Spirit of South Carolina - Daysail w/ Whitesides Elem.

The South Carolina Maritime Foundation (SCMF) is a non-profit group that owns and operates the 140-foot tall ship Spirit of South Carolina - and all this week they are making daysails (voyages from 9 to 2) in the Charleston Harbor with 5th-graders from Whitesides Elementary School. The students will be learning about alternate energy sources when they witness the mainsail harness the power of the wind. The daysail classes are termed 'Sailing into Energy' and are just one facet of a grant awarded to Whitesides ( written by teacher Beth McCall) by BP's 'Sailing into Energy' program. Hands-on learning will be conducted on the Spirit daysails, and the knowledgeable crew is sure to share some history with the students concerning Charleston harbor and noteworthy events like the start of the Civil War at Fort Sumter. Fifth grade teacher McCall said, "This grant has our kids really thinking - from solar cooking to worm composting, and now sailing on a tall ship." When the students return to port they will make a powerpoint presentation to share with their parents and the rest of the Whitesides student body. For more information about how the SCMF is helping the community visit the Internet at www.SCMaritime.org .

To view past blog entries about the SCMF click here.

PhotosBySCMF: A student learns about science while onboard the Spirit of S.C.

25th Ann. of Cooper River Rediversion

The Cooper River rediversion project became official on March 23, 1985 - 25 years ago - when the St. Stephen Powerhouse came online and three hydropower generators began commercial operations. The initial idea was initially floated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the S.C. General Assembly way back in 1968 - so this project is really a part of the history of the Lowcountry outdoors. One purpose of the rediversion project is to reduce sedimentation rates in Charleston harbor, which saves taxpayers several million dollars in dredging fees each year. The electricity generated supplies power to about 40,000 homes. The project secured more than 2000 acres that they felt might be affected, and today that acreage is currently being managed by for fish and wildlife; like the Canal WMA being run by the SCDNR. Migratory fish like American shad and blueback herring that need to leave the river and head up to the lakes can do so with a 'fish lift' that SCDNR manages. For more on the fish lift try: www.dnr.sc.gov/fish/fishlift/fishlift.html.

PhotosBySCDNR: a close up and a panoramic view of the dam

Bud & Betty - Custom Turkey Calls from S.C.

Custom callmaker Russell Lynch named his signature line of calls after his nicknames for his son and daughter - or Bud & Betty. In 2010 Lynch was recognized by the National Wild Turkey Federation with the S.C. Callmaker Award for his contribution to excellence in the enduring art of callmaking and dedication to the conservation, promotion and love of the wild turkey. For product information visit the Internet at www.BudandBetty.com.

PhotoByJeffDennis: Russell and Karen Lynch tend their booth at the Palmetto Sportsman's Classic in Columbia

Palmetto Sportsman Classic - Antler Scoring

The 26th Annual Palmetto Sportsman's Classic (PSC) was held in Columbia at the Fair Grounds, and is presented by the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund. All day Friday, Saturday and Sunday people from around the Palmetto State came to the Classic in order to check out the latest hunting equipment and trends. From the first of its kind Target Taxi - or full strut gobbler decoy mounted on a wheeled base for mobility, to custom turkey calls made by the best callmakers in the state, there was something for everyone.

PhotosByJeffDennis: The Target Taxi with its full strut decoy decoration; this classic Lowcountry trophy buck came from Orangeburg County but to see many more trophy bucks that were scored at the PSC visit the link below

S.C. State Parks article

Check out this link for my article in S.C. Wildlife Magazine:

http://www.scwildlife.com/pubs/septoct2008/beach.html

PhotoByJeffDennis: Myrtle Beach State Park is an oasis among the development of the Grand Strand

To view past blog entries about state parks click here.

Robertville Turkey Hunt

We know Robertville is a lovely destination in the Savannah River Preserve focus area that is very special, but most do not realize that is was named after the fellow that wrote 'Robert's Rules of Order.' Getting to hunt with 84-year old turkey guiding legend Charlie Hines was an exciting proposition, and trying to kill a really big gobbler seemed to be 'in order.' With not much gobbling in the early a.m. due to March winds blowing, he made a motion to break for breakfast (which I seconded) and then come back for a late morning hunt - a decision that proved wise for handling 'old gobbler business.' As soon as we slammed the car door a tom gobbled at us, and we trekked into the woods hoping to set up in an area where the gobbler might come to Charlie's home-made box call. Starting at noon we called for over an hour as we worked a big flock of birds into range, and at 1:17 my smoke stick bellowed and the longbeard at 24 paces fell over dead. The 6 others gobblers that were with him (2 longbeards and 4 jakes) eased off into the woods from whence they came. Hines, a man of a few words said, "You got him." Earlier he had said, "Either that bird will come to us, or he won't." Many thanks to all the contributers, including Salkehatchie River Outfitters, that worked to put this hunt together!

