April Showers bring New Boats

Spring has sprung here at COA; the water temperature is up to 65 and the weather has been great. We have lots of awesome stuff happening, Capt Joe just put a brand new 18 passenger Carolina Skiff in the water and she is a beaut. Please note Joe's best "high-school yearbook" pose on the new boat, "Sampson II."

We are expecting a new fleet of kayaks and paddleboards and lots of new gear any day. We also have Full Moon Kayak Tours schedule for April 22nd and May 21st, which are always a great way to see the estuary in a whole new light.

We are planning trash pick-up dates for the coming months, we invite you to join us for a day on the water to keep our estuaries squeaky clean. Don't miss 4th of July at COA, watch the Folly Beach and Downtown fireworks from the seat of a kayak off  Bowens Island. We also have our own fireworks display for the 4th and we will keep the celebrations going on the 15th and 29th of July.

Gearing Up for our Favorite Season

Fall in Charleston is wonderful.

Throughout September, the air temperature begins to drop to a perfect 80 degrees during the day, while the water temperature is still warm enough for swimming. The dolphins are very active bulking up on fish so they can survive the winter, which makes our Dolphin and Morris Island Tours more exciting than ever. The sun's UV rays are not as harsh on the skin for kayaking or paddle boarding, and paddling near dolphins is a highlight of anyone's trip on the marsh. The crowds also become less and less as kids start back up in school and summer vacations come to an end.

The fall brings smaller size tours, beautiful weather, changing colors in the grass and tree lines, playful dolphins, and various migrating birds. Being on the water anytime of day is exciting as you no longer need to avoid the midday heat or sunburn. Even the boat traffic simmers down, especially during the week days. Enjoy being out on the water in quiet stillness while a guide talks about feeding birds or how oysters are harvested.

Charleston Outdoor Adventures is open daily (including Sundays) year round. It's never to early to start planning your next adventure!


-Anna

Fishing, SUP Yoga, Sunset Kayaking, July 4th Kayak Fireworks Tours!

Welcome to Summer 2015!

COA is rockin' and rollin' this summer. The water is beautiful, the dolphins are jumping, and we've already had several loggerhead sightings!

There are added options this summer to bring your family out on the water, COA is now offering Kayak and SUP tours four time a day! Our rental fleet has also grown in numbers, so we would love to get your family out for an adventure any day of the week.

If you have been on a boat charter with Captain Joe, then you have probably met the notorious dolphin named Machete. This past week, the captain observed Machete tossing a cannonball jellyfish up in the air! Machete continues to surprise us with his excellent fishing skills. Dolphins truly are a smart and unique mammal.

COA is the proud winner for Best of Charleston Fishing Charters!

We want to thank everyone who voted and supported us this past winter. We are excited to keep make 2015 more memorable and fun for all!

COA was also featured in Kayak Angler for our kayak fishing. Such a fun and beautiful way to catch some fish and relax on the water!

 
COA is now proud to be offering Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga!

Start your day by enjoying the serenity and peacefulness of the calm estuary while maintaining asanas (poses) on a floating mat. Yoga brings balance and restores all bodily systems by creating physical, mental and spiritual harmony.

The combination of yoga and stand up paddle boarding are great for building better balance, coordination, endurance, and body strength.SUP Yoga is a great way to enjoy the water, nature, and fresh air while moving through various fun and relaxing postures. Sundays and Tuesdays at 7am.
Call today to reserve a spot, there are only 6 openings per class.
No paddle boarding or yoga experience necessary.

Our Full Moon Tours are ready to Rock and Roll! Our next 2 hour Full Moon Kayak Tour is Tuesday, June 2nd at 7:30pm. Only $45 per person!
Upcoming dates include July 1st, July 31st, and August 28th!
Our favorite specialty tour is coming up as well! The 4th of July Fireworks tour departs at 8pm from our landing. Watch this years fireworks from the seat of a kayak!

The best way to end your day is to watch the sun set from a kayak while drifting with the tide through the salt marsh. Let one of our experienced and knowledgeable guides lead you on a peaceful paddle or boat ride that will be memorable for all ages! Tours depart daily.

Celebrating 2014 and Excited for 2015!

2014 was a fantastic year.  

