2012 Redfish Lodge CCA Summit - Day One

CCA Conservation of Conservation Ted Venker and I enjoy fishing near Aransas Bay

A return to Rockport, Texas allowed CCA's top brass and members of the media to convene for an important time of idea exchange in the name of marine conservation. The Coastal Conservation Association is a non-profit comprised of 17 coastal state chapters, and CCA is devoted to protecting fisheries as well as the interests of recreational anglers. Based in Texas, CCA produces its own quality publication called TIDE, and understands that other media outlets require constant education about ongoing issues. A battery of professionals presented information concerning the Gulf of Mexico's recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the subsequent environmental order to remove all the idle oil rigs from the waters of the Gulf. Biologist Dr. Larry McKinney, representing the Harte Research Institute, presided over a lively roundtable discussion about how anglers want some or all of the rigs to stay since their structures have developed into valuable fish habitat. For more on this issue, visit the CCA website, at Rigs to Reefs. CCA President told me how they have renewed their partnership with Kenny  Chesney and Costa to raise funds for conservation. Of course, part of Day One involved fishing for redfish and trout and Redfish Lodge guide Joel Pruitt took CCA Director of Conservation Ted Venker and I to try our luck on Estes Flats. Despite a cold front and howling winds, I managed to catch a red drum on my very first cast that measured 23.5-inches, which I chose to harvest for supper later that night. The executive chef at the Redfish Lodge prepared fresh fish for all of the anglers who enjoyed dinner while telling fish stories. After dark, it was time to try the night-fishing that I was exposed to in 2011, underneath the lights outside the lodge. Casting and retrieving a soft plastic lure in chartreuse, I racked up at least 10 trout and 2 ladyfish, while practicing my catch and release routine.

Day One harvest for fish supper

Red Drum with some Texas seasonings

For past blog entries about the Redfish Lodge in Texas click here.

Costa debuts Double Haul, renews CCA support

Double Haul Costas and a Texas redfish

Costa sunglasses represent a coastal lifestyle to many, and they have a variety of frames to fit each individual's taste. For the angling community, Costa is a big part of their everyday on-the-water routine. Costa supports recreational anglers by partnering with CCA to raise awareness about preservation of marine resources.... more on this in a moment. The new Double Haul frame-name alludes to the fly fishing casting technique that allows cautious anglers to try and place a fly near an approaching gamefish - how exciting! The frames offer full coverage, i.e. they are wide and tall, which serves to block out the sun AND the wind. During a two-day fishing excursion in Texas, where the wind was howling, I found that while my face became red with 'windburn' my eyes had largely been spared any 'dry eye' feeling. The Double Haul frames are comfortable with a padded nosepiece and they also offer padding where the arm touches the ears. The end of the arm is a bit wide for a slip-over croakie, but they come with a hole which is perfect for 'rigging' with a fisherman's choice monofilament leash! Most anglers are 'comfortable' with the usual frame colors of black or tortoise, but Costa is now offering a new option - clear frames. The clear frame really accents the mirror blue 580G lenses, setting up what someone described as an 'Elton John' look, and who wouldn't want to look distinctive while holding onto a Texas-sized redfish?!
Besides making a splash with new frames, Costa has produced a partnership with country crooner Kenny Chesney to sell five popular sunglass styles (with Chesney's signature), that will raise funds for the Coastal Conservation Association. CCA has already received a check from Costa for $50K and I had a chance to visit with Texas-based CCA President Pat Murray. "We love that the CCA fishing-oriented lifestyle and Costa can work together to conserve our marine resources, and we are also grateful to Kenny Chesney," said Murray. The five frames available right now for the CCA benefit program are the Hammerhead, Caballito, Switchfoot, Hammock and Maya. Distinctive color combos will include tortoise and light green, and clear and light blue. The equation is simple; wear Costas and support CCA while having fun on the water looking for fish!

For past blog entries about Costa sunglasses click here.

