Surf: Occasional long lefts off the southern side of the pier on a NE swell. Mid tide incoming will see steeper, hollower, shifty peaks that will get a bit mushy at dead high if it’s not very big. Low tide will close out over 4ft (1.3m). Environment: Restrictions include no surfing within 200ft (66m) of the pier and no surfing from 10-6pm in summer. The hazard list includes jetskis and jellyfish, plus stormwater runoff. Surf: General: On average, the waves at Folly Beach Pier are considerably less powerful than whatever’s on tap at the Washout, but probably a bit more powerful than most other South Carolina beachbreaks. Big (but not too big) NE swells will often produce long, occasionally barreling lefts off the south side of the pier. Folly Beach Pier won’t really hold much more than a foot overhead. Tides: Mid-tides are the deal here, offering steeper, more shapely peaks — too high and the waves mush out, too low and they close out. Size: Knee-high to overhead. Wind: NW, N Swell: E, SE, S Bottom: Sand. Paddling: Too easy — hug the pier for a dry-hair paddle-out. Spot Rating: Even the worst spot in Folly Beach is still better than the best spot anywhere else in South Carolina. Access: Convenient but limited parking for a fee. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Accommodates shredders and cruisers alike — just not all at once. Local Vibe: The line between southern hospitality and local entitlement gets thinner the closer you get to the pier. Environment: Between stormwater runoff, jet-ski traffic and pier goop, it can get pretty nasty. However, this spot historically passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time. Hazards: Sharks, jellyfish, angry fishermen. Season: September-December