Taking the family down to Edisto for the first time and arriving on July 4th. I thought I would trailer my 16.5’ bow rider and try some inshore fishing. What is y’all’s best advice on where to go and how to get around the creeks. I’ve never done inshore fishing/boating before and wonder if I need to worry about tide or other things. I would like to catch some dinner and have fun. I’ll have my 8 year old little girl so what about exploring some beaches along the creek to let her swim and relax when the fish aren’t biting. Thanks in advance!
Use caution at live oak landing. Swift current and steep ramp. Marina ramp is not bad. Steamboat landing is the best. Take your girl out to the devaeux bank at low tide let her pick up some sand dollars Fishing is good there too. Just stay below high tide line. I’ve been here bout five days. Plenty of baby sharks and rays on the beach to catch. Some whiting mixed in. My best fishing days was early morning on the sound catching whiting and a walk to Jeremy inlet fishing beach front for whiting. Also bunch on shells and Teeth there at low tide.
Your questions would take a long time to answer thoroughly. I think at this time of year, your best bet is to hit any sharp creek bend and soak cut mullet or quartered crab on a carolina rig. There are scads of sharks, mostly sharpnose, spinners and bonnetheads that are very fun on light tackle and will provide lots of action. Otherwise if its in your budget contact Ron Davis (RADDADDY on this site) and do a half day charter with him early in your stay. You will learn a ton about fishing in the area and also catch gamefish for dinner. Plus you can take what you learned and use it with success for the rest of your stay. BTW I second what theskipper said about the landings. Most of all have fun!
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
If not familiar with these areas , do your exploring slow and on dead
low tide, you don’t want to have to wait out the tide to float again
especially with kids on board;;just sayin!!!
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
^ true. I can relate ^
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Thanks for all your advice. I didn’t think about just going at low tide to make sure it wouldn’t be any lower. I boat/fish on Lake Wylie and there is not tide up there 
I’m hoping this will be fun this year. Lifelong SC resident and my first time to Edisto.
Yes going at low is good advice because the creeks aren’t marked like the icw and many times sandbars are right in the middle of the creek, not where you would expect. The tides cash be very fast depending on the moon. Up to 7+ ft range
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
One thing I forgot to mention…we are staying in a house right on the big lagoon off Jungle road. Decent fishing that lagoon? Maybe catch some bait in a minnow trap?
I’ll add to the warnings about the sand bars etc. Don’t trust the depths indicated on your chart plotter. At a falling or dead low tide, there is a massive sand bank just outside the mouth of Big Bay Creek that stretches upstream for several hundred yards. I’ve spent several hours on the pluff mud there waiting for the tide to come in (caught a lot of fish as the water fell out from under me though). If you want to cross the sound after leaving Big Bay, immediately turn left and head for the channel marker before you turn right to cross the sound. Also, the island right across the sound is a pretty good place to stop and hang out on the beach for awhile. Or go up the river about 2 miles and take the cut (on the left) and go up the south side of the island to the beaches along Otter Island. If the sea is flat you can get there quicker from the ocean side, but again, the water gets very shallow very quickly in a lot of places.
Just take it real easy, swing wide around the turns in the creeks etc.
The tidal currents can make launching/loading problematic regardless of which ramps you use. The marina ramp is squeezed in next to the Marina (duh) and turn-around in the lot there is very tight–especially if there are cars parked at the restaurant/marina. You might consider backing in the whole way if that’s the case. Live Oak has a nice big area to line up with the ramp, but as mentioned, if the tide is running, it can be tricky.
Enjoy our 'lil slice of paradise !
Give me a call! I’ll be glad to give any helpful advice I can! I also have an eight year old daughter that loves the water! 
Capt Buddy Bizzell
Edisto Palmetto Charters
803-603-2781
www.edistopalmetto.com
Being on the water is a blessing, catching fish is a bonus!
Don’t know about the advice concerning Deveaux Bank. I’ve been told that island is protect by the Feds. NO TRESPASSING. Something about an endangered species of bird that nests there. Don’t know anything for absolute certain but just a word of caution. Have a great time at Edisto. I love that place.
Kevin
1720 Sea Hunt w/ 90hp Yam
M’Ocean Sickness
There is a time / area restriction. I read it last year but it may have changed. Read up. It’s worth a look.
Go slow EVERYWHERE until you learn the ropes. 2X with 8 year old child on the boat. Low tide is good advice. Have fun…
2004 Scout 187 Sportfish
115 Yamaha
I go slow all the time. My boat only has a 60hp outboard so I don’t have a choice but to take it easy I really do appreciate all your advice. I’m still on the fence about taking it down right now. I want to make sure that everything I do it super safe and that usually involves watching the other wahoos out there first.
Please be careful. A 16ft bowrider has no place in the Sound, especially with a child aboard, and especially if you are not used to coastal navigation. It can go from flat calm to very rough in a blink. When the wind picks up, if it opposes the tidal flow, bad things can happen in small boats. Been there, done that. I would stick with the creeks. I know experienced boaters can do amazing things with small boats, but every year I hear of 17 ft. class boats getting swamped in Port Royal and St. Helena Sounds.
I second the low tide exploration strategy. If you get stuck at low tide, the incoming tide will soon float you. If you get stuck at high tide, you’ll be there for 12 hours until the next high tide.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
I had no plans of going in the sound. I would probably stay in the creeks/River area away from the ocean/big water. I am a very experienced boater but I have never been in saltwater before.
kgrantsc;; Don’t deny yourself and kids the joy of the trip and fishing/beaching, just go slow , be careful, and have fun. Also if
you put boat in salt, be sure to do good wash down and run
plenty of fresh through motor. I always flush motor with muffs asap
and when I get home I put it the lake and ride a little.
Go have fun neighbor!!!
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
I decided not to take the boat down this time. I did book a trip with Raddaddy. Hopefully I’ll learn some of the ropes of navigating these creeks and will be better equipped for next trip down. Thanks for all the advice. I’ll stick to boating/fishing Lake Wylie for the time being.
Ron will put you fish and will answer any questions you may have. Excellent guide and super nice fellow!
quote:
Originally posted by kgrantscI decided not to take the boat down this time. I did book a trip with Raddaddy. Hopefully I’ll learn some of the ropes of navigating these creeks and will be better equipped for next trip down. Thanks for all the advice. I’ll stick to boating/fishing Lake Wylie for the time being.