South Island sits just south of Winyah Bay, an undeveloped stretch of coast you can only reach by boat. Scattered peaks break over a sand bottom and run both left and right, though it rates as a modest spot overall.
When It Works
The banks draw swell from east-northeast to south-southeast (ENE-SSE) and work from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft. The island sits somewhat shadowed behind sandbars on northeast swells but stays well exposed to southeasterly hurricane swells, which makes autumn the time to come, with a smaller window in early spring.
Wind and Tide
Look for west (W) offshore wind, with a workable window running from west to west-northwest (W-WNW). It breaks across low, mid, and high tide, though a rising tide is generally the better call. The ends of the islands favor low to mid, while the central beachbreaks come in on mid to high.
Local Tips
Expect a quiet, reserved lineup with peaks scattered along the beach, so there's room to find your own. It suits intermediate and expert surfers and takes just about any board, from shortboard and fish to funboard, longboard, or SUP. Hard northeast or southwest winds can stir up strong currents, but it's usually a mellow paddle. The water is on the sharkier side, currents run strong near the inlets, and with no one around to help, surf with caution.
Access
Getting here is difficult and by boat only, but once you arrive you can surf anywhere along the island. The Yawkey Wildlife Center is worth a look for more information.
