Carolina Coastal Discovery visits Edisto Island

Getting Hands-On Experience onboard Discovery

The Carolina Coastal Discovery marine education program is normally tasked with tutoring the youth of the Lowcountry. But occasionally the general public is invited to board the 45-foot pontoon boat named Discovery in order to explore and monitor the saltwater ecosystem. Edisto Island was the focus of this state-funded program for two days with four research boat trips into St. Helena Sound.

The Hogchoker is NOT a flounder

Departing from Edisto Beach State Park, the Discovery boat took about 25 guests on two-hour boat tours into the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) operates the Discovery research vessel using funds from sales of the S.C. Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licenses. Which means that recreational saltwater anglers help to educate others about the importance of the coastal Lowcountry

Captain Tom Salisbury welcomes the guests aboard on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. and told them to put on a personal floatation device. The winds were calm and the humidity was low, which made for excellent boating conditions. Education Coordinator Julie Binz used a headset microphone to tell passengers to keep seated while the boat is underway, and that the curriculum aboard the Discovery includes pulling a trawling net to gather and identify marine life, before returning it to the estuary.

To view the entire article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

Kids are drawn to the onboard aquarium 

To view past blog entries from Edisto Island click To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Edisto Invitational - Afternoon Heat Relief - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

The Discovery at dock in Big Bay Creek

Beasley's BBQ Catering - Grand Opening

Kyle Beasley and guest pitmaster

Kyle Beasley is a native of Walterboro, S.C. and he has had a lifelong mindset to prepare food for folks to enjoy. Turns out he had a natural gift, being able to taste when a batch of hash was flavored perfectly, and in return the accolades followed. Graduating to smoking meat, Beasley learned over the years how to cook pork, chicken and everything else on a grill and in a smoker. But it was his custom BBQ sauces that seems to shine the spotlight on Beasley, and set this pitmaster apart.

Takeaway BBQ plate from Beasley's 

Fast forward to August 2016 and Beasley's catering has now opened a place of business for BBQ fans to come and take away food for lunch and dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Grand Opening for August 25, 26 and 27 will take place from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. at 1122 Snider's Highway in Walterboro. This location is at Exit 53 along Interstate 95, and they are located inside the convenience store at the El Cheap gas station. The smoker shed out back is sure to be sending out some smoke signals too, for those with a keen eye for a new source for Lowcountry BBQ.

To view past blog entries about BBQ click on Beasley Sauces - Polk BBQ Closes after 35 Years

Made Locally in Walterboro

Daily Prices for Grand Opening

Know The Rules for Dove Season

The traditional start date for dove season is the first Saturday in September, which is usually part of Labor Day weekend and 2016 will not alter that blueprint. At noon on September 3 wingshooters will congregate in planted fields to try their luck at harvesting a limit of doves. Having success in a particular field year after year requires a strong commitment to habitat management that favors these fast-flying grey birds.

Sandy Stuhr is ready for dove hunting

The legal limit per hunter for mourning doves has been reduced in 2016 to a 12-bird limit, down from the 15-bird limit utilized the past few years. Longtime dove hunters will recall that a 12-bird limit was in effect for decades until just a few years ago when they experimented with raising the limit on these migratory birds. For now, that change has been undone, and perhaps a measure of sustainability has been restored.

Hunters must possess an SCDNR hunting license and a HIP permit, which pertains to the harvest of any migratory bird. The first three days of the season will abbreviated with legal shooting hours from 12 noon until sunset on Sept. 3 – 5. The remainder of the season runs from Sept. 6 through October 15, and shooting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. 

To read this feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about dove season opening click 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009  

Hot Weather Hog Dog Hunt Opportunity

August is time for some Hog Dog action!

