Edisto - Friday Gov. Cup Photos

Friday at the Edisto Marina Governor's Cup Billfish Tournament was actually the first day of fishing in the Series. All 27 boats went offshore in search of a big blue marlin and many boats did manage to catch and release a marlin, or at least glimpse one in their bait spread. The weigh-in for wahoo, tuna and dolphin ended up a little thin on variety because no wahoo or tuna were caught. A whole host of nice dolphin had the gathered Edisto beach crow - ooohing and awwing as the emcee allowed spectators to guess the dolphin's weight before he announced it. SCDNR asks that Lowcountryoutdoors.com list these results as UNOFFICIAL - pending affidavits about billfish releases.

Miss Magnolia released two blue marlin and is in first place at Edisto.

Rascal released two blue marlin (after Miss Magnolia) and is in second place.

Blue Sky, Finatic and Micabe each released one blue marlin each.

First Place dolphin is 52.6-pounds, caught by Trey Sires aboard Rapid Pace of Sullivan's Island.

Second Place dolphin is 49.4-pounds, caught by Jay Ham aboard Lil Bit of Charleston.

Third place dolphin is 46-pounds, caught by Reece Wren aboard Artemis of Charleston.

To view more blog coverage from the 2009 Edisto Gov. Cup click here.

Photos By Jeff Dennis: Trey Sires stands by the dolphin (hanging) that leads the Edisto tourney after one day of fishing, A mate from the Dough Boy hoists a fine dolphin for the fans, Kim Harrington is the leading Lady Angler with a 19.2-pound dolphin, Richard Saum of HHI shows his 17-pound dolphin in front of Reel Patience, Tournament organizer Becca Smith and friend Janie Van Slembrouck hustle a dolphin over to the scales and enjoy a bit of fun during the Friday events.

Edisto Governor's Cup - Thursday fishing CANCELED

Due to small craft advisories posted at 6 a.m. by the National Weather Service, SCDNR canceled the Thursday fishing as tournament rules dictate. The weekend weather forecast is excellent and the entire fleet will likely fish back-to-back days Friday and Saturday to decide the winner at the Edisto Governor's Cup Tourney. So there will be no weigh-in on Thursday, but there will be a happy hour on the docks from 5 to 7. Tournament organizer Becca Smith tells me that tonight is "Eat out at Edisto" night, so that tournament participants can show the beach community of Edisto that they appreciate all the hospitality that accompanies the Edisto Billfish tourney. Crews will be on the docks today rigging baits in anticipation of of having lines in the water at 8.a.m. on Friday, with fishing continuing until lines out time at 3 p.m. Weigh-ins on Friday and Saturday will be conducted from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. - followed by evening meals and fellowship. Plan to come to Edisto marina to enjoy all the festivities associated with the Governor's Cup.

To view more blog coverage from the 2009 Edisto Gov. Cup click here.

Photos By Jeff Dennis: The perpertual trophy that contestants in the Governor's Cup Series hope to hold at the September awards ceremony at the Governor's mansion, A sign greeting everyone arriving at the Edisto Marina, 2008 wahoo pics from the Edisto tourney

Twenty-First Governor's Cup Billfish Series Underway

Edisto has hosted the inaugural Governor's Cup Billfishing event for 21 consecutive years, and the 2009 tournament has a shot at being the best ever. The Wednesday night Captain's meeting was held during overcast and windy conditions, and most sportfishers were planning a "lay day" on Thursday. Edisto Marina owner Buddy Smith was on hand to greet all the anglers, and the Smith family made it a family affair with daughter Becca as the tournament organizer and son Elliott the t-shirt artist. Governor's Cup Board Chairman Graham Eubanks and father Manley were amongst the crowd of familiar faces that were eager to commence the twenty-first Governor's Cup Billfish Series. SCDNR Gov. Cup Director Wally Jenkins told the anglers to make sure they have their permits and licenses in order because each boat can expect to be checked by "the guys with guns" - specifically SCDNR officers Willie LaDue and Greg Brown. Pete Loy fishing on Lil Bit and Ollie Burwell fishing on Sweet Deal, both from Charleston, mixed with the crowd of locals from Edisto that included the town mayor, Burly Lyons. Mayor Lyons wished the anglers good luck, and told them to have fun. The invocation for the evening meal, catered by Buist Rivers and Lowcountry Eats, included a blessing of the fleet and gave thanks for the opportunity to fish the Governor's Cup. Rules Committee Chairman Calvert Huffines gave a lengthy talk about what constitutes a legal to keep blue marlin, one that is 110-inches long or better, and what defines a youth or Jr. Angler. Huffines also defined how the Edisto Tournament will handle small craft advisories - waiting until 6 a.m. to make a decision about canceling a day of fishing - and using 71 as the official radio channel. A fleet of twenty-seven boats will compete in the Edisto tournament fishing two out of three days for Series points, daily cash prizes and bragging rights. 

