I will be visiting Harbor Island with the family next week and plan on doing some surf fishing. I am fairly familiar with Hunting Island but have never been out on Harbor. Based on what I have read it looks like the fishing may be better on the St Helena side (although we will be staying on the other side of the island). It also may be worth trying the mouth of Johnson’s Creek?
I would like to put the kids on some crabs if possible and will be bringing the baskets. Any good places to do any crabbing on the island? Do the creeks fill up enough to throw a cast net?
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Years ago we would put pots out on the beach at low tide on harbor island, come back for them the next low. Puts would always be full. For spots to lower a basket I’ve seen people doing it on the short boardwalk on the backside of hunting. As to fishing my dad and I always fished the side towards hunting and did well. But that was years ago. I have heard that Johnson’s Creek is the place to go.
I wish I lived a little closer and could justify owning a crab pot or two. I know where you’re talking about on the backside of Hunting Island but have never tried it. Might have to check it out. Looks like there is a small pier on Harbor Island as well. Thanks for the ■■■■■■■■.
You can get cheap collapsible pots from some chain stores or even a few tackle shops. Be a little easier to transport. However, do not know if or for how long they will last.
Hey ACS, if you could keep us (me) updated with how it’s going. I’ll be spending a week on Harbor Island 6/29-7/6, and will be doing some fishing.
Curious to know what you’re catching and baits used. This will be my first time here, and really looking forward to it.
If u go as far as u can on the beach on the harbor river side you will run into a creek good crabing and fishing there at low tide we caught some nice reds there last summer I caint wait to be back we will be there the first full week in august it caint get here soon enough!
Fished the Harbor River side of the island once. Was night time, high tide, and “super” moon. Actually threw at the mouth of the creek a handful of times and caught a couple croaker, couple whiting, and a small blacktip. I would guess it’s the best place to fish on the island but the tide started coming up over the grass and I could no longer see the gator that was lurking in the area. Fished some higher ground for a while and caught mostly rays, small sharks, and a couple of horseshoe crabs. That was on 6/23 and it was the only time I fished on Harbor Island. I would take my rods out to the beach with the family and they weren’t big fans of the Harbor Island beach. To be honest I was a little disappointed myself. The beach was so muddy that it felt more like a lake.
Stopped at Johnson’s Creek one day and caught about 5 croaker in 30 minutes. The action was pretty good but it was a muddy mess so I headed out to Hunting Island. Fished Hunting Island 4 times over the course of the week. Earlier in the week it was mostly rays and small sharks with some whiting. Last day out there it was mostly whiting, one ray, a couple of sharks, and a couple of keeper black drum (largest was 22"). Did catch one trout in the surf (18") and a couple of bonnet heads between 18" and 24". Fished mainly cut shrimp and cut mullet (also tried whiting, croaker, and blue crabs). Fished the groin out in front of the lagoon.
Went crabbing on the marsh side of Hunting Island. Caught plenty of crabs but only 4 keepers. Fished there for a little while but mainly caught more rays. Did throw out a mud minnow and hooked a flounder but lost it. Might not be a bad spot with the right bait.
All in all it was a pretty good trip and the family enjoyed themselves. Kids are 4 and 7 and really started taking and interest into fishing, crabbing, finding creatures, etc. Bought a couple of minnow nets and the kids had a great time with them around the rocks at low tide. Thanks for all the information.
I love the Hunting Island area as well, but catching qualitybfish without a boat is tough. Your catch was about the norm… My girls wear those critters around the rocks on the beach as well. Good times!