Adventure & Tour Co. (2789 Cherry Point Rd., 843/559-3525, www.bohicketboat.com [9]) out of the Edisto River; and Reel Fish Finder Charters (315 Yellow Jasmine Ct., Moncks Corner, 843/697-2081). Captain James picks clients up at many different marinas in the area.
For a list of all public landings in Charleston County, go to www.ccprc.com [6].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/charleston-savannah/charleston/sights/folly-beach
[2] http://www.northcharleston.org
[3] http://www.shemcreekmarina.com
[4] http://www.charlestonharbormarina.com
[5] http://www.cmcevents.com
[6] http://www.ccprc.com
[7] http://www.nature-tours.com
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/charleston-savannah/charleston/sights/east-cooper/isle-palms
[9] http://www.bohicketboat.com