Post by savreds on Jun 29, 2011 20:34:00 GMT -5
One question that I have been asked more than once by people new to the kayak scene around Savannah is “where is a good place to launch my kayak”.
Unfortunately, due to the type of marsh that is typical in our area, the number of good convenient launch sites are somewhat limited.
I am going to list the launches in a somewhat best-to worst order based on ease of launch and proximity of decent fishing.
Alley 3 on Tybee Island is without a doubt the most popular in Chatham County. However this creates a problem with parking due to the sheer number of people that use it. Better get there early on a weekend before the rec. paddlers if you want a spot. Pay to park at the little kiosk stand, and yes they LOVE to get those parking fines.
Lazaredo Creek has a nice big ramp with ample parking. It has a longer paddle than Alley 3 but much more area to choose from. You really need to check the weather and tides before you attempt this spot. It is wide open to an East or Northeast wind and can get really nasty. You ideally want to paddle out on the outgoing tide and then come back with the incoming or you are in for a real workout. If you are anywhere out past the little lighthouse toward the jetties you need to keep a constant eye out for the ships. They move a lot of water and will send a nice size wave over the mudflat at low tide. Tybee Island Bait and Tackle is on your right as you paddle out.
Skidaway Narrows / Butterbean Beach has a nice big paved parking lot with plenty of room to launch. If it’s on a weekend it will probably be better to launch from the grass than the boat ramp due to powerboat usage. As the name implies, it can be pretty narrow around low tide and is often infested with less than knowledgeable / courteous people in boats and jetskiis so keep your guard up. On weekdays the place is often times almost deserted except for the people laying out at the swimming area. There is also live bait, fishing supplies and snacks available at Bandy’s.
Polk Street on Tybee will give you access to the same areas as Lazaredo but it is a long way from the parking area to the water and will require a good set of beach wheels with ballon tires due to lots of soft sand. Pay to park here also.
I’m going to put the rest of the spots here as a tie, mainly due to the fact that I have not personally launched form them. The ramp by Adams Bait stand across the bridge in Thunderbolt. The ramp on Islands Expressway, this will go almost dry on low tide but you should still be able to get in and out in a yak.
Turners Creek boat ramp located under the Turners Creek Bridge. A single ramp and this place is a madhouse on the weekends. Parking can be a problem at times.
The ramp on Apache Ave over by Savannah Mall. Single ramp, dirt parking lot
KingsFerry boat ramp on Hwy 17. This accesses mostly fresh / brackish water and is another place that can be a zoo on the weekends.
These are all locations where there is safe easy access to the water. If someone is adventuresome, I’m sure there are other places that would work but will require a lot of work and probably involve wading thru lots of soft mud which could possibly be dangerous if you got bogged down in it to far.
There is one ramp that I have intentionally left out and that is Hoolihan Ramp over in Port Wentworth on the Savannah River. I would not EVER recommend that someone launch a kayak from there. That part of the river is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! There have been many accidents and some deaths over the years there involving powerboats. The currents are insane in the Savannah River and is NOT a place for a kayak.
Hopefully as the club and sport grows, we might be able to get the county and or state interested in helping build some “paddle only” access points.
Unfortunately, due to the type of marsh that is typical in our area, the number of good convenient launch sites are somewhat limited.
I am going to list the launches in a somewhat best-to worst order based on ease of launch and proximity of decent fishing.
Alley 3 on Tybee Island is without a doubt the most popular in Chatham County. However this creates a problem with parking due to the sheer number of people that use it. Better get there early on a weekend before the rec. paddlers if you want a spot. Pay to park at the little kiosk stand, and yes they LOVE to get those parking fines.
Lazaredo Creek has a nice big ramp with ample parking. It has a longer paddle than Alley 3 but much more area to choose from. You really need to check the weather and tides before you attempt this spot. It is wide open to an East or Northeast wind and can get really nasty. You ideally want to paddle out on the outgoing tide and then come back with the incoming or you are in for a real workout. If you are anywhere out past the little lighthouse toward the jetties you need to keep a constant eye out for the ships. They move a lot of water and will send a nice size wave over the mudflat at low tide. Tybee Island Bait and Tackle is on your right as you paddle out.
Skidaway Narrows / Butterbean Beach has a nice big paved parking lot with plenty of room to launch. If it’s on a weekend it will probably be better to launch from the grass than the boat ramp due to powerboat usage. As the name implies, it can be pretty narrow around low tide and is often infested with less than knowledgeable / courteous people in boats and jetskiis so keep your guard up. On weekdays the place is often times almost deserted except for the people laying out at the swimming area. There is also live bait, fishing supplies and snacks available at Bandy’s.
Polk Street on Tybee will give you access to the same areas as Lazaredo but it is a long way from the parking area to the water and will require a good set of beach wheels with ballon tires due to lots of soft sand. Pay to park here also.
I’m going to put the rest of the spots here as a tie, mainly due to the fact that I have not personally launched form them. The ramp by Adams Bait stand across the bridge in Thunderbolt. The ramp on Islands Expressway, this will go almost dry on low tide but you should still be able to get in and out in a yak.
Turners Creek boat ramp located under the Turners Creek Bridge. A single ramp and this place is a madhouse on the weekends. Parking can be a problem at times.
The ramp on Apache Ave over by Savannah Mall. Single ramp, dirt parking lot
KingsFerry boat ramp on Hwy 17. This accesses mostly fresh / brackish water and is another place that can be a zoo on the weekends.
These are all locations where there is safe easy access to the water. If someone is adventuresome, I’m sure there are other places that would work but will require a lot of work and probably involve wading thru lots of soft mud which could possibly be dangerous if you got bogged down in it to far.
There is one ramp that I have intentionally left out and that is Hoolihan Ramp over in Port Wentworth on the Savannah River. I would not EVER recommend that someone launch a kayak from there. That part of the river is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! There have been many accidents and some deaths over the years there involving powerboats. The currents are insane in the Savannah River and is NOT a place for a kayak.
Hopefully as the club and sport grows, we might be able to get the county and or state interested in helping build some “paddle only” access points.