Will be fishing out of Winyah Bay for the first time next Friday. I would like to run out to a near shore reef 3 to 5 miles out. Any suggestion on which reef to go to? What would be the best marina for me to use? Are there any areas for me to watch out for at low tide?
Thanks
Stay in the channels and watch your depth finder if you get out of them to explore. Lots of little nearshore spots with buoys on them you can fish, get a chart and study the area. Might want to take some extra beer and sandwiches just in case.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Several free ramps to choose from; East Bay Park in Georgetown, Campbell Landing right over the bridge on Rt17 in Maryville or the Ferry Ramp at the end of South Island Road in Maryville.
Jetties hold fish and are easy to find at the mouth of Winyah.
Thanks for the information guys. I am always a little paranoid going to a new place. Not in rally in the mood to fix stuff on the boat from running aground etc.
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
Give us a trip report when you return scbigben28. I’m thinking about trailering down that way before the summer is out. Will be my first time there too and will appreciate any advice you can give.
Will do.
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
still trying to figure out Georgetown. The Channel seems to be the only safe place to motor at high speed. Beware of muddy bay, its a pain in the butt if you don’t know where your going. I would stay away from that place completely. The issue with this area is that you either have to stay in the channel and deal with a wake from large 50+ sports boats heading out to open water or risk grounding somewhere shallow or fish some place without any fish in it. I have not yet spent the time to get to north inlet, but this weekend I am going to do that. North Inlet is suppose to be decent, but difficult to get too. If you catch anything let me know. I am still trying to learn this place. tough nut to crack.
2012 DLV 198 Carolina Skiff
Humingbird 998 Side scan and GPS
GPS trolling motor
My Cherokee indian name is asuvsgi nahna adadudi or Fishes on Credit
I have plowed the waters of Winyah Bay in my heavy Grady and never had a problem running aground. Just gotta watch your GPS. There are three ways to the North Inlet…Jones Creek, No Man’s Friend and out to the ocean and up. You can make it through Jones Creek and No Man’s in your Skiff if you know the tricky spots and work the tide. My friend has the same boat with a F115 Yammie and we have gone through there many times.
Dave
Pawleys Island
I’m no expert and it’s been a long time since I fished much down there, but the way I figured out Mud Bay and Jones Creek was to go at dead low tide and mark my route carefully with GPS. Crab pots are a good indicator of the channel. Go slow, take plenty of bug spray and cold beverages. If you don’t draft more than 2’ it’s doable. Now if I could just find that old GPS!
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120
This might help but everything is subject to change: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/11532.pdf.
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120
Jones creek is a nightmare if you don’t know what you are doing
19’6" War (**() Eagle Blackhawk
Update:
I fished Winyah for the first time Friday but unfortunately the trip was cut short due to storms. Fortunatly We made it back to the marina before the bad weather hit and set in for the day. I understand and agree with the comments about skinny water if you get out of the markers. Bait was everywhere and I was lucky enough to see a nice tarpon jump when we were trying to outrun the rain.
Saturday was much nicer so we put in in Murrells inlet and ran to paradise for some bottom fishing. Ended up with a few bsb and decided to go grab lunch at Dead Dog. There were about 12 boats at paradise but it didn’t look like anyone was doing much.
Turned out to be a nice weekend but uneventful from a fishing standpoint.
Now it’s back to work and reality
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
Sorry to hear that. The good thing is that you can take from this is how bad winyah gets in the shipping channel when the wind picks up. It can get downright scary.
19’6" War (**() Eagle Blackhawk
Hey, you went out of Winyah and made it back with no damage to boat or human. I’d call that a successful first trip.
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120
quote:
Originally posted by scbigben28Update:
I fished Winyah for the first time Friday but unfortunately the trip was cut short due to storms. Fortunatly We made it back to the marina before the bad weather hit and set in for the day. I understand and agree with the comments about skinny water if you get out of the markers. Bait was everywhere and I was lucky enough to see a nice tarpon jump when we were trying to outrun the rain.
Saturday was much nicer so we put in in Murrells inlet and ran to paradise for some bottom fishing. Ended up with a few bsb and decided to go grab lunch at Dead Dog. There were about 12 boats at paradise but it didn’t look like anyone was doing much.
Turned out to be a nice weekend but uneventful from a fishing standpoint.
Now it’s back to work and reality21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
glad you got out…
winyah is odd… you get use to it living hear…
take people out and they say ca
cant we fish over that way… nope… mot enough water…lol… they look at you with a dumb look… till u show them the depth finder and it shows 3-5 feet…
if you know marker 19 you can cross from western channel to the shell banks and if you know the 2 trees to look for can run thru muddy bay on any tide… that is easiest way to get to jones creek past that your on your own.
everyone says run jones creek and dead low and have a watch person on bow looking for the bars and oyster beds… unfortunately last time i went 2 bars were about across mid way thru… we pushed over hem but had the motor up just in case… i ran back south thru the jetties…
the jetties are odd as well… the northern side has a big bar that extends quite far… ive been near the dog leg and further and seen 6 feet of water on the gps/ff… no one fishes the south end but
If I was going to spend a lot of time fishing this area I would definitely get a guide. Winyah has to hold fish… it just seems getting to them is the challenge.
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
Lots of fish. Gotta put in n your time and find all the spots. There are some places that are lifeless and sandy that I would love it if someone were to some drop some rip rap down on. It would draw in fish better than those little reefs. Kudos to the state for trying tho.
That fish you saw jump was most likely a sturgeon. They do that this time of the year.
Dave
Pawleys Island
I didn’t know sturgeon catch air like that. Good to know. Whatever it was would have put up a heck of a fight!
Is it possible to catch sturgeon? I assume you couldn’t keep or eat it if you did catch one?
21 BX Pro Sea Hunt
Yamaha 150 4 Stroke
Caperman4, one of our members from the south, just posted an amazing video of a Sturgeon almost jumping in his boat and slapping his daughter on re-entry. He assumed it was a Tarpon until he watched the playback. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JwcPbgkHqo&feature=youtu.be
Wonder why they jump? Surely no predators are after them. Maybe their just happy!
16’ High Tide Flats (Green) w/Yamaha 90
Wilderness Ride 135
Wilderness Tarpon 120