PhotosByDanKibler: Guide Charlie Hines congratulates me on the gobbler with a 9.5-inch beard and one-inch spurs; I weighed my big bird on the scale and it read... 21 pounds!

Pond fishing for bass

It's almost spawning season and reports of some biting largemouth bass were recorded over the warm weekend on March 21 & 22. With a cold front passing through I visited the 9-acre Dick's Pond near Hampton on March 23 and found that the bite had turned off with the cooler weather. Guides Al Crosby and Charley Grill were armed with the cliche 'You should have been here yesterday' as they gushed about all the fish they had caught previously over the weeeknd. Best thing to do for now is to keep a check on those bass, as the days gradually warm up. Grill was fishing Culprit Worms in Junebug color rigged with Owner 4-ought offset worm hooks with a black chrome finish. His Ugly Stik Lite 6'6"-rod was matched with an Abu Garcia C-4 Ambassador reel.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Charley Grill with a whopper 11-inch largemouth bass; Al Crosby can fish all day long - even if they aren't biting; worms of assorted colors are the ticket for largemouth

CCA oyster bagging March 24

Volunteers are needed for the Coastal Conservation Association's oyster bagging project on March 24th from 1 to 3 at the DNR offices at Fort Johnson. Boots and gloves are recommended for those willing to help bag the shell that is later to be used for reef material. CCA's Topwater Action Campaign stresses 'Habitat today equals better fishing tomorrow.' For more information contact Gary Keisler at 843-696-6274.

To view past blog entries on the CCA Topwater Action Campaign click here.

For a fun graphic, try the link below:

http://www.votervoice.net/Files/CCASC/Attachments/TWAgoal.pdf

2010 IFA Kayak Tour by HOBIE

The International Fishing Association's Kayak Tour, sponsored by Hobie, held its inaugural event in Charleston. Eighteen single-minded competitors paddled into local waters in order to catch either redfish or trout and to record their lengths via digital cameras and 'tour rulers.' The top three winners are determined by an aggregate length of BOTH the trout and the redfish. Danny Milleman finished with the largest redfish, an 32-inch specimen, which was good for a $200 gift certificate. Dave Jaskiewicz of Charleston had the longest trout, a behemoth that went 18 and 5/8 inches - good for a gift certificate. Jaskiewicz also had a 22 1/8-inch redfish which propelled him to first place for aggregate, winning a Hobie Mirage Pro Angler kayak. Thomas Samuels of Summerville finished in second place, good for a Hobie Mirage Outback kayak. Justin Carter of Mount Pleasant finished in third place, winning a kayak for his volunteer efforts to 'Take a Veteran Fishing."

To view more blog coverage from the IFA Tour click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Carter, Samuels, Jaskiewicz and Milleman smile after the awards ceremony at Half-Moon Outfitters in South Windermere; IFA Redfish Tournament Director Jerry Stakely and Hobie Rep Jackie Smith speak to the merits of the kayak fleet; fishermen Anthony Messier, Richie Boykin and Brian Cope with the nets they won on the raffle

2010 IFA Redfish Tour

The Inshore Fishing Association (IFA) made it's annual stop in Charleston March 20, and it was quite a tournamnent for the 67 angler teams that participated. First place went to first-time IFA competitors Captain Richard Stoughton and Durrette Wooten, of Team www.renkenboatcenter.com who caught all their fish on Z-Man fishing lures. Stoughton's two fish went 4.17 and 4.93 pounds respectively for a winning total of 9.10 pounds of redfish, that won his team a brand new Ranger Banshee boat equipped with a Yamaha motor. That's the way to begin a tournament fishing career!