A sport that in increasing in popularity very quickly is hunting feral hogs with packs of dogs. Hog Dogging has become all the rage with specialty gear, dedicated magazines and an enthusiasm that resembles coon hound enthusiasts. There are 25,000-acres of WMA land in Hampton County (Game Zone 3) that will be open for hunting hogs with dogs on August 25 – 27 for those who have a hunting license and a WMA permit. Bay and catch dogs do the work, before hunters move in for the kill.

            
Keep in mind that there is no still or stalk hunting, and pistols are the only firearms allowed on these hog dog hunts, which have proven to be one of the best tools available to reduce hog numbers. Since feral hogs have become so widespread, it only makes sense that the number of sportsmen willing to hog hunt with dogs on private lands will increase over time. These hog doggers are providing a valuable service that benefits the natural resources of S.C., and is a good example of how the heritage of hunting is worthy of praise and preservation.

To view a book review for Year Of The Pig click here. 

To view past entries from the Grand American and Coon Fest click 2016 - 2015- 2014-  2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010

2016 Fishing For Miracles King Tourney - New Inshore Division

Team Mad Mouse from the 2012 FFM tourney

New for the 2016 edition of Fishing For Miracles king is their first-ever inshore tourney on Saturday. The South Carolina chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) runs the tourney that benefits the MUSC Children’s Hospital. This long-running end of summer event usually draws lots of participants since first place for the heaviest kingfish pays $25,000. For more prize info visit the Internet at www.fishingformiracles.org.

            

The tourney gets underway on Thursday afternoon at Ripley Light Yacht Club in Charleston, near California Dreaming restaurant. Registration activities include t-shirt sales, a silent auction, catered supper and lots of saltwater fellowship. The king mackerel tourney is fished over two days on Friday and Saturday. The king mackerel weigh-in will be from 2 until 5 p.m. on Friday and from 1 until 4 p.m. on Saturday. This is a great time to see lots of fish while spending time on the dock and enjoying the afternoon, followed by an awards presentation Saturday evening.

            

The inshore portion of the tourney will be fished on Saturday only and the weigh-in will be from 3 until 5 in the afternoon. Trout, sheepshead and flounder are the three species in the inshore division and each must be a minimum of 14-inches to be legal to weigh-in. CCA will provide payouts for first place, lady angler and youth angler and the rules stipulate that all anglers should have fun, and be careful. Fishing For Miracles tournament director John Gourdin is hopeful that the addition of the inshore division will lead to more family participation.

To view this feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries from Fishing For Miracles click 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

To view the latest Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report click here.

To view articles in CCA's TIDE magazine click  2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Guy Harvey Magazine - Risk and Reward Article

Story and Photo by Jeff Dennis,
Guy Harvey Magazine Insider

Reaching into previously restricted waters off of Cuba, the Dolphinfish Research Program saw anglers tag dolphinfish there in February for the first time. Hammond was able to partner with a sportfisher based in Charleston that would travel to Cuba under a special research permit issued from the U.S. government. The 56-foot Jarrett Bay named Jabez, owned by Carl Ulm, runs charters during summer months out of Toler’s Cover Marina. Captain Ben Polk and mate Joe West took the boat Charleston to Havana and made port at Marina Hemingway, where they met up with angler Cantey Smith.

Summer 2016 Issue - Cover Art

But what about the fishing pressure in Cuba? “We saw everything from long-liner boats to row boats, and they practice subsistence fishing in Cuba,” said Capt. Polk. “Even with some primitive fishing methods, I’d say they were very effective.” With Cuba and the U.S. sharing the same stock of dolphinfish, the fish tagged by the Jabez may reveal previously unknown dispersal patterns as the fish migrate, or they may reveal data that further cements accepted theories. More tagging will need to be done off Cuba over time, but the first ever chance at capturing this data is now swimming into the sea of fate.

To view past blog entries from Guy Harvey Magazine click on Marine Electronics - 2014 Boone Hall Oyster Roast - Kite Fishing - Dolphin Tagging.

To view past blog entries about Guy Harvey click S.C. Lottery - 2012 Memorial Day Visit - World Headquarters Visit.