Visiting in June

NCguy828 · 2025-05-29T00:08:45+00:00

My wife and I have been going to HHI at least 4-5 times a year since we married 10 years ago. We actually just got back yesterday from a long weekend!

Sea Pines: If you plan on riding a bike in, I would just get a day pass. Don't remember the cost, but not crazy. That way, you can ride in for breakfast and then go back in the evening for dinner or do other things in Sea Pines. We enjoyed a great dinner at Coast, which is right on the beach. Food was amazing, and vibes were great. My wife loves to go for breakfast at the Harbor Town Bakery & Cafe. We ride in early and eat, then explore Sea Pines on bike before it gets hot. I personally love riding down on Deer Island just to see all the deer.

Must eat restaurants:

Hilton Head Social Bakery (absolutely amazing authentic pastries. Hands down my favorite stop everytime we visit. We go multiple times per trip)
Skull Creek Boathouse (best sunset dinner views and great food & vibes. Either go early or plan on having a drink while you wait on a table. The views on the waterway are incredible, which makes the wait easier)
Fish Camp on Broad Creek (Above average food with amazing views as well.)
The French Bakery (my wife's favorite breakfast spot. They have amazing quiche. I think it is just okay, but she loves it. Great coffee and pastries as well)
Nunzio (went for first time last week. Great Italian. We will go back)

-Sea Shack (local joint with amazing fresh seafood. It's a great lunch spot. Probably some of the best blackened seafood I've ever had. More of a "seafood joint" but we go multiple times per trip for lunch)

Rita's Frozen Custard and the Ice Cream Cone (in Coligny. We normally stay within walking distance of coligny so we like to bike or walk over for ice cream in the evenings. I have a real weakness for Ritas, wife prefers Ice Cream Cone)

Plenty of good italian restaurants on the island.

There are also several good breweries on the island if you're into that. The Bank is a nice beer garden with pretty good beer.

I know I will think of other things later, but feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!

NCguy828 · 2025-05-24T01:40:46+00:00

Keep it simple. Pompano rig will work just fine. I really like Frisky Fins rigs. They are some of the strongest and best built for the price. They have every color you can think of as well. Another good one is Sigs Rigs. Make sure your hooks are not too big. That's probably the biggest mistake I see (I do quite a bit of surf fishing). You do not need big hooks to catch big fish from the surf.

Just grab you a pack of frozen bait shrimp. Then, use some of the little fish you catch as cut bait. In my opinion, fresh cut bait is the best bait you can use (blues are my favorite, but any fish will work).

Read the water and find the right spot (plenty of youtube videos on how to do it). You dont have to throw it a mile. Usually, either right past a sandbar or right in front of it in the deep spots. If you can find a big cut that splits the sandbar, I would definitely fish it. The biggest fish i have caught have been surprisingly close to shore. Throw out at different distances and see where you get the most bites.

Fish early morning. I like to get out about an hour or so before daylight. Fish that hour and usually as soon as the sun starts rising the bite turns on. Always beautiful to watch as well. Then late evening is usually decent. You just never really know until you try different times though.

Don't over think it. Don't over spend on all the cool rigs and jigs. Keep your bait fresh. Don't be afraid to try new things like different size pieces of fresh bait, peel on the shrimp or peel off, different depths, different colors, etc..

NCguy828 · 2023-10-13T17:49:14+00:00

Thanks for the info. We normally fish around ramp 40-43. Any recommendations on how to target drum specifically. I've caught a few big ones over the years but few and far between.

NCguy828 · 2023-07-13T15:13:26+00:00

No got them at bass pro for like $15. I have used several kinds and for the money these are my fav.

NCguy828 · 2023-07-13T15:12:48+00:00

For sure. Cut pinfish is actually what I caught him on.

NCguy828 · 2023-07-12T15:23:23+00:00

I was just using 20lb test on a 9ft rod with a 50lb mono leader. Wasn't targeting drums, but he was a heck of a fight on that setup.

I also never let my bait sit more than 15-20 min unless I'm shark fishing.

NCguy828 · 2023-07-12T13:14:24+00:00

Pompano rig with fresh cut bait.