CCA Pres. Pat Murray, Singer Kenny Chesney, 

Costa's Amanda Perryman,with Brett Palmer. Photo By Wilson Roe

Costa Double Haul - side view

2012 East Cooper CCA banquet

Original art by Joe Shuford on the live auction

Dem Boys: Reed Simmons, Jack Sisson, Johnny Crislip

The May 4 conservation banquet for the East Cooper Chapter of CCA drew a record 106 sponsor members! Who says that saltwater conservation is not important to recreational anglers? In fact, it is those same recreational anglers who are in touch with our natural resources, and who pay for licenses and tackle. Funds generated from those sales provide the proper science-based facts to base future fisheries management decisions on. The lighthouse facility on Shem Creek served as the backdrop for this night of fellowship, food (Chas. Bay Gourmet) and drink, raffles and auctions. One of a kind art, guided fishing trips, and furnishings for the sporting life were just some of the items that CCA members got to bid on. CCA SC director Scott Whitaker thanked those he could for their help with the banquet, and one group of anglers remembered an angling friend who had recently passed away. John Friend was a member of Team Excel, a small group of wheelchair-bound anglers who love to fish, who attended the banquet and left an open table setting in his honor. Saltwater bonds are indeed deep bonds, and plenty of other friends at the CCA banquet were swapping fishing stories about the early offshore bite, or maybe about how the redfishing had been slow in the mornings this week. It's likely that most of the banquet patrons departed the event with a renewed vigor to get back on the water and to catch some fish!
Look for more social photos in the May 17 edition of the Charleston Mercury.

To read past blog entries about the East Cooper CCA events click here.

Team Excel with photo of John Friend

Carol and John Gourdin with Missy and Michael Hunter

To read about how Guy Harvey partners with CCA in SC click here.

NAWCA, Sportsmen Heritage Act - Updates

U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner shares his thoughts at the DU 75th in D.C.

On a recent trip to Washington D.C. for the 75th anniversary of Ducks Unlimited at the Willard Hotel, and the Diamond Dinner banquet on Capital Hill, I was also educated about some issues important to sportsmen everywhere. To read my feature article on the possible reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and the Sportsmen Heritage Act click on the Charleston Mercury.
To view past blog entries on DU's 75th anniversary in D.C. events click here, which includes video of Hose Speaker John Boehner addressing the DU banquet at the Hyatt Regency.

2012 Criterium Cycling Race - Speed Week

The lady racers roll down Main Street

After the race, the ladies shared stories

The pro men take turns at high speed

What better way to enjoy the Lowcountry outdoors than to ride a bike, or to watch pro cyclers compete in the late afternoon. Each year in the spring the CRITS Speed Week comes to Walterboro, in what is one stop on a seven-stop circuit that included a race in Beaufort on Tuesday night. Their are time trials that are a part of the longer endurance rides, where the cyclists ride through downtown streets that only get blocked off for very special occasions. The races began at 4 p.m. after the heat of the day had passed, and a Master's Race was followed by a minor leaguer type class of racers. A hotly contested ladies only race was held at 6 and the pro men's race kicked off right before dark, and the main event did not disappoint. Speed Week is right when the top men get up a head of steam, and besides one race delay for a crash, the race went smoothly and the patrons enjoyed cheering them on. Local businesses set up hospitality tents and folks sort of meander around and stop by to say hello and perhaps graze on some salmon or brie. The Colletonian newspaper sponsored a special ladies reception after their race, and many of the same racers returned from last year to say they were looking forward to their visit to Walterboro. For race results click here.

Ladies reception by The Colletonian newspaper

To view past blog entries from the Criterium Cycling Speed Week click 2015 - 2014-  2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010, - 2009 

Gun cleaning aided by Hoppe's Bench Rest kit

Hoppe's Bench Rest cleaning kit in action

End of turkey season comes too soon

Vintage J.C. Higgins cleaning kit

 Tom Anderson, Curt Hall and I after our hunt 

With the end of turkey season on May 1, there is no traditional hunting season again until the Labor Day openers for dove and goose. The off season for hunting is embraced by those looking to get in some fishing, but due to our humid climate, firearms should be looked after before being stored for a few months. The Hoppe’s company has been making gun-cleaning products for 100 years, because they want sportsmen to preserve their guns for future generations to use. Their Bench Rest cleaning kit gives you all the tools needed for a simple and quick barrel cleaning, as well as an oil lubricant rub-down. The Bench Rest kit comes in an attractive hardwood box and is outfitted with #9 solvent, lubricant oil, cleaning pads and brass cleaning rod. A bore light is also included to check for fouling inside the barrel before and after cleaning. Then use the silicon cloth and gun oil to wipe down the outside of the gun. A utility brush in the Bench Rest kit will help to deal with any surface rust that needs removing, so that any problem area does not expand during storage. The kit also comes with a wipe-down rollout pad that serves as a barrier between gun oil and your work area. For more information visit the Internet at www.Hoppes.com. Of particular interest is an old antique shotgun-cleaning outfit I have from the old Sears brand called J.C. Higgins. This cleaning outfit came in a small tin box (which makes for a nice collectible) with a slogan on it that says “Keep your gun clean.” A cleaning rod, brush, cloth patches and a cloth swab are all of its contents. Although this kit seems primitive today, it demonstrates that cleaning firearms will always be a part of shooting sports, and that just a few essential tools can help to accomplish this task. Because whether the gun was purchased by you, handed down by your grandfather, or won at a local conservation banquet, the shooter always bears the responsibility of gun safety and gun cleaning.


