2019 Edisto Billfish - Trash Man Cleans Up; Jackpot Wins Series

Soundwaves won biggest Wahoo with a
71-pounder weighted in on Thursday

The 2019 Edisto Billfish Tournament marks the first year since the marina expansion and fuel dock upgrades were completed this past winter. The robust number of 46 fishing boats entered in the competition for releasing billfish also contributed to the feel that the Edisto event has hit the big time. Edisto Beach is always bustling in late July, but when the Marina at Edisto Beach brings the boats, bands and fishing buddies together, it is a billfish bonanza. Trash Man out of Savannah, the boat with the most blue marlin releases, wins the 2019 Edisto Billfish Tourney.

            

Handsome 2019 Tourney Logo

The Trash Man fishing team is a regular participant at the Edisto Billfish Invitational, and is one of a handful of boats that come from other states such as Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia to fish in the final leg of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfish Series. Owner Burke Wall and Captain Shelby Myrick guided Trash Man to three blue marlin releases, good for a total of 1800 release points, and earning the title of Outstanding Billfish Boat. Trash Man also wins the title of Outstanding Billfish Conservationist.

Top Tuna Right There!

Finishing in second place with one blue marlin release and 6 sailfish releases is Jackpot, owned by Joe McKinney and Captained by Sean Dooley. Jackpot is also the unofficial winner of the 2019 Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, which consisted of four tournaments in 2019.  Third place at Edisto went to Bench Mark, owned by Stephen Davis and Captained by Bobby Garmany, for releasing one blue marlin and four sailfish.

To view past blog entries from Edisto Billfish click on 2018 - 2017- 2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2019 click on ACE Basin Appreciation - Dolphin Slam - Jim Bost Memorial - Sea Turtle Nesting

 To view past blog entries from 2018 at Edisto click on Thirsty Whale Tours - I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Coastal Geology - Grits Cook Off

Nice Mahi on Saturday

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - EIOLT Oyster Roast - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Tomato Open- I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book

2019 Red Snapper Season

Recreational offshore fishing enthusiasts will get a chance to bump baits on the bottom in search of red snapper to harvest this weekend. on July 19 and 20. These fish can be caught at other times of the year, but scientists have determined that the species is currently overfished, and they enacted a mandatory catch and release practice until the red snapper fishery become sustainable. The exception being a few days in July when anglers can target these fish and score some supper back home too. 

The weekend of July 12, 13 and 14 saw the first legal to keep fishing days for red snapper and the hot July weather cooperated with anglers by keeping sea conditions calm enough to fish. Lots of success in landing red snapper is being reported this year, and depending on what happens during the second weekend of the abbreviated red snapper season, there will be more debate about lessoning the restrictions on harvesting red snapper in the future. The recreational bag limit is one red snapper per person per day, with no minimum size limit. 

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has freezers at select docks and marinas for recreational anglers to participate in the red snapper carcass drop off program. State biologists will collect data from the frozen carcasses such as length of the fish, and they remove the otolith, or ear bone, which can be measured to gauge the age of the fish. Each carcass will have a catch card filled out by the angler to supply additional information about the date of the fishing trip, and descriptions of any other bottom fish encountered.

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

2019 Deer Lottery Hunts - Applications Update

New unrestricted deer hunts make young buck legal to harvest

The application process for all public SCDNR deer draw hunts is now open until the deadline of August 15. There are nine locations state wide for hunters to choose from for SCDNR public drawing deer hunts, but three of those properties have new regulations in 2019 and a new separate application form. The new lottery hunts are called unrestricted hunts because of the removal of any limitations on antler size in order for bucks to be legal to harvest.

Two of the properties located in Colleton County are now in the separate unrestricted draw hunt, Bear Island WMA and at Donnelly WMA, and the third property is Bonneau Ferry WMA in Berkeley County. The new unrestricted deer hunt lottery will operate the same in that applications that are not drawn will receive a preference point to use on their next consecutive deer draw hunt application. The removal of antler restrictions should lead to a greater chance for hunters to harvest a deer, and it could also lead to thinning out the deer populations at the Lowcountry properties that carry high numbers of deer.

It’s hard to overstate the good things that happen when people purchase or renew their South Carolina hunting license. Excise taxes come into play bringing federal dollars into S.C., and some monies go directly into management of thousands of acres by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. A hunting license keeps one legal while exercising the freedom to hunt, and it also allows them the privilege of entering into a growing number of lottery draw hunts on these public lands.

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

To view past blog entries on deer management click on Buck Tags NEW for 2017 - Coyotes - Game Zone Three - Charles Ruth -  Food Plots - Estimating Buck Age - QDMA Founder

2019 ACE Basin Oyster Project and Discovery Boat Ride

Roxbury Park Oyster Restoration Work / EIOLT 

The month of July is a great time to be at the beach or on the saltwater nearby to soak in all the daily happenings in the marine ecosystem. Don’t forget that July will mark the start of the sea turtle hatchlings season that will run into the fall. Oysters play a natural role by filtering the saltwater and volunteers can join in the artificial oyster reef project in Meggett on July 16. The Carolina Coastal Discovery marine education program returns to Edisto Beach State Park on July 24, offering and educational boat ride on ACE Basin Appreciation Day.

