April 2016
14 Superior products, competitive pricing, outstanding customer service, & exceptional product knowledge. The premier marine, aerospace and industrial supplier on the Georgia Intracoastal Waterway
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Life Raft sales & Services Inatable Boat Sales & Services Marine Paints Fire & Safety Equipment Yacht Chandlery & Supplies Saltwater Fishing Tackle Expedited Shipments & Deliveries
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I n the T ides 05 Editor’s Note 06 Community Updates 08 One More Cast 09
Did You Know?
10 Artist Alexandra Nicole 13 Fishing Gray’s Reef 14
Blessing of the Fleet
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Fish Gotta Swim
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20 Governor’s Cup 22 The Bitter End You might notice we’re a little heavy on fishing this month, but it’s that time of year! About the Cover: A sailfish surges from the water during a battle with Daymaker out of Georgetown, SC. Photo by Perry Peace Photos Above: Top - Stone Crab Claws. Painting by Alexandra Nicole Newton Bottom - Leaping billfish. Photo provided by SC DNR
April 2016
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Specializing in redfish (spot tail bass), tarpon, sheepshead, trout, flounder, striper, cobia, and shark.
Captain Brian Woelber (912) 308-5991 Savannah
Staff Publisher/Editor – Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com Editorial Assistant - Amelia Dence amelia@southerntidesmagazine.com SC Feature Writer - Cameron Rhodes thetailingfish@gmail.com The Bitter End Columnist - Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill jgaryhill@gmail.com One More Cast Columnist - Captain Brian Woelber captainbrian@onemorecast.com Advertising Director – Jack Gandolfo jack@southerntidesmagazine.com
Copyright © 2015-2016 All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission.
It’s not just ART ... It’s a STORY.
Southern Tides is a free magazine published monthly and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, GA, to Beaufort, SC. PO Box 30724 Wilmington Island, GA 31410 (912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/southern-tides-magazine Follow us on Instagram at southern_tidesmag Follow us on Twitter at Southern Tides To subscribe, mail check for $25.00, payable to Southern Tides Magazine, to the address above. Subscription is for one year/12 issues.
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Corrections: Many thanks to Renee George for catching us asleep at the helm when we captioned the photo of Daffin Park incorrectly, calling it Forsyth Park, in the March 2016 issue. Our most sincere apologies to Captain Josiah Rifle, who we unintentionally demoted last month when we listed him as Captain Brian Woelber’s mate. Please forgive us Captain Josh! 4
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April 2016
E ditor’s N ote I
flounder, and set a minnow trap for bait. We can play hide and seek on Driftwood Beach, swim off the dock on sunny, summer afternoons (with plenty of sunscreen), ’ve been told by friends who’re already experiencing it that being a and harvest fresh oysters then roast them grandparent is beyond words. When my son, Lane, and his wife, Kelsey, were ourselves on cool fall evenings. We can expecting, I could almost imagine what it would be like, but nothing could explore Cumberland Island and watch the have prepared me for the first time I laid eyes on her. My friend Don Crum marsh ponies run on the beach, look for put it best when he said, “I didn’t know I could feel love like that. It humbles ballast stones on Blackbeard, and dig for you. Almost brings you to your knees.” shark’s teeth on Bird My granddaughter, Lennon Davis Island. Thurman, entered the world at 4:56 on When she’s of an the afternoon of March 29, weighing age where it would seven pounds, three ounces, and at 19 be of interest, we can inches long. And she’s perfect. Flawless visit the Georgia Sea skin, strong grip with her two perfect Turtle Center, MAREX little hands, adorable perfect little feet, Aquarium, Tybee Mapretty blue eyes wide open and explorrine Science Center, ing the faces in her new world. She’s and the Port Royal simply amazing. Sound Foundation Holding her was possibly even Maritime Center. I can more astounding than holding my own teach her to handle a children. Not that I loved them less, not boat and sail a pram, at all. But with your own children, you and read the shoreline really don’t know fully what’s ahead for and pattern of wind you or for them. With your own kids, and current on the there’s a degree of uncertainty as to water to navigate, and what the future holds as you deal with what to do if she ever the ups and downs, the challenges, the