A father and son team took second place when Captain Ron Davis teamed up with son Caleb. Their two-fish limit weighed 8.97 lbs. The third place team of Captain Chris Wilson and Chuck DeLorme's also weighed 8.97 lbs of fish, but the tie-breaker was determined by biggest fish, with Caleb's 4.83 lb redfish besting Captain Chris Wilson's 4.63 lb big fish.

Captain Stephen Fields and Jeff Crumpton of Fernandina Beach, Florida finished in 4th place weighing in a total of 8.93 lbs. (4.60 and 4.33). They caught fish all day, using Big Bite (BioBait) jerk minnows. They have had three top ten finishes to start the IFA season.

Finishing in seventh place was Capt. Rick Patterson and John Hislop of Carteret County, North Carolina when they weighed in two fish with a combined weight of 8.72-pounds. Fishing in N.C.? - then visit www.capecrusadercharters.com for the latest fishing reports.

For a recap from the 2009 IFA, check my March 28, 2009 blog entry and video!

PhotoByIFA: Captain Richard Stoughton and Captain Wooten Durrette with their winnings after the IFA Tour weigh-in at St. John's Yacht Harbor

H.S. Strut turkey hunting products

You can't find the vintage 'field champion' box call like mine on the market now, but one can find the box call holster (one size fits all) in the H.S. Strut line-up. The Thunder Twister gobbler shaker and is a great locater call, and the new Ring Zone Li'l Deuce glass call with carbon all weather striker will bring those toms a bit closer. H.S. Strut even has a striker assortment, called Strut Sticks, that gives hunters other choices to try with the Ring Zone call - like Rosewood, Power Stik and Cross-cut. For their full line of turkey hunting products visit www.hunterspec.com.

Turkey Tips from Mossy Oak Pro Mike Cockerham

 Q: Can you give me a few general tips on how I can be more successful this spring?
A: Being more successful means practicing with your calls and becoming proficient in using several different types. Also scouting and learning your hunting area can make a big difference in your success.

 

Q: How much scouting should I do before the season?
A: You should be as familiar with your primary hunting area as you are with your own backyard. That way you can try to anticipate what the turkey is going to do and act accordingly.

 

Q: Is there a best call to use?
A: The best call to use is the call you have the most confidence in. That could be a call you have called in birds with before or the one you have practiced with the most and are the most familiar with.

 

Q: Do I need to learn to use several different calls?

A: The use of several calls is crucial because turkeys may respond to one call today and respond to a totally different call tomorrow. Also the use of several different calls can make the appearance of several different hens instead of just one.

 

Q: What do you do to take care of your calls?

A: The care of calls for me is putting my mouth calls in the fridge during the off season and putting my friction calls in a container out of the heat and cold.

 

Q: What is a common mistake that turkey hunters make?

A: Most common mistake in my opinion would be not enough patience and calling too much. 

 

Q: Do you use decoys? If so how?
A: I use decoys most of the time because I hunt a lot of open areas where the birds can see a long way. The decoy seems to confirm the presence of a real turkey.  I use a full strut decoy with a hen.

 

Q: What should I do if I go out and don't hear any gobbling?

A: This is where your scouting and being familiar with your hunting area will pay off. Find a spot that is being used, find a good comfortable spot and wait while calling sparingly.

 

Q: If I can hunt all day, is there a best time to hunt?

A: Obviously the best time is early morning before fly down since the gobbling is usually much better, but don't give up on late morning and afternoon. The hens will leave the gobblers in the late morning and they can become lonely and start gobbling again and can respond very well. The afternoon can be good because the birds like to feed before going to roost, so you can set up on a likely feeding area and get him before he goes to bed.

 

N. Chas. student wins REEL ART contest

Angelica Halvarsson of the Charleston School of the Arts was the overall winner for the S.C. 2010 REEL ART contest. SCDNR holds the competition and displays all of the artwork at the Palmetto Sportsman's Classic March 26 - 28 in Columbia. The REEL ART contest is also sponsored by Sportfish Restoration Funds and the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund. Entries were judged on March 15th and students from across the state submitted their artwork in the REEL ART contest, which is a component of the REEL KIDS aquatic education program. Want to learn more about REEL KIDS and other youth-oriented fishing programs - then visit the Links page on Lowcountryoutdoors.com. Halvarsson was awarded a $500 savings bond from the Harry Hampton fund, plus art supplies and a ticket to the Palmetto Sportsman's Classic. All the kids in the program get to learn about diversity as it pertains to aquatic habitat and animals.