            

Coastal Discovery Pontoon Boat

The site of the oyster restoration project is Roxbury Park, a property owned by the Town of Meggett on Highway 174 just before Edisto Island. Toogoodoo Creek and the intertidal zone all around Roxbury Park make it an excellent nature preserve and it is open to the public for hiking and bird watching. Oysters are one part of the natural resources that come under strain from overharvest, but it is clear to scientists how to rebuild oyster populations. Replacing spent oyster shells to the estuary allows for new oysters to cultivate using the same shells, in a natural form of recycling. The Roxbury Park project on Tuesday, July 16 from 1 – 3:30 is collaboration between several conservation groups.

The educational boat ride on Wednesday July 24 from 10 – 12 is free, but space is limited. Participants need to visit the SCDNR website and claim one of the spots. And passengers must be 10 years of age or older. The purpose of the trip is the teach others to appreciate the ACE Basin, and that education begins at the Environmental Learning Center at Edisto Beach State Park. Participants assist in data collection during the cruise, since the SCDNR staffers record every creature encountered plus the water salinity levels. They also place an emphasis on connecting local conservation issues with larger concerns such as global warming.

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

To view a past blog entries about Edisto Island Open Land Trust click 2018 I Love Edisto Auction - 2018 Coastal Geology Lecture - 2017 Oyster Roast - 2017 Lowcountry Landscape Lecture with Richard Porcher - 2017 I Love Edisto Auction - 2017 Tomato Open - 2016 Oyster Roast - 2014 Oyster Roast - 2014 Spring Birding - 2013 Oyster Roast - 2012 ACE Basin Mtg. - 2009 Spring Birding with Patrick McMillan 

2019 Saluda Coon Dog Day

McGuire's Bagpipe Band from Florida

The 56th annual Coon Dog Day in Saluda, North Carolina went off with military precision. A 5K Road Race at 8 a.m., a parade at 11 a.m., and the 8 p.m. square dance all started right on time. What happened in between all of these events is the precious moments when like-minded folks gather together to celebrate July 4th and a love for the outdoors. The 2020 Coon Dog Day actually falls on the Fourth of July, so mark your calendars now for a fun weekend in the mountains.

The 2020 date is on July 4

To view past blog entries from Coon Dog Days click on 2018 - 2016 - 2013 - 2012 

To view past blog entries from Saluda click on Arts Festival -  Nature Notes - Green River barbecue - Green River Games - Saluda Tailgate Market

Turkey and havarti with frites

The 5K Race is going to the dogs

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation 30th Anniversary

The hunting and fishing regulations in South Carolina are always evolving, with input currently being sought on the management of wild turkey and saltwater cobia. The common thread is that the South Carolina Legislature will be the government entity which approves or disapproves these future changes. Some members of the General Assembly are sportsmen who actively hunt and fish, and they joined together for a meeting on June 7 in Edgefield at the National Wild Turkey Federation headquarters for a sporting clays competition. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation out of Washington, D.C. sponsored this event as part of their 30th anniversary in 2019.

Mark Cherpes, Congressman Jeff Duncan,
CSF's Jeff Crane and Rob Keck with Bass Pro

The Palmetto Shooting Complex is a relatively new state of the art shooting sports facility, that is able to regularly host visiting groups of shooting sports enthusiasts, including lots of S.C. students. The National Wild Turkey Federation runs and maintains the complex that was built with funding from several organizations in a cooperative spirit to promote the shooting sports.  More than 150 participants including elected officials, conservation partners and members of the sporting community, enjoyed shooting sporting clays for the day.

S.C. Representative Brian White addresses the group

United States Congressman Jeff Duncan took home the Top Gun Legislator trophy from the event.  “It was great to gather in South Carolina today with sportsmen and women to discuss our common mission of conservation advocacy efforts both here, and across the country,” said Duncan. “This event brings together men, women and youth shooters working together to ensure that future generations can enjoy the same freedoms to hunt and fish.” Duncan is a member of the Congressional Sportsman’s caucus in Washington, hailing from the upstate of S.C.

Sporting youth at the 3rd Annual S.C. Clays Classic

One issue on the agenda in D.C. right now that may affect saltwater anglers is the amendment put forth by Congressman John Rutherford of Florida that would provide $3.5-million dollars of funding for reef fish data collection. Reef fish are managed on a federal level, and one species of reef fish is the red snapper. A lack of good data contributes to the reef fishery being closed at times, limiting access by recreational anglers who pay fishing license fees. Any voter interested in supporting this call for more federal funding should contact their Congressman today and voice support for the Rutherford Amendment.

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

To view past blog entries about the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation click on 20th Anniversary / Clinton, S.C. - 2009 Conservation Easement Incentive Act - 2010 Shimano - 2012 Ducks Unlimited 75th Anniversary - Congressman Jeff Duncan - 2012 CSF Banquet / D.C. - 2012 Wine, Wheels and Wildlife Benefit / N.C. - 2012 National Association of Sportsmen's Caucuses / Myrtle Beach, S.C. - 2014 Magnuson-Stevens Act