I took a job working on Hilton Head this summer and wasn't sure what to expect for waves...? Is there anything to surf there or any beaches around with a decent summer break?
Hilton Head Waves Sure there are swells on HHI! The best break is Burkes Beach on the north end - it is public and usually runs around 2-3' except when there are storms, low pressure, etc. Right now it is a wave drought. Jacana street on the south end on North Forest Beach but the rich yankees have bought all the houses and think they own the ocean down there and will not allow parking or any dirty surfers walking around their houses to get to the beach very well. So good luck! Rusty Nelson - (the old man with the camo bucket hat) - see ya in the water!
I was wondering the same thing. I live in san diego and have a lot of family down inbilton head. they want my wife and I to move there. I live to surf basically, so while hilton head is very similar to socal with weather, a bunch of locals there said that surf on hhi is rare at best. they said burkes was the most consitent break, but that there are only a few days a month or ridable surf down there when its not hurricane season any surfers that live on hilton head? I know if I move to any beach back east it will be much less consistent, but hhi interior coastal location seems to me that it misses most of the swell windows that florida and nc get. any locals down there with some hilton head knowledge?
Hilton Head Waves We have plenty of waves. It is 55 degrees right now in the water so you pick your swells carefully. I usually travel to Daytona Beach Shores Pier in 4 hrs from here, or Cocoa Beach, Fl. The swells are usually great at Flagler Pier or New Smyrna. All close to here and the water is always warm there. Tybee is good for the spring, summer, or fall when the swell is best for the east coast. But that dam continental shelf keeps most of the swell from us. Any other questions - just ask. I am here! SCislander@hargray.com
Hunting Island I don't know if I just hit it on the right day, or if it fires like that a lot, but last April I was out there on business, and took some time to paddle out. It was well worth it, probably my best day in years. It's a cool place too because its surrounded in semi-tropical forest/palmetto trees. I was the only one out most of the day until one other guy eventually showed up in the pm. It's not far from HH, so might not be a bad idea to check it out.
Low Country Surfing Yes, Hunting Island is where they filmed Forest Gump's Vietnam scenes. It is so beautiful there with its pristine jungle. It is also a great place to catch waves here. However it still goes by the laws of east coast nature. Cold and small in the winter. It is still a good drive from Hilton Head. A little farther than Tybee which is app. 45 miles. Be prepared to pay for your entry at Hunting and to park on Tybee. Locals are great and the best months in the Low country are from April to November for waves. I know because I have been keeping a surf diary for 3 years.I mark my calender when they are good enough to ride. Another great break is 100 miles to the north in Charleston on Folly Island called, 'the Wash'. Plenty of breaks in the Low Country but head for Fl. in the winter for the warm water. Oh , did I mention the water on Hilton Head gets upwards to 90 degrees in August! Feels like soup!
Sc is so right in the middle of the winter going down to florida is so worth it and about in the summer the water is extremely warm and the tourist factor is always huge in the summer The best break is washout at folly its definatly worth the drive espically when its good and there is alot less tourists but always a big crowd when the waves are small
Not much in HH I used to live in Beaufort for years. Located between HHI and Hunting Island. If you are used to CA you are going to be let down. My recommendation is to get a boat. You can go from HHI to Hunting Island in less than 20 min. There are some smaller islands in between that pick up the swells.......watch out for sharks as they have a large population in this area. Tybee is a good option too......again a boat will get you to all coastal breaks faster than a car. If you look at a map you will see that you have drive inland then back out to get anywhere in this area. I live at Folly Beach now but moving to Wilmington. There are a few breaks here on Folly. The Washout being the best under most conditions. During bigger swells it will barrel......there are a few other beach breaks on the island and a point break to the north......has to have the right swell and has to be big. I hope that helps.
it does help. thanks a bunch. I am thinking about a rightsville beach relocation. still pretty close to hhi. 4 hour drive. and why is the sc area "more sharky". I keep hearing that about the caolinas. does anyone know why?
jus so you know the drive to hhi is actually 5 hours to hh and then add a bout 30 or so mins to the actuall island. if your wondering how i know this is due to my grandma lived down there and we would travel down to see her and i would go surf.
Low Country Sharks It is more sharky along the low country area because this the area where all the sealife breeds, it is natures fish hatchery. The birds also use these islands to breed then fly away. So where there are are lot of little fish, there are a lot of big ones.
Cool, that makes perfect sense. Alot of southeast surfers in both of the carolinas refer to "low country" all of the time. Being a san diego transplant from OC MD, I have no idea what low country is. Where exactly is the "low country" located, and what does it mean? Does it mean the marsh areas and shallow water barrier islands up and down the coasts? Is wrightsville and CB considered low country? I just hear this reference all the time and would like to know what it means.
I know wrightsville and cb, or anywhere in nc isn't considered "the low country". I believe its a term referring to our brothers to the south (especially south of myrtle since no one really surfs there for good reason)...I scored folly back in november and it was one of the best swells i've ever surfed, head high shacks..
low counrty refers to coastal sc region, east of columbia basically. the waves in all of sc and ga. are going to be really disappointing moving from socal. sc's only break is folly and most of us go north to for any decent swell. i bet you get as many ridable days on the great lakes as you do in HH. if you truly live for surf then i would look at wilm. or jacksonville as they are the closest thing to a decent setup.
wikipedia defines low country as the entire south carolia coastal counties with more dominant ones on the middle to southside. so what makes tybee so muc better. I have heard for years that tybee is the most consistent area, but its in northern georgia right? does it have a deeper continental shelf? does it stick out off the shore? what is it?
Looking at a map Tybee seems to stick out a little more than the rest. I have never been down to Tybee which is strange......my dad lives on Skidaway Island right below it. I will ask him if he knows.....he does a lot of boating and fishing around there. I will also check it out next time I am on Google Earth. This is crazy check it out......it is a bit dated 2001 but interesting none the less. http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200107/donahue
