Southern Tides September 2015 by Southern Tides Magazine

Diving

Gray’s Reef

Understanding the Palmetto Pipeline

Fishin’ For Jamie Raises Over $20K

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elcome to the first issue of Southern Tides Magazine! You’ll notice our tagline, “all about the water” which makes our focus pretty clear. But what does that mean? First and foremost, it’s about a love and passion for the water and our coastal area – a passion so many of us share. We live in one of the last remaining stretches of pristine coast in this country, and we, as a community, work hard to conserve and protect it. I firmly believe that to feel an urge to protect something, you must care about it, and the more you understand it, the more you grow to care. With that in mind, we’ll be working closely with local organizations with missions of stewardship, with local naturalists, marine scientists, and businesses to draw from their knowledge, expertise, and research. But don’t think for a minute that it will be all science and no play! One great perk of living here is getting out on the water in whatever way you most enjoy, whether that be fishing, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, or just a lazy cruise down the river with friends. And we’ll have stories, tips, and articles on those topics as well, all written by folks who make this place home. We have plans for growth. The 32 pages you see here will increase as ad sales increase (hint hint). Our website will initially consist of the print issue in flip-book format, but a full-scale site is being designed, will launch as quickly as we can complete it, and will contain even more content than the print issue. We’ll also be active on Facebook, posting short articles and promoting our advertisers and local events. Our initial distribution area is from Beaufort, SC, to St. Marys, GA, in approximately

200 locations, and this will grow in the coming months as well. Putting something like this together takes a lot – and not just from me. Heartfelt – and public – appreciation is in order. A special thank you to our first advertisers, for demonstrating your faith and support with your ads and your hard-earned dollars. We wouldn’t exist without you. Thank you to each of our contributors and the organizations or businesses you represent, for such great content in this first issue! I couldn’t be more pleased with the level of writing, artwork, and scope of information presented. Bridgette Thurman, for your vision, talent, and patience in putting together this design and all that entails – thank you. Jamie Riley, for your unyielding support, your patience, for being a sounding board, and for making sure I ate and slept – thank you. Those are the names and faces you’ll see in this first issue, but there are others who helped make this magazine possible. Jennifer Donnelly, for proofreading and helping us get as close to perfect as we can. Barbara Ryan, with St. Marys Magazine, for answering endless questions, for the leads, and her encouragement. Doug Hayman and Nancy Butler, with the GA DNR Coastal Resources Division, for your input and support. Dr. Michael Denson, with the SC DNR, for your time and the educational tour of your MRRI facility. Jody Hayward, with the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center for your time, the tour, the leads, and information. Captain Michael Neal, with Moon River Kayaks, for information, ideas, and use of your kayaks. Captain Bubba Strickland of Hogans’ Marina for your continued support, encouragement, and information. Jen Hilburn, the Altamaha Riverkeeper, for your encouragement, support, and information. Thank you, each of you. This is your coast, this is your home, and this is your magazine. Enjoy.

Amy Thurman Editor in Chief

Thank you to our first issue advertisers! Adams’ Bait House Ali-Gaitor Marine Works Barrier Island Marine Fish Tales/Ft. McAllister Marina Hogans’ Marina Island Outboards

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SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

Contributors

Chris Hines is the Partnership Development Coordinator at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS). A NOAA Diver, he works part-time with the sanctuary and part-time as Executive Director of GRNMS Foundation. He received his B.S. in Business from Purdue University and M.S. in International Public Service from DePaul University. He can be reached at chris.hines@ noaa.gov or visit www. graysreef.noaa.gov

Debbie Kearney is a clinical psychologist and chronic volunteer. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. She is a co-founder of the Tybee Kayak Races and has been the coordinator of the event since its inception. Kayaking and wild environments are two of her loves.

Kelley Luikey is a photographer, teacher, and naturalist. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and adventure lover she is on (or under) the water with her camera as often as possible. Through her work, she hopes to inspire in others a love and appreciation of the beauty of the Lowcountry. Find her work in downtown Beaufort at 208 West Street or visit her website www. naturemuseimagery. com.

Elena Richards is a freelance writer and Communications Director for Savannah Riverkeeper. “Our mission is one that everyone can get behind. Boiled down to two words, it’s this: clean water. We want to see a Savannah River basin that is healthy, cherished, and economically viable for all of its users.” Elena can be reached at elena@ savannahriverkeeper.org

Erin Weeks is the Media and Communications director for the SC Department of Natural Resources. In 2014, she returned home to Charleston, South Carolina, where she works as a freelance science writer in addition to covering all things coastal for the SC DNR. She holds an undergraduate degree from USC-Columbia and an M.S. from MIT. Erin can be reached at weekse@dnr.sc.gov or visit the website www.dnr.sc.gov

Publisher/Editor – Amy Thurman Creative Director – Bridgette Thurman Distribution – James Riley Contributing Writers/Photographers Chris Hines Debbie Kearney Kelley Luikey Elena Richards Erin Weeks

Southern Tides is a free magazine published monthly and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, GA, to Beaufort, SC. Mailed subscriptions are available – call or email for details. 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

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

CONTENTS

08 14 21 25

A Journey in Light and Color with Nature Muse Imagery Photographer and naturalist Kelley Luikey credits her ability to capture “magic moments” with just making time to get out there. “The more you are out really looking, the more opportunities there are to witness incredible things.”

Gray’s Reef – Discovering One’s Passion

Cobia – A Low Country Fish in Narrow Straits

Chris Hines, a NOAA diver, shares the thrill he experienced on his first dive at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary as he swims with the fishes and other undersea creatures.

A genetically unique group of cobia that returns to South Carolina rivers each year to spawn is at risk. SC DNRs Erin Weeks explains what’s being done to protect this unique fish.

Down the Line: How the Palmetto Pipeline Became this Region’s Rebellion Texas-based Kinder Morgan attempts to use eminent domain to push their billion-dollar project through the South Carolina and Georgia low country. Savannah Riverkeeper’s Elena Richards explains the process so far.

also in this issue 03 06 07 12 13 20 24 28 29 30 30

Editor’s Letter Tybee Island Sea Kayak Races Fishin’ For Jamie Benefit Tournament Results Additional Structure to Enhance F Reef CoastFest Pirate Fest Riverkeeper Events Calendar of Events Save the Date Naturalists Wanted Did You Know? About the Cover – Rarely seen Roseate Spoonbills feeding in the marsh. Photo by Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery.

