My wife caught a 19" black drum at the south jetty on the 13th.
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A couple of small bsbs. A 4’ ribbon fish and a 13" flounder.
It was our 1st time in little river and I almost messed up bad. I have a sea pro sc1900 bay boat and I would like to feel comfortable in and around the jetties but I really wasn’t expecting this. I wanted to go out and around the north jetty to fish the outside of the rocks. I wasn’t paying attention to all the waves that were breaking right at the north tip of the wall. We went out around the jetty and were coming in slowly around the outer wall when my brother shouted hey look behind you. A 5’ wave crashed right into the back of us. The boat went sideways and almost completely flipped right there in 5’ of water. I thought for sure the boat was going down. It prob took on about 10" of water. I tried to calm everyone and myself down as I road back into the jetties while all the water drained from the scuppers. Everything was ok and the mood pick up as soon as we caught the black drum. What a rush!
There are some who post on this forum that can give you some advice about dealing with those jetties. I’m just glad everything turned out okay!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…Proverbs 1:7
You have to be careful around the north end,very shallow(sand bar),extends way out and will throw up some huge waves at times,especially mid to low tide.I’ve been shook up more than once!
All I can say is WOW! You gotta pay attention out there man. It seems like a lot of folks look at the jetties like they do the flat waters in back creeks, but the fact is they can be very dangerous, as you have already seen. I have seen many accidents happen that could have been avoided had someone been paying attention. When I am out, my head is on a swivel and I always look behind me. I learned that the hard way down in Bulls Bay once while we were tarpon fishing. As billymac said, the North jetty is very dangerous, but morespecially around low tide as that bar really jacks up the swell. If I remember correctly, they were calling for 3-5’ in the am on Saturday, and no matter how nice that bayboat is, you could have been in real trouble out there. I don’t even bother the outside, and sometimes the inside, if it is over 3’. It just gets too dangerous. I run an 18’ Hewes LT, and I can tell you that I have even run into trouble at the mouth of Cherry Grove before. Experience and common sense are the best teachers for boating those rocks out there, so make sure next time you understand what the swell, wind and tides can do for it all. I am so glad everyone is OK. I am even more glad you posted this up. Many folks are too proud to say they messed up. You may have saved someone else from the same problem. Always watch the weather and know what the seas are doing before attempting that feat again. BTW, the founder never showed up outside the North jetty like they usually do, but I found good numbers inside and on the waterway this year. I hope this helps. Other than that, congrats on the black drum. Im looking forward for some fat shrimp to show up so we can get out there and catch those pigs again. There are definitely some HUGE black drum around the South jetty. Good luck and be safer on your next trip.
Yeah,
Well next time I will know a little more of what to expect. It was kinda rough around the jetties that day. There probably weren’t anymore fish outside the jetties. I just wanted to check it out. I’ve heard bulls bay could be dangerous but I haven’t made it there yet. I’m always up for charting new waters it makes everything a little more exciting when you don’t know what to expect. Little river rocked my boat but I’ll be back soon. A little more cautious than before.
Thanks billymac and goozeman for that information. That’s what makes the forum worthwhile for many of us.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…Proverbs 1:7
Yesterday, I was really busy, so I didn’t have time to type all I wanted to. I told you about getting into trouble at the mouth of Cherry Grove. It was a fairly nice day. Light wind, but the swell was a bit bigger than I though it was. I put in at the bridge at little river, fished the jetties and decided to run the beach up to cherry grove to hit a flounder spot that I had been having real good luck with . I got there about mid tide falling out. I fished and did fairly well. Well, I got ready to go home just after the tide started coming back in. I called my buddy on the radio to tell him I was on my way back to the jetties, and I had 4 keeper flattes. As I took off, I happened to look down at the console, and I guess I let the boat drift to the right toward the condos. Well the next thing I know, I am on the sand. I then found out my little boy had dropped my jack plate all the way down, and something was wrong because it would not go up. I couldn’t even tilt the motor much past where the foot was above the drain plug. I was in deep trouble. The first swell hit, and spun me around. The next swell swamped the boat. I had about 8" of water in the floor of my flats boat. I couldn’t get off the sand to save me, and the boat was constantly taking on more water. Finally, a jet ski came over and pulled me off the sand bar and back to the channel. I was so thankful. My radio, gang block and phone were ruined. But I was safe, and my boat didn’t sink. I have fished these waters for over 20 years, but it only takes a couple of seconds to get in trouble. I tell this because I am a pretty calm guy who doesn’t mess up very often, but I just about sunk a $40K flats boat in Cherry Grove. It just goes to show you that it can happen to anyone, and it will happen usually when you aren’t paying attention. Just keep your head on a swivel and make sure you know what the tides, wind and swell is doing before you go out. I’d hate to hear that anyone on here lost a boat or a life due to not paying attention.
Wow goozeman! That is crazy! Thanks for sharing your mistake cause it makes me feel better about ours. Sounds crazy I know, but a boat can make you feel like an idiot in a quick minute. 
http://reeldawgs.blogspot.com/
Remember when you were in Murrells inlet and you ran on the sandbar?
I’ll never forget hitting the sand bar in murrells inlet WOT. I can see the beer flying in the air now. Just another day on the water and another lesson learned. Go more learn more. It’ll be a bad day when we go and don’t learn anything. Went to north santee right after hooking up a new system in the boat and spilled a beer in my cd player before I ever wet a hook. Brand new cd player wouldn’t play cds all day. All I had to do was hit the reset button. Ever lost a shoe in an oyster bed?
Yep… good times though. Let me know if yall are going to Gtown sunday. Might bring my boat if yours is full.
Gooz – I hit that bar in low falling while trying to get to the channel on the north side of the inlet.
When we hit, it was gentle since I was near idle seeking deeping water. We were stuck w/ manual tilt F25. We couldn’t get the motor up so we got in the water; it was (**() cold. Had to lift the back, wiggle free, and drag to deeper water. Had I been alone, I would have been stuck for some time, I do believe.
I hate unexpected shallows!
‘05 Wellcraft 232 Coastal rockin’ a Yammie F225
‘00 Aqua Force Flats 15 w/ Yammie F25
"Kiss my ass, I bought a boat; I’m goin’ out to sea." (Jimmy Buffett covering Lovett)