Fresh thoughts on saltwater
August 2008
Summer is still the No. 1 time for anglers and their families to get out on the water to do some fishing. Without the competition from spring and fall spectator sports, many tackle shops report brisk summer business and just a lot more talkin’ about fishing. And all that talkin’ leads to more fishing.
He’s the ‘king’ of the summer
July 2008
July signals a peak in king mackerel fishing along the South Carolina coast, with the early arrivals having been present for a while and new fish showing up every day.
Bait and twitch will catch plenty
June 2008
Inshore fishing this month offers a variety of saltwater fish, and anglers can focus on one species or try for a mixed bag of fishing bounty. You can catch your own live bait in a variety of ways, and of course, the local tackle shop is a standby for shrimp, mud minnows and fiddlers.
Ready to fish? Start your engine!
May 2008
Springtime has always been a good time for folks to get back into fishing and leave winter doldrums behind.
Fishing school has an a-lure
April 2008
The South Carolina Sportsman’s third annual fishing school was held Feb. 23 at Garrett Academy in North Charleston. Anglers from across the Palmetto State and beyond arrived around 8 a.m. to learn how to improve their fishing skills.
Casting to ‘cover’ all the water
March 2008
Winter is a great time to cast artificial baits to pockets of water near oyster bars and marsh grass.
The fish are not going to be used to seeing as much bait swimming around, if any, so your presentation needs to be somewhat innocent. Try to remain stealthy and cast cautiously at first, covering the water that is closest to you first before making a “big-money” cast that proves you can chuck it further than your fishing buddy.
Know there’s a “silent killer?”
February 2008
The headline on this column could be hyping the latest lure developed by a team of fish-researchers, but the truth is that mercury contamination of fish eaten by unwitting anglers is the real silent killer.
Preaching a “gloom and doom” philosophy is not the point, rather, it is to raise awareness among concerned sportsmen.
Redfish: Let’s handle with care
January 2008
If you’ve been living along the coast for the past few decades, you have been witness to the steady, incoming current that is bringing more people, more boats and loads more fishing pressure.
Fly-casting tips from a real pro
December 2007
The fall can be a busy time of year for sportsmen in South Carolina, having to balance family gatherings and other pleasurable social commitments.
It’s hard to accept an invitation to go fishing on short notice, but with an invitation to help Captain Bruce Chard, a MASTER Certified Fly Casting Instructor from the Florida keys, find some of our tailing Lowcountry redfish, I felt obliged to lend a hand.
Governor’s Cup still on top
November 2007
The S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series recently completed its 19th season.
The brainchild of former Gov. Carroll A. Campbell, the Series is squarely focused on the conservation of billfish species, but it has also managed to prosper due to the popularity of offshore fishing.
Let “the circle be unbroken”
October 2007
Circle hooks are becoming a hot tackle item, because they offer a better chance for fish to be released alive.
Sailfish drawing more attention
September 2007
One of nature’s phenomena occurs in our offshore waters in September, October, and sometimes even into November. Only within the past few years have sailfish arrived in such surprisingly high numbers as to inspire bluewater fishermen with renewed vigor to chase offshore adventure in the fall.
It’s a real “girl thing” for CLA
August 2007
This Lowcountry fishing club isn’t unique because it promotes the sport of fishing, but because of its all-female membership.
By donating the proceeds from its annual fishing tournament to medical research, the Carolina Lady Anglers club proved that it cares deeply about the community, but like most girls, they just want to have fun — while fishing.
Spanish definitely spoken here
July 2007
Saltwater fishing is seldom better than in July, with water temperatures warm enough to please all fish. Cool fronts that you have to plan around come with much less regularity as summer settles in.