2015 Bohicket Governor's Cup - Day Three / Final Results

Fred Bergen Jr. with his 55.6-pound HOO

Saturday saw 19 boats go offshore in search of billfish, and again they reported a flat calm ocean. However, the fishing proved to be a little better with blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish releases coming in. One nice 55.6-pound wahoo came to the scales from Legal Holiday, caught by angler Fred Bergen Jr., it was the only HOO of the tourney. There were no tuna weighed in at all.

Congrats to Reel Passion for releasing one blue marlin and one white marlin on Saturday, adding to their blue marlin release from Friday. They came from behind to knock My Three Sons out of first place, and into second place. Local favorite Mutts and Jeff finished third.

To view past blog entries from the Bohicket Governor's Cup click 2015 Day Two - 2015 Day One - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament Day 3 Official Results:

1st Place - Reel Passion: 2 Blue Marlin, 1 White Marlin Released- 1500 points

Reel Passion at the Awards Dinner

Owner Bill Ingram
Captain Gary Richardson

2nd Place - My Three Sons: 2 Blue Marlin Released - 1200 Points
Owner Hunter Edwards
Captain Michael Mattson

3rd Place - Mutts & Jeff: 2 Blue Marlin Released - 1200 Points
Owner / Captain Tom Stanek

Outstanding Meatfish: 

Dolphin - Summer Girl 36.0 Pounds
Angler Danny O'Quinn
Owner Mike Jackson / Stevie Leasure
Captain Stevie Leasure

Tuna - None Weighed In

Artwork by Blue Coast

Wahoo - Legal Holiday 55.6 Pounds
Angler Fred Bergen Jr.
Owner Fred Bergen
Captain Shelby Myreck

Beautiful Bull Dolphin at Bohicket Marina

Outstanding Lady Angler:
First Place
Holly McAlhany - Syked Out
1 Blue Marlin, 1 Sailfish Released - 800 points
Owner David Sykes
Captain Dan Woody

Second Place
Jennifer Haugen - Mutts & Jeff
1 Blue Marlin Released - 600 Points
Owner / Captain Tom Stanek

Third Place
Hope Bentley - Home Run
1 White Marlin Released - 300 Points
Owner Steve Mungo
Captain Grant Bentley

Outstanding Youth Angler:

Brian Ingram , Age 10
Dolphin - 10.0 Pounds
Owner Bill Ingram
Captain Gary Richardson

2015 Bohicket Governor's Cup - Day Two Fishing

Travis Klingberg from My Three Sons

A total of six boats went offshore in search of releasing a billfish on Friday June 5. For most of the day the fishing was slow except for a small window after lunch when the fleet managed to release two blue marlin and three sailfish. The ocean was once again flat as a pancake, and the meat fish bite seemed slow due to the calm conditions.

Angler Brian Ingram and his nieces

Game Warden Jeff Day helps youth angler

My Three Sons elected to fish back to back days to extend their first place lead. On Thursday they had three blue marlin in their bait spread at one time according to Capt. Michael Mattson, and to their credit they pulled off a rare double-header release on blue marlin. But on Friday when they saw the man in the blue suit approach their lures, the hook set was never right and they got blanked on billfish. Angler Travis Klingberg did weigh-in a fine 35.6-pound mahi from My Three Sons, good for 2nd place in the heaviest dolphin category with one day to go. My Three Sons remains in the lead after Day Two but is fished out now.

Bob Faith, Chip Campsen and Lewis Stoneburner

The first youth angler to weigh a fish did come to the scales on Friday when Brian Ingram from Reel Passion brought a 10.0-pound mahi to the scales. His nieces Ella and Lily were right there to wish him well, and it shows that the Governor's Cup is the place where many youth anglers get initiated into the realm of saltwater fishing.

The three mahi that came to the scales from Caramba allowed three friends to settle a simple bet about who had caught the largest fish of the day. Senator Chip Campsen ended up with the heaviest of the three fish at 19.4-pounds, while Lewis Stoneburner weighed in at 19.0-pounds and Bob Faith tipped the scales at 18.6-pounds. It was simply too close to call without the SCDNR digital scales, and the three gents were happy to pose for a photo that captures the kind of fellowship that is present during a typical day during the Governor's Cup.