17th Annual Tybee Island Sea Kayak Races to benefit the Tybee Island Marine Science Center By Debbie Kearney

t’s that time of year again! Kayakers and stand-up-paddleboarders will gather for this 17th test of paddling speed and skill. While doing so, paddlers will raise money for a good cause: the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, which provides handson coastal Georgia learning experiences for all ages. The races began in 1997 as a fun event to promote kayaking and benefit the Center – a coastal paddlesports race is an obvious match! Over the years, this event has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Center’s programs and gallery. Visitors to the Marine Science Center’s Coastal Georgia Gallery can observe fish that inhabit local waters, reptiles like the diamondback terrapin, maybe a baby loggerhead sea turtle that will be released within a year, and baby alligators, to list a few. Kids of all ages enjoy the touch tank where you can explore with your hands and touch a horseshoe crab or pick up a whelk with a hermit crab in residence. There’s so much to learn! Did you know that sand dollars are alive? Did you know a sea turtle’s gender is determined by the temperature of the sand when the egg is incubating? Did you know that our marshes are the nurseries of the ocean? Did you know that barrier islands and marshes protect interior islands and the mainland from major storm waves by taking the brunt of wave action? Center visitors might also venture out on a beach or marsh trek. Cast a seine net at the ocean’s edge in 6

Scouts meet critters that live underneath the sand and in the intertidal zone. Whelks, olive snails, and spider crabs are just some of our Touch Tank residents! Photo courtesy of Tybee Marine Science Center.

breaking waves – you never know you might catch, but the Science Center educators will be happy to explain. It’s amazing what’s in the surf zone! And of course, after examining the creatures, they are returned to the water. Funds raised help keep a variety of special programs operating, such as Sidewalk to the Sea, which connects city kids with coastal and offshore environments, badge programs for Girl and Boy Scouts, summer Sea Camp, programs for school groups, and coordinating the Sea Turtle Project on Tybee. The Science Center makes the ocean literally come alive for kids; we learn more by experiencing with as many of our senses as possible. Like the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, the Tybee Kayak Race makes our coastal waters more accessible. The race annually attracts paddlers from our area, but also from surrounding states and even a few folks from outside the southeast. People love an excuse to come to Tybee, and kayakers and stand-up-paddleboarders who participate in the races love knowing their registration fees support all those educational activities about an environment they treasure.

Saturday, September 12, 2015 at A-J’s Dockside, 1315 Chatham Ave., Tybee Island. Sign-in is 7:30-8:15 a.m. Races begin at 8:30 a.m.

Options:

• The River Race is 6 ½ miles on the Back River; tests speed and endurance. • The Little Tybee Challenge, approximately 8 miles, circumnavigating part of Little Tybee Island; challenges maneuverability in tight curves, rough water ability in surf, speed and endurance. • The Race Across the River is a short, fun race for Gold and Platinum Sponsors. • The Casual Paddler is 2 miles in the River Race (like being a walker in a running race). • A Stand Up Paddleboard category in the River Race and the Little Tybee Challenge For more race information including registration, visit www.TybeeKayakRace.org. For more information about the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, visit www.tybeemarinescience.org.

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

Fun and Fundraising with Fishin’ For Jamie Overall kid angler winners pose with tournament organizer Chris Caldwell. Kids, L to R: Ben Fernandez, Micah Gutting, and Michael Duck. Photo courtesy of Fishin’ For Jamie.

Jamie Fulcher would have been proud. The yearly tournament started to benefit melanoma research, which his closest friends have continued since his passing, exceeded last year’s fundraising efforts. Although an exact figure is still being calculated, this 2015 tournament totals exceed $20,000, bringing the total raised since the tournament began to over $100,000! The funds will be presented to the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion in a formal ceremony in the coming months.

2015 Tournament Winners

Saturday Kid Angler Winners

Overall Kid Angler Winners (2-day totals)

• Smallest fish – Jackson Paul • Biggest fish – Jackson Paul

Saturday Adult Angler Winners

• Smallest fish – Larry Patton • Biggest fish – Robbie Skibicki • Blind weight drawing – Bobby Boyd

Saturday Kingfish Winners in fish):

(Eight boats fished, only two weighed

• 1st Place – Team Live Wire • 2nd Place – Team Knot Perfect

Sunday Kid Angler Winners

• Smallest fish – Jack Stahl • Biggest fish – Ben Fernandez

• 1st Place with 3.3 pounds of fish – Micah Gutting • 2nd Place with 2.75 pounds of fish – Michael Duck • 3rd Place with 1.05 pounds of fish – Ben Fernandez

Sunday Adult Angler Winners

• Smallest fish – Elwin Kennedy • Biggest fish – Jimmy Amel • Blind weight drawing – Elwin Kennedy

Overall Adult Angler Winners (2-day totals)

• 1st place with 7.7 pounds of fish – Gene Barnett • 2nd Place with 7.35 pounds of fish – Robbie Skibicki • 3rd Place with 6.6 pounds of fish – Ty Harrell