PhotosProvidedbyDNR: Halvarsson's color pencil drawing of a rainbow trout is entitled "Mayflies' Doom" - - the Brook Trout was the contest's 2006 overall winner

CCA's Tide now online - Hobcaw Barony article

The Coastal Conservation Association has some very exciting news for the current edition of TIDE - it is their first-ever electronic edition of TIDE. They worked with the printer to explore the option of creating an electronic version of the magazine and the result is below - simply click on the link to check it out. When touring the new e-TIDE, please check out my latest article - Hobknobbing at Hobcaw Barony - which is in the current March / April edition. Simply click on the article title in the contents section to be 'taken' to my opening photo on page 32. You can even use the hot link at the end of the article to navigate back to Lowcountryoutdoors.

http://digitaledition.qwinc.com/publication/?i=32399

To view other articles by Jeff in CCA TIDE magazine click here.

To view past blog entries from Hobcaw Barony click here. 

PhotoByJeffDennis: Captain Steve Thomas ties in to a whopper of a redfish on the flats at Hobcaw Barony

March 15 - Turkey Season IN

What a wondrous and glorious day March 15 is, bringing in the start of the spring turkey season. There is only a limited number of good weather days during the season, so with the sun shining, many outdoorsmen hit the woods in search of a gobbling tom. Reports from the morning hunts in the Lowcountry ranged from gangs of gobblers raising cain, to satellite toms that 'came in silent.' One report was of an early morning missed shot (like about 15 minutes after dawn), that was redeemed later in the morning when that same hunter tagged a boss tom that sported four beards. Another report claimed that the gobblers were so thick, that they had to wait for 'some separation' before a safe shot was allowed by the guide - and a 21-pound tom with an 11-inch beard went to a lucky hunter. Two hunters (on separate hunts) saw a gobbler strut right in front of them, but since they had come in silent and swift, there was no chance in either case to lift the gun and take aim. A snap shot was available in both cases, but the conservation minded turkey hunter would not chance such a shot, and risk losing a wounded turkey to the woodlands; better to take your licks and hit the woods again another time.

To view my feature article on turkey season click Charleston Mercury.

To see past blog entires about the opening day of turkey season click here.

PhotoProvided: Scott Hammond killed his opening day gobbler 'by the numbers' - he made 3 calls and shot him 6 feet away to kick off the 2010 season, and that's a big 10-4

2010 LOLT picnic at Birds Of Prey Center

The Lowcountry Open Land Trust held their annual membership picnic in Awendaw and the Birds of Prey Center played host for the day. LOLT completed its twenty-fourth year of land conservation in 2009 with a quiet and steady hand on the vehicle of preservation, the conservation easement. Twenty-two easements were cobbled together in 2009 totaling 4,654 acres protected. This allowed LOLT to surpass the threshold of 80,000 acres protected since their inception.

LOLT found the proverbial feather in their cap in 2009 when they were able to partner with the Avian Conservation Center, better known as the Birds of Prey Center in Awendaw, to secure $267,500 from the Greenbelt Program to permanently protect the 153 acres that the center operates on. The Wingswood conservation easement protects land that was donated to the Birds of Prey Center by the Rice family, and compliments the acreage that is already protected in that area.

LOLT’s Lewis Hay said, “It is always a privilege to work with a Lowcountry landowner to protect another piece of our heritage. It is especially gratifying when the landowner is an important and well-known local non-profit serving our community in a vital role to protect our wildlife. Further, this tract is an essential link in the conservation puzzle which includes Cape Romaine National Wildlife Refuge and Francis Marion National Forest. Bringing Greenbelt Bank assistance into this deal cemented the fact that it was a great project.”

To view past blog entries about the Center for Birds of Prey click here.

To view my blog on the 2009 LOLT picnic click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: A Birds of Prey Center volunteer holds a screech owl at the LOLT picnic; Birds Of Prey Director Jim Elliott accepts a butterfly house from LOLT board member Sam Hiott

Lowcountry Hunt Closing Meet & AWARD

The National membership organization known as the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, bestowed a great honor on the three-year old Lowcountry Hunt fox hunting club based in the ACE Basin. On January 29 in Atlanta the 2009 Hunting Habitat Conservation Award was awarded jointly to Nina Burke (Joint Master of the Lowcountry Hunt) and Margaret P. Blackmer (President of the Board of trustees for the Lowcountry Open Land Trust). The award is given in recognition of significant and enduring contributions toward the preservation of rural countryside and its flora and fauna. The closing meet was hosted by the Limehouse family on March 13 at Airy Hall Plantation.

