Recently moved to SC low country near MCAS Beaufort, looking for advice and fishing friends

[Seafury]

So I made a drastic move and went from NoVA to SC low country due to getting divorced and some financial issues I'm working out.

 

Now I'm surrounded by brackish water locally and gators to the NW for 2hours.

 

I am looking for bass fishing advice, and friends to fish with would be even better.

 

I have my OT 120 PDL kayak with NK 180 motor but not about to use that in gator infested waters.

 

Debating on buying a used Jon boat but not really in the budget right now.

 

I am going stir crazy here and need someplace to bank fish with lures (I hate sitting in one spot using live bait, that's boring) or a river or creek to wade without gators.

 

I miss my VA smallmouth bass fishing weekends

 

Anyone wanna make a new friend?

Maybe take me out on your boat /wink

I got a truck, gas money, food money, bug spray, whatever is needed ?

[TnRiver46]

I’ve fished Edisto a couple times in June and everyone told me the fall was the time to be there. All the shrimp apparently move into the shallows. 

[Seafury]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve fished Edisto a couple times in June and everyone told me the fall was the time to be there. All the shrimp apparently move into the shallows. 

Thank you for the feedback Tn.

I'm sure we have a lot of that right here, I have brackish rivers literally 20 yards from my home, and for miles all around me in every direction.

 

I am really not interested in saltwater fishing, I have no gear for that, no desire to buy new gear and know very little about saltwater fishing or species.

 

I just want to fish for bass, especially smallmouth, and prefer to walk and wade without fear of a gator eating me lol.

[Stratocat_Joe]

I had similar concerns about gators when I moved from Kansas to Columbia, SC.  At the time, I had a 11.5 FeelFree Lure.  But I still hit the Hatchery and Duck Pond area at Lake Moultrie.  I never had any issues with gators...just stay aware of your surroundings!  I had one of the best fishing days I've ever had on the river that runs by Kingstree.  There's a boat ramp right on the road that runs by the KFC.  I put in there and paddled to the first bend to the right.  Caught multiple 4-6 pounders right in that bend on a Chatterbait. I've since moved from Columbia to SW Georgia or else I'd offer to meet up with you.  I heard some good things about Sparkleberry Swamp on Marion but I never put in there.

[Seafury]

On 6/11/2023 at 8:50 PM, Stratocat_Joe said:

I had similar concerns about gators when I moved from Kansas to Columbia, SC.  At the time, I had a 11.5 FeelFree Lure.  But I still hit the Hatchery and Duck Pond area at Lake Moultrie.  I never had any issues with gators...just stay aware of your surroundings!  I had one of the best fishing days I've ever had on the river that runs by Kingstree.  There's a boat ramp right on the road that runs by the KFC.  I put in there and paddled to the first bend to the right.  Caught multiple 4-6 pounders right in that bend on a Chatterbait. I've since moved from Columbia to SW Georgia or else I'd offer to meet up with you.  I heard some good things about Sparkleberry Swamp on Marion but I never put in there.

Thank you for the advice!

 

Yesterday I was planning on going to the NW side of Columbia to Peak SC to look around the Broad River there.

Supposedly NW of Columbia the waters too cold for gators and there are none.

But I ran into my cousin and had breakfast and we got to talking and I ran out of time for the 2:45 drive, maybe next weekend.

 

Yea gators, and kayaks........ as a reptile lover and former owner, I just can't put myself in that kind of danger. I know plenty of people do it in the south, but not this guy lol.

I am looking into a Jon boat maybe, so I can fish for largemouth closer to home, around gators, with a bit more safety, but I really want the smallies in the NW rivers lol.

 

I am just going to have to drive to fish each weekend I guess.

[TnRiver46]

49 minutes ago, Seafury said:

Thank you for the advice!

 

Yesterday I was planning on going to the NW side of Columbia to Peak SC to look around the Broad River there.

Supposedly NW of Columbia the waters too cold for gators and there are none.

But I ran into my cousin and had breakfast and we got to talking and I ran out of time for the 2:45 drive, maybe next weekend.

 

Yea gators, and kayaks........ as a reptile lover and former owner, I just can't put myself in that kind of danger. I know plenty of people do it in the south, but not this guy lol.

I am looking into a Jon boat maybe, so I can fish for largemouth closer to home, around gators, with a bit more safety, but I really want the smallies in the NW rivers lol.

