Over the past few weeks Lauren and I have been plotting out what we may do for Theresa's big 60th birthday coming up in January. It was a toss up between a smaller family gathering or a big shindig inviting everyone she knows. Then it was the venue, spend the money and have it somewhere else, or run around like a madman over the next month tying up unfinished projects so she's not embarrassed having people over in my ever evolving episode of This Old House.
Out of the blue she came to me and said, "Look, I can get a place (for a week) in Hilton Head around our birthdays for $400". Mmmmm. Hilton Head. Retirement destination. Warmer weather. REDFISH!! So after explaining to her what we were conjuring up she opted for a destination birthday celebration for her 60th and my 58th. No doubt one big reason she leaned to travel is to escape the cold, and the big old cold house we reside in.
January in Hilton Head, which is their winter season, is similar to our fall here in New Jersey. Water temps range from the 40-50's and the fish, mostly redfish, swim in larger schools and prefer warmer shallow creeks and mudflats. There's also big bulls reportedly off in the inshore waters but that would require a boat, so some type of charter for hire. For me that would mean
reaching out to guide Marc Nutting of LoCo Fly Charters, above, who I've fished with before. But, this is NOT a fishing trip. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.
But how can it NOT be a fishing trip. Marriot's Barony Beach Club is located on the beach and within a short drive to all kinds of creeks and channels, and that's where the fish like to
prowl during the cooler, not cold, winter months. During our past trips we've stayed at Marriot's Harbor Point which is at Shelter Cove on Broad Creek. The two times we've went it was about
1,000 degrees and while I put the time in I was only able to land a small, like real small, puppy drum. It wasn't until my friend Neil and I hired Marc to take us out did I find real good tailing reds
and land a few respectable fish. That trip was one where you had to leave in the dark because by 9 am it was a million degrees and the fish were hunkered down trying to escape the heat. While my favorite way to fish for striped bass is sight fishing I have to say I might enjoy the way
redfish act when in skinny water just a tad better. Tailing striped bass and bluefish? Yes, that happens from time to time, but it seems to be the go-to way redfish like to hunt and eat.
I did some research browsing the internet looking to see how fishing in Hilton Head is in January. Of course the charter operations and guides talk of possible great fishing, not that they're lying, but I was looking more for the DIY take on things.
I read that smaller reds in the 2-12 pound range, fine by me, are typical in the creeks, the big reds are found 5-15 miles off the beach. What is appealing by not fishing when it's like Africa hot is the water quality and visibility. When I fished it was the high summer season and the water was full of algae type stuff and almost had a chalky appearance to it. They say the water during the winter months is gin clear which is better for sight fishing.
So it'll just be a few weeks before we either load up the car and head south or spend a few hundred for airplane tickets plus another couple of hundies for a rental car. It's a brutal 11-1/2
hour drive covering 745 miles. You think you're saving money by driving but when you add up the gas, tolls, meals, and the udder aggravation....it seems worth the money to sit like a sardine for the 2-1/2 hour flight. The ONLY problem is, what about my Orvis PRO waders? They're big and bulky and won't fit in a carry-on. Maybe I could just hold them as my personal item?
I'm thinking if we fly I'll just head over to WalMart and pick up a cheap pair of waders and then just leave them down there for next guy. Or I could just have them shipped to the Barony Resort. But if I go for the extra $80 bucks for a checked bag....alright left me stop. Remember...NOT a fishing trip.
If I were smart I'd be looking at how to book a day for Theresa at Moor Day Spa in Hilton Head. She's been there before and I know would like to return. Well maybe not for a day but at least a couple of hours that could be a drop off and go fish day.
The only problem with that is these packages max out at about 2-1/2 hours, which is less than half a tide. At $400 plus that makes for an expensive and quick fishing outing. Maybe I'll just pick up a used foot bath at the local Goodwill and do her myself.
So with the semester ending yesterday and with a return to work date of January 23rd I have some time to figure this trip out. Drive or fly is the big decision, and I'm leaning to the later. Then it will be what gear I can take or not for some DIY'ing it around the island. I'll reach out to Chuck "Hyman" Manny since he spends a lot of time down on Hilton Head and is just as good a fisherman down there as he is here. And of course while we're there we'll hit Latitude
Margaritaville where Theresa will no doubtedly tell me it's time to sell the house in New Jersey and head south. I can't imagine living in a house that's 100 months old rather than 100 years old. I can't imagine calling a place like below home.
It was June 30th, 2024 where we said we were on a two-year exodus plan from New Jersey. With about seven months from that prediction it looks like we might be dragging our feet a bit. Maybe the trip down in a few weeks will re-energize us and just take the big step of moving on before we get trapped here in New Jersey forever.
