2024 Santee Big Cat Tourney - Catastrophic Failure Repeats

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The two-day tournament out of Black’s Camp on March 15 – 16, saw Team Catastrophic Failure defend their 2023 win at the Santee Big Cat Brawl, winning the heaviest aggregate category in back-to-back years. Captain Brad McCall and crew’s two-day total weight was 216.65-pounds, giving them the First Place payday of $15,000. Their single-heaviest catfish weighed 73.95-pounds and was also good for 2nd Place Biggest Fish. The Santee Big Cat Brawl is the local tourney that is so well run that it has the feel of a national event, with Santee Cooper Country and Mad Katz Rods as the title sponsors. 

The 136 boats fishing in the 3rd Santee Big Cat Brawl came from 14 states to compete for the braggin’ rights, with the Santee Cooper Lakes being known to hold lots of large catfish. Arkansas Blues, Flathead and Channel Cats are all legal to weigh-in, but tourney rules stipulate they must be kept alive and then released back to the lake immediately after weigh-in. The weather on Day One was warm and calm, and the format allows teams to weigh-in three catfish per day, so the Day One weigh-in was a 3-hour marathon for weighmaster Mark Coburn. Coburn is a fan-favorite and knows how to keep things rolling along with a mix of catfish knowledge and down-to-earth humor.

            

Among the very first catfish weighed in on Friday came with a boat load of anticipation since Team Larry and Evan from North Carolina had brought their monster Cat to Black’s Camp that morning, stashing it in the large aeration tanks available there. The talk on the dock had this whopper catfish being a 100-pounder, but when the scales were applied, they weighed-in an 82.85 blue cat that went on the claim the Top Spot and $6800 as heaviest catfish at the 2024 Santee Big Cat Brawl. Angler Larry Godwin was fishing with a large shad head on the bottom using a Santee Cooper rig when the big cat bit at 9:15 that morning, giving him an exciting 30-minute fight. Captain Evan Martin said they fish out of a 2007 G3 17-foot Angler V boat, and that they also won 2nd place Biggest Catfish here in 2023.

To view the entire story in Trilogy Outdoors click on April / May Issue

To view past stories from Trilogy Outdoors click on  Pheasant Tower Shoot -  Release Over 20 - 2023 Hawk Watch -  Kiawah Bird Banding -  2023 Crappie Camp -  Early Birds of September -  SCDNR Salt Fishing Clinics -  Silver King Makes Big Splash - S.C. Mahi Series - 2023 Yawkey Wildlife Center - 2023 Hammock Coast Birding Festival - 2023 Lowcountry Oyster Festival - 2022 Sea Turtle Season - Navigating an S.C. Public Draw Deer Hunt - Crappie Camp - Blessings of a Sporting Father

2024 Turkeys For Tomorrow Field Day at Medway Plantation

Chip Byrd with PLM sets prescribed fire June 7

Turkeys For Tomorrow (TFT) is a conservation group out of Alabama that is building grass roots efforts across the Southeast. Set up as a 501c3 organization three years ago, their mission is to address the drastic reduction in wild turkey populations. TFT partners with S.C.-based Private Land Management (PLM) to hold a Habitat Field Day on June 7 in Goose Creek at Medway Plantation. 

To read the feature story in the Post and Courier newspaper click on Tideline. 

Turkey poults in Spring of 2024

The hot and sunny weather did not deter private landowners from attending the field day, where any shade and a breeze were welcome. Field Tour stops included a trapping demo, viewing of both brood and nesting cover, a prescribed fire demo and a hack and squirt demo. The 8 AM start time allowed Jason Lupardus and Pete Daugherty from TFT and Jason Hewett and Chip Byrd from PLM to address attendees, before heading into the field.

To view past blog entries on wild turkeys click on 2020 Turkey Season Changes - 2016 Turkey Season Changes / Tideline

To view past stories in Tideline click on Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry - Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Inaugural Event

Daymaker and crew fished on June 18

The Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina is set to host a Ladies only offshore fishing tournament on Tuesday, June 18. This event will piggyback on the already established Carolina Billfish Classic which competes June 20 - 22. Lady anglers are not uncommon on the sportfishing boats that head offshore looking for billfish and meatfish, but the Ladies Only format for June 18 will be sure to turn heads. If any billfish releases are recorded, then special pink flags will fly on that boat’s outrigger, and the weigh-in from 4 to 7 will also double as a fun best-dressed fishing team contest.

Original Artwork by Bryn Roff on auction
at Party With a Purpose to Benefit
Share Our Suzy SOS

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier newspaper click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from the Carolina Billfish Classic click on 2015 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010

To view past stories in Tideline click on Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry - Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Paddling For Pups - Animal Lovers Of Edisto

 To view 2024 Photo Gallery in the Post and Courier newspaper click on Tideline

Click to view 2023 Paddling For Pups.

 

Animal Lovers of Edisto Canine Rescue is excited to announce the 2nd annual “Paddling for Pups” event! This FREE, family friendly event will take place at Bay Creek Park on Saturday, June 8th, 2024 from 10am-4pm!

 

This fundraising event benefiting Animal Lovers of Edisto Canine Rescue will feature kayak and paddle board races, doggie contests, trainer demonstrations, live music, food trucks, and vendors! Leashed dogs are welcome and may participate in contests at the owner’s discretion. Please clean up after your pets. Interested vendors may contact Amy (843-708-7664).

 

Contact Us: 

 

Want to know the latest Animal Lovers news? See dogs available for adoption? Learn about upcoming events? Check out our website: www.animalloversofedisto.com or find us on social media (Facebook and Instagram - search for Animal Lovers of Edisto).

 

For more information about fostering or adopting one of our rescues, or for any other questions, please send an email (EdistoALOE@gmail.com) or call (854-766-7867). 

 

To view past stories in Tideline click on 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry - Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots