Riches Inlet - FryingPanTower.Com

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:34 pm Post subject: Riches Inlet

How is riches inlet at low tide this year.
I have not been in or out of it yet.
I did ride to the breakers and turned around. It was dead low and cold.
Didn't want to push it off a bar.
I does appear that it has moved a bit to the south.
Reefcast is looking better for Saturday.
It will be dead low around day break at Riches Saturday.
Thanks you for replies.
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In The Dog House

Ol'Salt Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1337

This is my observations about Rich's Inlet from late Feb. of this year,
so this may or may not be helpful.......
It's dangerous & has drastically changed from previous years, the shoals on the Hutaft ( north side ) has shifted south, with a very narrow & turbulent opening that parallels the Fig 8 side.......

I will never use it in low light conditions or low tide before running it on a blue bird day with west winds & saving a Track Back on my Garmin.

Hope this helps ...... ICM
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Cape Fear Anglers

Ol'Salt Joined: May 21, 2009 Posts: 200

Haven't they been dredging it for the last few weeks?

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:49 am Post subject:

Thank you Billy.
That is good info to know. I think we will do just as you say and go out at mid to high tide and lay down a track.
Surfer,
I have never seen them dredge Riches.
I have seen then dredge behind Figure Eight Island in Lees cut and pump it out to the beach in front.
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In The Dog House

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject:

I ran in and out of Riches last couple of years and can definetly say it is shifting to the south in a hurry. I will also go out soon and lay a track for this year. I have the wreck marked on my Garmin and can tell you that the track from 2 years ago is to the south and much more narrow as there is a peak extruding from the Figure 8 side. Once you pass this peak you start a turn to the right and almost parallel the beach and head directly toward WB.

ICM and Gypsygirl: I live in SH also and run out of the Marina. We need to get together sometime and compare notes on Riches. Thanks!

Ol'Salt Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1337

Gypyspgirl ......I think running at dead low tide would make for a better track, because the back side of Fig 8, leading from Nixon's Channel around the tip before you even get to the inlet has filled in as well.......

And you right about Rich's Inlet, it has never been dredged to my knowledge. It's an unmarked inlet without channel markers or buoys.
The sunken Blockcade Runner was hugging the Hutaft side last time I went out.

Tanktom ..... do you know my buddy Dave Emery from SH?
I like the way you think. Let's get together & share some notes with Gypysgirl ........ ICM
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Cape Fear Anglers

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:56 pm Post subject:

Tanktom,
Looking forward to meeting you.
We put in at SH marina most Saturdays and Sundays during the summer.
We have a big family and love to hang out on Lee Island.
We have been using SH since 1987 when I purchased my first boat.
I have had the pleasure of meeting ICM on two occasions.
He knows his stuff and posts up very usefull information.
He is correct on laying down the track at dead low.
I just don't know if I will be able to stay out that long this Saturday.
Low tide will be around 6pm.
I will probably be going in and out of the inlet around 3.
Will post back up after I run it a few times.
I am into offshore bottom fishing.
When we go offshore I like to have a buddy boat in the area as I run only one motor. Would love to have you and ICM to go offshore with.
Very respectfully.
jack
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In The Dog House

Ol'Salt Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1337

Are either of you going to the FPT Get Together on this Sunday?
I will be there after 4 ........ ICM
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Cape Fear Anglers

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:24 am Post subject:

ICM: I am pretty sure I know your friend Dave Emery. He has the Parker in one of the slips on the inside. We have had many good conversations out at the dock and on the water fishing for specks. Good guy!

I am definitely thinking about riding up to Surf City Sunday mainly to meet a couple of the folks on here. If I do, I will definitely look for you.

gypysgirl: I have lived in SH since 1990. I have seen the "Dog House" several times. Concerning the buddy boat, I'm very interested. I also run single engine and agree with you completely. I have the 212 WA Hydrasports named STATE TIME docked in the second slip on the outside.
If you make the FTP get together Sunday maybe we can also meet .

As far as the new tracks for the inlet, dead low west wind is definitely best. I need to have a little more work done on my boat but hope to be able to mark the inlet by the end of the month. Spanish can't be far away!

Thanks guys!

David

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

ICW
I will not be able to make it to the gathering. I have to work this Sunday.
You guys have fun.
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In The Dog House

Ol'Salt Joined: May 21, 2009 Posts: 200

If you guys find a good track and deem it safe let me know....that is the closest inlet to me and I would much rather run out of there then Topsail like I did all last year.

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:03 pm Post subject:

There is a relatively new shot on Google Earth, sometime between June and November of last year because I see my boat in its slip.
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Ol'Salt Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1337

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:10 pm Post subject:

NCSurfer: Even with a current track, you have to pick your days to use Riches. I am very aware of tide times, wind direction, wave height and period before I go. I have gone out of Riches and returned only to end up going to MBI to come in due to conditions that I was not comfortable with. I also have seen the track change within a couple of months. The best way as mentioned is to go to the inlet on a west wind, low tide and take your time and study the inlet. I will be glad to share anything I know or observe during the season on this thread.
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State Time
212WA HydraSports
200 Honda 4 Stroke

Cape Fear Anglers

Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 9:29 am Post subject:

Finally got to go out yesterday. Got to inlet a couple of hours after low tide with the wind out of the NW. Decided to fish inlet for awhile and caught 5 flounder all around 14 1/2". How do those folks know to increase the size to be 1/2" longer than what you catch? Last year it was 13 1/2" were the common size in the inlet. All were returned to bite again.

