Lions and Tigers and Sharks ... Oh My! HH fishing photos

[RobDoc]

Well, not really any lions or tigers - but LOTS of sharks!!

Our family joined us last week here at HH. We had two 2BR villas in Building 18 and had a great time as usual! We had a group of 10 including our 5 grandkids ranging in age from 5 to almost 10.

We spent a lot of time at the beach and pool. The kids enjoyed "Kid's Night Out" where the movie was Mr. Popper's Penguins. They also enjoyed watching Tangled under the Live Oak tree near on the shuffleboard court near the pool. Other evenings had Finding Nemo and The Princess and the Frog.

My son-in-law and I have gone on a fishing charter each of the last 5 years and this year decided to take the 3 oldest grandchildren. We went on the Gullah Gal, docked right across from the resort in Shelter Cove, with Captain Steve and first mate Mike. Two very nice guys with lots of experience fishing in the area. We left at 7:30am for a 4 hour trip. The Gullah Gal has a head (bathroom) and lot of covered area for shade, which was a big plus with the temps in the mid-90s with lots of sun. The morning started out hazy with a lot of smoke in the air blowing in from the fires in GA and FL.

While we were fishing, DW and our 2 DDs took the two youngest grandkids on a crabbing trip on the Crabber J and they also had a great time.

On the Gullah Gal, first-mate Mike caught about 250 pogies (menhaden shad) with a net for bait. Poagies are about 4" long and make good baitfish. Mike described a time-honored fishing tradition to the 3 kids and bit the head off of a pogie. He explained to them how good the brain was and commented that it tastes like chocolate - then asking if they'd like to try it. The two girls (10 and 8) quickly declined but my 9yo grandson decided to take the challenge and promptly grabbed one from the live well and bit off the head. When he started to try to chew it, Mike suggested that he just spit it out! After a quick rinse with some water he commented that it did taste like chocolate (but still couldn't get his cousins to join in the taste-fest!)



Once out at the South Beach point beyond Harbourtown we fished on a shelf about 200 yards offshore just as the tide was starting to come back in. We had 4 lines in the water at all times and we very busy catching a variety of sharks. Everyone participated and enjoyed the experience. SiL caught a 44" Bonnet Head shark and I caught a 50" Dusky. We also caught Black Tips and Hammer Heads - about 20-25 total catches!

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On the way back to the dock we were visited by several Dolphin including a mother and calf who came right up to our boat.



B'Lou and Shadow were around a lot and the recreation staff was busy with an active schedule.

We had a wonderful week and look forward to the next opportunity to share HH with family!

(Click on an image for a larger view)

 

[SusieBea]

So glad you had a good week with your family! We're headed down for 10 days on Friday. (If you could get the temps down before we arrive, I'd appreciate it!) I really enjoyed the pictures, especially noticed the Little Giant tshirt on your son-in-law. Our DSIL is a Wabash alum, too. Enjoy the remainder of your time on the Island.

 

[BeesKnees]

Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish. Not like going down the pond chasin' bluegills and tommycods. This shark, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Shark!!!!

Had to have been fun catching the sharks!!

Thanks,

John

 

[jekjones1558]

What a great report! I so wish that DH could stay healthy so I could get him to HHI. He would love watching the fishing charters come in, even if he weren't up to going on one.
Sounds like you had a great family week. HHI is just perfect for that. Thanks for posting!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Awesome photos!! Thanks for sharing! My kids loved the pics of the sharks!

 

[rascalmom]

My dh would LOVE this!!! I may have to try to book us at HH sometime.....it would win me BIG brownie points!!

 

[RobDoc]

Here is another photo of DSiL from a few years ago with his 48" Redfish caught in Broad Creek near the resort. This was on a charter made thru the DVC resort with Low Country Tours. This fish was too large to keep and was released but he had all of the measurements taken and had a mounting made of the fish - now proudly hanging in his den. The size limit to keep a redfish is 15 - 23". Anything smaller or larger is catch-and-release only.



On that same fishing trip we had a nice visit from Blackbeard and Scar - two of the locals!



