My wife has to go to North MB (not too far from Little River) in mid September & then to Hilton Head in Mid October. I was planning on going to one of them with her to do some inlet fishing in my boat (18ft jon boat). I have never fished either one of them & was wondering what would be the better choice for fishing. If any one could chime in that has fished one or both of them that would be great, keep in mind time of year.
Also could you point out any public boat ramps. I saw some while looking around on google but could not tell if some are public or private & I am sure there are some others that I did not see.
Another option would be to leave the boat at home if there are enough good public bank fishing spots at either one of those areas?
Thanks guys.
I have fished both and my choice would be HHI. In the fall, Little River is overrun with boats fishing for spots and the boaters are ridiculous. They cut each other off when trying to anchor. Also it is still September and it will be hotter.
HHI and the surrounding area is wider open than the Little River waterway so you are not on top of each other. Plus the tourist crowd is thinning, weather is getting cooler and the fishing is great.
That sounds like a good idea.
Not exactly sure where we staying yet but if you could point out any landings that would be great.
You will pass two of them going onto HHI. The first you come to going on island is HE Trask SR across from Tanger Outlet. It will put you on the Colleton River and there is plenty of parking and good fishing. The second is CC Haigh Jr as you are crossing the bridges onto the island. That will put you on MacKay Creek and you can find plenty of fishing spots around there. Parking may be a little more crowded but both are good ramps. Stop by Southern Drawl Outfitters which is on the left right before you hit the causeway to the bridges and they can set you up.
I found CC Haig Jr it is called out as that on Google) & it actually looks to have decent amount of parking
Is HE Trask SR off of 278 on Fording Island Rd Ext just before you cross over Mackay Creek & has two structures with green round roofs? If so, it looks to have very little parking, nothing really designated for trailer / trucks?
I also found one farther on the island next to Palmetto Bay Marina. How is the fishing at that area?
I found Southern Drawl Outfitters, they look to be before Tanger going onto the Island. They look to be in a shopping center so might be tough parking with the boat? Do they have live & or fresh bait?
Any other places to get bait on the island?
Check out the SCDNR site for boat ramps.
https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/boatramp/boatrampsearch
There is a public ramp on HHI but it is small and probably not a place you want to leave your vehicle. The ramp you saw just before Mackay Creek is Buckingham, HE Trask Sr is before that and on the left near the Waddell Mariculture Center. Buckingham can be tight as far as parking.
Going on island you turn into Moss Creek Plantation and before you enter it you turn into the shopping center for Southern Drawl. Coming off island it’s your first turn when you hit the mainland.
Two things to consider, 1. At either place, NMB or HHI, will you have a place to keep your boat? 2. Are you familiar with tide changes and launching and recovering boats in strong currents?
Thanks for the help.
NMB will have plenty of parking. Not sure where we staying at HHI yet.
I have dealt with strong currents but don’t particularly like it.
Be aware that Google maps label all of our creeks and rivers as “Harbor River”. Not the case. Get a current NOAA chart 11516 if you don’t have it in your nav system. Don’t get lost in Harbor River!
oc
Stay away from the spot hounds in the north end of S.C. in the fall! It hard to beat the inshore fall fishing on the south end! The people on the water have more sense!!