 

I am just going to have to drive to fish each weekend I guess.

There’s plenty of smallies if you just go across those mtns……..

[Stratocat_Joe]

7 hours ago, Seafury said:

Thank you for the advice!

 

Yesterday I was planning on going to the NW side of Columbia to Peak SC to look around the Broad River there.

Supposedly NW of Columbia the waters too cold for gators and there are none.

But I ran into my cousin and had breakfast and we got to talking and I ran out of time for the 2:45 drive, maybe next weekend.

 

Yea gators, and kayaks........ as a reptile lover and former owner, I just can't put myself in that kind of danger. I know plenty of people do it in the south, but not this guy lol.

I am looking into a Jon boat maybe, so I can fish for largemouth closer to home, around gators, with a bit more safety, but I really want the smallies in the NW rivers lol.

 

I am just going to have to drive to fish each weekend I guess.

I lived right across from downtown Columbia, on the Congaree...just down from where the Broad and Saluda rivers join to form the Congaree.  There's supposedly a healthy population of SM in the Broad.  I think there's even an urban guide that takes people out in that area.  I caught a few SM out of Parr Shoals, which is just north of Columbia but the water level there fluctuates a lot.  One time, I came back to the ramp where I put in to find the lake had receeded by several yards.  I had to drag my kayak back to the ramp as my feet sank in mud up to my knees.  I never went back after that!

[Seafury]

On 6/12/2023 at 10:18 PM, TnRiver46 said:

There’s plenty of smallies if you just go across those mtns……..

Yea something like that lol.

I read NW of Columbia most of the rivers/creeks have smallies, and no gators.

 

We shall see when I get up there one of these weekends.

On 6/13/2023 at 5:25 AM, Stratocat_Joe said:

I lived right across from downtown Columbia, on the Congaree...just down from where the Broad and Saluda rivers join to form the Congaree.  There's supposedly a healthy population of SM in the Broad.  I think there's even an urban guide that takes people out in that area.  I caught a few SM out of Parr Shoals, which is just north of Columbia but the water level there fluctuates a lot.  One time, I came back to the ramp where I put in to find the lake had receeded by several yards.  I had to drag my kayak back to the ramp as my feet sank in mud up to my knees.  I never went back after that!

Yea that sounds about right, everything I have read says the water NW of Columbia is too cold for gators and has fairly untapped smallmouth bass fisheries, I have seen videos of people catching multiple 2-4lbers all day.

 

Wow, talk about water fluctuations the tide down here on the Southern SC coast is insane!

8-10ft lately, and every 6 hours it changes.

Back home in VA we have I think 2-6ft tides but I never went to the Beaches in VA much because they suck, their dirty, and the towns are full of crackheads, bums, hoes etc.

NC beaches are in the OBX are the gem of the Midatlantic.

 

I would hate crawling through knee deep mud, I can understand why you never go back lol!

[TnRiver46]

Here’s what happens to TN boys like my buddy trying to get bait that try to get bait in the water fluctuations of SC.

that tide is very fast and no joke 

[FryDog62]

I have an Old Town Autopilot 120 that I leave in Florida and fish around gators... never got one close to me. For the most part, they are like deer that come upon you and don't want to get close. 

 

I'd head to Lake Murray in SC, sounds like some great water.  If you have a kayak, maybe to Lake Tugaloo - no gators there and motor restrictions make it yak friendly. 

[Koz]

The SC Lowcountry is one of the best bass fishing areas in the country. There are literally thousands of stormwater lagoons from Charleston down to Hilton Head and Bluffton. If you're not catching 4 and 5 pounders all the time you might want to take up knitting!

 

Gators can be a pain. I've been stalked, chased, and surprised by gators when bank fishing. The main thing is that you need to check in the water and along the bank before you walk to the edge of the bank. Then keep your head on a swivel and scan the area while fishing. You also want to keep a knife or scissors on you in the odd chance a gator grabs your fish as you reel it in. 

 

Topwaters are gator magnets. I fished them all of the time, but keep an eye out.

 

One of your best bets is fishing residential communities. Not all are gated, private communities. You can drive to Sea Pines in Hilton Head and pay for a pass to get in. Your best bet is to bring a bike (or rent one in Sea Pines) and bike from lagoon to lagoon. Don't skip the small lagoons, either. These stormwater ponds are interconnected and the bass will travel.