(click on an image for a larger view)

 

[mickeys girl 52]

Loved your pictures. I want to get my crew to go to Hilton Head if I can ever drag them away from WDW or the Disney Cruises. I have 5 Grand kids also.4 are boys and they would probably love it there.

 

[CruznLexi]

We just added on there in May and are going for 4 nights!

 

[Simba's Mom]

What we thought was kind of fitting was that we did an add-on while we were there on November. Actually, we'd made the offer a couple days beforehand, but we signed the papers and faxed them back from the resort.
We love it there, and DH usually prefers it to WDW (although something about all that golf helps!).

 

[andijean]

LOVED the report Doc! We are there in a few weeks and a fishing charter was at the top of the list of things to do with our boys. Good to hear of one that was good for the kids. We would love to catch some that we could eat during our week there, but it is just luck of the catch. Did anyone have any issues with the waves and motion sickness? Were you guys out in the ocean or still in the sound? We were wondering if it was better to get a boat out of the Sea Pines area since it is closer to the ocean...more fishing time and less travel. What do you think compared to your experience?

 

[RobDoc]

We have never had any problems with motion sickness on these charters - but none have been out on the open ocean. Both of the adults would have been hanging over the gunnels if it were rough.

The biggest determining factor regarding catch has been the tide. This trip fell at low tide and sharks were the main things available.

The best days we've had were at tide change between high and low when we've caught redfish, cobia, jacque and Spanish mackerel. The charter captains will filet and clean whatever you keep. We've had some great dinners after our charter trips and only have two trips with nothing for dinner (and this year was one of those).
This trip it was more important that the kids have fun by catching a lot of fish - and they did.

Our charter does offer longer trips with some open ocean fishing. It does take about 45 minutes to get from the dock to the point where we fished. A charter from Harbourtown would save about 25 minutes to get out on the ocean beyond Tybee Island but, if you let the captain know in advance what type of fishing you are interested in, they can tailor a trip to meet that goal. There are LOTS of game fish found right in the Calibogue Sound if the tides are right without the need for deep sea.

 

[andijean]

Great info, Doc! That helps me out a lot. It is good to know that we would not have to leave the sound to catch some good fish and have fun with the kids. That may be a great option for us. The charter you had sounded like it was great for the kids. Did you have to schedule ahead of time or do it when you were there? We do not want to schedule ahead of time b/c of weather and would like to play it by ear, but I know some charters you need to book ahead of time. Let me know if you have any other wisdom to share as I am making my list of tips and "must-dos".

One other question you might be able to answer. Does anyone ever rollerblade on the bike paths? They are paved, right? My son loves that and thought it might be a great way to get around. Wanted to check b4 I thought about packing them in the suitcase.

 

[RobDoc]

Great info, Doc! That helps me out a lot. It is good to know that we would not have to leave the sound to catch some good fish and have fun with the kids. That may be a great option for us. The charter you had sounded like it was great for the kids. Did you have to schedule ahead of time or do it when you were there? We do not want to schedule ahead of time b/c of weather and would like to play it by ear, but I know some charters you need to book ahead of time. Let me know if you have any other wisdom to share as I am making my list of tips and "must-dos".

One other question you might be able to answer. Does anyone ever rollerblade on the bike paths? They are paved, right? My son loves that and thought it might be a great way to get around. Wanted to check b4 I thought about packing them in the suitcase.

I scheduled the charter 2 days before. They held it with a credit card over the phone but didn't charge it until that morning. In the event of inclement weather, the captain would decide about cancelling and offering another day/time. The boat owner has 2 boats - "Gullah Gal" that we were on and "True Grits". The boats look the same and offer the same amenities (shade, bathroom) and both will hold up to 6. I think the owner (Jeff) captains the True Grits and also has a mate. They do appreciate a gratuity which is typically given to the mate - who really works hard on these trips constantly baiting the hooks. They are set up to take out 3 groups each day and they have not been filled every day since we've been here so it's apparent that there are good options to find a charter.

Yes, the bike trails are shared by joggers, walkers, bicycles and roller bladers. They are all paved and there are miles of trails available all over HH.

