Exploring Winyah Bay

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We set sail on Day 1 only to quickly find a few less fortunate vessels.
We set sail on Day 1 only to quickly find a few less fortunate vessels.
Not exactly seaworthy…
Not exactly seaworthy…
… but it probably comes with a water bed.
… but it probably comes with a water bed.
Massive industrial structures line certain sections of the shore.
Massive industrial structures line certain sections of the shore.
Shipping channels and loading docks abound.
Shipping channels and loading docks abound.
Georgetown, SC – A Character City.
Georgetown, SC – A Character City.
A lot of work has been done along these pilings over the years.
A lot of work has been done along these pilings over the years.
Some of these structures look like props from a Transformer movie.
Some of these structures look like props from a Transformer movie.
Only one sign of life, and it’s not an Elite Series angler.
Only one sign of life, and it’s not an Elite Series angler.
Plenty of places for bass to hide.
Plenty of places for bass to hide.
We’re out of here.
We’re out of here.
They pack the boats in tight around here.
They pack the boats in tight around here.
Like putting a Band-Aid on a severed arm.
Like putting a Band-Aid on a severed arm.
Found an angler, but still in pursuit of our first Elite angler.
Found an angler, but still in pursuit of our first Elite angler.
Welcome to Georgetown, been here a while.
Welcome to Georgetown, been here a while.
Coastal Carolina’s research vessel
Coastal Carolina’s research vessel
People from all over here.
People from all over here.
Jim Halpert’s place.
Jim Halpert’s place.
Hometown flag.
Hometown flag.
My kind of ride.
My kind of ride.
This was a big boat. It was…
This was a big boat. It was…
...an interesting scene here on Winyah Bay. Marshland seems to go on for miles.
…an interesting scene here on Winyah Bay. Marshland seems to go on for miles.
Best we could tell these are commercial shrimping boats.
Best we could tell these are commercial shrimping boats.
Catch and release in the grease.
Catch and release in the grease.
The wind is blowing hard here today; to the point this flagpole has a little bend to it.
The wind is blowing hard here today; to the point this flagpole has a little bend to it.
This area of the fishery is making us crave some seafood.
This area of the fishery is making us crave some seafood.
Good Buddy.
Good Buddy.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
A few hazards scattered around the bay.
A few hazards scattered around the bay.
The U.S. Coast Guard is always ready.
The U.S. Coast Guard is always ready.
Let’s slow it down a bit.
Let’s slow it down a bit.
Skeet’s next ride.
Skeet’s next ride.
Seems like there should be a little more here than there is.
Seems like there should be a little more here than there is.
We head up the Black River a little farther, still searching for our first Elite angler…
We head up the Black River a little farther, still searching for our first Elite angler…
...but we keep coming up on roadblocks.
…but we keep coming up on roadblocks.
Here we go.
Here we go.
We stumble onto local favorite, Davy Hite.
We stumble onto local favorite, Davy Hite.
Hite slowly picks apart a canal…
Hite slowly picks apart a canal…
…then it’s time to make a move.
…then it’s time to make a move.
Hite moves to another canal.
Hite moves to another canal.
Hite hangs up and then unhangs his bait.
Hite hangs up and then unhangs his bait.
We found an angler, now all we need is a ….
We found an angler, now all we need is a ….
There we go.
There we go.
Hite hooks up again.
Hite hooks up again.
Two back-to-back keepers makes a limit for Davy Hite.
Two back-to-back keepers makes a limit for Davy Hite.
“Time to get out of here. I don’t have any confidence in catching a big one in here.”
“Time to get out of here. I don’t have any confidence in catching a big one in here.”
Hite heads out…
Hite heads out…
Chad Pipkens blows by as we head in for the day.
Chad Pipkens blows by as we head in for the day.