gets into trouble on huge sense of responsibility, and the the water. end goal of getting them to adulthood I firmly believe as happy, healthy, functioning members that kids who grow up of society. With this little girl, I don’t with an appreciation have to worry about being the perfect for natural beauty, parent. She has parents for that. All I who get plenty of time have to do is love her, spoil her rotten, outside exploring and and teach her everything I know about getting dirty, who this amazing world. Lennon Davis Thurman. Photo provided by Lane and Kelsey Thurman learn in a hands-on In a way, it’s like a second chance to way to respect nature, grow up to be more do all the things you wish you could have done with your own kids but that grounded, more confident, and better able were pushed aside by the responsibilities of parenthood. Responsibilities like to handle all that life will throw at them. I balanced meals, homework, parent-teacher meetings, discipline, laundry, pecan’t wait to be part of Lennie’s childhood diatrician appointments, endless problem-solving, and let’s not forget workand watch her learn and grow and enjoy it ing to keep a roof over their darling (and largely unappreciative) little heads. all. Welcome to the world, little one. You But with Lennie, the world is her oyster and I’m looking forward to the are the future. sheer delight of showing it to her. We can walk on the beach and watch sea turtle hatchlings making their way to open ocean. We can drag a trawl net or throw a cast net and see what sorts of cool critters we haul up, and when her little arms are big enough I can teach her to throw it herself. We can explore Amy Thurman the creeks in a kayak (tandem, until she’s old enough to handle her own, and Editor in Chief with PFDs, of course), camp on the beaches of barrier islands, and gather shells after storms. I can teach her to handline for blue crab, fish for reds, gig April 2016
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St. Patrick’s Regatta Results
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he 37th Annual St. Patrick’s Regatta, hosted by the Geechee Sailing Club, took place on the weekend of March 19 and 20. Saturday’s racing conditions were good with respectable winds and sun, allowing three races to take place. Sunday’s conditions weren’t as favorable and only one race was completed. Thirteen boats competed in three fleets: spinnaker class, non-spinnaker, and cruising or novice class. The Geechee Sailing Club would like to thank their sponsors, volunteers, competing sailors, and race committee for their efforts at making this another successful regatta. Winners in each class are as follows:
www.doggieladders.com (912) 507-7333
Signs of Life
A Fleet – Spinnaker Class First Place – Eric Gotwalt on Dimarian Second Place- Troy Lamb on Wahoo Third Place- Amar Patel on Lady in Red B Fleet – Non-Spinnaker Class First Place- Walt Baczynski on Far Wind Second Place- Todd Williams on Grand Cru Third Place- Leo Peloquin on Coaster C Fleet – Cruising or Novice Class First Place- Andrew Ziegler on Z Breeze Second Place- Chic Meyer on Southern Breeze Third Place- Scott Hoover on Bell Soiree
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C Fleet 1st Place Skipper Andrew Ziegler and crew aboard Z Breeze. Photo provided by Geechee Sailing Club
signsoflifestudio@gmail.com 6
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April 2016
2nd Annual Historic St. Marys Fishing Classic June 3-5, 2016 A
fter a successful first year event, the St. Marys Fishing Classic, hosted by the Rotary Club of Camden County, has expanded this year’s lineup. In addition to the Inshore General Angler 6-Species Rodeo Tournament, there will be a 3-Species Kayak Catch Photo Release Tournament, an Offshore Kingfish Tournament, a Redfish Jackpot Tournament, and—back by popular demand—the Free Kids Fishing Tournament. “The newly added Kingfish Tournament is creating a lot of interest,” said Jerre Brumbelow, tournament director. “As summer approaches anglers are eager to catch some drag-burning smokers.” The fishing area extends from Glynn County in Georgia to Flagler County in Florida. Target species for the Rodeo Tournament include redfish, speckled trout, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, and whiting. Proceeds will benefit Justin’s Miracle Field, Methodist Boys Home, Rotary Club of Camden County Foundation, and the Shriners Hospital for Children. The tournament will include three days of fishing, food, entertainment, seminars, and cash prizes. Tournament headquarters will be at the Howard Gilman Memorial Waterfront Park on the St. Marys’ waterfront. Registration is now open at www.HistoricStMarysFishingClassic.com or call 912-882-3512.
