CharlestonFishing.Com

Ethanol Myths

2012-02-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

This week’s article comes to us via a recent publication in Boat US Magazine. Many of us have struggled through E10 fuel issues in recent years and this has been a hot topic on the Boats and Motors forum of CharlestonFishing.com for quite some time. I have read and participated in a lot of these discussions as I wanted take as many precautions as possible to avoid issues myself. I recently read this article that displaces three common myths on E10 fuels and found it very informative. As matter of fact I have read these same myths on our site multiple times and believed them to be fact. Hopefully you will find this information to be as helpful as I did and more educated as the agencies push for E15 in the future.

Three Ethanol Myths Clarified - By Bob Adriance

It's time we get to the bottom of how E10 is affecting our engines
In the few years since ethanol began to be widely used in the United States, a lot has been written about its properties, the problems it's created, and how to best cope with its possible effects. Some of the advice has been based on science, some on hearsay. While E10 is not an ideal fuel – and E15 could cause serious problems for marine engines – at least a few myths about ethanol have arisen with the potential to do more harm than good:

Myth #1: Ethanol-enhanced gasoline (E10) loses octane much faster than regular gasoline.

Many mechanics believe that octane loss during winter storage could be great enough to damage an engine when it's run in the spring. These same mechanics will often recommend leaving the tank almost empty so that fresh gasoline can be added in the spring to raise depleted octane levels. While all gasoline loses octane as it ages, ethanol-enhanced gasoline loses octane at about the same rate as regular gasoline, according to Jim Simnick, a technical advisor at BP Global Fuels Technology, and Lew Gibbs, a senior engineering consultant and Chevron Fellow. The two men have over 75 years of combined experience working with gasoline and both agree that the loss of octane over the winter would not be sufficient to damage an engine. Note, however, to keep any gasoline, including E10, as fresh as possible; they said it's good practice to always add fuel stabilizer — an antioxidant — whenever the boat will be idle for long periods.

The recommendation to leave a tank mostly empty is bad advice; it could significantly increase the amount of water that gets into the tank. When enough water enters through the vent, the ethanol will separate ("phase separate") from the gasoline. Leaving a tank mostly empty does three things to increase the chances of phase separation:

It increases the volume of open space in the tank (its "lung capacity") so it can "breathe in" damaging moist air. An almost-empty tank leaves more space on tank walls for condensation to form. Leaving less gasoline in the tank means there will be less ethanol to absorb the condensation.

It's interesting to note that in areas of the Midwest that have been dealing with E10 for over a decade, topping off tanks is common practice. (As an alternative, completely emptying the tank would eliminate any chance of phase separation.)

If phase separation occurs, the highly corrosive ethanol/water mixture will settle to the bottom of the tank and remain there even after fresh fuel is added in the spring. The only way to remedy the problem would then be to drain the tank and add fresh gasoline. The best way to avoid phase separation over the winter (aside from emptying the tank) is to leave the tank 95-percent full (which allows for expansion) so that there's less moist air in the tank, less space for condensation to collect, and more gasoline to absorb whatever moisture does accumulate.

Myth #2: E10 attracts water, so it's important to install a water separator to prevent the water reaching the engine.

Mercury Marine, which recently hosted a Webinar on ethanol myths, noted that ethanol does not "grab water molecules out of the air." It is hydrophilic, which means ethanol holds water. With regular gasoline (E0) as well at E10, the primary cause of water collecting in tanks is condensation on tank walls. But unlike E0, which can absorb almost no moisture, E10 can hold up to half of one percent of water by volume, and the water molecules will dissolve in the fuel. The "solubilized" water will bypass the water separator and burn harmlessly through the engine. Only if phase separation were to occur would a water separator do its job, but by then the fuel itself would be the problem. The phase-separated water/ethanol mixture would settle on the bottom of the tank near the fuel pick-up and would quickly stall out or even damage your engine. And because ethanol is used to boost octane, the remaining (low-octane) gasoline at the top of the tank would also have the potential to damage your engine.

