Calabash Creek Anchorage
Posted by admin | Posted on 04-03-2007
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November 21, 2011 - Ditto to what Bill said. On 11-23-11 found the same depths took the same route. ICW... read more
November 21, 2011 - 11-23-2011 Fit three boats in here on north shore between red #2 and the green #3... read more
July 12, 2011 - I anchored at Calabash Creek on July 5, 2011, without any problem. I arrived at... read more
April 22, 2010 - Anchored here 4-19-10 with nine other boats – 6 sail and 4 power altogether.... read more
April 22, 2010 - Coming out of Calabash Creek at dead low this morning (4-20-10) keeping close to the... read more
Calabash Creek Anchorage
Statute Mile: 342
Lat/Lon: near 33 52.353 North/078 34.176 West
Location: on the waters off Calabash Creek’s eastern shores between unlighted daybeacons #2 and #3
Minimum Depth: 4 ½ feet at entrance to Calabash Creek
Special Comment: southern entrance to Calabash Creek from the AICW is shoaling
Swing Room: sufficient room for boats as large as 40 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Very Good
Rating: 
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Ditto to what Bill said. On 11-23-11 found the same depths took the same route. ICW #2 to port Calabash #2 to Starboard and hooked in just off the line between R2 and the Green 3 off notrh shore. three other boats drawing 5.6′
JiM Lady Lady
11-23-2011
Fit three boats in here on north shore between red #2 and the green #3 other side of dolphins. Moon tide carried 12-14′ during high. Expect 6 tonight I hope
Jim & Dede McGuire
I anchored at Calabash Creek on July 5, 2011, without any problem. I arrived at exactly low tide, and watched a large sportfisher and two large drift fishing boats go through and decided to give it a try. They were coming from New River inlet and crossing the ICW. They hugged the ICW R2, leaving it to port, then stayed well of the Calabash Creek R2, leaving it to starboard. I draw 5.5 feet, and saw 6.5 feet passing ICW R2. I anchored in 9.5 feet between R2 and G3 just off the north shore. It was a nice anchorage once the stream of fishing boats and shrimpers finished the day. I would never have tried this on falling tide.
Bill Raynor
Anchored here 4-19-10 with nine other boats – 6 sail and 4 power altogether. It’s pretty tight with that many boats and I doubt the shrimpers will be please with those that are impinging on the channel. Not a lot of anchorage choices in this area however.
Coming out of Calabash Creek at dead low this morning (4-20-10) keeping close to the east of the ICW#2 marker, minimum depth was 6.4 ft.
Jean Thomason
Coming out of Calabash Creek at dead low this morning (4-20-10) keeping close to the east of the ICW#2 marker, minimum depth was 6.4 ft.
Jean Thomason
A recent delivery found us anchored near Little River Inlet, M/M 342, snug against the eastern shore of Calabash Creek and positioned on the east side of a line between markers #2 and #3. I like this anchorage, the first one you get to in South Carolina if you’re southbound, just 4 miles past the Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge. Use caution at the #2 entrance marker as the shoal it marks extends 20 yards or so directly south beyond the mark. This is a small anchorage — a dozen boats will fill it up — so get there early or there might not be sufficient room. If you anchor too near the channel you’ll get the wrath (and wakes) of the fishing boats going out just before sunrise. The town of Calabash, a mile up the creek of the same name, is famous for its seafood, and you can dinghy there and tie up on the inside of the commercial pier. Great food! I recommend Captain John’s. The current runs noticeably in this anchorage and you need to be cautious of other nearby boats if the anchorage is crowded (as it often is during “snowbird” seasons). For southbound sailors this is about the only viable anchorage between Carolina Beach and Marker #29 in the Waccamaw River. Georgetown is a 60 +/- mile day from here with several good anchorages and marinas south of Socastee Bridge. Oh, I forgot to mention the sunsets with the entire horizon visible to the west — spectacular in the fall!
Captain Andy Denmark
s/v “Rhiannon”
Oriental, NC
Our adventure was not over. Our intention was to anchor in Calabash Creek. However, we knew we were now only 1 ½ hr before low tide and that this could be a problem. We left flashing green daybeacon 119 and crept toward red floating ICW R2, eyes on the sounder. DON’T DO THIS. Stay mid channel on the ICW. There is shoaling well out from the northeast at Calabash Creek. We had about 3 hours to watch shrimp boats and casino boats traverse this section, as we sat aground in the ICW channel just over the midline to the northeast in the ICW and east of red floating 2. We didn’t feel quite so inept, when we watched a shrimp boat go aground just in front of us as he came in from sea and crossed the ICW to go into Calabash Creek. He was able to wiggle off, however. By 1930 we thought we had enough water to work our way into deeper water, and persevered when we cited two shrimp boats returning from sea. They crept through the creek entrance and we followed them in. Of course it was now dark but we only went in enough distance to anchor in 9’ of water. That anchorage had been so close and so far away.
No problem leaving at 8 this morning, and we had a great run to Georgetown.
Jeanie Quigley