Have noticed this for years and today was a prime example of the outgoing tide “ripping” on the south Jetty. We sat up there for about 30 minutes and did manage one nice red but my “crew” was tired of the beating so we moved over to the North side and I was amazed at how much calmer it was.
I understand the wind part of it since the wind on the North was blocked by the rocks but the current seemed so much stronger on the south
Seems to me like the actual shipping channel may be a little closer to the South but I also wondered if maybe it was when the current goes out for low tide maybe it has a southerly flow
Ny way did manage one nice fat bonnethead before we headed in, had my DIL with us who is 5 months pregnant and she had fun but she was getting fatigued so we came back to the ICW after a nice lunch at Reds
Tprice I think that the current does go south on an out going tide. I you look at a google earth view of the harbor you can see a sort of trail coming out of the jetties heading south.
The south jetty is also much bigger than the north side. Sometimes at a high tide I can’t see the north jetty at all!!!
I think the southerly flow is the reason for the stronger current on that side.
As the current flows south from Sullivan’s Island, it hits the jetty and dams up, creating a full pool behind the north side rocks.
As the current spills over the north end rocks and at the Grillage and then washes past the south jetties, water is pulled by the downstream current making the current faster on the south jetty.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 19 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 1 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
all natural harbors on the East coast drain to the South…that’s why they build the Charleston Light aka Morris Island Lighthouse on the south end of Morris island…
all natural harbors on the East coast drain to the South…that’s why they build the Charleston Light aka Morris Island Lighthouse on the south end of Morris island…