sightseeing alligators

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

My girlfriends family is coming down the first weekend of August and the dad wants to see alligators from the boat. I havent boated past 526 on the Cooper but I think thats the area to go to. I dont want to trailer half way to Beaufort.

Im thinking about trailering to Cypress Gardens and putting in there at Chicken Creek. Then heading towards the West Branch of the Cooper up behind Mepkin Abbey, maybe even heading as far up as Tailrace. OR should I just put in the fresh water side of Bushy Park and idle around there? Hows the water depth around there / leaving Chicken Creek.

Thanks for reading and any advice is appreciated.

'04 Sea Hunt 200 Escape w/ Yami 150

2

Put in at Willtown on the Edisto and ride back towards Bear Is., Pan Pan, and Hope plantation. You will see more gators than you can shake a stick at!

3

You can find plenty of gators back in the small creeks on the saltwater side of Bushy Park. The creeks just upriver from the landing hold plenty of gators. Also, the area just up from the T’s and the rice fields nearby hold plenty. We don’t go that far up most of the time, but see many gators while fishing for reds and flounder. We had one attack a hooked 20lb. catfish a few months ago, and after we released the cat, he continued to follow my wife’s float back to the boat several times.

PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC

4

gasmoney’s right on, but that’s halfway to beaufort.

freshwater/saltwater line should be moving down now, was very salty way up the combahee on monday- we didn’t see a gator until 35 river miles from st helena. they’ll be moving back down with the water now i’m sure.

5

Cypress Gardens and go out durham creek to the west branch. You shouldn’t have too many problems finding them. There all over around the ricefields.

6

Thanks fellas!

'04 Sea Hunt 200 Escape w/ Yami 150

7

If you are already in Charleston, just put in at Leeds avenue and motor up past the plantations on the Ashley. Do it as early in the AM as you can stand. You’ll see lots of gators, plus the beauty of the Ashley River. They’ll be gone before noon.

I had a bunch of family with me last time in my little 20 footer, and they raised the drawbridge on the railroad tracks for us! Totally unnecessary, but too cool.

Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115

Pungo 120
8

I’ve been to some of these places, not all, but the most I have seen were in the Goose Creek Resevoir in Hanahan.

19’ Seapro 150 Yamaha

9

Plenty almost everywhere, but on weekends, they are sometimes more scarce in areas with excessive boat traffic.

Blackwaterkatz

10

Penny Creek off of the Edisto has more gators than mosquitos…but that’s half way to beufort.

If you’re not effecting the world around you in a positive manner…you’re taking up too much space.

11

I am in Charleston. I’ll start at the Resevoir & then head to Cypress Gardens if we don’t see anything.

Mombakc - I appreciate the Edisto suggestion… I’ll be there with some friends the second saturday of August. We might just have to cruise up there.

'04 Sea Hunt 200 Escape w/ Yami 150

12

I’m a member of The Washington Club right next to Mepkin Abbey. We’re loaded with gators up there.

13
quote:
Originally posted by DenmarkSC

I am in Charleston. I’ll start at the Resevoir & then head to Cypress Gardens if we don’t see anything.

Mombakc - I appreciate the Edisto suggestion… I’ll be there with some friends the second saturday of August. We might just have to cruise up there.

'04 Sea Hunt 200 Escape w/ Yami 150

If you do decide to head half way to beaufort put in at steel bridge(Combahee) and head upstream early as JimIslander suggested. I still think that river has the most. Dolphins have been playing up that river past Cherokee Plantation and are a blast to watch as well.

14

Goose Creek Reservoir

15

Goose Creek Reservoir…also the “Hatchery” in Lake Moultrie (landing is off Hwy 6 near Cross) both places are loaded with gators.

–elgeebee–
WS Ride 135