Note, however, that a fuel filter (10-micron) is essential to keep gunk from reaching your engine. Ethanol is a solvent that dissolves resins, rust, and dirt that have accumulated on older tank walls. Especially when you first make the transition to E10, it's important to carry spare filters and a galvanized bucket to store used filters prior to disposal. Even in new engines and tanks, E10 will sometimes form a mysterious gooey substance that will also clog filters. Richard Kolb, the manager of Emissions and Regulations for Volvo Penta, believes the goo is caused by water mixing with one or more of the 108 approved compounds that can be used in gasoline. These compounds vary among suppliers, so one solution is to change to a different brand of gasoline. Another is to use carburetor cleaner, which he says has sometimes remedied the problem.

Myth #3: Certain additives can prevent phase separation?

Both Gibbs and Simnick said that the additives that eliminate water may work incrementally to protect against phase separation, but Joe Simnick stressed that no additives will stand up to a good slug of water. Lew Gibbs added that the best way to prevent phase separation in E10 is to "keep it dry, keep it dry, keep it dry." That means keeping the tank filled to prevent condensation. Mercury Marine has also noted that, contrary to statements made by some companies that produce fuel additives, there are no additives that can make stale or phase-separated gasoline usable.

E10 is certainly not as trouble-free as E0, especially the first few tankfulls. But for newer engines, those built after about 1991, there's no reason the initial problems can't be overcome. No less an authority than Mercury Marine says, "After the transition period from E0, E10 may actually be a superior marine fuel as it tends to keep low levels of water moving through the fuel system, keeping the system 'dry.'"

Bob Adriance is Editor of Seaworthy, the BoatUS Marine Insurance damage-avoidance publication, and author of Seaworthy, Essential Lessons of Things Gone Wrong (published by International Marine/McGraw Hill, available at www.Amazon.com and major bookstores).

Tale of the Tides

2011-12-07T13:14:00.000-05:00

If you ever listen to inshore fishermen talking about when and where they fished, more often than not the topic of tide will come into play. I recently listened to 2 very successful anglers talking about different parts of a river they liked to fish. One mentioned that a certain area he found to be an outgoing tide spot and that the fish did were not feeding in that area on the incoming tide. The other agreed and mentioned he had found the same to be true and then they discussed where they fished the incoming tide in different spots within the same river. While I recommend keeping a comprehensive fishing log including tide, moon phase, barometric pressure etc., many people just do not take the time to log all of these variables. Just keeping a simple tide log can help increase your fishing success greatly. Many times when we can go, we cannot wait on all of the variables to be optimal, but we can always fish different stages of the tide.

Years ago I had a trout spot that the fish stacked up on just as the tide turned and began to head out. I would get to that point and catch fish and about an hour after the tide was moving out I would need to move down the bank to continue to catch fish as the flow of water changed. I had a boat arrive one morning and anchor up down the bank from my boat and the point. I began to catch fish and the fellow saw me catching fish and moved his boat a little closer. We caught several fish and then it was time to move down the bank. The other angler still had not caught a fish and when he saw me pull anchor he immediately pulled his and moved into the point as I was moving out. I went down the bank within 10-15 yards of where he was anchored up and within 10 minutes we were catching fish and he was fishing the point not catching anything. I know he was about to pull his hair out trying to figure out what he had done wrong, but if he was not paying attention to the tide, he probably never figured out what happened.

Fish are opportunistic when it comes to feedingl. They will give themselves any advantage they can when it comes to getting a meal. Tidal flow is a key component when it comes to where they set themselves up for their meals. They are looking for a spot where the flow of water will bring the food to them and they can have the advantage of ambushing smaller fish that are being influenced by the current. In recent weeks the number of inshore reports we have been receiving has been pretty incredible. In many of these reports you will see anglers mention what the tide was doing and the types of area they were fishing.

