Still Waters Don't Run Deep - Boating in Shallow Water
Thursday November 13, 2008
Learning the water means knowing that shallow water remains calm in a high wind. Don't always head for calm water during a blow. What you run into may surprise you!
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In the Charleston, SC area we have 5-7 ft. tides and when the wind and tide are moving in opposite direction the chop can really get tough. Experienced boaters know to run in the shallow water on the windward side of the creek to minimize the chop and keep the boat and passengers dry.
I was fishing in spruce creek here in cen. fl. during summer afternoons showers are almost like a gauranteed. I watched the weather channel calling for thunderstorms that afternoon. And like a dumba—– I went with my 12 ft. jon boat and troliing motor. my Mom called on my cell and said thunderstorms were coming. And I told her ok Im getting to the boat ramp. But the flounder were biting and I thought big deal Ill stay a little longer then head back in. Big mistake. All the suddend the air cooled dowm about 20 degrees colder and all I saw wass black coming from the west. The next thing I knew was the waves wre about 3-4 and whitecapped and chopy. I put my trolling motor in high gear and wasnt going any where. It was pouring rain drops as big as marbles and my boat was filling up quik. I tried paddling to a mangrove island. But I had no control to were I was going. It flew me up into some mangrove branches. And I waited it out bailing water fast as I could. Wind, Lightning,rain I sat there helplessly and waited it out. About an hour passed and you could never tell there was a storm it was sunny calm warm and beautiful. I went back to my spot and caught a couple more flounder and came in. I didnt tell my mom what I encounterd. But I learned a couple good lessons. If your using a trolling motor remember it is not an outboard. And Mom knows best., Mac