Photos By Jeff Dennis: SCDNR Governor's Cup employees Elizabeth Miller, Amy Dukes and Wally Jenkins; Law enforcement officers Willie LaDue and Greg Brown discuss the no-wake zone Captain Bob of FishingwithBob.com; Mr. and Mrs. Calvert Huffines keep their sailboat Combahee Lady at the Edisto marina, Buddy Smith and Becca Smith enjoy the moment at the Captain's meeting, The 2009 tournament logo by Elliot Smith

2008 Red*Trout Celebrity tourney report

Ron Silver and son won big in 2008

The 2008 Lowcountry Red*Trout celebrity fishing tournament was fished out of the SeaBreeze Marina on the Cooper River under cold weather conditions. ESPN was in town to film an episode for their Saturday saltwater television series. Celebrities Flip Pallot, Capt. Mark Nichols, and PGA pro D.J. Trahan were in town to support fishing for a cure to cystic fibrosis.

ESPN interviews Capt. Robert Olsen

Capt. Mark Nichols, Malcom Rhodes and John Irwin

Flip Pallot and I talk about hunting in the Lowcountry

Report Swallow-Tailed Kite Sightings

Spring is the time when the black and white raptors known as Swallow-Tailed Kites are most visible in our area as they move up from Florida. South Carolina is in the upper reaches of their breeding range, but since Lowcountry habitat is favorable to them their population trend is on the increase. The Center for Birds of Prey in Charleston is managing a Citizen Science Project that rely's on input from the public about sightings of the bird. Their long, scissor-like tail is what sets them apart from other birds and they can be a barometer for the health of surrounding bottomland hardwoods and grasslands since they won't frequent any areas that don't provide adequate nesting and foraging zones. So far in 2009 Lowcountryoutdoors.com has reported three sightings - all in Colleton County, which makes it a three year trend of seeing these birds just West of I-95.  These magnificent looking birds that soar with ease are welcome to joint the flock of avian species that thrive in the coastal plain.

For past blog entries about kites click here.

Photo By Lynn Hackett and courtesy Tera Baird of USFWS: Swallow-Tailed Kite in flight

Fish Stamp Charters in CCA's TIDE magazine

Captain Todd Stamps guided Lowcountryoutdoors.com into the "backcountry" just north of the Isle of Palms over the weekend. Targeting the low tide cycle, fishing holes were visited from IOP to Bull Island. Live bait was captured with but a few throws of a cast net with juvenile bunker seemingly everywhere. Anchoring up using a Stick-it anchor and a Power Pole system in tandem, we pitched floats to likely spots with live bait and also threw out carolina rigs baited with cut bait (specifically, the front end of the menhaden). The target species was red drum and trout, but nothing was ruled out from a curious flounder or even the sandbar shark that we saw working the edge of one creek. Fish Stamp charters believes that stealth is the key to catching and releasing schoolie red drum, so we kept quiet for the most part and managed to catch a few fish. For a more in depth look at our fishing techniques please review the May / June issue of CCA's TIDE magazine for my article The Great Red Way. 

Photo By Jeff Dennis: Captain Stamps drew this 27-inch red drum from his good luck hole!

International Migratory Bird Day today

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) is presently marked during the entire month of May, but the second Saturday in May is the traditional date for celebration. A day in the pine woods did not disappoint Lowcountryoutdoors.com and several songbirds were spotted including indigo buntings, summer tanagers, blue grosbeaks and others. IMBD is the brainchild of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and was created in the early 1990's. Presently the non-profit organization Environment for the Americas is coordinating IMBD activities and festivals. Conservation themes and poster art work are selected two years prior to IMBD, which focuses attention on the magical journey of birds between their winter and summer homes. 

The 2009 IMBD artist is Andy Eveson of Comox, BC and his Indian name is Nagedzi. He has always upheld the traditions of both the K'omoks and Kwakwaka'wakw First Nations, and his brown bird flock poster with "tessellation" puts him in grand company with past IMBD artists.