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A Journey in L ight and Color

with Nature Muse Imagery By Amy Thurman

“H

ey, I know this guy who would make for a really great article on …” or “So, I know this photographer, you have to see her pictures!” I get that a lot; sometimes it pans out, sometimes it doesn’t. In this case it not only panned out when Jody Hayward, with the Port Royal Sound Foundation, told me about her friend Kelley Luikey, but I was blown away by this photographer’s talent with light and color. Thank you for the introduction, Jody. And thank you Kelley for being gracious in agreeing to an interview and sharing your images with us. Southern Tides: I have a background in photography, back in the days of film, but your photos make me want to go back to school and learn how to do what you do. How did you get your start? Kelley Luikey: I started with photography classes in college and spent many late nights in the darkroom developing photos from my pawn shop Pentax K-1000. I moved to Nantucket after college and spent much of my free time chasing the light with my camera. When the digital age took over, my children were very young and I took a Left: Mated Egrets nesting Below: Factory Creek Storm

long pause from photography in any sort of serious way. In my 40s, as my children grew a little older, I decided to make time for the things I loved again. I completed the South Carolina Master Naturalist Class a few years ago and started teaching a naturalist class for kids. I also did a refresher course for SCUBA diving so I could dive locally for fossils, upgraded my camera, and took the time to learn how to shoot and process photos digitally. I credit my dear friend and amazing photographer Betty Laurent, for guiding me through the digital process – a very different way of doing things than film! ST: Many of your shots are on or near the water. What inspires or motivates you to shoot what you shoot? KL: I’ve lived near the water for 22 years, in Nantucket, Cape Cod and now Beaufort. Like many people who live here, I spend as much time as possible on, or in, the water. Dawn and moonless nights are my favorite times to shoot, and water is my favorite subject. I love to wake up early or stay up late and roam the beaches while everyone else is sleeping. The anticipation of how things will unfold makes each and every time an adventure. The colors of the sky and clouds mixed with the sea and its tides - each moment a different combination of colors and textures. When I am out on the beach shooting, I’m often with Delk Haigler, another Beaufort based photographer. While we walk out together, we

Left: Horseshoe crabs; Last cabin standing, Hunting Island Above: Night Herons Below: Great Blue Heron Right: Hunting Island Sunrise

each come back with something different. Seeing what someone else photographed at the same time, in the same place, is rewarding and can lead you to look through your lens differently and improve the next time out. ST: What goes through your head when you’re composing a shot? KL: When I leave the house to shoot, I don’t usually have a preconceived notion of exactly what I’m looking for. Of course, I want beautiful light and a photo with interesting details and composition, but these are typically decisions I make in the moment, without a plan. The beauty of shooting digitally is that you can see your mistakes and fix them quickly. Reviewing your shots on the spot and being able to make adjustments in composition, light and exposure takes a lot of guessing out of the equation. ST: Is there a message you hope viewers will take from your work? KL: Just as when I teach my naturalist classes, my goal for photography is to inspire people to get outside more and appreciate our surroundings. We’re incredibly lucky to live in a beautiful area surrounded by marshes, islands and beaches. The more people are out exploring, the more they see, and the more they develop a deep appreciation for nature. ST: One of the things that makes your photos stand out is your use of light and color. How do you capture those moments? KL: I’m often asked how I manage to be in the right place at the right time. I’ve found that the photos I don’t plan for are typically my favorites. The evening we were out fishing for redfish and Mobula Rays started jumping all around us just before sunset. Or the morning I was transfixed by one of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen and couldn’t have conceived of anything better, yet as I was leaving, an entire nest of baby loggerhead turtles was making their journey out to the Atlantic. You’re always waiting for all the elements of a 10 SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

perfect shot to align themselves. You can go days, weeks and months in photography without those magic moments happening - but when they do, they become not just the photos you’ve been waiting for but memories you hold dear to your heart. ST: What plans do you have for the future? KL: While I am not entirely sure where this journey will take me, I finally feel like I am combining all of the things I love successfully. I also love combining words with the photos I take as a way to tell the whole story and present the emotion of what I was feeling at the time. A book is on the horizon...

Select works of Kelley’s can be viewed at Elena Madden’s Studio Gallery, 208 West Street, Beaufort, SC, or visit her website at www.naturemuseimagery.com.

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Additional Structure Enhances F Reef Transmission pole sections are transported by barge and dropped over the reef. Photo courtesy of the GA DNR Coastal Resources Division.

n an effort to enhance fishing and diving opportunities, the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) recently deployed approximately 400 concrete transmission pole sections and bases as the latest addition to Artificial Reef F – located 9 nautical miles east of Jekyll Island. The materials were donated by Georgia Power Corporation and the Georgia Transmission Corporation and delivered to the onshore staging area by Valmont-Newmark. The deployment occurred over three days (August 17th-19th) during which materials were loaded onto a barge and deployed at three locations in depths of approximately 45 feet: (31°05.936’N / 81°12.394’W); (31°05.962’N / 81°12.384’W); and (31°05.953’N / 81°12.415’W). The concrete materials will soon be colonized by barnacles, soft corals and sponges providing the basis of a food web that will attract saltwater gamefish such as grouper, sheepshead, black sea bass and king mackerel. Endangered sea turtles and other sea life also use these manmade reefs as foraging and resting habitat. CRD staff will monitor the site annually using side scan sonar and diver surveys to

document the structural integrity of the materials, as well as the fish and invertebrate abundance and diversity. The CRD offshore artificial reef project is made possible by fishing license funds, Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration, private donations, and partnerships with local organizations that are interested in enhancing offshore fishing and diving opportunities. This project could not have been accomplished without the coordinated efforts of all of these partners as donations are a critical component of artificial reef development. “Our offshore artificial reef surveys have shown that concrete is very productive when placed on the seafloor attracting a variety of encrusting organisms and several species of fish targeted by anglers. Within the next year, we expect this latest addition to F Reef to be producing notable catches of black sea bass, sheepshead, and flounder, as well as holding baitfish that, in turn, will attract king and Spanish mackerel,” commented Spud Woodward, director of CRD.

You’re invited! Come join the festivities at the 21st Annual CoastFest: GA DNR/Coastal Regional Headquarters in Brunswick, GA Saturday, October 3rd, 2015

ith more than 80 environmental, educational research and resource exhibitors from around the southeast, CoastFest visitors of all ages can have fun learning about Georgia’s unique coastal environment and participate in free activities from touch tanks to coastal weather, native plants to horseshoe crabs, water conservation to archeology, herpetology to geology, and much more! Throughout the day under the show tents: returning favorites Arthur Atsma and his Science Circus will demonstrate marine science and Newtonian physics with fast-paced circus stunts and magic tricks. Jim Sawgrass and his Creek Indian family will entertain with Native American songs and ritual dances. Returning for a third year, Up for Grabs juggler, Rhys Thomas, will perform amazing juggling feats with lots of audience participation. New this year, Grab your boots! Get your hat! And join Roger Day as he stomps in the mud—the marsh mud! Roger introduces children to the plants and animals that live in and around the salt marshes and beaches of the barrier islands and how each one has an important role to play in healthy coastal ecosystems.