Keith Edwards at 2015 tournament with his frst place black drum weighing in at 14.10 lbs. Photo provided by Barbara Ryan
SEMAMMS 2016 A Success
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avannah State University and The Dolphin Project cohosted a marine mammal conference in Savannah April 1st-3rd. The SouthEast And Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium (SEAMAMMS) is an annual event that is held in various locations on the Southeastern U.S. seaboard. The 2016 event was a first for Georgia and a huge success. The conference provides an opportunity for college students to give oral or poster presentations of their research and to be critiqued by their peers, professors and renowned scientists. Keith Rittmaster’s dwarf sperm whale skeleton. Presentations ranged from blue whale vocalizations to Photo provided by The Dolphin Project Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) toxins in bottlenose dolphins to threat assessments of multiple stressors on the bottlenose dolphins in the Brunswick Ga area. Some presentations also highlighted the chemical effects on dolphin tissue which involved intense lab work. Attendees came from Washington DC, Maine, Mississippi, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Texas, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee and of course, Georgia. Next year’s SEAMAMMS conference will be held at Duke the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC.
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One More Cast By Captain Brian Woelber
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(912) 201-3630 2815 River Drive • Thunderbolt, GA Visit us on Facebook for daily specials! Locally owned and operated
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e are almost there! Warm sunny days have been teasing us lately, but then it’s windy and cloudy. This time of year there doesn’t seem to be much in between but warm weather is coming. Like the weather, the inshore bite seems to be on one day and not so much the next. Just enough to tease you with what’s to come. Right now with water temperatures up and down but definitely coming up, you need to move around a lot sometimes to find a good bite. Keep in mind though, as you move from place to place, try to target different depths and keep an eye on water temps. This past week the water was around 64 – 70 degrees in Turner Creek when we left for a charter one morning but later on in one area where we were redfishing I noticed the water temp had come up to 66 degrees. So we Two happy charter customers from Denver, CO. tried a few trout drops and caught Photo provided by Brian Woelber 15 or so good trout. In an area where the water was 62 degrees we had no bites. The good news is it won’t be long. Lots of bait showing up in the sound and you’ll find mullet back in the creeks. This can be a tough time to fish inshore with fish on the move, bait migration and with changing water temps but you can still be productive if you’re willing to keep moving. For trout, some of the best bait I have found to search them out is a Cajun thunder cork with a DOA shrimp under the cork three to four feet deep. The clear one with silver speckles has been producing the best for me. You may want to try looking for black drum. They’ve started to move in on the oyster bars as well as around structures such as docks or trees. Dead shrimp seems to work well. Now is also the time for big bull reds. Look for them around rocks on the jetties at the Savannah River and out front on the sandbars near Tybee and the beachfronts. These fish can be anywhere from two to three feet deep, to right in the channels at 30 feet deep. It’s good to use crabs, mullet or pogies for bait but you need to use circle hooks. These fish are too big to keep so no need to harm them by using J hooks. Fish near the bottom with live or dead bait. The sheepshead bite is still strong on the nearshore reefs. Near limit catches are being reported when sea conditions allow fishermen to get out. Fiddler crabs are still your best bait for sheepshead. If you are looking for live shrimp, both Bandy’s Bait House and Adams’ Bait House have plenty. Remember – release a fish today so you can catch two tomorrow!
Email Captain Brian at captainbrian@onemorecast.com 8
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April 2016
D id Y ou Know? The sea pansy, shown below, is dramatically bioluminescent at night when disturbed. • The sea pansy (Renilla reniformis) is a member of the Phylum Cnidaria, along with corals and sea jellies, and a close relative of the sea pens. •
Is not just one creature but a colony of differentiated polyps.
• A single giant polyp composes the anchoring stem and a flat disk body from which feeding polyps arise. Other specialized polyps act as water pumps to inflate and deflate the body.
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• Their feeding polyps use sticky mucus to trap tiny planktonic organisms on which they feed. • They live below the normal low tide line but are sometimes exposed on extreme low tides. Contributed by Captain John “Crawfish” Crawford, with University of Georgia Marine Extension Service.
The Landings Marinas Delegal Creek Marina Landings Harbor Marina Transient Boaters Welcome!
Above: Sea Pansy. Inset: Close up of polyps. Contributed by the Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center / SC DNR.