PhotoByDennisFoster: J. Martin Jr., Nina Burke, Margaret Blackmer, John Van Nagel and Marvin Beeman in Atlanta on January 29

To view my blog entry on the Middleton Place Hounds fox hunt click here.

PhotoByJeffDennis: the hounds of the Lowcountry Hunt are gathered together before the closing meet; the fox hunters depart under an oak allee' decorated with wondrous spanish moss

VideoByJeffDenis: the hounds and the hunters depart - Tally Ho!

Bear Island WMA Birding Trip in the ACE Basin

The SCDNR's Coastal Education Series held its annual bird watching day at Bear Island Wildlife Management Area. While the WMA is open to the public, the limited space on the birding tour gets visitors a seat on a wagon that is towed across the property. It also gets you an expert birder to lead the tour in the form of Pete Laurie, and DNR biologist Al Segars. With heavy rain the day before the outing was not a certainty, but even with a few folks canceling their plans to attend, a good time was had by the remainder. Bear Island WMA has been owned by the state of S.C. since 1953 and is approximately 12,000 acres. It carries 28 impoundments with 5000 acres of managed wetlands that require 70 rice trunks, and is thus managed to provide for public duck hunting. Other months the WMA is open for bird watching, and is considered a 'refueling station' for many different types of migratory birds. If one feels strongly about Bear Island WMA, one only need purchase a hunting license to have contributed towards its welfare - whether hunting is your hobby or not. On March 12 the birding crew saw tree swallows, bluebirds, moorhens, common yellowthroats, shovelers, coots, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, mallards, wood storks, great blue herons, snipe, killdeer, bufflehead, snowy egrets, tri-color herons, great egrets, bald eagles, turkey vultures, kingfishers, meadowlarks, doves, robins, norther harriers, black-crowned night herons, glossy ibis, seagulls, anhingas, alligators, pie-billed grebes, ruddy ducks, a black-necked stilt, pintails, lesser yellowlegs, forester terns, white pelicans (5), tundra swans (100!), and one Canada goose. To my fellow birders, if an observation escaped me please feel free to add it here in the form of a comment.

To view past blog entries about bird watching at Bear Island WMA click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: The birding crew watches in amazement as at least 100 tundra swans feed in an impoundment while making a non-stop happy and contented honking noise; Ross Catterton is the manager at Bear Island and he knows a great deal about impoundment management and migratory waterfowl; a bluebird house on Bear Island WMA next to a crossroads sign

Belfast WMA benefit

Laurens and Newberry Counties are the setting for the sprawling new 4,664-acre Belfast WMA. Historic Belfast Plantation is located along Highway 56 and has been purchased by SCDNR, NWTF and the Conservation Fund in order to preserve the land and provide public hunting access. A fundraising banquet on March 9 in Columbia helped raise funds for SCDNR to continue with Phase II of the purchase of Belfast WMA. Monetary donations can be made to the NWTF’s More Places to Hunt Campaign and contributers must specify that the tax deductible contribution is for Belfast WMA.

The property is located between two units of the Sumter National Forest and will provide a corridor of connectivity to both the Enoree and Long Cane Ranger Districts. Belfast WMA also provides protection for several miles of Little River and Mudlick Creek which flow into the Saluda River.

The Belfast WMA acquisition provides SCDNR another Foothills property to offer increased public recreation, and public hunting opportunities like the spring turkey draw hunts. An old plantation house built in the early 1800’s serves as a reminder of the past, but now welcomes public hunting to what may be considered the golden age of big game hunting.

PhotosByJeffDennis: The oil painting of the Belfast Plantation house was just one of the special items on the auction to raise funds at the Belfast WMA benefit; Erika and Wiley Marshall of St. Helena join S.C. Governor Mark Sanford to support conservation efforts in the state; DNR Director John Frampton and Asst. Director Emily Cope smile with S.C. Rep. Jeff Duncan who also served as auctioneer for the night; Dr. Bob Aitken is President of the NWTF state board and he is with Melissa and Dennis Axson.