 

We earned some awesome recognition; such as Best of Charleston's SUP company, #2 on TripAdvisor for all of the activities in Charleston, the best place to paddle by National Geographic, featured on FurReal TV, we helped film an episode of The Social Life,  and have been on the top 25 things to do in Charleston by multiple hotels, guidebooks, and travel planners. We have so many people to thank for that, but most especially you!

We're asking for a favor. The preliminary voting has just opened for 2015's Best of Charleston, and it closes on January 6th. We need you to vote! It takes about 2 minutes and will make a lasting impact for COA. After January 6th, the top four nominees in each category move on to the final voting.

Choose Charleston Outdoor Adventures as the Best Tour Company by voting Here!

Vote Charleston Outdoor Adventures for Best Kayak, Stand Up Paddleboard, Fishing, and Watersports Company Here!

We have big plans for 2015. Our fleet is ever growing, our knowledge expanding, and our goals are fantastic. We can't wait to see you floating down Folly Creek, perfecting your headstands on paddle boards, practicing the Duffek stroke for kayaking, and making lasting memories with friends, loved ones, and family!

Have a wonderful rest of your holiday and Happy New Year to you!! 

Consider Us Featured

Hookin' a sweet red fish!

It's not every day that a film crew shows up to Bowens and tells you that they want to do a shoot with their host, a few kayaks, and dolphins. Coming soon to CNN HLN is a show called The Social Life. From what I gather, each episode will feature a city with the best things to do and best places to eat, with their host posting about it on his social media accounts.
After a fun kayak tour between Morris Island and Folly Beach, we also got to do a little fishing.

Over Labor Day weekend a lovely lady named Jenny who hosts FurReal TV came on a Morris Island Tour to get some amazing shots of dolphins and Captain Joe. 100% Success. This was a very fun experience and we hope to be on many various shows in the next few years!

Be on the lookout for the Charleston episodes and for some good shots of COA on it! You'll certainly recognize the Morris Island Lighthouse, Derek, and a few of Captain Joe's favorite dolphins.

2014 Annual Gear Sale

Light weight, durable SUP ATX

Our Annual Gear Sale has finally arrived! 

Corresponding with Follypalooza, we will begin selling our gear on October 18th at 11am at 1871 Bowens Island Road. You can stop in anytime that day onward to check out our gear and decide which excellent SUP you would like to buy. Cash or Card accepted

So much space!

Great for Yoga or a nice paddle

 We will be selling our 2014 Surftech Blacktip SUP Boards for $650. This is marked down from their MSRP price of $880, a savings of 26%! This includes a PFD (life-jacket), fin, and a one time paddle instruction tutorial. These boards are this years model and are excellent for beginners, family coming into town, bringing your dog for a stroll, and for SUP Yoga fanatics! They are durable, safe, and easy to handle. Measurements are 10ft 6in length and 33in width.

-

White SUP ATX*

We will be selling our 2013 White SUP ATX  Boards for $650. This is marked down from the MSRP price of $935, an excellent savings of 31%. This includes a jacket, fin, nose guard, rail tape, and instruction! I love riding this board out on the ocean or in the back creeks. It's light weight for transportation and easy to maneuver on the slight curves of Folly Creek. Measurements are 11ft length and 31in width.

This year we have decided that we are not selling any of our kayak fleet, but be on the lookout next year!


Thanks again!
-Anna

*- Model not included

Labor Day 2014

Labor Day is right around the corner and beautiful weather is coming with it! After one of the hottest weeks in recent years, highs in the 80s sound wonderful. This weekend will be the perfect time to practice all of your newest yoga moves on paddle boards and find more dolphins and other wildlife in the small creeks behind Folly on kayaks. The butterflies and dragonflies are in their migration period in South Carolina, and the marsh is fluttering with the quiet sounds of their wings. The strand feeding has been incredible lately as well. Late summer and fall is the best time to see the dolphins various feeding techniques.

Don’t forget our next Full Moon Kayak Tour on Saturday, September 6^th at 7pm. This will be one of the best full moon paddles of the year with slightly cooler temperatures and less of a chance of afternoon showers.

Derek and Susan, his outfit was perfect for paddling

This summer has been a blast. Our crew of 12 was a fantastic group of hard, dedicated workers who helped bring a lot of tourists and locals into the heart of the low country. Derek used his hard earned skills and paddled across a lake to ask for his girlfriends’ hand in marriage and luckily she said yes! The famous Rick Watkins is back in town for one month from Mammoth, CA to lead you on a kayak tour. He was conducting Bird surveys and looking for Willow Flycatchers, a Californian endangered species, in Tahoe National Forrest. You can be sure he will identify all of your favorite birds while out on the water!
 