April 2016
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T he Beat of her Own Drum y b t Ar
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N a ndr
a x e Al
Above: Alexandra poses with artwork while teaching a watercolor class at Southern Grown. Photo by Lisa Newton
he soft, yet vibrant colors of Alexandra Nicole Newton’s artwork are not only pleasing to the eye but evoke a sense of happiness that can be best porBelow: Watercolor oysters on a white backtrayed when the artist has a true love of her muse. Inspired by her world travels ground (cropped for layout). and her childhood spent on the Georgia Coast, Alexandra paints with an eye on the environment and a flair for the abstract. She draws “inspiration from these places Opposite, Top Left: Sentry and the wildlife that live there. Besides the outward beauty of all flora and fauna, I Opposite, Top Right: The Island Hopper am equally impressed by the beauty of the ecosystem – by the role that each animal or plant fulfills without even knowing it.” Opposite, Bottom: Escape Octopus A graduate of the University of Georgia, Alexandra spends her days working as a wildlife biologist. She describes herself as a free spirit and a child that walked “to the beat of my own drum,” and her unique style of painting reflects that sense of adventure. Not one to shy away from unusual and vibrant color combinations, her art includes coastal pieces that feature coral pink and purple manatees in one piece, and crabs set upon a bright pink background in another. When describing her art to one who may not know her style those color choices may seem odd, yet somehow, Alexandra manages to pull it off in a way that would make it “fit in coastal cottages, rustic cabins, traditional homes, and funky colorful spaces.” Continued on page 12
Not only is Alexandra inspired by the coastal Georgia region but she is also inspired by her world travels. Her underwater pieces are inspired by her love of Scuba diving and her dive excursions to Turks and Caicos and Thailand. However, when asked about how she gets started Alexandra states that, “my paintings start out as a vague idea or emotion with at most a basic sketch … staring at a blank canvas can be intimidating so my policy is just to jump in, start painting, and see where the colors take me.” Wherever those emotions take her, the final destination is a masterpiece.
To view more of Alexandra’s art, please visit her website at: www.artbyalexandranicole.com You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter, Pinterest, and Etsy by searching Art By Alexandra Nicole or clicking the links on her page. Alexandra can be reached by email at: info@artbyalexandranicole.com
Above: Surge - rough seas and the eye of the storm. Left: Sea Oat Dunes watercolor painted plein air while sitting on a piece of driftwood at Driftwood Beach. Above Left: Happy Manatrio - colors were mixed on the canvas and took shape as Alexandra painted.
Fishing Gray’s Reef
Fishermen use different methods to return fish to the depths of Gray’s Reef. In fact, innovative anglers have invented a variety of descending devices that can be used without badly injuring the fish. Some are homemade, such as weighted milk crates, and others can be purchased from bait shops or other marine stores. There are even descending devices that the fisherman can preset to release the fish at a predetermined depth. George Sedberry, the Regional Science Coordinator for the Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean at NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, demonstrated several devices at Savannah Earth Day Festival, and he is happy to answer fishermen’s questions anytime. Dr. Sedberry’s primary work is in the biology, conservation and management of marine fishes and he is based at the Gray’s Reef office. The bottom portion of the 22-square-mile Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is set aside for scientific research; fishing and diving are not allowed in the research area. The top two-thirds of the sanctuary are open to fishing and diving. Spearfishing is not allowed in Gray’s Reef. Understandably, anchors are prohibited in the reef, since they would quickly destroy marine life living on the bottom. This also allows boaters and fishermen to drift along with the natural rhythm of the sea as they enjoy a great day on the water. Visit Gray’s Reef, Georgia’s amazing underwater park!
