Hi guys I’m new to the area and have been trying to find some spots to fish around Sullivans, IoP, and Shem creek. My biggest problem so far is trying to anchor in this mud. I have a 22’ deep V and I have not been able to get the fortress anchor I have (I believe it is an 8# model) stuck in the mud.
Should I try any other style anchor or is it just hard to get a boat anchored in this stuff?
Thanks,
How much chain? Mud is usually easy. I have a 23’ and use a 12# anchor and 15’ of 5/16 chain…I have more of a problem getting it unstuck than stuck.
Seah Hunt Ultra 234 Yamaha F250
Sea Pro 190CC Yamaha F150 (sold)
leetke, I have 15’ of chain as well. I’m thinking it may be the size of the anchor not the rode.
Michael Conroy
quote:
Originally posted by Mconroyleetke, I have 15’ of chain as well. I’m thinking it may be the size of the anchor not the rode.
Michael Conroy
What size is your chain?
15’ of 3/8 galvanized and a fortress, you shouldn’t be having any problems at all.
“Another poon dream splintered on the rocks of reality.” --Peepod 07-25-2017
off the top of my head, an 8lb fortress sounds a little large for your boat… not really sure if using a fortress anchor that is too large is a problem though. I used a 14 lb Danforth for the same size boat as you, usually with decent success. However, sometimes anchoring larger deep V boats inshore in the position that you want is just a PITA. A chain and more scope will help. If you find you are using too much scope and swaying in the current too much once set, a stick-it anchor off the gunwhale will help hold your position better. If you have a high bow, try reaching down with your hand holding the rode near the waterline. this artificially increases your scope temporarily and allows the anchor to begin it’s set easier. If you are standing on the bow, holding your anchor line waiting for it to set, you are artificially decreasing your scope and making your life difficult.
I have a 23 tidewater cc I just bought a 14# hurricane anchor 15 foot of chain no problems hooking anywhere
230 Tidewater 250 Yamaha
NikkiB
Encountered this problem many years ago and since i personally don’t like long lengths of chain and also use the lightest danforth possible , i seldom use more than 2-3 ft of 1/4 chain…My set up is just the danforth and chain rigged to break away if needed , attached to anchor chain is approx. 5ft of 3/8 rope with 3/8 closed s-hook on end attached to 1/2" main anchor rope… If anchor tends to slip in soft mud or sand I attach a 5 lb or so steel block with a snap eye that slides down to s-hook… This set up allows me to anchor up in current with much less anchor line out!!!
George McDonald ; MAD Charleston
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Get a stick it pole. Best $100 I’ve ever spent. It’s one of those things that doesn’t look like it will work especially in the wind and tide with a big boat but I promise it does! Also, buy the longest one you can carry on your boat.
17’ Mako
Would it happen to be a slip ring #8 anchor and not a Fortress or Danforth? If it is, that is your problem. I had one and it wouldn’t hold for crap. I bought the West Marine version of a Danforth and had a friend cut it down a little to fit in my anchor locker. That thing HOOKS!!
Seah Hunt Ultra 234 Yamaha F250
Sea Pro 190CC Yamaha F150 (sold)
Tried again tonight with very very shaky results… I will try the tips here and see if the low angle of approach and the stick it pole works, if not theres always the ulterra when the bank account allows it.
thanks guys for the help.
Michael Conroy
I have found anchoring a lot easier since I got a Lewmar Claw anchor.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
How much rope are you putting out in relation to the depth of water? You will never hookup in 10’ of water with 30’ of rope.
For example tonight I was in about 8-10’ of water and ran probably 50’ of rode out which turned me but I could feel it dragging through the pluff. I was thinking the claw or Bruce anchor type might be better than the typical danforth style anchor but don’t have any experience with the others so I wasn’t sure.
Michael Conroy
Mconroy, I had issues with anchoring as well. I use a danforth anchor, and the best thing that worked was to attach about 12’ of heavy chain. Also, when you drop anchor, try to do so while the boat is still, not moving away from the anchor until the anchor reaches bottom. Then let out 3-5 times as much rope as the water depth you’re anchoring in. That should solve your issues.
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak(SOLD)
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles”
One thing I find key to a good anchor set is to “lay” the anchor into the depth of water you mention. I have a danforth 9 or 12lbs w/ 12 ft of chain on a 20 ft boat and most of my failed sets happen when I hastily throw out the anchor and chain. It often results in it tangling up on itself. I always try pull up the a spot where I want the anchor to set and the bump the boat in reverse with the direction of the current, then lay out the anchor, this way the anchor pulls away from the bow and rest of the chain during deployment. I also highly recommend an anchor pin, they work great and offer a much more sleathy approach while fishing
I’ve found that Fortress anchors tend to slide across the bottom due to their light weight. That said, have you adjusted the fluke angle? If not, try the 45 degree setting.
quote:
Originally posted by NikkiBI have a 23 tidewater cc I just bought a 14# hurricane anchor 15 foot of chain no problems hooking anywhere
How do you like the hurricane anchor? Have you used it offshore?
On our 21ft have 20ft of 3/8 and a 13lb Danforth. It works well but intrigued by the hurricane.
Thanks.
Mr. Mconroy…I strongly recommend that you visit Mantus Anchors on their web site. Great web site with video, and a phone number you can call during the day and speak to someone direct at the the facility.
I saw the Mantus Anchor advertised on TV, and checked it out. I’ve been using Dansforth with chain rode on my boats forever. I’ve dropped dragged and pulled anchors through plough mud as part of the process. The Mantus looked like a legit replacement. I called and spoke to a technician who recommended an 8# model, and I chose galvanized. He said to put 6’ of 5/8 galvanized chain on it.
It came in a wood box, and it took a socket wrench to put it together in about 15 minutes. My boat is a 1982 hull fiberglass lead sled with a 225 mercury hung on it. The 1st time I eased it over the side on an incoming tide in the Wando River it stuck to the bottom like a 5’ stingray on 30# braid.
As a bonus this anchor takes up 1/2 of the space in my anchor locker than the dansforth and xtra chain did.
You need to check this anchor out my friend.
Mr. Mconroy…I also endorse the harpoon anchor, weather it be fiberglass or stainless steel. Easy peasy stick it in the mud, back up, tie off and set your “cinderblock” stern anchor. One of my boys used my 1st one, stainless steel model, on a solo fishing jaunt through the local waterways. It stayed in the waterways somewhere that day. Believe it when I tell you that those types of anchors can get away from you, but they are $1900.00 cheaper than Power Poles.
Other than thw ring on top, that Mantus anchor looks a lot like a Claw anchor but is a lot more $.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?