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015 13

Discovering O neâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s P assion

By Chris Hines

ome of the most amazing places in this world are not easy to reach. Some of the most protected places in this world are not easy to access. Some of these places take your breath away, some are unforgettable, and some create lifelong memories. One of these places may be closer than you think. As a boy growing up in California, I spent an incredible portion of my childhood staring out at the ocean on family visits to the shore, wondering, hoping, and dreaming of what might be out there. I also recall my Dad encouraging me to find my passion. Searching for this so-called passion throughout the years involved periods of work and study abroad, several career changes, successes, and failures. Passion seemed close, but still a mystery. Little did I realize that my passion had been with me since those childhood visits to the ocean with my family. 16 SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

Above: Black seabass on sparsely colonized live bottom Below: Chris being attacked by man-eating spadefishes Above Right: Arrow crab Right: Turtle back scratch

Many years later, I discovered that scuba diving is addicting. The sense of freedom and peace while exploring the world that lies under our great global oceans is thrilling. Often, the only sound is your own life support. Breathe in, breathe out. Aside from occasional marine life sounds, it’s like being in a trance for 30 to 60 minutes. Now that addiction has transformed from a hobby to a career in ocean conservation. We skim along the Atlantic out to our dive site over Gray’s Reef aboard the NOAA R/V Sam Gray during our roughly 90-minute journey from Skidaway Island. Adventure and the unknown await as I prepare for my NOAA Diver checkout dive. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) is coastal Georgia’s amazing underwater park and one of only 14 National Marine Sanctuaries in the nation. It’s an extraordinary place encompassing 22 Photos courtesy of Greg McFall and GRNMS

square miles, surrounded by extensive tracts of sandy bottom that aren’t nearly as hospitable for marine life. Near the intersection of the Gulfstream and Labrador currents, Gray’s Reef is brimming with marine life, both native and transient. The first hour, on manageable one to three foot seas, is a marvellous blend of coastal beauty: dolphins playing in the wake of trawlers, driftwood-covered beaches on uninhabited barrier islands, a loggerhead popping his head out as we cruise by, and a chorus of coastal birds ushering us out to sea. The second hour of the ride is in open ocean as the coastline fades in the

background. I can hardly contain my excitement, but looking around at the other divers aboard, I try to play it cool. To my right sit Captain Todd Recicar and NOAA Corps Officer Jared Halonen, both with hundreds of dives. In front of me sits Greg McFall, Director of the NOAA Diving Program, and Gray’s Reef Superintendent, Sarah Fangman, both with thousands of dives. I have 32 dives. But no pressure! On the inside, it feels like a hurricane of excitement, on the outside I (hopefully) appear calm and seem as though I’ve done this many times before. By the time we reach the drop zone my internal hurricane has grown into a CAT 4. It’s time. We all splash at once, back-rolling into beautiful water from the side of the boat. After a short surface swim to the weighted anchor, the long-awaited thumbs down (ok to dive) signal is given. At 20 feet below the surface, the boat above is no longer visible and we are dropping into the unknown (at least for me). A few minutes later, the reef starts coming into view, slowly, like a huge ship emerging on the horizon. The visibility is quite good, around 20 feet. At 50 feet below, schools of baitfish are swirling and dancing together in a beautiful rhythm, avoiding prey as they feed. At about 60 feet below the surface, we approach the fish-tracking receiver that needs to be swapped out. As Sarah and Greg make quick work of that, I try to pay attention to how they perform the task.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what they did or how they did it. A colorful reef and schools of amberjack, baitfish, black sea bass, and a plethora of other incredible critters are a bit more interesting than receiver swapping. Guitarfish, scamp, sea bass, spade fish, bait fish, cubbyu, perch, amberjack, angelfish, and many other critters later, I’m hooked. Greg points out a ‘turtle garage’ where loggerhead sea turtles scrape barnacles off their carapace using the ledges on the reef. Adult loggerheads forage, nest, mate, and take protection at Gray’s Reef. Greg peeks under a ledge where a nurse shark is resting. The beautiful creature lazily meanders out and swims off into the distance. A small arrow crab and I gaze at each other in contemplation of our differences. The biodiversity at Gray’s Reef is unique because of the live-bottom habitat. Rocky outcroppings and ledges form the basis of an ecosystem that includes hundreds of species of dazzling invertebrates, more than 200 colorful fish species, and many species of shark. The Reef provides protection for the threatened loggerhead sea turtle and lies close to the only known calving ground of the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Fortunately, we didn’t see any of the incredibly invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans). Native to the tropical waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, the

Above: Reef sun coral Below: Lone jelly fish

Above Right: Diver, sponges, gorgonians and fishes Below Right: Sea star next to a ledge at Gray’s Reef

venomous Lionfish are now invading ecosystems throughout the Atlantic coast and Caribbean. Lionfish damage our ocean by eating up to 20 small native fish per day. With a very quick reproduction rate and no natural predators in Atlantic waters, they have multiplied quickly and threaten the natural biodiversity of the area. We collect some discarded fishing line, but see no other debris. A pristine location, difficult to access, yet relatively untouched by humans; Gray’s Reef is magical. Future

generations will be able to have these same experiences because of the conservation efforts of Low Country residents. Coastal communities throughout the Southeast can take pride in this national treasure. My first dive at Gray’s Reef lasted 45 minutes. In full disclosure, I was already in love with the Reef from the incredible images and video I was able to view even before the dive. But if love at first sight is a reality underwater, then I fell mask over fins. This California boy, who

grew up staring out at the ocean, has realized that he finally found his passion.