By Michelle Riley
Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
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any deep-sea anglers grab their rods and reels and head out to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Located just 16 miles off the coast of Sapelo Island, the reef is teeming with abundant marine life. Some popular species found at Gray’s Reef include black sea bass, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, scamp grouper and gag grouper, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish and whitebone porgy. More than 200 fish species have been identified in the sanctuary, which is home to an immense variety of marine life. Loggerhead sea turtles forage and rest at the reef year-round. Sharks and jellyfish move silently through the water. Soft corals, sponges, lobsters, crabs, starfish, octopus and other living creatures form a dense carpet that covers the ledges, nooks and crannies of Gray’s Reef, giving it the name, “live bottom.” Fishermen often find that they need to release a fish if it is too small or if they’ve already reached their limit that day. Some species must be released in all cases, such as red snapper currently. Regulations help prevent overfishing or allow a species to recover from overfishing, but releasing them can also harm them. When caught in water deeper than 60 feet, a fish can experience barotrauma from the rapid change in pressure. Gas in its swim bladder expands and fills the fish’s body cavity, making it impossible for the fish to swim back down to the deep. Without the fisherman’s help, the bloated fish can die or easily be eaten by birds, sharks, larger fish, or dolphins. April 2016
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Email Michelle with questions at: michelle.riley@noaa.gov
Scamp grouper, one of the many fish species that thrive in the Sanctuary. Photo by NOAA Diver Greg McFall
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Shrimp F Held in Darien, Georgia, April 8-10, shrimp boats lined up on the Darien River to recieve blessings for a safe and prosperous season. F/V Sundown, pictured this page, placed first for best decorated. (Owned by Todd Shrimping, Inc., captained by Fred Todd.)
Fishin’ is Tradition
48 th Blessing of the Fleet
F/V Twilight • James Thomas, Owner and Captain
F/V Shoal Bandit • Heathe Tillman, Owner and Captain
F/V Lela Pearl • Darrell Gale, Owner and Captain
F/V Lady Vanessa • Chuck Jones, Owner
F/V Papa’s Angels • Morris Johnson, Owner, and Jimbo Lynn, Captain
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F/V Brandi & Leigh • Steve Smith, Owner and Captain
F/V Megan Elaine • David Pearson and Tommy Brown, Owner’s,
F/V Big Cobb • Wayne Gale, Owner and Captain
F/V Georgia Bulldog • Univeristy of Georgia, Owner, and ??
F/V Little Man • Greg and Molly Boone, Owners,
F/V Sea Miner • Hal Boone, Owner and Captain
F/V Grave Digger • Reggie Sawyer, Owner and Captain
and Michael Vernon, Captain
and Greg Boone, Captain
In addition to Sunday’s Blessing of the Fleet and marine parade, this annual three-day event also includes an art show, a YMCA 5K, children’s activities, a classic car show, arts and crafts, nightly live entertainment, and food and drink vendors. For information on attending next year’s event, visit www.blessingofthefleet.com. 16
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A Full Service Marina And Boatyard We offer these services:
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Above: Grave Digger places a memorial wreath on the water to honor those whose lives were lost at sea or on land in service to the shrimping industry.
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Right: Family Tradition Catching Golden Pearls decorates the aft end of Sundown. Below: Shrimping and crabbing, Georgia’s two biggest fishing industries, waving off the bow of Megan Elaine.
Now allowing DIY bottom prep & painting! Marina: (912) 897-2896 Boatyard: (912) 897-1914 606 Wilmington Island Road Savannah, GA, 31410 April 2016
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www.sailharbormarina.com
Fish Gotta Swim
B
efore beginning, students participating in Wilderness Southeast’s Fish Gotta Swim (FGS) school are asked to complete two tasks. The first is to draw their own interpretation of who a scientist is. Nearly 75 percent of the students draw a male scientist working in a laboratory. Their second task is to answer the program’s essential question “is it acceptable for humans to alter water quality?” They are asked to answer based on their knowledge prior to beginning the course. What educators have found is that students have a difficult time answering this question using their own data to back their opinion. Fish Gotta Swim is the brainchild of local resident, the late Dick Murlless, who began the program after realizing that many students were scoring well below the national average on standardized testing in Science. He envisioned a program that would engage students’ natural curiosity while encouraging them to learn about science and the natural environment by making them an active participant in research and learning. In 2003 the Fish Gotta Swim program was born. FGS offers 21 hours of scientific field research in and around local wetlands. The program is funded by grants, donations,
By Amelia Dence
and through proceeds from private tours by local tour company Wilderness Southeast. FGS works with local middle schools to reach students in underserved schools that consistently score low on state standardized tests and who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn about our local wetland environment. Students are encouraged to learn, experiment, and apply classroom knowledge in the field. Former executive director, Kristin Peney states, “FGS is an interdisciplinary program, drawing mostly on science … this approach builds students’ capacity for discovery, curiosity, intrigue, independent thought, and empathy with other living creatures.” During the program students visit local fresh and salt water wetlands. There they engage in studies that teach them about the importance of water quality and how interconnected each aspect of an ecosystem is to the overall health of the environment. While participating, students are asked to log and maintain questions and findings. In addition to field days, students’ learning is expanded in the classroom. They are tasked with completing experiments designed to enhance the information they learned in the field, practice critical thinking skills, and participate in discussions in order to complete a project. Kristin explains that “students use new skills of information processing and problem solving 18