 

Check Google maps and look at the lagoons behind Target in Bluffton, SC. It can be hard to find access points, but very few people fish there and they are loaded with bass. I brought a machete and cut an opening years ago. Stick in the wooded areas and not the grassy areas. You don't want to come upon a gator in heavy grass. The wooded areas are on the opposite side of the target parking lot.

 

Sgt. Jasper Park in Okatie is OK as well, but make the long bike/hike down to the primitive camping area. You can kayak there as well. Personally, I would be more scared encountering a gator while in a kayak than on the banks.

 

You won't be fishing in one spot on teh banks, especially in area with multiple lagoons. I would cover miles walking, biking, or driving from lagoon to lagoon.

 

Look through my old posts about fishing in the SC Lowcountry and dealing with gators. I don't live there anymore and I really miss fishing there.

 

 

[Don51]

Good advice Koz. Not just for SC but for most of the SE in general. When bank fishing you absolutely have to watch every step you take. 

[Seafury]

19 hours ago, Koz said:

The SC Lowcountry is one of the best bass fishing areas in the country. There are literally thousands of stormwater lagoons from Charleston down to Hilton Head and Bluffton. If you're not catching 4 and 5 pounders all the time you might want to take up knitting!

 

Gators can be a pain. I've been stalked, chased, and surprised by gators when bank fishing. The main thing is that you need to check in the water and along the bank before you walk to the edge of the bank. Then keep your head on a swivel and scan the area while fishing. You also want to keep a knife or scissors on you in the odd chance a gator grabs your fish as you reel it in. 

 

Topwaters are gator magnets. I fished them all of the time, but keep an eye out.

 

One of your best bets is fishing residential communities. Not all are gated, private communities. You can drive to Sea Pines in Hilton Head and pay for a pass to get in. Your best bet is to bring a bike (or rent one in Sea Pines) and bike from lagoon to lagoon. Don't skip the small lagoons, either. These stormwater ponds are interconnected and the bass will travel.

 

Check Google maps and look at the lagoons behind Target in Bluffton, SC. It can be hard to find access points, but very few people fish there and they are loaded with bass. I brought a machete and cut an opening years ago. Stick in the wooded areas and not the grassy areas. You don't want to come upon a gator in heavy grass. The wooded areas are on the opposite side of the target parking lot.

 

Sgt. Jasper Park in Okatie is OK as well, but make the long bike/hike down to the primitive camping area. You can kayak there as well. Personally, I would be more scared encountering a gator while in a kayak than on the banks.

 

You won't be fishing in one spot on teh banks, especially in area with multiple lagoons. I would cover miles walking, biking, or driving from lagoon to lagoon.

 

Look through my old posts about fishing in the SC Lowcountry and dealing with gators. I don't live there anymore and I really miss fishing there.

 

This is the kinda kick I needed, thanks!

I'm in Beaufort so Bluffton is not really far.

Not a lot of freshwater access around here that I have found, it's all brackish rivers.

 

I need to find urban ponds and lakes like you mentioned.

I'm not familiar with the property laws and water access rights down here either so I need to figure that out.

I am just not keen on having to deal with gators lol.

I am spoiled from the north and traipsing around with no fears really, except for other people.

Still not taking my kayak out with gators but I do need to find some bank fishing places asap!

 

Thanks!

[Koz]

2 hours ago, Seafury said:

I need to find urban ponds and lakes like you mentioned.

I'm not familiar with the property laws and water access rights down here either so I need to figure that out.

 

 

Whether gated communities or not, most are governed by HOA's. While technically there is a 10 foot easement around most lagoons, property owners still control access. 

 

You won't be able to fish any of the golf courses.

 

Look at Google Earth for shopping centers and then look for stormwater ponds around them. For example, find Station 300 in Bluffton. Look at the big parking lot on the west side of that plaza and you will see accessible lagoons.

 

Find Cinemark in Bluffton. There is a big parking lot to the southwest of that building and off that parking lot is a lagoon in what looks like the woods but there is a path that traverses one side.

 

The big gators usually leave you alone, but they will camp out in the water in front of you to let you know that you are trespassing on their turf. Just move to another lagoon because they will probably follow you in the smaller lagoons.

 

Smaller gators are a nuisance because the have no fear. They will attack your baits and whatever you catch.