Want to dive the reef? South Georgia Charter Company (SGCC), with Diver’s Den Georgia, offers all-day 3-tank charters to Gray’s Reef -Light breakfast, lunch, bottled water and softdrinks included -Cost $275 per diver (tanks and gear available for rent) -Departs St. Marys at 7 a.m., return time roughly 5 p.m. Boat carries six divers per charter Visit website at www.sgcharters.com or on Facebook at South Georgia Charter Company

(912) 882-7078

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015 19

Pirate Fest!

Arggghhh, the pirates are coming! On October 8-11, Tybee Island, Georgia will celebrate its 11th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest. Swashbucklers, wenches & scallywags of all ages will converge on the island, celebrating the colorful, seafaring history of the Georgia coast. Every Columbus Day weekend, Tybee Island’s South Beach parking lot transforms into a lively priate village, with live music and fun for the whole family.

This year’s festival will headline accomplished artists Junior Marvin’s Wailers. In addition to Junior and The Wailers, Tybee Island’s Pirate Fest stage will feature The Big Engine, The Brigands, and many other local performers. The festivities will kick off with the coronation of the King and Queen at the Buccaneer Ball, at Tybee’s famous Crab Shack on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

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Additional highlights include The Pirate Victory Parade, Scallywags Costume Contest, Little Matey’s Cove, Thieves Market, The Bud Light Whatever Bar, Fireworks, and the addition of several kids’ activities including a petting zoo, Ferris wheel, and Caraousel. Organized by the Tybee SEABAR, Inc., the Pirate Fest will showcase the best of Tybee Island, from award-winning restaurants to miles of sandy beaches. We hope you will join us and we encourage you and yours to dress the part!

Thursday Oct. 8th 6-‐10pm Buccaneer Ball-The Crab Shack-

40 Estill Hammock Road Tickets $40 in advance $50 day of www.buccaneerball.com

Friday Oct. 9th 5-11pm

Tybee Pirate Festival-Strand Parking Lot Ticket Price-TBA ($10 est, kids 12 & under free)

Saturday Oct. 10th 10am-11pm

Tybee Pirate Festival-Strand Parking Lot Ticket Price-TBA ($10 est, kids 12 & under free) Fireworks-8:45pm

Live Shrimp • Frozen Bait Squid • Balley Hoo • Eel Cigar Minnows • Finger Mullet

Sunday Oct. 11th 12:30pm-4pm

898-1550

Tybee Pirate Festival-Strand Parking Lot Ticket Price: FREE

6 a.m to 4 p.m Closed Mondays

For additional information please visit www.TybeePirateFest.com

3508 Macceo Drive Thunderbolt, GA (at the boat ramp)

Cobia – A Lowcountry Fish in Narrow Straits By Erin Weeks

Stocked cobia embedded with an orange tag before its release. Photos courtesy of SC DNR.

housands of years ago, something new appeared in the waters of the present-day South Carolina Lowcountry. Back then, the Atlantic Ocean ranged a few meters higher than today. Out in open waters swam a large species of fish we now call cobia, which arrived each year on an annual northward migration. Somewhere along this prehistoric timeline, a number of cobia began to break away from the pack. They entered the southern coastal rivers and sounds of South Carolina – and they began returning every year to spawn. Over time, this river-spawning group slowly grew distinct from their openwater brethren. South Carolina’s coastline has been transformed since then. Cobia, however, remain synonymous with springtime in the Lowcountry. Every May, anglers descend upon St. Helena, Port Royal, and Calibogue Sounds in hopes of landing these hard-fighting, brown-and-white fish. Cobia possess the streamlined body of a shark and the broad, flat head of a catfish. They grow rapidly, and they grow large. The official state record in South Carolina was a 92-pounder caught in 2009. Generations of anglers have looked forward to the spring appearance of cobia, the thrill of reeling one in, and the lemon-drizzled fillets searing in a pan. But after thousands of years of this inshore phenomenon, these cobia – and the traditions they’ve inspired – are at risk of disappearing. In recent years, local fishermen have expressed concerns about the health of this unique group of cobia. As the region’s population has grown, so too has interest in recreational fishing and the number of anglers targeting cobia. Each spring, cobia spawning in places such as the Broad River have been fished with increasing intensity – leaving many to wonder how long the cobia harvest would be sustainable. This question led biologists at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) to begin extensive research on the state’s inshore cobia population about a decade ago. Researchers put in long hours at the lab, fingerprinting the DNA from thousands of cobia. They developed a sophisticated stocking program, hatching and rearing cobia from the egg, and monitored the effects these introduced cobia might have on the wild population. They asked the public to help by donating their

cobia carcasses, and they attended every cobia tournament in the southern half of the state. Now, the science is in – and it suggests that South Carolina cobia have reached a critical juncture. The research turned up several key findings. One of the most significant was the confirmation that cobia caught in South Carolina’s inshore waters are what scientists call a genetically distinct population. While these fish don’t look or taste different from cobia elsewhere on the east coast, genetic testing revealed differences at the molecular level, in their DNA – differences that began accumulating when the first cobia began to use the high-salinity waters of South Carolina’s southern sounds and rivers as spawning grounds. Now, the fish that carry these genes return each spring to spawn in St. Helena Sound, the Broad River, and other waterways where they have become so popular to fish. They do not spawn with the larger, offshore South Atlantic population of cobia. “What that means, because there’s no movement between those two groups to spawn, is that if you were to fish out this group of cobia, none of the South Atlantic fish are going to come back in here to replace them,” said Dr. Michael Denson, director of SCDNR’s Marine Resources Research Institute, who’s studied cobia for over a decade. Researchers don’t know what chance conditions first spurred this lineage of cobia to break away from the South Atlantic population and come inshore – but they do know it could be many, many years before such an event happened again, if ever. The same genetic analyses showed that the number of spawning, or egg-laying, adults in this population has plummeted in recent years. “The number of adults in the population is key to having offspring in subsequent years,” Denson said. “If all the adults in the population are fished out, then there won’t be enough spawners, and there will be fewer and fewer fish in the water.” The research also suggested that, while region-wide assessments suggest cobia are declining and fishing pressures are rising in offshore waters as well, the special South Carolina population has endured particularly intense fishing – a result of the very behavior that makes it unique. “Because these South Carolina cobia are very close to shore and are easily accessible to anglers, we expect and we’ve measured a stronger or higher fishing pressure on those populations than on the broader South Atlantic population,” said Denson. Since 2004, SCDNR biologists have released thousands of young cobia into the waterways where wild adults spawn. These juveniles SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015 21

