Master Angler nearshore fishing
 

Trailering my 77 MA down to Edisto this year for a week and planning on fishing. I have grown up on the water in Upstate SC and have plenty of boating experience. I have fished and hunted for years in the coastal waterways and creeks but wanted to hit some of the nearshore reefs this year. I know there are a lot of variables( weather, seas, etc.) but what am I looking at heading just a few miles out? Is my boat safely capable or do I need to stay inshore. I hear guys all the time going out in 20' and less boats. All advice is appreciated.

Good info on Chas Fishing. DNR has reef map/location on their site. Large menhaden should be easily had for kings in 30-90 ft, 90+ dolphin, aj, sails, and bottom fish. You'll get mixed answers on boat size vs ocean distance. Be safe, prepared, and know the weather. 41004 is deep bouy realtime info. Passage weather is also a good source for predictions.

As with any boat attention to sea conditions is a must ! That being said in MHO your master angle is the best 20' fishing boat made. I had a 20 sf and would run 15 to 20 miles offshore off s. Fla hope you have a great trip!

Thanks for the info guys. I am planning on going 10 miles or less. 4ki, Edisto nearshore, and Edisto 40. From what I understand it would be best to leave out of the North channel rather than South Edisto/Big Bay Creek.

my dad and I had a 1978 20 ft MA for about 20 years (1978 - 1996)……we would regularly go 20 miles offshore (Tarpon Springs, Florida) and have been as much as 40 miles. There are certain times of the year that are less risky; also as the experienced mariners said before me, you gotta pay attention to the weather; you should have two separate sources of weather reports and always factor in the day before and day after. …for example I went out on fathers day in my 23 footer and it was fairly windy the three days before we went out (each day different directions). It was only blowing 5 miles out of south on fathers day but the seas were very confused and choppy due to the three days prior… one of my novice family members got sick…..argh!! cut our day short. Anyhow, I used to say if you can't go out in the 20 MA you really don't want to be offshore anyway; I don't like to get beat up even if my boat can take it. I prefer to wait for good days.

I'm local to the area so here's my advice. Im in the north edisto almost every weekend. Right now the kings are showing up on high and incoming water at 2ne. (Buoy). I have not been to 4ki to fish yet but I know the spades are there. Might be a few cobia left but I don't know that for sure. Plenty of sharks. Red drum and tarpon in front of Deavuax bank. Check my spelling on that one. Giant menhaden by the thousands.

The boat will handle anything you can. If you're uncomfortable with conditions, turn back. I've had my 20SF 40 miles offshore on a nice day, no problems. And I've been 15 off when conditions turned snotty and had to surf a 6'-8' swell on the way back in. Didn't stuff the bow once in that big following sea

First time I made the crossing from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini and back (45 miles each way) was in a friend's '76MA. As long as you have adequate bilge pump capacity, a reliable float switch, and reliable power, the boat will take care of you.

Dave

Yup.

Where do I get those special horns?

I have a 20MA with a kicker and full height splashwell gate. I did a 60 mile round trip last year in Buzzards Bay with no real planning. It was a breeze. The hardest part was keeping the sun off me. The coamings/ cap are pretty high in a MA. My boat is somewhat light, but I have about 410 lb on the transom, between the main engine and kicker. I did it on a 20 gallon tank.

I do have a ditch bag and PLB. I run solo so I have a dead man switch. I am slow but can hang with 23-26 foot boats in the swells. I think they are at cruise and I am closer to WOT for my rig. I only have a 4 stroke 100 HP with iffy tune.

I want to do a Nantucket to RI run but I think that is just too much in this boat this year. Especially with no Bimini. I may re prop for that.

Oh yeah, I think I marked something big off lucas shoal last year. Like Jaws big.

The thing to remember is any boat on the water is vulnerable to human intellect. Best thing to do in any boat is study the weather and make sure the boat is ship shape and water tight. That being said, I've been caught at an island 40 miles offshore, cold and tired from sitting on anchor overnight in the wind. We decided to make the crossing at first light but should have waited. We surfed down swell 10+ footers for a few hours making about 10 miles before things calmed down. This was in an 18 Parker with "interesting" occasional bow steer characteristics. If the motor had quit, we would have been swamped for sure. Would much rather had the 20 Seacraft! Yep, vulnerable to human intellect. :D