Tide was high around 11A and the inlet had a nice looking opening straight out with no breakers. I took off for the ocean to troll for spanish and marked around 4 1/2' to 5' thru this opening. Was amazed as this was not an option last season. Trolled all the way to MBI with two spanish and two blues to show for it. Spanish hit around Masons and blues around MBI.

Ran the ditch back to Scotts Hill and returned to the inlet around 4P. Hung around for dead low around 5P and west wind. Opening I had gone out earlier was completely gone with breakers all the way across. The only opening was the one from last year where you turn right past Figure 8 and parallel the beach heading directly towards WB.

One last observation, I saw a bouy that may be the wreak. If so, it has moved oceanward from where I had marked it last year. Tight lines!

Ol'Salt Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1337

Hit the surf hoping for a Red yesterday. Gene had one mystery bite. Pretty sure it was a Shark, never got to see it before it bit thru his leader.

The Blockade Runner Wreck has not moved & I did not see any marker buoy. We could walk on it, that's how clear the water was & how close to the shoals. It may be exposed in a couple of months.
Be careful you don't want to hit it with your boat .......ICM
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Cape Fear Anglers

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 8:30 pm Post subject: Coordinates

I ran out the inlet at low tide this morning and these are the coordinates I have. The lowest water I saw was 4.5 ft. These numbers worked for me but I assume no responsibility if you use them.
Starting inside the inlet and bearing south towards Figure Eight:

N 34* 18.038
W 077* 42.852

N 34* 17.877
W 077* 42.735

N 34* 17.634
W 077* 42.691

N 34* 17.360
W 077* 42.770

N 34* 17.105
W 077* 42.978
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Gery

www.huntershaventaxidermy.com

Deck Hand Joined: Mar 31, 2008 Posts: 9

tanktom & icm, know dave well our boat is docked in the slip beside him
22 seahunt. might know my brother martin

thanks for all the info on the inlet will be scouting it out soon. thanks

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 5:39 pm Post subject:

gypsygirl: Planning a grouper trip out of RI around daybreak Sunday. Fish off of Topsail in the 18 - 25 mile range. Tide is low, will run the track parallel to the beach. Any interest in doing a buddy boat trip?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject:

tanktom,
Sorry I missed your post. We went out Riches Thursday night at midnight dead hightide 5 foot of water at the breakers.
Had big plans to go to the stream ran into fuel issues about 23 miles from the inlet. Boat would not get over 4 knots. Anchored up until day break then limped back to the hill.
Very disapointed.
Thanks for the shout out. Would love to buddy boat out with you sometime.
Putting the boat in the shop tomorrow. Hope it's ready by this weekend.
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In The Dog House

Ol'Salt Joined: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1337

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:59 pm Post subject:

ICM,
We run the Doghouse.
It's a 24 Grady DC.
The one in the avitar.
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In The Dog House

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject:

ICM: I have a Hydrasports 212WA named "State Time". We went through the inlet around 5:50am to one of the slickest oceans I have been on. Ran 30+ mph out to a spot 32 miles out. Did stop at AR 368 as bait balls were everywhere. Hooked up on something jigging and fought for around 20 minutes before hook came loose. Black Bass are ridiculous. We caught around 30 or more in the two to three pound range on circle hook rigs. We would get tired of venting them and move to another spot just to find more. We did manage two verly nice grey snappers and two large white grunts. Man those things are great grilled on charcoal.

Finallly did get a gag, sucker measured 23 3/4". He also was vented and swims for another day.

Gypsygirl: Sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope its not serious and you are back on the water by the weekend. You missed out on a beautiful calm day on the water. We definitely need to hook up and do a trip.

Ol'Salt Joined: May 21, 2009 Posts: 200

Has anyone run Rich's recently...trying to sneak out of there tomorrow AM

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:50 pm Post subject:

I ran it a week or so ago. The cut is not way south like before; it is slightly to the right going seaward. Watch the breakers for the cut. Good luck!
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Captainmark

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject:

Captainmark is correct.
It has changed from a month ago when I laid down my track.
I went out yesterday at low tide, not dead low but close and there was 6"
of water. The track is very close to what it has been for the last several years. Almost straight out. There is a nice gap now, about 50 yards in the breakers from the north side to the south side breakers. It was very easy to read coming in and going out. Much easier than just a month ago.
Good luck and stay safe. Had a boat flip there last week that got caught inside the breakers. We fish in and out of that soup in the breakers a lot for Spanish and it is easy to get too far inside and have one roll up on you.
Stay safe, tight lines.
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In The Dog House

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:57 pm Post subject:

Getting close to that time again! Has anyone run the inlet this year yet? Any new observations concerning openings across the bar or laid out tracks? Huntershaven's information last Spring was good info. I know ICM, captainmark and gypsygirl are known to scout the area also. Thanks in advance for any recent recon!
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State Time
212WA HydraSports
200 Honda 4 Stroke

Cape Fear Anglers

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:02 pm Post subject:

I haven't been out yet this year but will be going next week if the weather holds out. I'll post what I find. ICM should have some info.
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Gery

www.huntershaventaxidermy.com

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject:

Talked to a neighbor last nite, he said it's back to the south, run down the beach south like it was before. I may take a run over there this weekend since I may need a new track for fishing next week.
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Captainmark

Newbie Joined: Jul 02, 2009 Posts: 1

I ran it today at low tide. From the Wilde dare wreck it's a bearing of 200 straight out. I never got any shallower than 6ft. It the cleanest I have seen it in years.

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