Of particular interest is this article on gentleman turkey hunter Curt Hall.

Lowcountry Fishing Report - 5/1/21012

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Tyler Harrison with a G'town giant redfish

Charleston Inshore Report: Bart at the Market Street location of The Charleston Angler proclaims that May is here and the waters temps are now consistently around 70-degrees. Fishing has picked up since the last cold front in April and the next couple of weeks should bring favorable tides for tailing redfish, with the first week in May being particularly good. Fly fisherman, this is the time to throw some patterns with a little flash, especially ones that resemble any live bait you might see busting the surface.  Anglers with conventional tackle should continue to throw plastics like Z-Man Minnowz in new penny coloration. For those who like live bait, the old standby of mud minnows under a popping cork is hard to beat for simplicity, but also try putting on a cracked crab. Reports on the trout bite have been even better than the previous report, with some reports of catches just off the Battery downtown, especially by our Sunday fishermen. For best success with trout use light-colored lures, especially white. The best rule of thumb is that if one color doesn’t seem to be working, switch it out, and Bart has a crayon box full of colors in his store to tempt you with! For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet.

Scott Hammond at Haddell's Point West has had a wonderful turkey season and has begun to weigh-in dolphin at their Trident Tournament certified scales. Scott says that with the arrival of May the time has come to ask WHAT do you want to catch?! While redfish continue to be steady and available around docks at low water and grass edges near high water, they are only one of dozens of options to target right now. Spanish and bluefish have begun to school in the harbor and along the front beaches, and flounder are showing up in our inlets. The trout bite has really turned on lately. Trout numbers are good and specks are being found around shell rakes and creek mouths in 3 to 6-feet of water using live shrimp under popping floats, DOA shrimp or Zman Paddlerz. Sheepshead are still biting well and they continue to feed on fiddlers and shrimp fished along rock piles and pilings. The spanish mackerel and bluefish are chomping almost anything silver you can rip through the water quickly. Scott’s preference is a #00 clarkspoon with a 3/4 oz trolling lead in front of it. If you are into the flounder fishing side of things, you owe it to yourself to come by and check out the new flounder weighted hooks and jigheads at Haddrell’s since they have been getting rave reviews from all that have tried them! For all the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Georgetown Inshore Report: Captain Steve Roffs reports that the fishing in the Georgetown area has been great.  They have been doing well with the sea trout, flounder and redfish. To locate the larger schools of active sea trout look for gulls and terns feeding near structure. The trout will often be under the birds in a feeding frenzy. We’ve been fishing for flounder near points where the tide is pushing bait into path of these stealthy predators. Soft-bodied Gulp shrimp and white fluke baits have produced some nice 3 to 5-pound flounder. Most anglers have enjoyed casting jigs to the trout and flounder then moving out near the jetties and catching some nice 30-pound trophy reds. Most of the big reds have hit a half of blue crab or live mullet. Try rigging up with a short leader and circle hook to reduce the odds of gut hooking these spawning size fish. To read more about Captain Steve Roffs consult the Internet at Barrier Island Guide.

Charleston Offshore Report: Much like the inshore report, Scott says that the offshore season has hit full swing with solid catches of good dolphin, a steady wahoo bite, blackfin tuna hanging around, and sails and blues already showing back up. Though everyday is a different day on the big pond, we have been hearing about good dolphin catches anywhere from 110-feet of water all the way out to 1300-feet. The majority of the wahoo and blackfin tuna are still being found along the ledge in that 150 to 250-feet range. Don't forget that while May marks some of our best offshore trolling of the year for pelagics, it also marks the start of grouper season opening back up! Vermillion snapper are being found in great numbers in 80 to 110-feet of water along live bottom and artificial reefs. Scott is looking forward to hearing the first grouper reports of the season this week as the boats begin to head out with their live baits and butterfly jigs at the ready.

Bart tells us that the offshore results have been good. The dolphin bite has really picked up, and the wahoo bite still continues to be strong.  For wahoo, using dark colors like black, purple, and orange while trolling at slower speeds with an Ilander lure and ballyhoo combo. Some cobia have been spotted in the nearshore fishery, and we shoud hear some positive reports on catches throughout May. For cobia, cast with plastics like Hogy jigging baits.

To view past Fishing Reports of the Lowcountry click here.