Cobia are a streamlined, hard-fighting, game fish species. Illustration by Duane Raver are hatched from eggs spawned by wild-caught adults, a cycle that SCDNR researchers were among the first to successfully complete in the lab. Like all of the agency’s marine stocking programs, this one has been closely monitored to ensure the influx of labreared fish enhances the wild population rather than adversely affecting it. Using advanced genetic techniques, biologists can tell from just a tiny fin sample whether the fish from which it came was wild or stocked. The

SCDNR team collects samples each year from angler donations and at cobia fishing tournaments to see how many fish from the local population were stocked and how many were wild. When they started to track these stocked individuals after their release into the wild, Denson and his colleagues discovered another alarming trend. “What we found was that a very high proportion of the catch of subsequent years was of stocked fish,” said Denson. “This suggests that

“These juveniles are hatched from eggs spawned by wild-caught adults.”

the wild population must be pretty small. So there’s a reason for us to be concerned.” It also suggests that SCDNR cannot “stock the problem away,” Denson says, because the long-term conservation of a healthy cobia population will require more genetic diversity (e.g., to prevent inbreeding) than stocked fish can provide. That’s where things stand right now – a collection of foreboding data and negative trends. But SCDNR is preparing for the next step. The agency recently wrapped up a successful season of public talks and an online survey to gather feedback about potential solutions to the decline of South Carolina’s unique cobia population. In South Carolina, while the state DNR conducts research to inform possible management solutions, the legislature must finalize and pass rules and regulations. After analyzing public feedback, the science, and economic considerations, SCDNR will make a recommendation about how the state might move forward. The General Assembly will then weigh the full range of factors and decide what is best for South Carolina. According to the work of SCDNR’s marine biologists, a 50% reduction in the harvest of cobia in state waters would allow the population to rebuild in six years, which is equivalent to one generation of cobia. “Cobia are incredibly fast growing and resilient animals,” says Denson. “I’ve talked to folks that have been fishing for cobia for over 40 years, and their dad and granddad had fished for cobia.” If we give them a little space to return and thrive, we can help ensure this truly South Carolinian fish will swim the state’s waters for generations more to come.

Learn more: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/species/cobia.html

• 4000 feet of new concrete floating docks (including 600 feet of deep-water face docks) • Loaner Cars • New water, electric, fuel, and pump-out systems • Digital TV and high-speed wireless at every slip • Laundry facilities on premises, bicycles, Wall Street Journal, and more!

Left: Juvenile, or fingerling, cobia. Right: Fish such as this one have been generously donated by Beaufort County fishermen. Photos provided courtesy of SC DNR.

Large yachts up to 220 feet and transient boaters welcome!

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RESERVE YOU 2nd Annual A Riverkeeper Cruise

Join ARK Riverkeepe Sunday Sept. 27 or M for a special sunset c Intracoastal and into On the 50-minute cru Hampton Point (drink provided) to Mudcat 2nd Annual Altamaha Riverkeeper Sunset Cruise about the area’s rich What: Sunset Cruise to support the Altamaha Riverkeeper natural history and w When: Sunday, Point Sept.to27Mudcat and Monday, protect the river. W A 50-minute sunset6-9:30 cruise p.m., from Hampton Charlie’s.Sept. Over 28, drinks to and setting sun up river a appetizers, learn about the area’s rich cultural and natural history and what ARK is 2015 moon on the way ba doing to protect the river. Where: Leaving from Hampton Point Marina good company and Sunday, Sept. 27 and Monday Sept 28 from 6-9:30 p.m Tickets: $100 for ARK members, $120 for non-members scenery. What’s bette Leaving from Hampton Point Marina We sold out early la Reservations: CALL Tickets: 855-902-4040 $100 reserve NOW!

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Sept. 13th Sept. 13 from 10-4 p.m. Big Dogs on the River 2525 Atlanta Highway Athens, Georgia 30606

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How the Palmetto Pipeline Became Our Region’s Rebellion

By Elena Richards

Many pristine and ecologically significant areas such as Ebenezer Creek, shown here, will be disrupted or damaged by the proposed pipeline. Photo by Amy Thurman decision. But there would be less than 20 permanent jobs associated with the pipeline and no proof that a flood of gasoline into the region’s would cheapen market value. Kinder Morgan admitted, in fact, in their application “Palmetto will not own the product in the pipeline and will arly in 2015, Texas-based energy corporation Kinder not set the price of gasoline at the pump, and therefore has no ability to Morgan quietly filed an application with the Georgia Department of raise or lower fuel prices.” With the demand for fossil fuels projected to Transportation (GDOT). Their proposed Palmetto Pipeline would decline until 2040 and an undeniable risk to the states it crosses, in the stretch 360 miles from Belton, South Carolina, down our treasured case of the Palmetto Pipeline, the only “good” appears to be Kinder Georgia coast to end in Jacksonville, Florida. And they demanded the Morgan’s profit. “Building this pipeline is a huge risk to our communities,” said right to use eminent domain to build it. Kinder Morgan’s idea, it seems, was to push this $1 billion project Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus in an initial statement. “In through three states while no one was paying attention. If anyone the event of an accident, which are all too common, drinking water, asked, they would bill it as a public benefit that would bring jobs and wildlife and fragile ecosystems, the tourism industry, and public lower gas prices. But the realities of the Palmetto Pipeline would soon health could be irreparably damaged.” But it’s not just a risk to our natural resources. Stories are also springing up across the country of be revealed. Tunneling first through untouched land in 12 Georgia counties, citizens fighting pipelines from coming through their land. “This is crossing the watersheds of 5 major rivers and countless swamps and an issue of property rights as much as it is an environmental issue,” wetlands, the pipeline would pump up to 167,000 barrels per day Bonitatibus said. “Kinder Morgan has a long history of seizing private across these fragile ecosystems to its final destination in another state. land, they contend, ‘for public benefit,’ when it is really for their own Hundreds of landowners would be coerced or forced into giving up land profit.” Kinder Morgan declined numerous times to comment whether for right-of-way easements, rendering swaths of their property unusable. the petroleum products carried by the Palmetto Pipeline would be And while the terms “eminent domain” and “private company” consumed domestically or eventually exported, or even who their would become the buzzwords of the ensuing fight, it’s worth noting customers are, leading the public to question what true benefit the that they are not inherently dirty. When employed for the construction pipeline would offer. Since then, a 300,000-gallon gasoline spill in Belton, of schools, highways or other authentic public utilities, eminent domain South Carolina, the very starting location of the proposed pipeline, has is a widely accepted government tool. The utilitarian principle behind highlighted locals’ concerns about Kinder Morgan’s safety record. After submitting their application for eminent domain--“Certificate the practice: the greatest good for the greatest number is the right of Public Convenience and Necessity”--comprised of only 3 pages, a

