120th Rockville Regatta - Sunday Report

Sunday racing conditions were ideal at Rockville, with overcast skies from inland thunderstorms, and plenty of wind - which was in sharp contrast to the lack of wind suffered on Saturday. However, the term 'doldrums' likely did not apply on Saturday as witnesses indicated a huge spectator fleet filled with revelry (and maybe some hellraising too) had gathered to support the sailing regatta at the Sea Island Yacht Club. Sunday's sailing races were 'sprightly' and entertaining for those that were able to make it back onto the water to view them. Thanks to committee boat Sonny Boy for agreeing to provide transportation in order to share this look at the Rockville races.

To view blog coverage from the 2009 Rockville Regatta click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: The Sea Island Yacht Club greets sailors returning from Sunday's races; a pageantry of color mixes into the display when sailors harness the power of the wind for sport; The Y-flyers sprint across the gusty North Edisto on their way to the buoy near Point of Pines; Hiked Out!

S.C. Ducks Unlimited - State Banquet photos

The Top DU chapters in South Carolina gathered with the 'top brass' of S.C. Ducks Unlimited to celebrate the 2010 state convention at the Embassy Suites in Columbia. Many subjects were discussed from the 'Carolina Connection,' a fundraising effort to raise $2.5 million sponsor dollars by the end of 2010 - to the 'Carolina Commanders' - the hunting club formed by DU members in the Chesterfield area. Awards were presented to the 'Granders' initiative for raising $100,000 for DU, as well as to chapters with the highest net gains, largest greenwing (youth) events, and even for those chapters that are simply 'flying right.' In conservation easement news, DU protected 8 properties in 2009 with the 1,087-acre Hermitage property on the Edisto River topping the list - a part of the ACE Basin. Another 400-acre Swamp Tract was protected in the ACE Basin on the Little Salkehatchie River - in Western Colleton County - where more protection efforts are desperately needed to safeguard the future water quality of all the ACE Basin.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Incoming S.C. DU State Chair Andi Stevenson and his wife Lauri join Jay, Doug and Bill at the Awards Banquet; Doug Saunders and Bill Short smile and celebrate the volunteer work of John Leaphart for S.C. DU; Outgoing DU state chair Jay Phillips received a bronze statue from past state chair Bill Short and volunteer Larry Huckabee; Two 'susies' that support DU and their 'drakes'

Red Trout Celebrity Event - Kicks Off

Scouts Boats hosted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at their Sportsman's Island facility on Daniel Island to rally involvement ahead of the October 22 - 24 Celebrity Tournament. The Lowcountry Red*Trout Series is a part of the larger Redbone tournament series that originated down in Florida. CFF event planner Tracy Borczyk is signing up local guides to fish with anglers that are willing to make donations to CFF during the celebrity tournament. Captain Mark Nichols of www.DOAlures.com and Captain Blair Wiggins of www.AddictiveFishing.com are all set come fish in Charleston again this fall during the Red*Trout. New for 2010, www.ScoutBoats.com is donating a 160 Sportfish Boat, with Yamaha motor and trailer, to the Live Auction during the Captain's Dinner Banquet on October 22 at the Cottage on Shem Creek!

To see photos from the 2009 Red*Trout tourney click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: CFF activist and angler Ron Silverman makes his 'pitch' at Sportsman's Island; Scout Boats V.P. Dave Wallace and CFF Executive Director Scot Rittenbaum at the Kick-Off event; Sisters Eleanor Parker and Edith R. Smith smile to support the Red*Trout Celebrity Tournament

Topwater Action for trout and more

PhotoByJeffDennis: Just look at the battle scars on this topwater plug!!

Charleston City Paper - Best Of... Fishing Column

The Fishing Report, The Charleston Mercury

by T. Ballard Lesemann

Staff Pick

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Anglers, pro and amateur, can get the scoop on what's biting what, when, where, and how in the Charleston Mercury's weekly Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina by regular outdoor correspondent and Charleston native Jeff Dennis — an enthusiast who stays plugged in by way of charter captains, hobbyists, buddies at the local bait shops, and his own outings. The Fishing Report touches on everything from freshwater crappie and shad to shallow water redfish and sheepshead to dolphin and big black sea bass offshore, from Edisto to Murrells Inlet. Look for the column's blue background around page 17 or so.

East Cooper Fishing Club - Aug. meeting

LowcountryOutdoors was the featured speaker for the monthly meeting of the East Cooper Fishing Club on August 2, and I spoke to their members about the 2010 S.C. Governor's Cup Billfish Series and about my journalism pursuits to champion our Lowcountry Outdoors. For more club information visit www.EastCooperFishingClub.net.

PhotoByJeffDennis: The 2010 Gov. Cup custom lure made by LEHI Baits; VP Ed Kidney holds a redfish with Captain Brian Garris and Pres. Martin Hox; At the August 2 meeting the VP and Pres. welcomed me and appreciated my July 2010 saltwater column

Edisto Gov. Cup - Day Three

Twenty-two boats went offshore fishing on the final day of the 2010 S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Series - searching the deep blue for the elusive blue marlin. "Glory's Last Shot" is a phrase attached to the final major tournament on the PGA tour, describing a stage that is set for someone - or in this case a sportfishing team - to come from behind and make history. Well the fishing gods had no drama in mind on Saturday and the Edisto tournament was won by Rascal, a 50-foot Hatteras, based on the merits of their four sailfish releases on Thursday, despite having no releases on Saturday. Game On also had four releases on Thursday and finished in second place at Edisto, while Lil' Bit held onto its third place spot. All the leading meatfish also held their positions from Thursday, as the offshore bite dipped dramatically on Friday and Saturday.

Unofficially, Caramba takes the 2010 Series title of Best Billfish Boat by 400 points after winning back-to-back tournaments in the Series and its overall consistency including their Edisto Day One release of three sailfish. Day Three sailfish releases included two each from Major Motion, Trash Man and Sportin' Life, while the overall billfish release numbers for the Eidsto tourney were 40 sailfish and one blue marlin.

To view more blog coverage from the 2010 Edisto Gov. Cup click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: A beautiful 28.5-pound bull dolphin brought back by Mark Daniels aboard Daymaker is shown off by his mate; Trey Kemmerlin sent this 28.4-pound wahoo to the scales but let his Plumber's Wet Dream crew pose with the fish; Look at the mahi that survived an attack from a billfish while being reeled in by Can't Complain; Emerson Reed and his 30.8-pound dolphin caught from Fat Boy in front of a packed and appreciative crowd at Edisto Marina