Keeping track of tides can be as simple as writing in a journal the tide and what you caught for the day or you can buy a tide log from the tackle shop and make your own notations. If you have a smart phone there are many different fishing log apps. designed to help you keep track of your fishing information as well. As you being to log these items you will begin to see a pattern in when you were successful and when you were not and hopefully provide you with better catch rates when get out on the water.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Summerville Saltwater Anglers

2011-11-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Last year Ralph Philips approached me about the idea of starting a saltwater fishing club in Summerville. As he often does, Ralph had a vision for a family oriented club that promoted fishing and learning about fishing as a family activity. I told him I thought it would be a great idea and I thought he would have plenty of interest.Sure enough about a week later Ralph told me he was starting the club and asked if I would help.He set up a meeting to find out how many would be interested and through word of mouth and a posting on our site, about 60 people showed up to find out what this club was all about.

There was a great deal of excitement about among the people who attended and the club was born. Several great guys in attendance that night volunteered their time and efforts to be a part of the board that would help direct and shape the club, based on Ralph’s vision. The board members put in a great effort with an incredible amount of enthusiasm and the club had over 100 members in a matter of weeks. The club also had several l local businesses that offered to work with the club and lend their assistance. During the year we had several really good fishing seminars and some great fellowship. I had many members talk to me and tell me how much they had learned throughout the year and were actually catching more fish as a result of what they had learned. The club held monthly fishing tournaments and offered awards for top anglers and also offered awards for youth anglers at each tournament. Seeing the kids smile as they received awards and their excitement about fishing was something you cannot even put into words.

This past Friday we held our end of the year get together. We had oysters, fish stew, and chili, all were delicious by the way. We used our end of the year get together to give out our angler and youth angler of the year awards and we also used this time to raise money for a local charity, complete with raffles and a silent auction. The club was able to raise over $1,000 and it was great to see entire families there laughing and getting to know each other. The club truly embodies Ralph’s original vision of a family fishing club. There were many corporate sponsors that helped the club get off the ground with their monetary and product donations. I am proud to be a part of this club and would like to say that the guys that volunteered to be board members that first night have worked as hard as any group of people that I have ever seen to make things ran as smooth as possible during the year and I am confident this coming year will be even bigger and better.

The club will be opening the membership up for this coming year and are currently accepting applications for new members. If you are interested in becoming part of a great family oriented fishing club, you can go to the club website at http://www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com/ Meetings are held once a month at Miler Country Club in Summerville.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Basic Forecasting

2011-11-10T09:29:00.002-05:00

I had the opportunity to hop in the water and catch some tropical storm surf late yesterday afternoon. Due to the effects of the full moon combined with the moisture in the atmosphere the sunset was nothing short of breathtaking. Viewing a few mare’s tales as the sun fell below the horizon I remembered this article that I put together some years ago and I thought it may serve as a good refresher.

Red skies at night, to the sailors delight. Red skies in the morning, sailor take warning. During fishing season, friends of mine will ask me on Monday what the weather forecast holds for the upcoming weekend. My friends know I watch the weather throughout the week and start trying to determine if it is going to be fishable or not. Captains and their crew have been looking at the weather for decades to predict upcoming weather. In fact I am convinced most captains are more in tuned to the weather than the guy wearing the tacky tie on the 6 o'clock news. Throughout the centuries and prior to the development of modern technological weather devices, the weather has been read primarily through basic observations. Somewhere along the line, the interpretation of these basic observations has been put into proverbs to make them easier to remember. I find these proverbs to an easy and helpful way of understanding and reading some of the basic conditions that determine our weather. Provided herein are some of the most popular proverbs and a brief interpretation of each.

Red skies at night, to the sailors delight. Red skies in the morning sailor take warning. or Rainbows at night to the sailors delight. Rainbows in the morning, sailors take warning. This proverb is undoubtedly the most popular, however for those unfamiliar the interpretation is as follows. The sun will appear red under clear skies. Also, dusty particles, the core for rain, appear red under the sun. As the sun sets in the west it lights the east. If it red at night we know it is clear to the west, and it lights the clouds of the storm in the east that has passed making them appear red. However in the morning, as the suns shines and lights the clouds in the west making red skies, we know to expect rain as storms move from west to east.