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015 25

Photo provided courtesy of Savannah Riverkeeper vague map of the proposed path and little else, the company began in overwhelming opposition. In May, Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal hosting a series of informational “open houses,” in communities along spoke out publicly against the Palmetto Pipeline just hours before the route. When word of the pipeline’s potential route reached the another well-attended hearing. On behalf of the Push Back the Pipeline public, it wasn’t only environmental groups who were alarmed. Small coalition, nonprofit GreenLaw Firm submitted a comprehensive report farmers, rural business owners, historians, archaeologists, and more had as public comment to GDOT, which heavily influenced the agency’s serious questions. Many were concerned about liability for accidents decision. In it, GreenLaw Senior Attorney Steve Caley asserted that on their land. Many more were appalled at the pipeline’s path through “the power of eminent domain is an extraordinary and dangerous power a Revolutionary War battle site at Brier Creek in Sylvania, Georgia. that is granted only to parties who can unequivocally demonstrate More still were frustrated by unclear maps or evasive Kinder Morgan that the power will be used for the public good,” and that Kinder representatives and just wanted answers. They came away from the Morgan had failed to prove so. open houses with little new information. It was at this time that Later that month, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry denied several concerned citizens and organizations Kinder Morgan’s application for banded together in opposition, forming the eminent domain. He cited many Push Back the Pipeline Coalition. The group of the points made in the coalition included 4 state Riverkeepers--the Savannah, paper, agreeing with sound Eminent Domain Public Hearing Ogeechee, Altamaha and Satilla--as well as the evidence that the project does not regarding the Palmetto Pipeline, hosted Center for a Sustainable Coast, Environment serve a public need for Georgians. Georgia and several others all over the state. A great victory was won. In June by the SC Senate Judiciary Committee. They staged protests, collected comments, Kinder Morgan filed their appeal Discussion on Senate Bill 868. 6 p.m. to rallied opposition and gave a voice to those of the decision with the state, 8 p.m. at the North Augusta Community saying that GDOT “abused their with questions. The opposition generated Center, banquet rooms A1 and A2, huge buzz in the media, with constant news discretion.” But separate parties coverage. Suddenly everyone had an opinion filed legal motions to intervene: 495 Brookside Avenue, North Augusta, on the controversial pipeline. The coalition The Push Back the Pipeline SC. For more information visit www. pressed Kinder Morgan to hold official public coalition, Colonial Oil in Savannah, hearings moderated by GDOT, to which they savannahriverkeeper.org/palmetto-pipeline. and a group of landowners led by html or palmettopipeline.com, or call the Mr. Billy Morris, CEO of Morris finally acquiesced under public scrutiny. Over 600 people attended the hearing on Savannah Riverkeeper office (706) 826-8991 Communications and owner April 21 and more than 40 made statements of several regional newspapers

September 24

26 SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

including the Augusta Chronicle and Savannah Morning News. These groups believe they have major stakes in the decision and deserve to represent them. Whether the judge accepts their request remains to be seen. For those opposed, there are hurdles yet to be overcome. Kinder Morgan continues to hit back with aggressive ad campaigns seeking to sway public opinion. The certificate for eminent domain from GDOT is only the first in a line of permits, including those that address the environmental risks. “It’s going to be a long fight,” commented Bonitatibus. “We are looking forward to the day when the environment is in question,” the topic on which she and the other coalition members maintain their expertise. They feel that the facts--increased risk to drinking water, disturbance of sensitive ecosystems and endangered species to name a few--will speak volumes. Meanwhile, the fight in South Carolina has taken a very different form, with few obvious laws concerning eminent domain and no relevant permitting process comparable to that in Georgia. An opinion from the state’s Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office suggested recently that Kinder Morgan, in fact, would not be within legal rights to assume eminent domain. The matter, if not addressed within the state legislature, will be up to local circuit courts to decide. Several landowners in both states have received notice from Kinder Morgan of the projected route through their properties. Savannah Riverkeeper, among other groups, has asked these citizens to come forward. “We hear over and over again that many of the landowners

approached feel that they don’t have a choice.” Bonitatibus said. “They think the pipeline is inevitable and so they sign for permission. We want these people to know every bit as much as we do, that they are not alone, and that we are here to help. There is a group of landowners and citizens who are standing up and saying no.” Through press, public meetings and social media, the coalition is actively pushing for the public’s involvement to speak up about concerns surrounding this proposed project. They believe an open dialogue between concerned groups, citizens, legislators and Kinder Morgan itself will be essential to achieving a positive outcome.

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Calendar of Events:

September

06 12 13 18-20

Labor Day Fireworks at Ft. McAllister Marina and Fish Tales Restaurant Go by boat or by car and send summer out with a bang! 3203 Fort McAllister Rd., Richmond Hill. For more information, call (912) 727-2632 or (912) 727-3473.

17th Annual Tybee Island Sea Kayak Races to benefit the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Entrants may use kayaks or SUPs and will have three options â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the 8+ mile Little Tybee Challenge circumnavigating Little Tybee, the 6.5-mile Tybee River Race, or the Race Across the River for key sponsors. Races start at A-Jâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dockside Restaurant, 1315 Chatham Ave., Tybee Island. An awards ceremony will follow. For more information, visit tybeekayakrace. org.

