SCSSA 2009 Sailfish XXVII Tournament

The South Carolina Saltwater Sportfishing Association is holding their 27th Annual Sailfish Tournament this weekend out of Charleston. The fish days are August 7, 8 & 9 with lines in from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. SCSSA mandates that circle hooks ONLY be used for this tournament, and that any meatfish (dolphin, wahoo or kings) that are caught can be weighed in from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day at the Cooper River Marina or Bohicket Marina. The winners will be recognized at the SCSSA year end rewards to be held August 18. Unofficial results say that Electric Bill released nine sailfish to win the tournament and that Syked Out released eight sailfish to take second place. The fleet had light east winds and good fishing conditions over the weekend. Thanks to SCSSA member William Dotterer for the conditions report, and congrats to his boat Swamp Angel for boating the first sailfish of the tournament on Friday morning at 8:20 a.m.

S.C. Ducks Unlimited Convention Aug. 14 - 16

The South Carolina Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be holding its annual State Convention in Greenville on August 14 & 15. Arrive Friday in time to experience the hospitality of SC DU President Jay Phillips during the welcome reception at the Upcountry History Museum. Overnight accommodations are being handled by the Westin Poinsett Hotel - but be sure to ask for the special Ducks Unlimited rate! The Saturday morning business meeting will go over DU's success stories like the conservation program Wetlands For Tomorrow and the new Carolina Connections Initiative. The Annual State Awards Gala will be Saturday night to recognize the top SC DU volunteers over the past year, and to raise some funds 'for the ducks' during a live auction. This annual convention brings together DU volunteers from all across the Palmetto State to share some fellowship before waterfowl season arrives, and to motivate everyone about upcoming banquets. To register for the SC DU State convention call Jill Sonka at 843-745-9110.

Photo: A special celebrity guest will attend on Saturday - Justin Tackett of DU's Waterdog TV show and his dog Yella will conduct a class on dog training.

DowAgro Herbicide Workshop for Landowners

Private landowners were invited to the Webb Wildlife Center in Jasper County on August 6 to participate in a forestry herbicide workshop sponsored by Dow Agro Sciences and Red River Specialties. Sweetgum trees and saplings are enemy number one in Jasper County, making it a likely place for this type of workshop, but they are prevalent throughout the Lowcountry and they greatly complicate a land manager's idea for an open landscape that benefits wildlife. Three methods of sweetgum control seem to work when used together: 1)mechanical operations, 2)Chemical applications and 3)use of prescribed fire. Landowners attending the workshop toured areas that are currently under all three treatments and can bear witness to the aesthetics of a 'park-like' setting - whereas other areas not under any control were dense with hardwood stems that blocked out sunlight and offered no wildlife benefits. Some of the herbicides discussed included Garlon-XRT and Arsenal, and the important factor of timing was stressed for the application to achieve maximum effect. It is often the case that the herbicide treatment prescription given by DowAgro depends on what the individual landowner wants for their property in the next two to five years, and this workshop helped to illustrate the options available to them.

Photos By Jeff Dennis: Herbicide application equipment includes everything from a backpack sprayer to an ATV-mounted sprayer to a tractor boom sprayer, Webb Center Chief Jay Cantrell talks while DNR's Ted Rainwater and Plantation manager Comer Morrison listen about herbicide applications, Jasper County plantation managers Julian Clark and Billy Exley in front of some of the Webb Center's managed uplands, landowners learn about how to keep wildlife beneficial grasses underneath pine stands instead of a sea of sweetgums

New S.C. state record White Grunt

The category for white grunt was only established a year ago and already that initial record has been broke. Angler Paul Godbout of Summerville was the lucky angler to reel in the 5-pound 10-ounce white grunt while fishing with friends Trent Lee and Captain Mike Obstfeld aboard the O'Baby. The fish was caught on July 16th in 150-feet of water while fishing near the Southwest Banks. The ocean was calm and the fishing was so good that the grouper were getting to the bait before the sharks and AJ's. The white grunt came aboard during their first pass over the live bottom area and within an hour they had their limit on grouper. Godbout leads several categories in the Charleston County Trident Tournament and works as a commercial angler during winter. Congrats on the new record from Lowcountryoutdoors.com!

Photos submitted: Paul Godbout holds the white grunt after having it weighed on a certified scales at the Summerville Charleston Angler by manager Mike Holtsclaw, Paul Godbout on the ocean showing off some fine bottom catches

To view past blog entries on record fish click here.

Rockville Regatta - Sailing Photos

To view more photos from the 2009 Rockville Regatta click here.

Photos By Jeff Dennis: A colorful sail brightens the dark skies associated with passing storms, E-Scows fill the course with Rockville in the background, a sailor demonstrates the difference between leaning back and leaning WAY back in strong winds, families enjoy the yacht club the same way previous generations did - by enjoying the breeze on the porch

119th Rockville Regatta - report

The annual regatta that marks the beginning of August is steeped in tradition and it draws both the largest spectator fleet of the sailing season, as well as 100% participation of the Sea Island class boats. Sunday's sailing started at noon with eleven 28-foot E-Scows racing down the course and into the North Edisto River to tack around a waiting buoy. When they came back into the creek they were joined on the course by the Sea Island class, Y-flyers, Snipes, Lasers and the Sunfish. The tide was flooding at about three knots and the wind was going with the tide and holding steady at about 15 knots, which made for fast racing conditions. Two races were completed on Sunday before the afternoon storms deluged the Sea Island Yacht Club. The fellowship derived from the peaceful setting that is Rockville combined with the vocal support from the spectator fleet has sailors looking forward to 2010.

Photos By Jeff Dennis: The flag of Lewis Hay's committee boat Straw Dog greets Dan Perrin's blue and white E-Scow, The Sea Island Yacht Club burgee and two competitors sailing a downwind leg, The Clubhouse on the tip of Wadmalaw is graced by a large live oak tree, Charles Hipp (far left) waves from the party boats

Conservation Easement Incentive Act debate

Did you know that the incentive to private landowners for placing a conservation easement on their property is set to expire at the end of 2009? These incentives provide a significant tax benefit for forward-thinking landowners who protect their private lands from future development. The Congressional Sportsman's Foundation (CSF) and the Land Trust Alliance have hosted meetings for the 111th Congress in July to encourage legislators to support the Conservation Easement incentive. Representative Mike Thompson and Representative Eric Cantor are the lead sponsors of H.R. 1831, a bill that would make the tax incentives permanent, and so far they have 139 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. The purpose of the bill is to protect the incentives fro private landowners so that they can better manage their land for open space and wildlife for the benefit of future generations. Safari Club International (SCI) has joined the discussion by stating this type of legislation ensures the future of hunting and fishing across the country. Lowcountryoutdoors.com believes that South Carolina in particular would benefit from the establishment of a permanent Conservation Easement Incentive.

To view past blog entries about the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation click here.

Photos By Jeff Dennis: Botany Bay Plantation is protected by a conservation easement that was donated by a former private landowner - path through a maritime forest and a lettered olive; the state seashell of South Carolina