We typically bike down to the beach each morning, walk 1-2 miles on the beach (you will often see pods of dolphin cruising along the beach about 50 yards away) and then spend an hour enjoying the gentle surf. The waves tend to grow during the day, with heavier waves in the late afternoon. Low tide is a great time to be there and will offer a good chance to find starfish and sand dollars (alive) by finding them with your feet in about 4' of water.

Down at Sea Pines, in addition to the Lighthouse at Harbourtown, there is also the ruins of an old plantation - this can be reached by bike or by auto for a self guided tour. They do have tour brochures available in a box near the entrance. Also notable is an oyster mound - an enormous pile of oyster shells left by early inhabitants of the area (Indians I believe). This is located in the Lawton area of Sea Pines near the stables, where horseback rides are available.

There is a Union Cemetary just off rt 278 about mid island not too far from the airport. The Coastal Discovery Museum has some nice programs for all ages in addition to the great programs offered at the resort by the recreation staff, naturalist and B'Lou Crabbe. Tours are offered to Pinckney Island for shelling, but you can also get there by car (it's the island you pass when driving over the bridge from the mainland on rt 278). There are also lots of boutique shops and art galleries - a few are even within walking distance from the resort at Shelter Cove. The Arts Center (also at Shleter Cove) has great musical productions throughout the year. Playing right now is "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and we've also seen Aida, Le Miserables, South Pacific and many others. This is not just a local civic theater as they bring in actors (many with Broadway credits) for the main roles and fill in the chorus parts with some of the very talented locals. There are no bad seats in the theater.

 

[dlm1017]

Thank you so much for all this information! We were just there in May and fell in love with the island. As a matter of fact I am no looking at condos to purchase as a vacation property and possibly retire there in the future . I am looking to book another trip for next May! I sadly do not have enough points to stay next year so we are looking to rent a house or villa in Palmetto dunes area. You have given me so many more things to try out when we are there. I have a question, have you ever gone to daufuski island? if so was it worth the trip? did you rent a golfcart and drive around on your own? It looked like it might be a nice day trip.

Thanks again!
Dana

 

[RobDoc]

Thank you so much for all this information! We were just there in May and fell in love with the island. As a matter of fact I am no looking at condos to purchase as a vacation property and possibly retire there in the future . I am looking to book another trip for next May! I sadly do not have enough points to stay next year so we are looking to rent a house or villa in Palmetto dunes area. You have given me so many more things to try out when we are there. I have a question, have you ever gone to daufuski island? if so was it worth the trip? did you rent a golfcart and drive around on your own? It looked like it might be a nice day trip.

Thanks again!
Dana

A Daufuskie trip is on our to-do list. We have heard nothing but great things about visiting the island. There is a ferry over there accessed nearby.

We understand completely about the desire to retire in the area. We started out coming to HH back in 1979 staying at Sea Pines, but have been coming to the Palmetto Dunes area since 1995 when the DVC resort was under construction and purchased at that time. Fast forward 15 years and we purchased 2 quartershares in 2007 and finally bought a condo last fall. We put our family at the DVC resort and we are a 5 minute walk from them!

I'm looking across Shelter Cove at the resort as I type this!

 

[dlm1017]

Nice!! if you don't mind me asking, not knowing all the areas how did you settle on where to buy? I liked being mid island and have the bike paths accessible. Looking at the Hilton head island resort ( four seasons) have you seen this resort? It looks huge! But has a boardwalk directly to folly beach area. We will spend more time looking when we go down in May at different places The prices seem to be pretty good, but there are some Distressed properties in areas that don't look that nice so I want to really drive around and look at the different complexes. Any suggestions on places to look or to steer away from?

 

[RobDoc]

Now is a great time to make a purchase. I'd suggest speaking with a realtor for information about specific areas. We really enjoy the mid-island area.

I just got this by email today and will pass it along - a blatant plug for the Palmetto Dunes area at Hilton Head from the Golf Channel!

Here are some other links with area info:

Golf

Tennis

Beach

Golf Academy

Palmetto Dunes Bike Trails Map

Saltwater Lagoons

The Dunes House (This is located just up the beach from the Disney Beach House - about 400 yards north.)

Shelter Cove Harbour (The DVC Resort is on this harbour.

Kid Friendly

 

[PBader]

The shark fishing is really fun at HHI. Thanks for sharing