To view past blog entries from the Bohicket Governor's Cup click 2015 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament Day 2 Unofficial Results:

1st Place - My Three Sons - 2 Blue Releases 1200 pts
2nd Place - Mutts & Jeff - 2 Blue Releases 1200 pts
3rd Place - Miss Wy - 2 Blue Releases 1200 pts

Outstanding Dolphin:
Danny O'Quinn - Summer Girl - 36.0 lb. Dolphin

NO TUNA
NO WAHOO

Lady Angler:
1st Place: Holly McAlhany - Syked Out - 1 Sail & 1 Blue - 800 pts
2nd Place: Jen Haugen - Mutts & Jeff - 1 Blue - 600 pts
3rd Place: Summer Simpson - Sportsmann - 23.4 lb Dolphin

Youth Angler:
1st Place: Brian Ingram, Age 10 - Reel Passion - 10.0 lb. Dolphin

Day Two Billfish Releases:

Caramba - Two Sailfish

Anticipation - One Blue Marlin

Artemis - One Sailfish

Reel Passion - One Blue Marlin

2015 Bohicket Governor's Cup - Day One Fishing

Danny O'Quinn with a 36.0-pound Mahi

A total of 20 boats registered to participate in the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament, and 15 of those boats elected to fish on Thursday June 4, or Day One. A calm sea greeted the anglers, and some reported that it was 'greasy slick' out there. But a hot morning billfish bite saw five blue marlin released by the 10 a.m. report. By the end of the day at 3 p.m. there were 13 billfish released including 10 blue marlin and 3 sailfish - plus a good many more blue marlin spotted in the baits without a hook up.

What's better than one mahi? TWO!!

The meat fish bite was not all that strong with the ocean in such a calm state. Offshore anglers know that you don't want it too rough out there, but you don't want it too calm either. There were no wahoo or tuna brought to the weigh scales on Thursday, but there were about a dozen mahi. A stud 36.0-pound dolphin brought in by angler Danny O'Quinn fishing on Summer Girl is the Day One and tournament leader for Outstanding Dolphin. In second is Fred Bergen Jr. with a 30.6-pound mahi caught from Legal Holiday. In third is angler Dan Ferguson from Bad Becky with a 29.2-pounder.

The leading lady angler is Holly McAlhany fishing from Syked Out - she released a blue marlin and a sailfish during her banner day, which is good for 800-points. In second place is Jen Haugen from Mutts and Jeff for her release of a blue marlin, good for 600-points. Third place is Summer Simpson with a 23.4-pound mahi caught from Sportsmann.

The Outstanding Billfish Boat category is decided by the time of release, so the top three boats each released two blue marlin on Day One, but My Three Sons is in first based on time.

Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament Day 1 Unofficial Results:

Fred Bergen Jr. and a 30.6-pounder

Trey Kemmerlin knows how to pose!

1st Place - My Three Sons - 2 Blue Releases 1200 points
2nd Place - Mutts & Jeff - 2 Blue Releases 1200 points
3rd Place - Miss Wy - 2 Blue Releases 1200 points

To view past blog entries from the Bohicket Governor's Cup click on 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

2015 Toyota Highlander Limited at Spoleto USA

2015 Highlander and 2015 Spoleto Banner

The mica color of the 2015 Toyota Highlander is a smooth maroon variety and not a rogue of the color spectrum. The leather Captain's chairs in the second row and the the third row seating provides lots of room when traveling in masse to take in a jazz concert, or maybe when taking a family trip. My favorite seating feature is the front row air flow seats which can be set to offer heat in winter, or more importantly in Charleston, it can offer cooling!!

The JBL speakers come with the En Tune audio system on the Limited model, making the bass and mid-range settings more important to tune when listening to satellite radio. The panoramic moonroof opens twice the length of a normal moonroof, though the glass only opens the regular amount. Of course one can just cause the moonroof to tilt slightly if only minor air circulation is required.

The Cistern is an excellent concert venue

The 39th annual Spoleto USA Festival is an arts festival that is unparralled in terms of bringing together some of the best dance, music and opera talents from across the US and from around the world. Founded after the Spoleto Festival in Italy, a focus on the arts takes place in downtown Charleston for a full two weeks of splendid celebration. A 9 p.m. outdoor concert at the Cistern on George Street was the setting for the Wells Fargo Jazz Series and French folk singer Madeleine Peyroux performed to a nearly capacity crowd playing cover songs that spanned blues and other genres of music.

Luxury SUV dash layout

Third row seating creates lots of room

The 3.5-liter V6 engine offers 20 miles per gallon fuel economy and the SUV feel of the Highlander can still zip when you press down on the accelerator. The five-speed automatic transmission has a 5000-pound towing capacity. The safety features are significant including 8-airbags and a blind spot monitoring system. The remote engine start capability helps you to get the vehicle ready for when you have to maneuver quickly due to the summer showers that can take place in May during Spoleto. The list price on this Highlander Limited PLT - V6 All Wheel Drive is $47,671.

To view past blog entries about Spoleto USA click on 2010 video - 2009

Turtle Fest Educates at Edisto Beach State Park

Park Ranger Ashby Gale educates attendees about turtle nests

Hatchlings will appear and be monitored later in summer

Beautiful beach weather greeted the family-oriented crowd that came out for Turtle Fest on Saturday morning. The educational programs and activities were free to those with a paid park admission fee that day. Park rangers, staff and interns were all on hand to make sure that everyone felt included in their interactive campaign. Topics included nesting habits and the up to date count on turtle nests for 2015 on their 1.5-mile stretch of undeveloped beach.

