I am thinking of taking my first trip out to buck hall and was wondering if people think its safe enough for me to go out there with no experienced guide on deck for pointing out the channel…? Any opinions would be great. Want to experience the wonders of Buck Hall, but dont want to get lost at sea 
Bryant
14’High Tide w/ 50
Tarpon 120
Bayou 120
Bgardner@ncgs.com
You seem like the adventurous type. My best advice is to get a decent gps/depthfinder and learn how to use them and to read the water. Color changes and standing chop (rolling waves all of a sudden stand up and break in a particular area) will often reveal the location of a channel or at least the sand bars you want to avoid. Crap pot floats in a line at low tide with no exposed pot are also a good indication of adequate running depth. Bulls bay is not the evil demon everyone makes it out to be if you are careful and pay attention to the weather and where you are going. Find the channel once with your depth finder and save the track on your gps for future reference. Granted things change from year to year, but the channel will still be in the same general area. Aerial photos are also useful in determining the general location of deeper water.
As far as this weekend goes, I’m sure since the ramps just opened back up you will have absolutely no problem finding someone to follow out there and back in.
Depending on when you arrive, you will probably be able to follow another boat. My first trip to Bulls Bay was exactly like that. Dunked the boat at Buck Hall and started putting along up the ICW and got passed by another boater. Being a wise old sage…methinks, “hey he seems to know the area. I’ll just follow him.” Worked great. As soon as we rounded the corner we saw the shrimping fleet. Found a likely spot off to the side and put out poles and bait. 3 hours later we had a full cooler. Now the “pass” is marked on my GPS, as is my “spot”. Just remember to be curteous to other shrimpers, don’t haul @ss through someone’s poles or create a big wake (there may be an intoxicated net man on a bobbing bow) and you’ll be fine.
19’ Sea-Pro CC
“Swagger Wagon”
Yamaha 115 - 2 stroke
14’ CMF Skiff
25 Johnson - 2 stroke
14’ Heritage Redfish
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
I made the trip from Buck Hall to the north end of Bulls Bay for the first time a few weeks ago with my new GPS so I had no previous route to follow. Saw two young guys with shrimp poles and asked if I could follow them out even though I had a printed map and the GPS plus I had looked at Google Maps of the area. I like to use local knowledge when it’s available. It’s kinda like wearing both a belt and suspenders at the same time, that way you know your not going to show your a$$. Good luck and maybe see you out there.
15.5 Scout w/60hp 4-Stroke
My Current Obsession
Thanks yall!! Last question. You think if we left charleston at 4pm we would be fine with tides getting in and out? Low tide is at 330 pm and am for today and tonight.
My friend can’t leave until. Then
Bryant
14’High Tide w/ 50
Tarpon 120
Bayou 120
Bgardner@ncgs.com
it all changes at night. with gps that you know how to use, maybe. 1st time - i dont recommend it. do day then when comfortable try night, maybe.
how’s the shrimping at night in bulls bay vs. day. and do you think the grass is better at Bulls Bay or right on the edge of a flat or directly in the middle of the channel. saw all of that last time I was there.