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to debate water quality and wetland habitat issues.” The result is that students gain “confidence and new means of expression, and are better prepared to make choices that support and protect the natural world.” Educators hope that through the course students will gain a new appreciation for the environment and be inspired to become stewards in protecting it, as well as help them understand the relevance that science and nature have in their own lives. It has also become an invaluable tool in addressing concerns local administrators and teachers have with the low scores on state testing. This allows educators to use “topic-centered, investigative methods, and utilize the environment as an integrating concept,” Kristin states. At the end of the program FGS instructors ask the same two questions. Their goal is to see students draw 30 percent more female scientists, 45 percent more scientists working in the field rather than a lab, and for students to be able answer the essential question and back their opinion with facts from their own research. Kristin hopes they “are able to take the marsh or the Savannah River off the page of a textbook and experience that environment to better understand the issues facing the area.” However, they don’t want students to learn that humans have a universally negative impact. They want students to come to their own conclusions and be able to confidently support and communicate their answer. Kristin states, “we understand that the level of human impact to the environment is a very gray area and particular stakeholders may recognize that their impact as negative.” Ultimately, both teachers and the instructors of the FGS program want to see an 80 percent increase in the ability for students to confidently answer the essential question using facts, figures, and findings from their own research.
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Opposite Page: Students performing water quality tests on samples taken from the Savannah River. Photo by Amy Thurman Above: Students gathered samples in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Vicki Albritton
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(912) 354-8187 50 Bluff Drive Savannah, GA VHF Channel 16
Governor’s Cup:
never experienced or witnessed the battle that ensues when a billfish surges from the water, vibrantly electrified while violently shaking its head in an attempt to free itself, you can still understand the appeal and mysteriousness of these impressive fish. In the 1960s, billfish tournaments targeting sailfish, white marlin, and blue marlin, grew popular. Tournaments not only drew sportsmen, but also intrigued the public, drawing curious crowds. People are fascinated by game fish and the salty men who pursue them. Until the 1990s, most events were kill tournaments resulting in heavy losses for billfish species. In 1989, Governor Caroll A. Campbell, an avid fisherman and conservationist, established the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, an umbrella for tournaments along South Carolina’s coast. He founded the series to promote tourism and encourage conservation through responsible angling practices. The series was one of the first billfishing tournaments to encourage catch and release. This profoundly changed statistics; what was once a 100% landing rate became a 98% release rate. The series undoubtedly shifted attitudes toward conservation among sport fishing communities. Now it’s also a cornerstone of scientific research. Scientists at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR), the tournament’s organizing body, monitor pelagic fish species. A total of 126 individual billfish have been tagged with pop-up satellite archival tags, or PSATs. PSATs
Combining Fishing and Science By Cameron Rhodes
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on’t miss the fishing fun this summer! The South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series returns with five exciting opportunities to experience a piece of Americana. Fishing, particularly for billfish, the long nosed apex predators ranging from sailfish to swordfish, has a deep-seated history along the East Coast. Even if you’ve 20
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provide scientists with tracking information, migratory patterns and habitat use. SC DNR also provides anglers with the necessary tools to tag and release mahi mahi during the series, directly engaging sportsmen in a citizen science campaign, which uses recapture data to study site fidelity and fish growth. If a vessel decides to keep a blue marlin rather than release it, the boat will be rewarded a point per pound. So if a team catches a 550lb blue marlin, the fish will earn them 550 points. Alternatively, a released blue marlin is automatically worth 600 points, regardless of size. So, the tournament encourages conservation through its release rewards system. And the fishing teams still get to have fun. Since many of the billfish are released (all sailfish and white marlin must be released), you might think you won’t get to see anything dockside. That’s not true. Come by for a chance to see other pelagic game fish, like dolphin (mahi mahi), tuna, and wahoo, during official weigh-ins, and bring the kids for a chance to learn from a team of marine scientists. SC DNR will be measuring fish, collecting samples, and cataloging everything in the game fish database. If you can’t be out there on the water, competing for Outstanding Billfish or Outstanding Youth Angler, you can still get a piece of the action!