Captain Bob Sanders - Redfish report

A sparkling white frost greeted us at the boat ramp at 6:45 a.m. and the 29-degree temperature had the boat covered with a light coating of slick ice. Using the towel-on-the-deck method for sure footing we bundled up for the short ride over to Fishing Creek on Edisto Island. Cold fingers and no bites started our day as the last of the ebb tide flowed, and before our conversation about S.C. land sales was over, the tide changed directions like someone had 'flipped the switch.' With sunlight now striking the clear water with two-feet of visibility, we continued casting our Trout Tricks lures to likely structure and then Captain Sanders 'woke up' a big boy - and brought a nice 28-inch redfish (with shoulders) to the boat. Three large spots marked one side of his body and we knew that this was a special redfish, one to remember - one that made the early mornin' meeting well worth it. Being a southern gentleman he did not want to outfish his guest, and he allowed me to cast to 'the spot' for another redfish - but my redfish was ten inches shorter and paled in comparison to the bronze-backed bomber that he had displayed in the morning sunlight. Other Sunday duties called us off the water before long, and I said I wanted one more cast to 'the spot' and Sanders said 'No Jeff, we have to go.' Knowing we had to go by the spot in order to leave I told him that it would be hard to get me by 'the spot' without one more cast, to which Sanders' replied 'That is why I'm going to ride down the opposite side of the creek.' Smart man!

To read my feature article click on Charleston Mercury.

PhotoByJeffDennis: Captain Bob Sanders of www.FishingwithBob.com holds a gem of the Lowcountry; the big one conveniently let his spot hang out of the rubber dip net; even Lowcountryoutdoors.com was able to get in on the Edisto inshore redfish action

Auldbrass Plantation hosts YRC on March 6

The Yemassee Revitalization Committee (YRC) remains on track to raise funds and awareness about improvement projects in their rural town, such as restoring the old but still functioning Amtrak station. On Saturday March 6th from 3 until 8 p.m. the YRC conducted a fundraiser at Auldbrass Plantation. Auldbrass Plantation has a famous pedigree in that renowned Frank Lloyd Wright designed its lodges and 'crooked' fences. Guests at the YRC affair titled 'Yemassee on the Wright Track' were invited to tour the home, stroll the grounds and party on the piazza. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and libations will preceeded the auction with several one of a kind items involving recreational opportunities on other properties in the ACE Basin. Jazz pianist Lavon Stevens played for the guests before and after the auction, with funds raised dedicated to restoring and beautifying downtown Yemassee. For more information visit www.yemassee-sc.org.

To view more blog coverage about the YRT click here.

To view a video about Auldbrass click on CBS.

To read an article on Auldbrass click on New York Times.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Comer Morrison is a YRC board member and welcomes Susie O'Brien to the piazza overlooking the cypress pond at magical Auldbrass; Jimmy Fitts catering from Hendersonville served up beef tenderloin and creek shrimp for the YRC patrons; items on the silent auction that were uniquely Yemassee included deer hunts, a weekend at the Sloman House downtown and a kayak tour of the Izard's Creek on the Combahee River; Will and Paula Verity came from Beaufort to support the YRC and to talk about fly-fishing pursuits

Charleston Angler Spring Fling 10th Anniversary

The Charleston Angler celebrated its tenth year with a Spring Fling of seminars and tackle tests at each of its stores in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and Summerville. Anglers came to the stores at 9 a.m. for fishing school classes and special drawings that would last all day. Captain John Irwin of Fly Right Charters began the day with his redfish and inshore fishing seminar. Sea Tow of Charleston came to the West Ashley location with coffee and doughnuts, plus a special offer for new members who signed up at the Spring Fling. Sea Tow general manager Anthony Noury said, "I am here because even if people aren't out fishing we promote that being active in the outdoors and out on the water is a good thing." Captain Stephen Fields is sponsored by Big Bite Baits and he brought his Ranger 184 Ghost with him, and also taught a class about using their Bio Baits soft plastics. Fields finished in sixth place in the recent IFA Redfish Cup fished in Jacksonville, Florida. 

PhotosByJeffDennis: Captain Stephen Fields is based out of the upstate; Anthony Noury of Sea Tow stands with Chris Ulmer - manager of the West Ashley location of The Charleston Angler; Captain John Irwin's fishing seminars draw a crowd every time