 

If you hear the chirps of baby gators, get out of there. Mama will be around and in a protective mood. Never fish in a position where you don't have quick egress from the water (i.e. heavily wooded areas).

 

When you're tying on a new bait or unbuttoning a fish never turn your back to the water.

 

It's definitely a bit scary around them for the first few times, but you get used to it. But it is important to keep scanning your surrounding while you fish and never become complacent.

 

If I still lived there I'd take you around to some of the gated communities where I had access as well as the ones I mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Don51]

Seafury, take the yak out! It is a little intimidating at first until you get used to being around them. I'm a northern boy who now lives in FL.  For the most part they want nothing to do with you. They are curious and will occasionally pop their head up next to you. I am out in the yak with them 2-3 times a week. As Koz stated the little ones are more of a PIA. Just be aware when launching and unloading. Be aware when landing a fish. The more disturbance there is the more likely they will be attracted. Just always be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine. We are not on the menu!

[wrat]

Drive a few hours NW and I will take ya out on my boat on Keowee

[Chris at Tech]

I know you said you aren’t looking to fish saltwater, but…

 

Your bass gear is more than adequate for inshore trout, flounder and redfish.  Once you feel a redfish give your bass rod a workout, you may become a convert ?

[ooga0341]

I lived in Lexington, SC for 7 years. I love kayak fishing the Broad River, as it has excellent Smallmouth fishing in it. Parts of the Saluda, and some of the creeks of Lake Murray will have some gators in it, but never had an issue. I fished all of the rivers in that area and only ever saw one. I live in Summerville now, and live on a 300 acre private lake community and see some every now and then, but if you give them a respectful distance they leave you alone. I've only fished Moultrie once and didn't see any. Bass gear will be fine for inshore fishing as stated above.  DM me if you want to do some fishing.

[FryDog62]

On 7/22/2023 at 3:08 AM, ooga0341 said:

I lived in Lexington, SC for 7 years. I love kayak fishing the Broad River, as it has excellent Smallmouth fishing in it. Parts of the Saluda, and some of the creeks of Lake Murray will have some gators in it, but never had an issue. I fished all of the rivers in that area and only ever saw one. I live in Summerville now, and live on a 300 acre private lake community and see some every now and then, but if you give them a respectful distance they leave you alone. I've only fished Moultrie once and didn't see any. Bass gear will be fine for inshore fishing as stated above.  DM me if you want to do some fishing.

Ooga, wondering if the lake you are referring to is Cane Bay?  My wife and I visited there this spring and liked it, we may be in the market. I wondered how the fishing was in that lake - any size to the fish? 

[ooga0341]

Sorry I just saw this. Yes, I live in Cane Bay. The main lake has some good sized fish in it. There’s several neighborhoods that are connected by channels and I fish those quite a bit too. If you like bank fishing, the older ponds have some huge bass in them as well. I’m also 20 minutes from Lake Moultrie and Marion, and there’s some good river fishing here too.

[Seafury]

On 6/16/2023 at 3:12 AM, Don51 said:

Seafury, take the yak out! It is a little intimidating at first until you get used to being around them. I'm a northern boy who now lives in FL.  For the most part they want nothing to do with you. They are curious and will occasionally pop their head up next to you. I am out in the yak with them 2-3 times a week. As Koz stated the little ones are more of a PIA. Just be aware when launching and unloading. Be aware when landing a fish. The more disturbance there is the more likely they will be attracted. Just always be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine. We are not on the menu!

Thanks but no, I won't risk my life in a kayak around gators.

I've now seen enough gators down here in person, and videos of them attacking kayakers (mostly in FL) to know thats a really bad idea.

 

When it comes to large carnivores' lizards, anything they can get in their mouth is on the menu buddy.

They all have different attitudes just like people, and it only takes one with an attitude problem to ruin your life.

 

On 7/3/2023 at 6:50 PM, wrat said:

Drive a few hours NW and I will take ya out on my boat on Keowee

Thank you for the very generous offer!

 

I now have my own 16ft aluminum jon boat so I have been exploring the nearest freshwater rivers and lake Moultrie a few times but I'm already tired of 1hr40min drive to get there.

The freshwater side of rivers are only 30mins from me and exploring them has been a blast!

Though I have yet to catch a single fish in the rivers as I need to learn these waters and where the bass are in the fall transition down here.....