Riverkeeper Rally to benefit the Oconee & Altamaha Riverkeeper. River paddle, food, live music, door prizes. Event held at Big Dogs on the River, 2525 Atlanta Highway, Athens. For more information, call (478) 845-5370.

10th Annual Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival featuring the new Experience Pavilion, cooking competitions, craft brews, live music, arts and crafts, and more great family entertainment. For more information visit http:// www.jekyllisland.com/project/ shrimp-grits-the-wild-georgiashrimp-festival/

19-27

Annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep hosted by the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium ad S.C. DNR. This statewide cleanup takes place at multiple locations, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and basic supplies are provided. To find a coastal or island location near you, and for more information, visit www.scseagrant.org/ content/?cid=49, or www.dnr. sc.gov/bsrs/sites, or contact Susan Ferris Hill (843) 953-2092 susan.ferris.hill@scseagrant.org.

Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing

From Bankers to Presidents, the Galletini Exhibit at Ships of the Sea Museum. The late Captain Joseph Galletini, of Wilmington Island, carved ship models for presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy. The John F. Kennedy model and other selected works will be on display through December 31. Visit the museum at 41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah. For more information, visit shipsofthesea. org or call (912) 232-1511.

Sunrise Beach Ecology Walks to benefit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Early morning risers will explore barrier island ecology, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings through mid-September, depending on turtle hatching season length. Meet at the center, 214 Stable Rd., Jekyll Island. For more information visit gstc. jekyllisland.com or call (912) 6354444.

Gatorology 101, an all things alligator class. Join Jekyll Island wildlife researchers for this handson experience and learn about the American alligator. Tuesdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. at the Skeet House on Jekyll Island. For tickets or more information visit arestravel.com/6178_attractiontickets_a1303.html or call (877) 4-Jekyll.

19 19 24 24 27-28 Dolphin Training Workshop hosted by The Dolphin Project. Learn about local bottlenose dolphins and how to participate in photo-ID research surveys. Must attend workshop to participate in research trips. Workshop held at the Richmond Hill Library, 9607 Ford Ave., Richmond Hill. For more information, visit thedolphinproject. org.

Blackbeard Island Cleanup with Clean Coast. Enjoy a fall morning on the beach and help keep our coast free of debris. Trip departs from the Barbour River Club, 1636 Goulds Landing Rd, NE, Townsend, GA. To register or for more information, visit cleancoast.org.

Eminent Domain Public Hearing regarding the Palmetto Pipeline, hosted by the SC Senate Judiciary Committee. Discussion on Senate Bill 868. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the North Augusta Community Center, banquet rooms A1 and A2, 495 Brookside Avenue, North Augusta, SC. For more information visit www. savannahriverkeeper. org/palmettopipeline.html or palmettopipeline.com, or call the Savannah Riverkeeper office (706) 826-8991

A Fishy Affair to benefit the Grayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Four area chefs prepare lionfish tastings to encourage local restaurants to carry this invasive species on their menus. Full dinner, complimentary signature cocktail, live lionfish displays, and a short film. Dinner held at The Landings Plantation Club. For tickets and more information, visit graysreefnmsf.org or call (912) 598-2345.

2nd Annual Altamaha Riverkeeper Sunset Cruise. Enjoy drinks and appetizers on a 50-minute cruise into the Altamaha at sunset and learn about the rich cultural and natural history of the area. Departs from Hampton Point Marina, 1000 Hampton Point Dr., St. Simons Island. For more information, visit altamahariverkeeper.org or call (855) 902-4040.

save the date: october 03

21st Annual CoastFest (see promo on page 13) coastalgadnr.org

8-11

10 10

11th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest (see promo on page 20) tybeepiratefest.com 3rd Annual Riverkeeper Rendezvous altamahariverkeeper.org Dolphin Research Trip thedolphinproject.org

16-18

17 24 24 31

Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival goseafoodfestival.com

Rivers Alive Clean-up savannahriverkeeper.org/rivers-alive-cleanups Skidaway Marine Science Day skio.uga.edu/events Isle of Hope Art and Music Fest facebook.com/isleofhopeartmusicfest Night on the Sound with Philippe Cousteau portroyalsoundfoundation.org

Photo by Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery.

Did You Know That Spanish Moss is not Spanish and not a moss?

• Scientific name: Tillandsia usneoides • Member of bromeliad family, related to the pineapple • Epiphyte, not a parasite – it absorbs nutrients and moisture through trichomes, or scales on its leaves. It relies on trees for structure, but is independent and takes no nourishment from them and does no harm to the tree. • Found in coastal areas from Southern Virginia through Eastern Texas, native to the Southeastern US, the Caribbean and Mexico. According to legend in Louisiana, Native Americans referred to the moss as “tree hair” or “Itla-Okla.” When French settlers arrived, they suggested it resembled the beards of Spanish barbarians and told natives a better name might be “Barbe Espagnol” or Spanish Beard. The slur later became the more commonly known Spanish Moss.

We want your stories for this page each month. We’re looking for human interest pieces on topics that pertain to your experiences on the waterways, marshes, or islands. Maybe you had an unusual encounter with a critter on one of your outings, or perhaps you experienced something out there that had an impact on your daily life. Maybe you had a chance to share something special with a child or a visitor to the area, or perhaps you caught a great photograph of something rare. Whatever your story, we’d like to share it with our readers. Send your ideas to info@southerntidesmagazine.com. Each piece needs to be approximately 500 words and needs a photo, drawing, map, or other illustration. You’ll also need to write a short bio and include a headshot (see Contributors on page 4 for examples). We look forward to hearing from you!

Reach your target market better than any other publication in the area. • Distributed in over 200 locations from St. Marys, GA to Beaufort, SC, and growing! • Read by boaters and others who spend their time on the water • Print ad currently includes social media interaction • Monthly ad prices range from $125 to $650

Call or email for more details: info@southerntidesmagazine.com (912) 484-3611

30 SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2015

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