2018 Edisto Shark Tourney and No Rules Offshore Results

Saltwater anglers in two Colleton County tournaments on Saturday June 9 battled rain and rough seas in order to reach their respective fishing holes. While the winds were not enough to cancel either event, Mother Nature often plays a role in success and that’s why they call it fishing. The big fish at B & B Seafood for the No Rules tournament was a 37-pound dolphin, and the heaviest entry at Edisto Water Sports was a Tiger shark that tipped the scales at 569-pounds. 

            

The 2018 Shark Tourney marks the ninth year for the annual weigh in at 3731 Docksite Road, and every year the weigh-in attracts a large crowd. Trucks, cars and golf carts occupy every bit of pavement and sand in front of the Edisto Water Sports tackle Shop and full-service boating dock. Tournament T-shirts sales and kayak rentals are brisk all day long as fans wait for the 3:30 start time, not knowing when the biggest shark will arrive at the dock. Twenty-four boats fishing in the shark tourney brought six sharks to the scales to weigh-in.

Meanwhile, the Mosquito Creek boat ramp was packed with the 30 boats fishing the No Rules offshore tournament at B & B Seafood. The biggest offshore fish brought to the 6 p.m. weigh-in earned angler Mike Araneo and the Dealer’s Choice fishing team the $3000 first place prize. Capt. Scott Rizer, Bolegs Warner, Jimbo Warner and Madison Utsey rounded out the adult crew, and two youth anglers were also aboard. Charlie Walker and Cayson Warner had a big time filling the fish box with slinger dolphin that helped Dealer’s Choice win the aggregate prize with 305-pounds of fish, good for a $1000 pay day.    

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about the Edisto Shark Tourney click on 2017 - 2013 - 2011

To view past blog entries about the No Rules tourney click on 2017 - 2013

To view past blog entries from the Edisto Billfish tourney click on 2017 - 2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

To view past blog entries about the Jim Bost Memorial click on 2017 - 2016 

Lowcountry Rainfall for May 2018 sets All-Time Record

Weather records provide good baseline data

Predicting the weather is always tough, but no one guessed that May of 2018 would be the wettest May on record for many portions of the Lowcountry. The entire state experienced wet weather in May and the S.C. Drought Response Committee met on May 29, removing Colleton County from the incipient drought category. We look to weather records to compare recent activity with past weather cycles, and the results for rainfall during the month of May are fascinating. Factoring in that the first named storm of hurricane season arrived on Memorial Day, the forecast for continued wet weather look likely.

            

Alberto arrived on Memorial Day 2018

The month of April brought cooler than expected temperatures and less than average rainfall. In fact, thirteen counties were listed in incipient drought, and the threat of wildfire was real. “Recent rainfall, along with higher humidity, has helped reduce the number of wildfires statewide,” said Brad Bramlett with the S.C. Forestry Commission. “We were well over our five-year and ten-year averages for the number of fires just a month ago.”

Records show that the average rainfall for May in Walterboro from 2013 to 2017 was just 3.65-inches, but that trend came to a halt in 2018. Rainfall records in S.C. began in the 1930’s and the Charleston airport measured 10.62-inches of rain in May of 2018, the new record for wettest month of May. The community of Smoaks in western Colleton County also recorded 10-inches of rain in May, while the city of Walterboro and other parts of Colleton county saw rainfall amounts vary.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian. 

To view past blog entries about weather click 2018 Cold Saltwater Temps - 2017 Tornado / Barnwell State Park - 2016 Hurricane Matthew - 2015 Flooding -  2014 Ice Storm Story - 2014 Ice Storm Photos - 2014 Drought - 2013 Wet Weather - 2012 T.S. Alberto - 2012 Storm Team 2 - 2011 Drought - 2009 Drought 

2018 Piebald Buck Deer on Seabrook Island

Piebald Buck on Seabrook June 1

Viewing a piebald deer in the wild is often a fleeting opportunity, but not always. I was fortunate to view a mature piebald white-tailed deer on Seabrook Island while he was in the comfortable company of three other bucks. These bachelor groups are a part of the life cycle of male deer, when they are far away from the competitive drive of mating during the rut in the fall of the calendar year. This group of deer came very near to me as I sat in a parked car, careful not to upset their routine. It wasn't long before they disappeared back into the heavy cover that is found in a maritime forest and I was left to ponder when I might ever see this particular buck again?! What a beauty!!

Bachelor group of bucks

 To view past blog entries about Seabrook Island click on 2016 Beach Restoration Recognition - 2016 Turtle Patrol - 2017 Hummingbirds with Patrick McMillan

To view past Field Notes and Photos click February 2018 -December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011  

Same buck? Photo posted in Sept. 2017 by
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