Keaton Beach Fishing

Post by **Gilligan** » September 22nd, 2004, 9:24 am

Some one just bought a little property down there and wants to go fishing,
but I know nothing about the area. Any particularly dangerous areas I
want to be aware of, being a novice and all. Apparently their place is on
a canal with access to the gulf....any info would be appreciated, thanks!
I know I need to find out more about it...

dstockwell · Post by **dstockwell** » September 22nd, 2004, 9:59 am

Did they get one of the condo's on the canal, across from the public ramp. There are sand bars, but hard to tell you where they are. South is usually shallower than North. But what size boat, that would determine how far they need to go down the channel before turning out. If your going North and its not low tide you can turn out at channel marker 4, however low tide maybe not. If the winds are out of the NE Keaton can get shallow in alot of places, and then you can see lots of places to avoid. Experience is about all I can say, its more forgiving than other places. Go out near the end of the last markers then take an almost "0" heading North, good places for Trout. Get a chart would help alot while learning, and talk to the Marina folks, they can help.

Post by **Gilligan** » September 22nd, 2004, 10:41 am

Will check the chart, thanks a lot. 16' Carolina Skiff, sounds like I should
be ok, just was concerned about obstructions or oysters I guess, will
talk to them and find out more, thanks a lot!

Post by **CSMarine** » September 22nd, 2004, 11:02 am

Powell, stay in the channel which is well marked and you'll have no problem going out. Hang close to the fishing pier in the canal, the channel is real narrow there with a couple huge rocks. They are marked with a bouy that says "rock". Don't cut any corners of the channel until you get out to at least the #2 marker.
Going south from the #1 marker you'll have no problem on about any tide until you get to the South birdrack. It starts to get pretty shallow after that. Mostly just sand bars.
Going north from the #1 marker is a little different. In close you have oyster bars. Out at the north birdrack its shallow on low tide, but no oyster bars, just sand.
I think I'd start north from Deckle Beach down to Adams beach first in three feet and adjust from there.
If you run South, I'd try in front of Piney Point in three foot to start, working out to the Dog Head. Live Pinfish or Pinfish tails would be my starting bait. If the Pinfish are longer than three inches about all your going to hang this time of year is sharks and ladyfish.

Check out this site.
http://www.keatonbeachmarina.com

Post by **Gilligan** » September 22nd, 2004, 12:07 pm

You guys are something else, thanks much!, just don't want to sink
anything just yet!

Post by **JimR** » September 22nd, 2004, 12:47 pm

Can't add much to the above but if you get a chance to go during the winter on a strong low tide you will be able to "see what you've been missing ".

Post by **CSMarine** » September 22nd, 2004, 1:03 pm

The trick is to go out when it's low like that in the winter to scout it out, and especially after a storm season like the one we're having. Because the bottom is prone to change in places. Especially the sandy areas.

The Marina sells pretty decent maps of the area.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » September 22nd, 2004, 1:59 pm

Yeah, scouting low winter tides is a great trick for mapping fishing sites.
But try that in a boat...
I wonder how a person could pull off such a trick? (Mj)

Post by **CSMarine** » September 22nd, 2004, 4:43 pm

Lit, I do it all the time at Keaton in an 18 foot CC. Surely I can't go where you can, but then you can't run to the different spots far apart that I can in a big boat. At Keaton I'm checking creek mouths mostly. I can get out in my boat even on winter tide at Keaton most of the time. Notice I say most of the time.