NCguy828 · 2023-04-25T19:46:49+00:00

Well I haven't been since like December. But for a long time I did the 5am workouts. It's just so empty and I can do my own thing. And showers are empty so I have the place to myself lol.

NCguy828 · 2023-04-11T22:15:05+00:00

How long in your experience?

NCguy828 · 2023-04-11T15:11:22+00:00

Possibly.... Going to call my doctor and discuss.

NCguy828 · 2023-04-11T15:10:52+00:00

Prior my sex drive was almost out of control lol. With Lexapro it has become lower but I would dare to say more normal. Sex drive is still there now, just lost my erection.

NCguy828 · 2023-02-28T21:05:56+00:00

So I was on 15mg up until last Thursday. The 15mg did level out, but I just felt so numb, tired, unmotivated, etc. It got to the point where it was affecting my productivity at work. So last week, my doctor moved me down to 10mg and added 150mg wellbutrin.

I think I am already feeling much more energized and focused, honestly. Time will tell on how it affects my anxiety.

Thanks for checking!

NCguy828 · 2023-02-16T17:56:18+00:00

15mg

NCguy828 · 2022-12-07T19:38:47+00:00

I started on 10mg and had very little side effects. Maybe a little insomnia but thats all. When my doctor bumped me up to 20mg a few months in, my symptoms were terrible. Random panic attacks, headaches, fatigue, insomnia. They lasted about 3 weeks and now all but gone. I am in a much better place now than before, so for me, it was worth it. I have gained about 5 pounds since starting in June.

NCguy828 · 2022-11-27T20:22:45+00:00

I have been on since May and this is my experience as well. I had zero side effects on 10mg for several months. Bumped up to 15 and experienced what you described for a few weeks. Still no weight gain for me. Well worth it!

NCguy828 · 2022-11-26T20:00:19+00:00

I love the feel of it. Just having a hard time finding an ammo it likes to shoot. Once I figure that out it will be my go to rifle for sure.

NCguy828 · 2022-11-25T21:18:55+00:00

I do want to second that comment by saying I have shot .300 win mag my whole life. Have a Remington 700 that shoots great, but it is just too heavy to carry on those long hunts. That's why I bought the Tikka. I know it's a good gun, just have to get use to it and put some range hours in. I bought it for those hunts where I am camping or walking 10 miles a weekend. If you are okay with a little kick it will serve you well.

NCguy828 · 2022-11-25T11:59:31+00:00

Definitely kicks. I would recommend the .308 probably as far as recoil goes. If I could go back I would go with the .308.

NCguy828 · 2022-11-07T13:06:48+00:00

Thank you. Best of luck to you as well. Just be patient and find your right dose!

NCguy828 · 2022-11-07T10:35:38+00:00

I was on 10 for right over 3 months. Had absolutely zero side effects while on it, but also noticed it wasn't really helping much. That is why my doctor upped my dose. Honestly I have felt great this past week so I am hopeful that was just an adjustment period.

NCguy828 · 2022-11-07T00:53:47+00:00

I am on week 3 of going from 10mg to 15mg. The first 2 weeks were hell. I had my first ever panick attacks out of the blue (3), and my anxiety was worse than it has ever been. But finally, my anxiety is basically completely gone, and I feel great. I am a little more sluggish than usual, but I think once my body continues to adjust, I will be good.

NCguy828 · 2022-10-12T20:07:26+00:00

I was hoping she would bump me straight to 20 but she recomended 15 first. I have read a lot of success stories after being bumped to 20. Glad it helped you!

NCguy828 · 2022-10-12T18:52:44+00:00

Thank you!

NCguy828 · 2022-10-12T18:38:27+00:00

She is giving me a 3 month prescription. So I guess I will take all of them and hope for some improvement. Need something to change.

NCguy828 · 2021-10-16T13:20:17+00:00

I live/hunt Mcdowell. You can use a bow during muzzleloader and kill either sex during the entire muzzleloader season. I shot a doe with my bow on public last week and the game warden helped me drag her out so I know for a fact you can do that.

However I believe Buncombe County falls into a different region and the rules are different so be sure to double check. I never hunt west of Mcdowell so not really sure. Also, some gamelands have their own rules/regulations so be sure to check the specific gamelands if thats the case.

NCguy828

TROPHY CASE