            

The day began at 10 a.m. under a picnic shelter near the beach when state park ranger Ashby Gale welcomed everyone for the four-hour sea turtle fest. The kids were delighted to see a face painting station, and to learn that a raffle at 2 p.m. for participants included a guided sea turtle night walk. Gale explained that his first activity would be a mock sea turtle nest inventory on the front beach, while other educators would remain under the shelter and give informative talks on loggerhead life and DNA studies.

            

Ping Pong balls make an excellent substitute for turtle eggs,
during the mock nest excavation

With a cool breeze blowing down the beach, most of the crowd elected to take the path through the dunes to where the mock nest was located, not far from the site of a real sea turtle nest was clearly marked and roped off. “Sea turtles usually come ashore after dark and almost always dig their nest above the high tide line on the beach,” said Ranger Gale. “The use their hind flippers to excavate the nest cavity that is 18 to 24-inches deep.” 

To read the entire article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

A 2015 sea turtle nest marked as off limits to the public

To view past blog entries on sea turtles click SCDNR Sea Turtle Trawl - Leatherback Sighting - World Sea Turtle Day - SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Release

To view past blog entries on the Edisto coastal area click on ACE Basin NERR

Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Report - 6/2/2015

Fishing Report for the Coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina:

Many species of fish are available to anglers in summer

Inshore Report: Scott Hammond at Haddrell's Point West says that water temps have touched 80-degrees for the first time in 2015 and that means ALL of the summer species of fish are in the estuary for the next few months. Spanish mackerel are showing up around the end of the jetties and in numerous inlets, and a silver casting plug works well for the Spaniards. The sharks are about as thick as they can get right now, with Shark Tank's Mark Cuban even in town - at least his megayacht is - and I am hoping to be asked over for some 'yacht dogs' at lunch. The big bull redfish are chomping at the jetties and in deep holes, with smaller rat reds hiding out underneath docks. A solid trout bite is still available along shell rakes in 3 to 6-feet of water using the new Zman Trout Tricks, or by floating a shrimp under a popping float. Flounder have moved in from offshore with the warmer water and are eating live mud minnows, Gulp baits and jerk shads along sand areas near rock piles. For the latest seminar information visit the Internet at Haddrell's Point.

Offshore Report: It has been an all out Blue Marlin Bonanza off the coast of S.C. says Scott, and many of them being larger females. Most everyone has seen the viral video from Miss Wy's blue marlin at the Georgetown Governor's Cup, so that even non-anglers can get the gist of the lure of big game angling in the deep blue sea. There is also a solid dolphin bite with good numbers of fish, but perhaps not with any state-record size mahi, and they are being found in 150 to 1200-feet of water. Bottom fishing is producing quality grouper on jigs when bottom-bumping with squid or cigar minnows over live bottom. Other catches down there include triggerfish, vermillion snapper and sea bass. Some species like gag grouper spawn in spring and their juvenile fish end up inshore during early growth and before heading back into the ocean for the remainder of their life - to learn more click on Gag Ingress Study.

To view past Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Reports click here.

To view the current 2015 Blue Marlin tournament calendar click here.

Juvenile Gag Grouper Ingress Project - Baruch Marine Lab

Big net used for juvenile gag grouper monitoring

Juvenile gag grouper spawned off the coast of South Carolina float on tidal currents into the ample spartina marshes in order to use them like a nursery - see map. These tiny fish seek shelter from predators in natural structures in the estuary but scientists have developed a device called the Witham Collector that can both protect the juvenile grouper, but also keep them available for monitoring. One such monitoring site is in the marsh near Winyah Bay and Georgetown at the USC Belle W. Baruch Marine Lab.

Witham Collector marked as off limits to the public

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is a partner in the Ingress study and I was able to ride along with two DNR staffers in search of the small gag grouper. We visited the North Inlet - Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NI-WB NERR) via a classic Boston Whaler that has now been converted for research efforts. A large dip net seemed counter intuitive for scooping up tiny grouper, but then I came to find out the the entire collection device must be scooped via the net so that any other tiny species might also be caught and documented.

Kayla Spry and Amy Dukes work up the data

No marine species is too little for this lab

We failed to find a single juvenile gag grouper on May 21 when checking traps with Capt. Jim Reed at the helm. But Amy Dukes educated me about the Slocum-Lunz Foundation that helps provide funding for marine biology projects like this one. This 18,000-acre NI-WB NERR is one of only 28 such areas in North America and the only other one in South Carolina besides the ACE Basin NERR. The NI-WB NERR is surrounded by large protected properties like Hobcaw Barony and the Yawkey Preserve, making it an ideal location to study gag grouper juveniles in a pristine area. Other Ingress monitoring sites in S.C. are likely to have more human activities near them, giving them further perspective about study results over time.

To view blog about Bennett's Point Marine Lab click on ACE Basin NERR.

To learn more bout the SCDNR gag grouper studies click here.

For past blog entries click on Fly Fishing at Hobcaw Barony and Shorebirds at Yawkey Preserve.