Any tips, advice, warnings, ideas would be helpful.
17ft Key west
First thing is to pick your day’s carefully. I have a 17 key west also. Go to the outside of the jetty weather it be the north or south jetty. Try not to anchor up too close to the rocks. My boat is an 89 model and it would dip water at the transom where the motor mounts at the trough. You get those slow rolling waves out there that will have it playing seesaw. If anchored between them you have to watch the wakes of other boats and watch for ships. If you can get out just before low tide it will give you an idea of how the rocks are piled up. Try to find someone that knows about them and take them with you or go with them. The rollers between the jetties can get pretty narly at times. Was out side the north jetty a couple years ago on a friends 21’ boat and we watched the waves roll across the south jetty and they looked like hay bales rolling around. What ever you do just be sure you have all safety equipment and please be careful.
1720 KW 110 Johnson
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson
IF fishing sheephead the closer to the jetty the better. (with in reason) But I feel the closer I can safely get the more productive the bite or detecting the bite for sheep head is.
Also get bricks. Throw them in the jettys and get it stuck. perfect anchor and you can throw it away.
Throw your anchor off your bow away from the rocks and back into the jetty’s. Then throw the Brick anchor off the stern on to the jettys and get it stuck. You are set up and if things get ruff. huge wave I.E. a emergency escapes can be easier. Just cut the brick anchor and hightail it to safer waters.
throwing tied off bricks into the rocks is a good idea, but if you are tossing them more than a couple of feet you should tape them first…lots of other things will work to wedge in the rocks, just don’t throw something up there you wouldn’t wanna lose…
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
CC is right. Outside of either jetty is normally calmer. If desire to fish inside I always first observe other anchored boats to determine their positioning in relation to tidal influence and wind direction. I will then, to confirm, place my boat, in complete neutral, in the position I want to fish to get an actual angle of anchor position(s). Dont know what you are fishing for but if fishing over rocks use floats and if Sheepshead is your target floats will work just dont take eyes off… bite will be quick.I always toss a finger mullet or menhaden parallel to rocks but off about 10 to 15 yards carolina rig. Menhaden can be caught around F/S but will die quick unless you aireate.Please be aware this time of year power cells can arrive quickly and can turn the water very treacherous. Always have a sharp knife handy to cut anchor rope if necessary.Been there done that not fun.
Wow…all good advice. I like the brick idea.
if you have never ran a boat out to the jetties theres a large sandbar to the right of the channel. only cross the rocks at the end or through the bouys.