Winds that swing against the sun and winds that bring the rain are one. Winds that swing around the sun keep the rain on the run. The sun swings east to west. Winds that swing with the sun easterly and move westerly bring clear skies. However winds that start against the sun, westerly and swing easterly bring foul weather.

Mackerel skies and mare's tails, make tall ships carry low sails. Heavy cirrus clouds also known as mackerel skies appear like ripples in the sand at the beach, and indicate foul weather. Also, high flying cirrus clouds, that resemble the thin wisps of a mare's tail in the wind with wisps pointing up or down, even though often scattered, indicate a high probability of rain. However, if the wisps appear straight out, the weather will be fair.

When the boat horns sound hollow, rain will surely follow. or Sound traveling far and wide a stormy day does like abide. Crystal clear sharp sounds such as church bells ringing in the distance that would normally be faint, or voices carrying further than usual are signs of acoustical clarity caused from low clouds reflecting and trapping in sound waves. Just like a canyon wall reflects sound waves, the clouds do the same and obviously these same clouds will bring foul weather.

When a halo rings the moon or sun, the rain will come upon the run. Halos around either the sun or moon are formed by the ice crystals of high cirriform clouds. When the sky is covered with these high clouds, it is usually an indication of an approaching warm front, bringing rain.

While these simple proverbs in no way replace the high tech weather devices of today, they are a quick way in which to understand some of the basic principles the formation of our weather systems. I urge everyone to pay close attention to the weather prior to venturing out on the water and to stay in close contact with the forecast while out. A keen eye to the sky may prevent a potentially life threatening and avoidable encounter with foul weather.

Tight lines...
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Stealth Fishing

2011-10-26T22:28:00.000-04:00

The water was just reaching the shorter grass on the flat and we knew it would not be long until the first fish arrived. Poling the boat along the edge of our target area it was not long before we saw the first tail lazying around the edge of a pod of grass as the redfish quietly went about its business of burrowing for food. Our first cast, that happened to be mine, was off target as the adrenaline got the best of me, but the next cast by my buddy was right on the money, just in front of the foraging redfish. The slight splash of the Z-Man jerkbait got the fish’s attention without spooking it and it quickly turned and snatched the bait as it slowly sank to the bottom. The fight was on and after several marsh grass crashing, water erupting runs the redfish was boat side and released to be caught another day.

If you have ever had the privilege to watch tailing redfish feeding in shallow water, particularly in short grass on a flood tide, it is a truly amazing site. There is very little indication that a big fish is in that shallow water unless it makes a sudden movement or when they burrow down in the ground and that tail silently waves to you. I recently took my wife out to sight cast for the very first time and I must have told her about 100 times that I am continually amazed at just how stealthy these fish are. There is no big commotion that you would expect out of fish that can be over 30” in some cases. As a matter of fact the only time we saw these fish act erratically was when my elbow bumped the pushpole that was resting on the platform beside me and when it hit the deck the 2 fish that were heading toward us high tailed it out of our area.

When you are fishing this type of situation you need to match the stealth of the fish, especially this time of year as the water begins to clear. Sudden movements in the boat when fish are close will cause them to spook. Any banging noise in the bottom of the boat will cause the fish to spook as well. Obviously your actions will have a lot to do with how many fish you see and how many you actually get to present with a lure. The other factor is how you present your cast and what type of bait or lure you are using. Flutter hooks have become the hook of choice for most anglers. For those of you who may not have done this type of fishing or are unfamiliar with it, a flutter hook is basically a hook with the weight molded along the shank of the hook. There are several companies that make them and they allow you to rig your bait weedless and with the majority of the hook and the weight imbedded in the bait, it allows for a soft presentation when the bait hits the water. Rigging a soft plastic bait with a flutter hook will also allow the bait to sink slowly keeping it in the strike zone for a longer period of time.
The time is now to find and target some really nice redfish in the lowcountry. If you are looking for a type of fishing that not only allows you some spectacular and beautiful views, but also brings some of the elements of hunting into play, you should definitely get out and try site casting.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Covered Up!

