Sonny Boy Charters - Listen up Son!

Captain Brad Rumph of www.SonnyBoyCharters.com makes no bones about getting on the water early in order to catch trout, bass and flounder in dawn's early light. With a low tide at 6 a.m. and a sweltering heat building with sun up, we threw topwater baits with much success - catching trout on each of our first casts. With the heat of summer now upon us, it is imperative to get on the fish early before they head for cooler spots during the day to loaf. Rumph knows that even though he practices catch and release fishing that the gamefish will require some extra reviving after a fight due to the warmer water temps. No fish were kept this day, though the 5-pound Gator trout that Rumph reeled in was slower to swim off than normal, but coming to the net she offered a large splash of water across the gunnel and into the netman's face! Top redfish for the day went 11 pounds, with a 9-pounder reeled in after that. Just where was this?? Give Captain Brad a call at 843-708-1486 and set a date to practice some dawn patrol and try your luck.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Capt. Brad Rumph can find the gator trout; a redfish that went after a topwater bait

PhotosByBradRumph: Just look at the rod bend made by the 30-inch redfish that Jeff reeled in - what a beauty

Daniel Island - CCA Oyster Restoration

CCA called on its members and on volunteers from the public to come on down to the water's edge and splash around a bit on 6/16 while helping to restore vital oyster habitat. The Topwater Action Coordinator is Gary Keisler and he can be reached at 843-696-6724. This action partners with the SCDNR's own restoration plans, with workers meeting at 101 River Landing Road at 1 pm and doing outside muddy work until 5 pm. Shoes are recommended as opposed to open-toe Crocs and flops, with gloves and drinks being provided. Why do CCE members give of their time? Oysters improve water quality, help combat erosion, and provide critical habitat to shrimp and crabs, which in return attract the gamefish that recreational anglers love to target. Volunteers put out 400 bags of oysters, and the Daniel island project is set to put out even more oyster shell bags over the summer of 2010.

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

Eco-Tours with Capt. Sally Rumph

What could be better than walking down a beach during the summer in the Lowcountry outdoors? How about walking down the beach with a naturalist with years of training and experience about communicating the presence of the natural world to her clientele. Captain Sally Rumph is the local guide with the seashore knowledge and LowcountryOutdoors even learned a thing or two on Sally's nature walk! Her specialty is John's Island, the Dawhoo area, the North Edisto Inlet, Botany Island and Deveaux Bank.

PhotosByJeffDennis: A portrait of Lowcountry character collected while beachcombing with Capt. Sally; A whelk lays on the beach next to a whelk egg sack; A look inside just one compartment of the whelk egg sack reveals .... many tiny baby whelks!

Remington Outdoor Foundation - DU donation

The Remington Outdoor Foundation (ROF) is the philanthropic arm of Remington Arms Company and they have just donated $250,000 to Ducks Unlimited. Not only that, the ROF will make two additional payments to DU that will qualify for 'match' grants that will total $3 million dollars. The money will go towards DU's Rescue The Duck Factory campaign that was launched in 2008 to save high priority waterfowl breeding wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakotas. Waterfowlers in S.C. need to recognize that a fair amount of migratory waterfowl that visit the Palmetto State come from the central flyway nesting grounds. ROF president Jim Moore said, "Conserving wild places is an integral part of our mission to encourage more people to enjoy the outdoors." ROF also has a brand new website,www.OutdoorRoadMap.com, that aims to become the flagship source for online information regarding hunting and conservation. That is, if they can keep up with LowcountryOutdoors!!

PhotoByJeffDennis(SC DU State Media Chair): A hunting memory made on a private property in the Santee Delta that is under a conservation easement with Ducks Unlimited

Marine Association's Marina Appreciation Day

Suzi DuRant of Charleston is the Executive Director of the S.C. Marine Association (www.SCmarine.org), which is raising awareness for marinas on July 12 along the coast. DuRant was in Myrtle Beach to attend the day of festivities at Harbourgate Marina which included SCDNR boater education courtesy inspections and remarks from Horry County officials. The www.CharlestonHarborResort.com also marked Marina Day with live music on the docks and Harbormaster Stan Jones said, "This is part of our community building program that we established when I took over management the marina on Saint Patrick's Day." Charleston Harbor Marina (CHM) offers 459 slips for boaters and non-ethanol products for fueling, plus since the CHM Resort is located at the end of the boardwalk, boaters that purchase dockage at CHM have access to amenities like the swimming pool and the Reel Bar. Jones hopes to bring back charter captains to CHM and to include overnight stays at the Resort with their charter trips, and CHM will host a portion of the Carolina Billfish Classic (www.FishCBC.com) on June 23 - 26. Another reason to stop by CHM sometime is their Rockin' at the Point concerts that occur on Friday's from May through July on their white sand beach. Looking ahead the CHM will be Charleston's July 4th headquarters with a Saturday concert July 3 with reggae band Steel Pulse followed by fireworks at Patriots Point. Inquire with the Resort and Marina about concert packages with rooms, tickets, water taxi and more!

PhotoByJeffDennis: The fuel dock at the Chas. Harbor Marina is in the shadow of the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point

Hot Shot Charters - Dolphin Day

Captain Dick Vance took a motley crew of anglers into the deep blue ocean today in search of offshore fishing fun. Great conditions in 1000 feet of water, including a weedline and a blue / green water color change, had the charter boat captain with 30 years experience very excited. First mate Bryson Jennings was very busy and got some help from Phillip Fender, who is Captain on the Hammertime based in Myrtle Beach. Dolphin after dolphin came for the ballyhoo all day, but the schoolie or peanut dolphin were so thick that no other fish were spotted. The Charleston fleet reported the same conditions up and down the weedlines from the 226-hole and other locales. Captain Vance trolled at 7 knots and dealt with a slight Southwest wind that made the seas a choppy two to three feet. The blue water in the edge of the Gulf Stream was a constant 82 degrees. Captain Vance was a speaker at the Saltwater Seminar Series this winter with George Poveromo, and he fishes a ten-line spread with authority calling out which bait is getting hit so that a mate can handle the hook-up. "Right Short, Right Short!!"

To view past blog entires about migratory dolphin in May click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Michael Smith and mate Bryson Jennings with a cow dolphin; Pull a pink Lehi Squitch for all the peanut dolphin the mates can stand; fresh GREEN mahi mahi; Capt. Vance works the mousetrap and the shotgun from the cockpit

Folly Pier - Kids Fishing Day

The 2nd annual Take a Kid Fishing Day at the Folly Beach Pier was held on June 5th by the Folly Beach Anglers Fishing Club. In 2009 the event hosted 52 youngsters, but the 2010 event grew to 81 entries in part due to sponsorship by Haddrell's Point Tackle. Forty-one fish were weighed in and each category awarded two rods and reels and a tackle bag plus a trophy. The event is run by angler Daniel Culpepper who lives to fish on the Folly Pier and who recognizes the importance to the community of introducing youth anglers to the sport.

To view past blog entries about the Folly Pier click here.

Ashley Priole won the girls 11 and under prize with an 8-ounce whiting.

Ethan Hanes won the boys 11 and under prize with a 5.1-pound black drum.

Kayla Goudelock (photo) won the girls 12 thru 16 prize with a 5.7-pound black drum.

Kyle Hitchman (photo) won the boys 12 thru 16 prize with a 1.5-pound lady fish.

PhotosByMichaelEdwinSmith: All the youths gather together on the pier - what a picture! Thanks to the Folly Anglers for promoting youth involvement in the Lowcountry outdoors!!