Visit the Governor’s Cup website www.govcup.dnr.sc.gov or visit their Facebook page for a list of tournaments and to sign up for the newsletter.
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Excitement reigns as fisherman land these majestic billfish in a previous tournament. Both photos by Perry Peace
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Pet Friendly! (912) 882-7490 www.g dbreadhouse.com info@g dbreadhouse.com April 2016
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209 OSBORNE STREET . Marys, GA 31558
T he B itter E nd Fun on the Water
By Captain J. Gary Hill
G
ood day, and welcome to “What the heck happened to winter?” As I write this, the day before St. Patty’s, with temps hovering in the low- to mid-eighties I can’t help but ponder the coming summer. It’s a given it will be hot and humid, to say the least. But with summer comes the joy of family and friends coming to visit. So let’s figure out how to entertain these beloved invaders. The great entertainer here in the Lowcountry is our abundant water, which provides us with a wonderful way to share time. If your first thought is, “But I don’t have a boat,” that’s ok, you don’t have to own a boat, or even have a friend with a boat. From Hilton Head to Saint Mary’s you will find marina’s that rent a variety of watercraft, from boats to jet skis. With boat or jet ski rental comes an element of responsibility and as of last summer an added step to the rental process. If you don’t possess a Safe Boaters Certificate (one from your home state is acceptable) then a short 10-15-minute orientation video is required. This is normally free of charge and is provided at boat rental locations. For those of you with no boating experience, never fear; professional captains are available. And with both inshore fishing 22
and offshore fishing opportunities available along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts, you’ll find some of the best fishing you can imagine. Professional guides will supply all your needs from rods to tackle and bait to fishing licenses. Normally you’ll only need to provide your drinks and snacks. Not an angler, or maybe looking for something a bit different to make this summer extra special? There are many of us in the charter tour business who will generally tailor a trip to your group’s specific needs. Some options might include beach drops, hammock walks, eco-tours, or trips to the many islands that dot our coast. Trips from a couple of hours to an entire day can give you your H2O fix. For something more private or in-tune with nature, a kayak rental or guided trip can fit the order perfectly. No matter your skill level, kayaks and paddle boards make the perfect way to explore quiet spots or the tidal marshes. From a vantage point literally at water-level you can experience a more intimate view. With no sound but the gentle lapping of the paddle there’s no telling what sort of critters you might sneak up on. Prefer a bird’s-eye view of things? Then try parasailing or one of the newest fads, flyboards – a hoverboard type device that allow you to fly like Ironman. Hilton Head has both of these amusements. a quick Google search for flyboard should turn up several operators. There are many public dolphin and nature tours available where you can join larger groups, or you might try sport crabbing or even take a trip on a Working Shrimp boat. No matter your speed or budget there is a way to get out and enjoy some time on our coastal waters. See y’all on the water! Email Gary at jgaryhill@gmail.com
SouthernTidesMagazine.com
April 2016
Help Fight Melanoma!
Not just for grown ups! Kids are invited to participate in their own tournament and win great prizes!
Have fun while supporting a great cause! Friday - Golf Tournament at the Wilmington Island Club - Registration for fishing tournaments and cornhole tournaments at Hogans Marina
SAVE THE DATE: July 29 - 31
Saturday - Adults and kids fishing tournaments - Cornhole tournament at Hogans - Kingfish tournament Sunday - Adult and kids fishing tournaments continued - Awards All weekend - great food, live music, raffles, and a waterslide for the kids! Visit us on Facebook for updates! Facebook.com/Fishin-For-Jamie
All proceeds benefit the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavillion.
Before you head out there ...
Stop here: When in you’re ready to step up your game, come see the pros at Hale Marine! Hale Marine is your local factory authorized service center for all Minn Kota and Power Pole warranty and repair work. Need a new trolling motor or Power Pole? We can help you with that too! Call us for all your boating needs.
912-224-8313 2604 Causton Bluff Road Savannah, GA