The key to catching fish in the surf is knowing how to read the beach to determine where the fish will be.

"I like to get to the beach at low tide," Oliver said. "You want to look for sloughs or ditches that are off the beach. As the tide rises, this is what the fish will follow.

"You want to fish right in the slough. Sometimes if the only slough is not real deep, I might wade through the slough and fish the outer bar of the surf. If you do this, be careful that you don't get cut off from returning to the beach once the tide is high."

Whiting and pompano will typically be in the foamy water, sometimes only yards from where you are standing. A redfish might be found this shallow on occasion, but normally they are found cruising just beyond where the waves are breaking.

Flounder, on the other hand, are going to be in calmer areas. Look for them at the mouths of sloughs or along the edges away from the disturbances of breaking waves. You might find them in the main surf, however, on days when the wave action is low.

There are some other considerations for surf-fishing. Since the rod-and-reel setups are rarely complicated, it makes sense that the additional equipment is basic as well. Consider purchasing and learning how to throw a 5- or 6-foot cast net for capturing bait you see in the surf. A few sand spikes for holding rods in place free your hands to capture bait as well as allow you to fish more than one rod. It also permits you to fish more territory in case the fish are occupying different portions of the surf zone.

All of this equipment can be easily stowed in a 5-gallon bucket for transportation. Some serious surf-anglers use a commercially-made cart for transporting their stuff, while others merely choose a wheelbarrow.

Around Charleston, Oliver mentioned a few spots for surf-fishing.

"The north end of Folly Beach is very good," he said. "The south end by Bird Key Stono can be productive as well, since there are not a lot folks at either location.

"Places like Sullivan's Island or Isle of Palms can be crowded with beachgoers, unless you get there away from peak times. Edisto Beach is another spot that tends not to have a lot of people overall."

Grab your fishing rod and some bait, get a morning cup of coffee to go and greet the sunrise on the beach. There's a good chance you will have already caught a fish for supper before most people have even read their morning paper.

Find more about South Carolina fishing and hunting at: SCgameandfish.com.