I have been fishing Charleston Jetties for quite a few years and decided this year I want to try sheeps head fishing. I have always been hesitant to get my boat that close to the rocks muchless lose an anchor in the rocks. I have seen people use the current to their advantage by throwing a cheap homemade anchor in the rocks and have the current pull the boat away from the rocks to their desired position. My question is how do they get the anchor back or do they? I am sure most do but how with out damaging your boat? I heard some people use some sort of rail road ties welded in a X and just chuck it in the rocks and if gets stuck no big deal but, how do you get the rope back? Any help would be appreciated. I really want to try to sheeps head fish this year at the jetties.
Reef anchor.
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if gets stuck no big deal but, how do you get the rope back? Any help would be appreciated.
Don’t tie the line to the anchor, just loop it through and back to the boat cleat (doubled line). Then all you have to do is untie one end from the cleat and pull the line out.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
what size boat do you have? I use a cheap, disposable rope and either a duct taped brick or steel pipe fitting or something that I don’t mind losing in the rocks…I’ve got a 16’ center console and it holds it fine…main anchor off the bow, well off the rocks, then go forward, get some slack, and ease towards the rock…throw object in the rocks then tighten bow anchor line…I also always keep a knife handy in case of big wake…
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
I have an 18.5’ Sea Pro. I have a reef anchor but I rather do something more disposable. Only reason is exactly what Bonzo72 says, a big wave comes and I need to cut quickly. I rather lose my reef anchor while offshore and not to the jetty where I can see it. HA You know what I mean? I also like the double rope idea as a loop. Either of those ideas are perfect I think. I have no problem anchoring the back of the boat out away from the rocks and then letting out the proper amount of line to get close and pitch my brick, pipe or whatever into the jetty rocks to pull into position. Thanks guys!!! Great help! Now all I have do is get lucky enough to find the sheeps head when I do this. Got to start somewhere and learn the tricks. Anchoring is first, now location, right tide, and proper bait are next. Thanks again!!!
BB
Just to be clear, reread Bonzo’s post. Anchor bow out and throw your disposable anchor off the stern into the rocks. This gives you better chance of absorbing minor wakes, and a quicker/safer escape if you do have to cut and run.
And good luck with the sheep fishing. It is tricky, but very fun.
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Originally posted by Bolbie…the harbor was slick as an eel pecker.
Ok. That does make sense actually now that I am thinking about it. I had it in my head that I wanted to get the front of the boat close to the rocks because it doesn’t draft near as much. But if the waves are coming at me then you are exactly right. The bow needs to be into the waves. I know better than to put the rear of the boat into the waves, I guess I just wasn’t picturing it in my little brain. Thanks ayejoe!!
BB
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Originally posted by ayejoe1017Just to be clear, reread Bonzo’s post. Anchor bow out and throw your disposable anchor off the stern into the rocks. This gives you better chance of absorbing minor wakes, and a quicker/safer escape if you do have to cut and run.
absolutely right…should you have to cut the rope to the rocks, you do NOT want to swing in that current anchored to the stern…
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
what bonzo said again… I use bent rebar heated with a torch to look like a T. “Snell” nylon line to the bottom of the T. I can just pull forward and it will bend and I’ve never had to cut it loose. Go get some map gas at Lowes with a simple torch, heat the rebar and bend it like you want. I use small diameter rebar and then paint it with RustOleum rust preventer, keeps it from getting messy rust everwhere.
Suggesting that someone put the “business end” of their boat towards the rocks is just as dangerous in my opinion. Personally I don’t fish for sheepshead when the current is ripping out there, When it is slow I use a stern anchor with plenty of rope out and then nose in to the rocks and fish that way. What happens when you are stern in and a big wave pushes you up in to the rocks?
Charleston City Papers Best Guide of 2014
call the coast guard and break out the compression bandages?
unless said waves are so large that the troughs put the motor in the rocks, that shouldn’t be an issue.
if one can identify an incoming wake before it arrives, untying or cutting the stern line should always result in the taut bow line pulling the boat immediately to deeper water. i can do that with one hand while fishing if i get caught off guard by an arriving wake, then pull back to the rocks and retie after it goes by.
Here’s the one I made… works great, bends, comes undone with a vertical yank, can leave it if need be, cost about $3 but you still need the mapp gas to bend it out right. This one has vinyl covered wire rope.
Nice! Looks simple enough for sure.
BB
We anchored up near the bend on the outside of the S jetty on Sunday. Were in a 20 ft Key West DC. Water was bumpier than I was hoping for our first time anchoring at the jetties but my buddies were a huge help.
We anchored off the boat with the Danforth then backed up to the rocks, had a brick tied with $1.50 Wallyworld rope and chucked it into the rocks, eventually catching and securing. I would estimate the stern was about 25 feet from the rocks. It took some work but we managed to get it done. Ended up cutting the rope when we left since we couldn’t dislodge the brick.
Now, if we can just figure out the other part which is actually catching fish…(a few bites on live shrimp and one 3 ft sharpnose on mullet chunk was it).
2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
When using the brick in the rocks, secure the rope to the brick with a couple of cable ties. These will hold the boat. When you get ready to leave just pull the rope until the cable ties break.
I think I use the 50 lb test cable ties.
I have always been nervous about anchoring the business end towards the rocks as well.
I always keep my push pole handy while fishing off of the bow.
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Ended up cutting the rope when we left since we couldn't dislodge the brick.
Please don’t do that. You are setting up a possibly deadly trap. Rig your anchor in a method that allows retrieval of the line. Consider what may happen when the next man comes along and anchors in that spot. He may have to power up in a hurry to deal with a container ship wake. What happens when your cut line wraps his prop and he gets bashed into the rocks?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
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Originally posted by Cracker Larryquote:
Ended up cutting the rope when we left since we couldn't dislodge the brick.
Please don’t do that. You are setting up a possibly deadly trap. Rig your anchor in a method that allows retrieval of the line. Consider what may happen when the next man comes along and anchors in that spot. He may have to power up in a hurry to deal with a container ship wake. What happens when your cut line wraps his prop and he gets bashed into the rocks?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Totally agree. If you can’t figure out a way to retrieve the rope, don’t create a mess for others (including wildlife).
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Originally posted by CaptFritzSuggesting that someone put the “business end” of their boat towards the rocks is just as dangerous in my opinion. Personally I don’t fish for sheepshead when the current is ripping out there, When it is slow I use a stern anchor with plenty of rope out and then nose in to the rocks and fish that way. What happens when you are stern in and a big wave pushes you up in to the rocks?
Charleston City Papers Best Guide of 2014
Sorry Capt - telling people to anchor stern to the sea is some bad advice… not everyone has a euro transom or self bailing boat.
Stern anchor to sea/current = about the fastest way to sink a boat.
Rope around prop has happen to me out at the jetties
not good feeling a… puckering time till you get it cut off
There has been some good advice on here for me and others. I agree that cutting the rope is not the right thing to do unless there is an emergency situation. From what everyone has mentioned I like the rebar bent in a T with a zip tie to break if necessary but hopefully it will bend and come out. Or I may get a rail road spike and weld a large washer on it, then loop the rope through it (not tying it) and if I can’t get it out just let go of one end of the rope and pull it through the washer. I could also do the zip tie trick maybe but I think I like the loop idea better. This will be practiced under perfect conditions the first few times or I will not do it. Seems pretty risky under rough conditions and also I will need to keep an eye for large waves or boats. Pretty much seems like I will be worried and not fishing while my buddies catch fish, hopefully. Nothing wrong with that if I get to eat some 
Thanks for everyone’s replies!!!
BB