Lori and John on their engagement Kayak Tour

School is back in session now in the South, but our rental livery is still ready to tour the estuary. In fact, we are open to do kayak tours all year round! During Thanksgiving week, feel free to give us a call. The Samson I will be carrying Dolphin and Morris Island Tours out near the legendary Lighthouse, and Kayak Tours will still be paddling through the small creeks as well. Be on the lookout for the dates of our annual gear sale which will be launching in early November.

Can't wait to see you all there!
Anna and the COA Crew

June Full Moon Tour - Summer is Here!

Our next Full Moon Tour is this Thursday, June 12th at 8pm! This two hour tour paddles through the estuary, winding through small creeks, while passing birds, dolphins, and mysterious sunken boats.  This guided kayak eco-tour is $45 per person.

A collection of Morris Island Shells

June is a fabulous month in the estuary. The black skimmer has been gracing us with it's presence for the last few weeks while gliding over the surface of the water, scooping up small fish with it's larger lower bill. The cannonball jellyfish can be seen all over Charleston, washing up on beaches and floating through our waterways. The loggerheads like these jellies as an excellent supplement to their already balanced diet. Don't worry, these jellies don't sting!


COA wants to extend a warm welcome to a few new staff members really completing our team here on Bowens Island. You can be sure to have a fun time on the water with our talented Dolphin whisperer, Alex, who calls the dolphins out on tour. Molly studies Opera at school when she's not rock climbing or kayaking, and is excited to lead you on your next adventure through the estuary. Luke is our SUP specialist and can show you all the best tricks while out on the water, even when paddling backwards or standing on his head. George, Will, and Pri are our landing coordinators and they are excited to put you out on your next rental. Whether you are here to go kayaking or paddle boarding, these guys will help you out with full paddle instruction and will go over a map with you before they get you out on the water.
See you on the water soon!

Captain Red Fish Wild Bill’s Fishing Report!

Red Fish!

Sheepshead!

Within the past few weeks the bite has picked up for sheepshead, red fish, and trout. With rising water temperatures, we should start seeing the fish moving into the grass to spawn and feed. When fishing bottom structures and pylons use jig heads with live minnows and Carolina rigs with mullet. Using live bait such as shrimp, mud minnows, menhaden, and even croaker will help you set that hook. Popping corks with live shrimp and mud minnows along the grass line are starting to prove effective as well. 

   

As far as sheepshead fishing, fiddler crabs are going to be your main source of bait over the oyster meat. Due to the rising water temperatures and the spring season, the fiddler crabs are beginning to grow and mature which is making them a tastier treat for the sheepshead. Look for that black and white striped fish inshore off dock pilings and other hard surfaces in the water. Hope to see you out here soon!

Trout!

If you would like additional information on techniques or tackle, Charleston Outdoor Adventures will be happy to help. If you would like to book a chartered fishing or kayak fishing tour, call COA at (843) 795-0330.

 

Earth Day and Spring News

The ladies at work, ready to spot some wildlife!

Greetings Paddlers!

What a beautiful Earth day! The Crew here at COA is excited to send you our first newsletter of 2014. We’ve got a great staff coming into this new season, with plenty of boats and boards to keep you busy on the water all summer!

Super Excited Dolphin

That ghastly polar Vortex has finally moved on and here at Charleston Outdoor Adventures that southern spring weather is out in full force. This week (and hopefully all those to come) has been full of blue skies and oodles of Coastal Critters! Our Guides have reported several sightings of the Endangered American Wood Stork and during a tour with Alex a pod of Dolphins cruised along with the group for 1 ½ hours! What a treat!  

This is COA’s fifth season at Bowens Island and we (especially Captain Joe) want to thank everyone for their support! We wouldn’t have made it this far without all the love that we get from all over the country and even all over the world! So thank you from all of us here at COA! Have a great April and make this a fabulous Earth Day!

Keeping the estuary clean one oyster bag at a time!

Keeping the estuary clean one oyster bag at a time!

The voice of the COA phone, give us a call any day starting at 8am!

Anna