 

I need to find a local friend down here that also does freshwater fishing but so far no luck on that as I am not really outgoing and only go out to get food and grocery shopping since I work from home and don't drink lol.

[Seafury]

On 7/6/2023 at 9:10 AM, Chris at Tech said:

I know you said you aren’t looking to fish saltwater, but…

 

Your bass gear is more than adequate for inshore trout, flounder and redfish.  Once you feel a redfish give your bass rod a workout, you may become a convert ?

Thanks for the advice but I won't subject my bass gear to saltwater knowingly, and the non-resident saltwater license is cost prohibitive.

 

I am not paying to reregister in this state as I expect to move back to VA or at least upper NC by next summer. I'm basically here on contract work lol.

 

I'm sure saltwater fishing is fun, but I hate messing with organic bait, sitting around in one place doing nothing waiting for a bite, and I don't eat fish so to me it's a big waste to even bother.

 

Plus I just got an old small freshwater jon boat which will never touch saltwater.

On 7/22/2023 at 4:08 AM, ooga0341 said:

I lived in Lexington, SC for 7 years. I love kayak fishing the Broad River, as it has excellent Smallmouth fishing in it. Parts of the Saluda, and some of the creeks of Lake Murray will have some gators in it, but never had an issue. I fished all of the rivers in that area and only ever saw one. I live in Summerville now, and live on a 300 acre private lake community and see some every now and then, but if you give them a respectful distance they leave you alone. I've only fished Moultrie once and didn't see any. Bass gear will be fine for inshore fishing as stated above.  DM me if you want to do some fishing.

Thanks for the advice and offer!

 

I have a small jon boat now and have been out on Moultrie 3 times.

I have seen/spooked around 10 very large gators around the hatchery area, the lake is full of them according to state information.

I also witnessed 2 large gators having a fight in the middle of the hatchery in 6ft of water roiling the surface for several minutes. Very scary and awesome at the same time!

Moultrie and Murry have the most gators in the entire state, with Hilton head being 3rd, according to state information.

 

Couple mouths back I went way up the Broad river above Colombia out of gator country but the river was brown like chocolate milk and swollen, no fish caught while bank fishing, it was very disappointing and a waste of lots of gas and time that day lol.

 

I know most gators run from us, I've now witnessed it myself many times, but it only takes one that doesn't to ruin your life.

I have better things to do with my life than risk it for no reason in a kayak down here.

 

Now that I have a boat I just need to figure out where the river bass are in the Ashepoo/Edisto rivers west of Rte 17 on the freshwater side.

[Seafury]

If anyone cares I will be on the upper Ashepoo river tomorrow morning 10/07/23.

 

Likely putting in at Prices Bridge ramp or maybe Chessie/Folly Creek ramp but doubtful.

 

Now that I found those public ramps, I don't see a reason to pay to use Joes Fish Camp ramp on Rt17.

I just hope the public ramps are safe for my truck like the locals I met last Sunday claimed it is.

 

If anything happens to my truck I will likely end up in jail after bringing the reckoning to the perp ?

[FryDog62]

On 9/9/2023 at 10:09 PM, ooga0341 said:

Sorry I just saw this. Yes, I live in Cane Bay. The main lake has some good sized fish in it. There’s several neighborhoods that are connected by channels and I fish those quite a bit too. If you like bank fishing, the older ponds have some huge bass in them as well. I’m also 20 minutes from Lake Moultrie and Marion, and there’s some good river fishing here too.

Thank you, I just sold my bass boat up North and we are moving to Florida just for the winter as we visit SC and find a final spot to build/buy. I really liked Cane Bay and will have an Autopilot fishing kayak at least for the next 1-2 years until we get settled and buy another full sized boat. Will let you know if we are over your way and say hi.  -Chris 

[TnRiver46]

On 10/6/2023 at 6:18 PM, Seafury said:

If anyone cares I will be on the upper Ashepoo river tomorrow morning 10/07/23.

 

Likely putting in at Prices Bridge ramp or maybe Chessie/Folly Creek ramp but doubtful.

 

Now that I found those public ramps, I don't see a reason to pay to use Joes Fish Camp ramp on Rt17.

I just hope the public ramps are safe for my truck like the locals I met last Sunday claimed it is.

 

If anything happens to my truck I will likely end up in jail after bringing the reckoning to the perp ?

Don’t leave valuables in there and you have nothing to worry about