Southern End of Sunset Beach/Bird Island Pass [from ICW at Bonaparte's Landing to Backside of jetty area, north side of actual Little River Inlet]:

Location is around the Sunset Beach Island, just north of Little River Inlet marking the NC-SC border. Comments relate to the routes to the southern pass behind the Little River Inlet, and the northern pass, being Tubbs Inlet. Both put ins are onto the Intracoastal Waterway [ICW]. Tides and winds can be a factor, though we managed well enough without rudder on boat, this was a case for using one. Parking is as indicated at both put ins. Sandbars are more relevant to navigation coming out to the northern pass behind Sunset Beach Island. There are no public landings on either the north or south ends of the island itself. Making the passage through the Little River Inlet should not be attempted, very large craft and very swift boat speeds and currents make this hazardous for any but the most expert and that would still be a risk under difficult conditions.

THE PUT IN: The put in is dual ramp, poured rough concrete, at low tide the roll out on sand directly in line with the ramps is fair but between and on sides should be tested with shoes you can keep on your foot in case you sink to the knee through the muck and oyster shells which will cut your ankle, VOE [Voice of Experience]. Traffic is light but stay out of the way loading the yaks until ready to embark, have wheels and load at the vehicle if need be. Parking on either side, but enough room for maybe 4 vehicles or two or three with trailers.. Expect shrimper and flounder flat bottomed local boaters putting in the later afternoon any day. Don’t get swamped on launch by a large boat passing by and waking you.

TIDES AND WIND: Factor your tidal flows, allow time accordingly. Wind behind the island is more of a factor than on the southern end approaching Little River, though both can be a workout on some days. Not unusual to encounter 10-15 mph winds midday mostly coming from the ocean, often with an ENE component, but SE bodes stronger wind and higher risk of storms inbound.

STORMS: We have been on this trip 6 years now. June has been less storm troubled than August. Land based storms 5-6 miles inland often stay there, but do grow outsized to the coast when there is enough instability. SE winds generate large cells over Myrtle Beach and drift north, so be alert and have your marine and weather radios handy. An AM radio will also give you lightening strike static to see what is going on around you and return to port as caution dictates.

BOAT TRAFFIC; once in your chosen passage from the ICW toward Tubb‘s Inlet, north end of Sunset Beach, you will encounter a few runabouts, Sea Doos, etc. Tubb‘s is not a large boat passage and has no constructed jetties on either side.

MAPS: Pick up the local Pilot’s free book or buy something more accurate. Bill’s Sea Food has them near the bridge going to Sunset Beach. Maps are good but not quite up to storm changes recently. From the launch, you have a choice to head either of two routes to Tubb‘s Inlet at the north end of Sunset Beach

ROUTES TO FOLLOW TO TUBB‘S INLET: est. paddle time moderate with a few rests, 35 to 40 min. ; by the way, the South route from Bonaparte’s Landing to Little River is about 40-45min, moderate with a couple of minutes rest pauses.

(1) North toward the Ocean Isle bridge, then right into the channel leading to the ocean through estuaries; the northern route we found to be a longer, more circuitous route than the southern passage.

(2) South from launch toward the Sunset Beach bridge, then before you get there turn left into the channel with fairly obvious indicators, current, crab pots, boat traffic entering and exiting this passage. Factor your windage, we had a stout following wind returning once in the ICW to the put in, but it was a fight paddling against the wind at 15-20 mph in the shallow bay behind the north end of the island when returning to the channel taking us to the ICW.

TUBB’S INLET COMMENTS: Watch the currents and direction before deciding to enter the ocean. On the day of these photos, wind and waves in the pass current offshore were very strong and not worth the risk or bother. Strong outbound tide running against incoming ocean waves create very sharp very mixed direction standing waves, and the current will carry out out fast once out in these waves. At the pass itself, we could manage control well enough to head for beach and back up but I don’t recommend this to anyone other than experienced white water and ocean kayakers. Inbound tidal playing would be better but still watch for Sea Doos and the occasional seasoned small boater attempting this pass. At low tide, the pass is often very narrow and very shallow almost able to walk across.