KEMAH — Ben Alderman, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Ronnie Pitts, of McClellanville, S.C., won first place at the annual Redfish Cup tournament in Kemah on Sunday…..Click for story
Two locals, Mt P and McClellanville, win Texas Red Fish Tournament and $40,000 prize. All of that fishing in Bulls Bay really paid off. No body told me you could make a living at that.
This is a pretty late post, but I just got around to developing the pictures. Last Fall Dick and I fished the Red October Surf Fishing tournament. It is an annual tag and release Red Drum tournament that a group of guys from Mt Pleasant put on to raise money for Joe’s Buddy. The money creates inshore reefs and help get kids fishing.
The tournament was a blast. We were delayed a couple of weeks due to severe weather, but when we finally got out there everyone caught fish. Each person is given a camera and a tape measure. You turn in you biggest three fish. There is a prize for biggest, largest total aggregate and youth angler. Despite my 42″ catch shown below I didn’t place. McClellanville resident Waring Potter had three that were all just a hair larger.
It is a great event and it is always a good day when you can spend it just standing in the surf.
Water temperatures are starting to rise. This means the flounder will start showing up again. I have some luck in the creeks, but have yet to get out and try a summertime favorite, flounder gigging. Some people call it striking, but it consists of going out at night and poling your boat or walking along the bank with a bright light and a long handled gig. As you ease down the bank you can see the faint outline of a flounder that has buried itself. They are difficult to see, but after awhile you get know what to look for. You have to quickly strike him in the head before he gets spooked. You don’t want to hit the fish in the body because it will ruin the meat. Keep the fish pinned to the ground until you can drag it to shore or lift it into the boat. It is like hunting and fishing combined, very primal and exciting.
The limits are currently seem ridiculously high at 20 fish per person and 40 maximum per boat. This is proposed and will likely change soon to 10 per person and 20 per boat. The minimum size for flounder has increased this year from 12″ to 14″ and it is tough to tell when they are under water and buried in the sand, so you must use caution. There are also proposals for eliminating gererator powered lighting in some area, so check with DNR if you are not sure of the local regulations.
Some friends had a successful trip this week, see the pictures below. Also pictured from the USGS is a flounder buried in the sand.
The date has been set, so mark your calendar. The 2009 Josh Thomas Memorial CreekSlam Fishing Tournament will be held on October 10th, 2009.
McClellanville, SC’s 18th Annual Inshore Fishing Tournament
2008 winners Steve and Bailey Chapman
The tournament starts at sunrise, 7:20AM. Low tide is at 6:44 AM, so we start fishing the incoming tide. High tide is at 1:06 PM.
Last year we had 85 boats and first place took home $2250, and a total of $4500 in cash awards were given out.
The allowable fishing area is bounded on the north by the South Santee River (including fishing in the river) and the South by the Isle of Plams connector bridge. Each boat fishes as a team, and weighs in the largest of each species. All fish must meet the South Carolina rules and regulations for sizes and limits.
Amounts of the winning prizes will be based on percentage of total entrance fees. First place is 25%, second place is 15%, and third place is 10%. In addition we have a youth angler prize for the angler under the age of 17 that catches, lands and weighs in the largest legal fish of any species, (not just three species of tournament but excluding rays and sharks), will win The Josh M. Thomas Youth Big Fish Award. Ties will be broken as above. Youth angler must have caught fish unassisted.
Forms are available for download here:
NOTE: Under the new SC guidelines, Red Drum are to be measured using the pinched tail method which will be followed for this event: 
Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Malcolm Baldwin (843) 697-4340
McClellanville’s annual Wisteria Parade had perfect weather this year. We had a record number of kids participating. Harper Youngman was crowned queen and Sully Donnelly was crowned king of the parade.
Santee Birding and Nature Festival, April 24th, 25th & 26th
“Experience the natural wonders of the Santee region! Birding trips, canoe and kayak excursions, lake tours, butterfly and fossil walks, photography workshops, conservation exhibits, a children’s nature walk and more! Register now to enjoy the incredible wildlife and wild places of central South Carolina” Go to the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge Site for more info
The 2009 Palmetto Swamp Fox Adventure Race was held in McClellanville again this year. Steve Morone of Kando Adventures said that this year was a record turnout. The course takes racers on a 10 to 12 hour trip, 55-60 miles through Francis Marion National Forest. Racers compete in various groups and will Kayak, Bike ant Trek through different portions of the race. Congratulations not just to the the winners, but what a feat to just compete in this outstanding event.
Get ready, it is almost time for the 33rd Annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival. As usual, there will be great food, entertainment, a silent auction and hand crafted gifts from a variety of vendors. Don’t forget the Blessing of the Fleet that is always the highlight.
My brother and I made this for the Post and Courier contest, but didn’t make the cut. We used the Cape Romain Lighthouse and beaches for out settings. It was fun even though we didn’t win.
I found this on YouTube. Todd Sumlin of the Charlotte Observer posted it.
A hard working McClellanville commercial fisherman. I’ll never understand how anybody can support restaurants that serve imported shrimp. They are farmed with no regulations (environmental or others) so they impound wetlands to raise them and they pump them full of antibiotics. Let restaurants know that you want local shrimp.
ARA News Francis Marion National Forest News Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge