Bushy Park Boat Landing

Online ratings of fishing spots are often dependent on if, and how many of what size fish reviewers were able to catch there. Purists may question why anything else would matter, while considering any other subjective characteristics merely details. That logic is hard to argue with, but what if it's plainly obvious that a specific fishing spot is Loaded with fish, and the experienced angler behind the keyboard knows his or her anemic catch count is temporary, and based on a limited number of trips with inadequate gear or the wrong bait? I suppose it's up to the reader to determine for themselves which reviews offer the most relevant information based on personal interests. With that said, and in the interest of full disclosure, I have to report having not actually landed anything during the 2 short 90-minute trips I've made to this place. Hooked up a couple times on something small, but no catch count to share...yet. This place, and the surrounding area, is like a Fishing Mecca. And for good reason! In no more than a 2-hour drive in almost any direction from Mt. Pleasant SC you can fish fresh, brackish, or salt water locations to catch among the broadest range of species you're likely to find anywhere in the country. I'm reviewing Bushy Park, because to me this is a very interesting place to fish. Why do I think that? Here's a limited list of the two things I think are the most compelling reasons to go check this place out: • Brackish vs Fresh On one side of the road the fishable body of water is entirely fresh, and there is reported to be a nearly 60' hole just past the end of the boat launch. This creates the possibility of some very large catfish occupying a concentrated area easily reachable with a casted bait from the fishing platform next to the launch. Bass, Bluegill, Carp, several species of Catfish, and one of my personal favorites, the Spotted Gar, which I refer to as the Fresh Water Tarpon because of the ferocity with which they resist being landed, are all commonly caught here. On the other side of the road the body of water is open to the Atlantic, but that eventual opening is far enough away, the water filtered through enough salt grass vegetation, and mixed with enough fresh water to lower the salt content to a level considered brackish. This means that in addition to most of the saltwater inshore species you're familiar with from fishing large estuaries like Mobile Bay, such as Reds and Black Drums, Sheepshead, and Specks, this brackish side of the road also holds a population of Gar nearly as numerous as its freshwater counterpart on the other side. Both sides are renowned for the immense schools of baitfish swarming the launch areas after dark. • Alligators My family moved to Shreveport Louisiana when I was 12, so I consider this town and the surrounding area of northwest Louisiana to be my hometown. Having spent countless hours in small Jonboats fishing, running yoyos, and frog gigging after dark on bodies of water like Cypress and Wallis Lakes, I've had way more than my fair share of encounters, several nearly face-to-face, with Alligators of all sizes. Believe it or not, years ago I even caught a baby Alligator on a Popper with my Bass rod. So, I'm intimately familiar with Earth's oldest reptilian predator. What I didn't know was how extensive the local Alligator population is. (I also didn't know Mt. Pleasant is near the most seismicly active place on the east coast, with small earthquakes occurring frequently here. Did you know that?) There must be a pathway between the bodies of water nearby, because the Alligators seem to move from side to side of the road with ease. Small ones, which I'm guessing are between 18-24 inches and maybe 2-3 years old, can regularly be seen lounging in the water near the shore right next to the boat launch. They're not worried about the presence of people in the least. Larger ones can be seen every night, on both sides, freely floating somewhere within 50-300 yards from shore. Some of their members are among the largest I've seen anywhere.

Good boat launch for a seasoned boater & minimum of 2 people (would NOT recommend for a beginner as I saw some other rater say that it was good for a beginner). This place does get busy on the weekends and no bathroom on-site. The docks are separated by over 20 ft from the ramps so launching and receiving a boat solo is difficult and time consuming. Left-hand side (going North) is freshwater & right-hand side is brackish. Do not use the left-hand side if you have a hardtop on your boat. You won't make it through the bridge at State Road 8-9. Have to pay attention to tides on the right-hand side.

Unique ramp with fresh water on one side (Back Creek) and salt(Cooper River) on the other! Ramps can be steep, but have relatively good traction.

Awesome area! Easy launching and loading. Great waterways!

This is a great landing to put the boat in at. Easy access to both fresh and salt(brackish) water. 2 ramps 1 dock on the fresh side. 4 ramps 2 docks and a fishing pier on the salt side. Plenty of parking. No facilities. Bug spray is a must in the warm months. All this being said, recent neglect from the govt is showing up here. This is effectively a dry ramp at low. Watched a john boat just barely manage it an hour before low, he had to use his trolling motor since his main was throwing mud. A kayak/canoe may be able to make it at low, but it's sketchy.