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linger into August or September. Redfish, trout and flounder, stay in the area year round. Even in the winter months, we have sea bass and sheephead. July and August bring cobia, tarpon, trout, barracuda, sharks, king and Spanish mackerel, bull redfish, bonita, ladyfish, and amberjack. Now those are in nearshore waters...should you venture to the Gulfstream, you can find marlin, dolphin, wahoo, sailfish, tuna, and swordfish...
HHM: Any favorite fishing spots?
LW: Lots, but if I confess I must kill you.**
HHM: If the caught fish are edible, can people take them home or have them cleaned and prepared anywhere locally?
LW: Our charter fleet cleans your catch and the Crazy Crab [restaurant] will cook them for you
HHM: What words of advice would you give to boaters/fishermen?
LW: Nothing is more fun than being on the water, but take boating seriously. If you wouldn’t jump in an airplane without proper training, then don’t jump into a boat. Learn the area, boating etiquette, local laws/rules, no wake zones, and safety rules. Watch the weather and respect other boaters, as well as the environment. Be prepared and it will be the most fun you have ever had!
HHM: Any good Web sites or resources you can recommend?
LW: We do not have a lot of sites for boaters and fishermen. Some include charlestonfishing.com, MissJudyCharters.com, www.dnr.sc.gov/, or individual marina sites. I’d like to stress the importance of classes offered locally by both the US Power Squadron, as well as the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, year round, are helpful to new and potential boaters. Boating laws are available in publications at most marinas. Local yacht clubs offer good educational opportunities, or just find a friend with a boat and I’ll bet he or she would be more than happy to share some knowledge! **
About Our ‘Guide’
Leslie Whitener, Assistant Harbourmaster with Harbour Town Yacht Basin, has been with the basin since 1984 and hails from Newberry, SC. For details regarding the Harbour Town Yacht Basin’s fishing excursions, new Mariner’s Club, fireworks cruises, and more, please visit harbourtownyachtbasin.com or seapines.com. **According to additional sources, “Tarpon Hole,” south of Hilton Head, and areas underneath the bridges along the William Hilton Parkway, for example, are fishing hot spots. For more info, please check out worldwidefi shing. com, fi shingonly.com, and fintalk.com, and stay tuned to Monthly!
