Hi… I’ve been coming to Edisto for years, but this is the first year I’m bringing my boat. No serious fishing planned, but hopefully a lot of exploring and sightseeing. I’ve got a couple of questions for anyone who cares to answer. We’re staying at a place on the yacht basin. I haven’t yet decided whether or not to keep my boat there (no water at low tide), but as far as getting to and from the dock, how many hours on either side of the tide do you think I’ll have before I’m too shallow? I’m thinking 3, but can I cut it closer? And as far as heading over to Otter Island or Morgan Island, can I go across the sound or do I need to say back in the ICW? Any other advice or ideas would be appreciated! Sorry to post on a fishing thread, but I figured ya’ll would know better than anyone.
How big is your boat and what does it draw? the yacht basin is pretty shallow. if youre going to morngan island the best way to get there is to run up the ICW. If you search the edisto forum i gave someone directions to otter a couple of weeks ago
It’s a 19’ Sea Ray. Stern drive raised i can get as shallow as 14", but generally 2’ is what i go by. I saw a guy last year keeping his boat at the yacht basin sitting on the mud at low tide, and I haven’t decided on whether or not to do that yet. I might be too lazy to drive out to the bridge to put in. I’ve read on there that Live Oak has been tricky for bigger rigs, will that apply to me in my 19 footer?
you will be fine putting in at live oak with that boat as long as it isnt dead low tide
I can not say about the yacht basin.
As Edisto82 said Live Oak will be fine, just not at low tide. I had problems this Saturday, but it was at low water. I put in there all the time with a 19.5" boat.
You can run across in front of Otter Is at medium to high water with no problem to Mprgan Isalnd. Just run to the “C” can and then towards Morgan island. Head up Combahee River until you see a post in the river and a creek on the left. If you are going to see the monkeys, go early in the morning as they go inland during the heat of the day.
Otter Island is tricky and it would be a good idea to follow the tour boat from EWT or go to the Ashepoo side if you are looking just to have fun on a beach.
Hope this helps
EWC
You gotta love the South Carolina Lowcountry.
I know you didn’t mention using it, but don’t forget that Steamboat Landing is closed!!
Just trying to learn every bit I can about saltwater fishing…
I (rather my wife) have a condo, Marsh Point, across the street from the basin you’re staying on. I would say two hours on either side of low tide. Bob Sanders
Thanks a lot ya’ll. Especially the monkey tip. My kids will be disappointed if they don’t see a monkey – besides me anyway. Now what is tricky about Otter? Going across the sound or using the ICW or both?
Actually what is known as the Yacht Basin is located behind Jungle Shores Dr.
Political Correctness: A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end!
Hunter Bunter
Yes. I have yet to see a yacht. Hope I never do!
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Originally posted by edisto9871I know you didn’t mention using it, but don’t forget that Steamboat Landing is closed!!
Just trying to learn every bit I can about saltwater fishing…
Have not been to the island in a few; what happened to steamboat?
There just doing repairs back there. The road was in pretty bad shape
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Originally posted by jacob298Now what is tricky about Otter? Going across the sound or using the ICW or both?
Going across the Sound is very tricky - it gets very shallow where you would not expect it. Also, there are many sand bars out there where you can run aground if you don’t know where you are going. I would not recommend going too fast across the Sound if you don’t know exactly where you are going - you could hit a sand bar and get thrown from the boat.
Just trying to learn every bit I can about saltwater fishing…
Do not try to cross the sound if you’re gong to Morgan. You’ll get into trouble for sure. Go around the back side of the island. The channel is pretty well marked and the ride isn’t that long. I took my girls over there last week to see the monkeys and that’s the way we went.
Matthew K. Mizell
Columbia, SC
Sea Pro 190CC
Johnson 115 4-Stroke
Matthew, thanks. Yeah I’m now convinced that I need to stay out of the sound. How is it from the mouth of the creek up the beach? I mean if I come out of the creek and take an immediate left? And what about crossing over to Otter from the mouth of the creek? Is that tough as well?
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Originally posted by jacob298And what about crossing over to Otter from the mouth of the creek? Is that tough as well?
Crossing the Sound to Pine Island and Otter Island is just as difficult - same sand bars, etc. Can be dangerous. I just got my 14.5 foot boat a couple of months ago. I’ve gone across to Pine Island a couple of times, and it made me very nervous each time. Once I managed to make it to the island; the other time I could not find my way through the shallow water to the island and had to turn back (even ran aground once). If you go, just be sure you have a depth finder, and go slow.
There is a channel that comes out of Big Bay Creek heading out to the ocean that is over 30 feet deep in most places. The channel runs just off the beach at Edisto. However, that channel does not come close to covering the entire Sound, and it gets really shallow pretty quickly once you get out of that channel. You can literally get out and stand in many places in the middle of the Sound between Edisto and Pine/Otter Islands.
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Originally posted by jacob298How is it from the mouth of the creek up the beach? I mean if I come out of the creek and take an immediate left?
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That channel feeds right out of the mouth of the creek and heads just off the beach toward the open ocean. That is a pretty safe place to take the boat, depending on how choppy it is and how big your boat is. Like I said above, I have a 14.5 foot boat, and I have not problems in the channel right off the beach. You can stay in that channel all the way up the beach. Just be sure to only go as far as you
That all makes sense. From the beach it looks wide open, but come to think of it, they are running parallel to shore in that channel. I guess the best bet is the back way through the ICW… by the way, I do have some scary experience going just a little too far at Little River Inlet, so I know it can get bad quick! We were just taking in the scenery and it was relatively calm in the inlet. We were at idle speed and hit a sandbar that turned us broadside and we took a big wave over the bow. Not fun at all for the kids (or me!)
Take the Edisto River back to the cut and go in the back way.
Going out front if you don’t know what you are doing will get you in trouble.
pbunn
Thanks for all y’alls advice. Back from a week at Edisto… a HOT week. We had a little trouble at Live Oak on Friday afternoon, but nothing too bad. At one point we had one guy who couldn’t get his boat on the trailer, I dropped my keys in the creek, and one guy whose battery died. It was like the 3 stooges for a while. Some of you guys were probably taking in a pretty good show. I tell you one thing, there is no place prettier on this Earth than the ACE Basin. And maybe that 60 Sundancer. If any of ya’ll live there, if you don’t already realize how lucky you are, then let me remind you! 
Did you catch any fish. I may take my boat there this fall and wondered of it was worth it. I usually just surf fish and mess around on a random creek somewhere. But I never seem to catch much.