I’ll leave everybody alone with the how-to’s for a while after this, I promise I’ve had quite a few pointers and I appreciate it.
If anybody has a second though…
I’m really having trouble with coming in and out of the Calibogue Sound. I’ve been hugging the beach around the 6 Buoy, then getting out of the breakwater and going on out. It just seems there is a better/easier (or less stressful) way out. My chartplotter keeps showing me I should be in 20’ right near the beach but both sounders report 4’. Of course, my chartplotter also shows a buoy at the whitewater reef about 100 yards away from where the actual buoy is. So who knows. Sure hope my chartplotter isn’t buggy, that could be bad considering I rely on it so much in unfamiliar waters.
Anybody have some tips or a good route to get in the habit of taking out of the sound?
That’s the quickest way out. At low tide you should see 3.5 to 4 ft depth. Split the opening between the marker and the beach. Watch for the area where the tide rip is a little more laid down than the rest of the rip line,cross in this spot. Some areas just change a lot and the shoals off south beach are no exception. Chart plotters are great but it’s good to drive without it as much as possible while in the creeks and rivers. Slow is the key for me, good luck and stay safe
Yea, that’s what I’ve been told. If that’s the only way, then I’ll continue to do so, I just don’t like it. On the map and in my plotter it shows the main channel going out. If I were to turn about 50 degrees once the water starts dipping into the teens around “far bar”, it seems like I could stay in teens almost all the way out. It may be a waste time and gas, but I’m okay with that for now. Would this work? When the wind kicks up, the breakers that close to the beach really wreak havoc on my nerves.
I have cut in between South Beach and Barrett Shoals for years without any problems in a 20’ boat! It does get shallow. I’ve been in and out at low tide. Never had a problem. Just don’t get to close to the breakers.
If you’re going south you can run towards far bar (the first bar perpendicular to the beach, 2nd green can on right) go left of the bar, it extends north of the can. If you’re going north, or to fish nearshore hilton head, take the beach like everyone said. 1st couple times don’t do it at low tide and you’ll eventually learn, you will also learn where gaskins banks is without having to worry about running aground. (go around breakers, not towards them)
Thanks for all the replies. I’ve been going out to Whitewater Reef a lot lately, there isn’t much outside of a few spanish and all the bluefish I can catch, but it’s still fun. A screaming drag is a screaming drag!
Anyway, I’ve tried the beach. I like it on the way out in the morning with no wind. I just watch the depth and sweat it on out. Later in the day when the wind is blowing it pushes the boat all over the place and the breaking water is just stressful for a newbie like myself. I’ve been boating all my life… but saltwater and tides are all new to me and they kind of freak me out when I’m in 4 feet of water.
Saturday I tried going out way past the 4 buoy in about 21 feet of water and turning the boat back towards the north end of the island (55 degrees or so) On my chart which was updated two weeks ago and in my chartplotter it showed that I should stay in about 16 feet of water for the most part with an area of 9 feet right before I get out of the breakers. WRONG. The places that said 20 feet were showing 3.5-4 feet on both depth finders. I just don’t understand how a chart and a gps can be that off base. I mean I know it all moves around out there but wow.
HHIonthefly, Since I typically run south (to whitewater) is your suggestion to just stay a little to the left of the breaking water on far bar? At low tide is there no way out of the sound without getting in 3 or 4 feet of water? It just seems crazy to me. You see all those huge yachts in the sound around harbor town… do they really do the same crap I do or is there an easier way? Maybe I need to rely more on sight instead of the chart/plotter.
quote:Yea, that's what I've been told. If that's the only way, then I'll continue to do so, I just don't like it.
It’s the closest way out, but not the only way.
quote: I've been hugging the beach around the 6 Buoy, then getting out of the breakwater and going on out.
Smaller boats can squeeze through there easy if they know what they are doing and the weather is good. It takes a little practice. Those bars shift around with every good storm and strong tide. There is a natural channel close to the beach, but it can move daily. There is nothing wrong with your GPS. Many of the soundings on the charts were taken years ago. You have to read the water and how the breaks are forming. When the wind is against the tidal current in those shallow washes, it doesn’t take much to get very rough.
quote:You see all those huge yachts in the sound around harbor town.. do they really do the same crap I do or is there an easier way? Maybe I need to rely more on sight instead of the chart/plotter.
No they don’t do that. They use the deep water channel:wink:
There is a well marked and mostly deep channel running due south out of Calibogue. That #6 red buoy that you are staying inside of, they stay outside of. Red, right, returning. Red on the left leaving. It is a flashing red mark. Keep it 50 yards to your port side and head due south. Your next mark will be Green #5, also flashing. Keep it on your starboard. Then an unlit red nun buoy #4. Keep i
weapon,
go through the cut left of 1st red can. You’ll see rip extending from beach to sandbar, go right in the middle of each. After that the further south you drive, to get youre heading to whitewater, the deeper you’ll be. Sometimes better to go toward “far bar” depending on chop.
P.S. Whitewater is tough at this time of the year, fish cut bait on the bottom, maybe you’ll get some bull reds to put on the wall. Next good bite there will be sheeps (couple more months)
HHIonthefly, thanks again man. I still don’t understand what you mean by “go towards far bar”. I know where it is, and if I go towards it…then what?? Either way I appreciate your input and advice. It’s really helpful and just getting a response from someone on here is awesome, your advice has been great.
CrackerLarry, Wow. Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly go through my post like that. That’s incredible and very much appreciated. I have a paper copy of that chart and the one to the right of it. I always saw the buoys but never knew what exactly that meant. That’s an awful far way to go to get where I want to go, but still. I’m happy to know the option exists if I ever need it. Thanks again dude honestly.
HHIonthefly, thanks again man. I still don’t understand what you mean by “go towards far bar”. I know where it is, and if I go towards it…then what?? Either way I appreciate your input and advice. It’s really helpful and just getting a response from someone on here is awesome, your advice has been great.
CrackerLarry, Wow. Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly go through my post like that. That’s incredible and very much appreciated. I have a paper copy of that chart and the one to the right of it. I always saw the buoys but never knew what exactly that meant. That’s an awful far way to go to get where I want to go, but still. I’m happy to know the option exists if I ever need it. Thanks again dude honestly.
218 Sailfish
Yamaha F225
Hilton Head/Beaufort
I’d go left of farbar to get to whitewater. But, you’ll be fine taking the cut on the beach in you’re boat, if its a 21 footer, at any tide. It gets shallow there, but you’ll make it. I take a bigger boat through that cut everyday in the summer and I haven’t hit bottom.
Southbeach is always tricky from year to year. It changes, especially during the winter storms. Once you know it for the season you’re in, run it! I run a sportfisher and I typically run it really slow at the 4 ft mark at really low tides. I need 38 inches typically at idle and no waves, but when the sun’s out and I am coming back in, I have better bearings and can trust my GPS early morning course a bit more. Here is the course I run (along the beach for a little bit). If you’re in a boat with an outboard, idle around and find the best route and mark it on your GPS. Your confidence will rise as you use it, or if you boat much in the Bahamas, you’ll realize you have to watch the water, not your depth finder. (when heading in, go for the water tower)
Thanks for sharing that chart, very cool of ya man. That’s pretty much the route I’ve taken a couple times and at least I know it’s not easy. You’re right, I need to learn to watch the water, but I really don’t know what I am looking for. Patience and practice, I suppose. I think next time I’ll just hang out around the green marker to the left of flashing buoy 6 and wait for a boat much bigger than mine to make the cut and just follow them. I draft 35" myself.
I’ve had quite a few pointers and I appreciate it.
