route scouting

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

I’ve been looking at some maps and scouting the area for my first trip on the waters of Charleston to try and make sure I have some sense of bearings while I’m out there and not just cruising around. Have been reading this forum pretty much daily for the past few weeks. Seems like for the most part everyone likes to give tips and help out. I’m heading down from NC soon and so I am hoping some of you locals wouldn’t mind passing on a little knowledge to an out of towner. I want to have a good few hours on the water before my wife takes over control of the trip and so please let me know what you think of the route. Not knowing the waters is somewhat intimidating and I don’t want to bite off more that I can chew. Although a few extra hrs on the water wouldn’t be too bad I suppose… 20ft sea fox

Starting from a marina close to Wappo Creek - Was going to head to the Stono and take that to the coast hitting spots along the way. Doesn’t look like it’s going to be a problem getting through Elliots Cut right ?? Looks small on map.

Then on the Stono it’d be nice to have a few points of reference to maybe focus on. Do you guys like the residential side, bridges, marsh, upper or lower… also thinking about just running all the way down to the inlet and starting there and working way back on incoming tide. Some guy reported he saw tarpon the other day, would be cool to see them but I’m primarily looking for reds. Will be spending most of my time on this leg of the route is what I’m thinking

Have read some sketchy bits about the inlet down there which is making me question my route all together and maybe just heading to the Wando instead. But I wanted to end the day trolling up Folly Beach for whatever hits and then cruising back through the harbor back to base. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated as well.

Thanks a lot guys really looking forward to experiencing the water down there, hopefully I land a few. Gonna use a mix bag of plastics, and hopefully have some live baits to free line too.

2

the cut is deep… just swift water,stono is fine as long as you stay between the red and green markers. There are sandbars all over the river buy the channels are marked,

3

Between Wappoo and down towards Kiawah, both sides of the stono are pretty good. I’ve had success at some of the older docks that are near creek mouths. THere’s also some shell banks along the grass out towards the Kiawah river that are worth a try. And there’s a couple of deep holes along the way where you may have luck with whiting and sharks. As others have said, there’s some shallow areas outside of the markers that can cause some problems if you try and cut the corners of the channel. I’ve had no experience with trolling in front of Folly so can’t help you there.
Good luck and be safe!!

4

Thanks a lot guys really appreciate it

chris

5

If you are planning on entering the jetties in the evening in a 20 ft boat, make sure to check tide and wind. A strong out-going tide vs. an east wind can stack the waves up pretty high. Also, if you are coming around the south jetty to enter, don’t cut the corner too closely. (You can also come in through the dynamite hole, but make sure to have a look at the chart first).