I was in edisto this weekend and wanted to ride the beach by water. As you come out of big bay creek and into the ocean you come across a long breaker/sand bar that seems to be unpassable and goes on forever. Is there a place to cross the sand bar near the beach or do you have to go out into the deeper water to go around?? Any help is appreciated.
I believe you are referring to the area where the beach turns North and there is a green can marker. If so, then you can find a. very small channel (2-3 ft) very close to shore (10-15 ft). Otherwise you have go about 1 - 1.5 miles to go around the bar.
EWC
You gotta love the South Carolina Lowcountry.
If you hit it at higher part of tide your good to go. If tide is low trim her up and if you hit it fast enough, you can slide across. Fun for the kids!
Sea Pro SV2100 Bay
Thanks for the replies. We were surf fishing this morning and I was able watch a few boats pass through close to the beach. From my vantage point it looked really tight. I may try to follow someone who knows the cut through on my first attempt.
Hey Ben, I’m not familiar with the area for I am down in Hilton Head… but very similar issue. Be careful man, that’s all I gotta say. All the experts on this site will tell you it’s no big deal, but I promise this: It’s a really big deal. You put your boat on a sandbar out there, you don’t have a boat anymore.
I had similar issues just a while back. I bought a boat big enough to finally take out to the ocean… and much to my surpsise; with all the wide open Atlantic out there, getting to it was the hardest part.
I’ve learned to look at rips in the water line. Don’t forget that the shallower the water, the rougher the water. What may seem like a gentle sea… on top that sandbar in 2 feet of water it can be an utter nightmare. You’ll learn to see the lines in the water, and go by that. Those bars shift around daily, so read the water.
Just be careful man. Lots of people say its easy, but don’t feel bad that it’s not.
218 Sailfish
Yamaha F225
Hilton Head/Beaufort
Thanks for the comment Salt Weapon. To your point when I was out there the other day between the breaker, wind, and current the water looked like a hot tub with all the jets going. My first instinct told me to pass on attempting and my first instinct usually keeps me out of trouble. I know it can be done but i don’t know the area well enough to be as confident as many here on this site.
quote:
Originally posted by scbigben28Thanks for the comment Salt Weapon. To your point when I was out there the other day between the breaker, wind, and current the water looked like a hot tub with all the jets going. My first instinct told me to pass on attempting and my first instinct usually keeps me out of trouble. I know it can be done but i don’t know the area well enough to be as confident as many here on this site.
All you need to do is hug the groins and you can ride the entire front beach. Just stay a safe distance from the rocks like 100 yards or so.
I would stay away from the sandbar/breakers. My wifes family knew a family that drowned out there. All they did was beach their boat and go for a stroll at low tide. The tide came in and the current and rising water overwhelmed them. Breakers are dangerous and to the person sugestng taking the kids over them for a joy ride needs to step out of the gene pool!
“Endeavor to Persevere.
Give,Give… Never Take.”
EC
I surf fish that spot during the summer. At low tide you can’t cast to that bar - almost, but, not quite. I am assuming there has not been a major bar change since the summer. It drops to a deep channel on sound end and flat bottom on up toward front beach/groins end. The bar angles out the farther north you go.
It depends on how big your boat is. Water is 6-8’ deep at dead low. Not a problem of hitting bottom if you stay in the middle. It does, depending on the wind, get snotty choppy thru that gap. A big east wind at mid of outgoing tide it’s bad. Small boats 16-25’ go thru there all the time during the summer doing just what you said.
J Ford
Thanks for the info guys. I will take a closer look near the shore when I am back in the area. I didn’t go too far in as I was honestly a little intimidated by the breaker and currents going around it. The only thing I want to purposely slide my boat across is the trailer while I am loading it.
Just a joke. . .thats all.
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