2011-10-20T16:41:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity this past week to stop by and visit with long time sponsor of CharlestonFishing.com, T- Top Covers. Most of you have heard me brag before about the great cover I got for my 23-Contender from these guys that is now in its 6th year of service. The cover does a great job keeping my boat clean as well as sheltering it from the sun, the top is very simple to install (I can put in on by myself in less than 5-minutes), and it still holding up like new even after 6 years in the weather.

When I had visited Darren and Kevin last December they showed me a sample of a material known as Black Resilience. This material is very similar to Spandex and is equipped with a special UV coating to block the sun’s rays. Darren was having the material tested for resistance to the elements in hopes of being able to use it as a t-top bonnet. The idea of the bonnet would be to cover and protect the very top of the t-top since it is left exposed to the weather with their standard boat cover. Just like their other tops Darren was searching for a material that would be extremely durable; in addition it needed to be elastic to stretch over radar domes, rod holders, antennas, outriggers, and other components typically mounted to the t-tops of center consoles. In January of 2011 T-Top Covers starting manufacturing the bonnets and they have been steady turning out the new innovative product for customers all over the country.

The Black Resilience offers UV protection while allowing air to flow through so your top is protected from the sun, dirt, leaves, and is still allowed to breathe so there are no issues with mold or mildew growth. And just like their T-Top covers this bonnet can be installed in just a few minutes.
T-Top Covers quickly realized that Black Resilience would also make an excellent material for sunshades. Not only does it offer the UV protection, it allows the air to flow through for additional cooling; furthermore, since the breeze passes through, there is no noisy wind flap common to traditional canvas shades.

Again this shade installs in just minutes and can be utilized to cover the cockpit or as a bow shade. The corners of the shade can be adjusted to change the angle of the cover blocking sun from most any direction.
T- Top Covers has spawned one other product using the Back Resilience, the travel bra. No this is not an item that you would find mixed into your wife’s suitcase for a romantic getaway. The travel bra is designed in for keeping your center console windshield and eisenglass clean when trailering.

As you can see the bra attaches to the t top and covers down below the gunnels blocking bugs and debris from hitting the windshield, and console seats. The bra is secured using nylon straps and is rated to speeds in excess of 100 mph; and yes it too installs in just a few minutes.
T-Tops Covers/La Porte’s Upholstery Inc. is located on Franchise Street in North Charleston. Their website, www.ttopcovers.com has a complete listing of their products, one heck of a testimonial from one of their customers up north (see got snow link on their site), as well as videos showing installation of their products. Check them out and thank them for their continued support of the site when you talk with them!

Tight lines…
Captain Tim Pickett
Charleston Fishing.Com

Changes Coming For Sheepshead

2011-10-13T12:51:00.002-04:00

This past week we received word there would be some public hearings conducted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. At first I heard the usual grumbling with people saying, “great what are they going to keep us from fishing for now” and several other negative comments. With what anglers have been up against when it comes to some of the crazy federal regulations being put into place without good science and reasoning, the reaction was understandable. What we have now found out is that sheepshead have always been a federally managed fishery, but now the management is being moved to the state level. Each state will be able to decide how to best manage their fishery without the blanket rules of the SAFMC being pressed upon them. The SCDNR has done a good job in the past with managing our fish without painting everything with a broad brush and closing entire fisheries. They recently put trust in anglers to release their trout in order to help the species recover more quickly from last year’s harsh winter temperatures and they have shown that they are willing to work with anglers in order to protect the long term populations of our fisheries. They do their research and readily share what they know with us. Many of the people that work for SCDNR are avid anglers themselves, unlike many of the people on the federal level. There are several public hearings coming up. Here is a list of the times and places. If you are not able to attend and have an interest in having some input you can take the online survey at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/sheepshead/

Oct. 7, 2011
Future management of sheepshead fishery to be discussed at public meeting series

The Marine Resources Division of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host four regional public meetings with stakeholders to discuss future management of the sheepshead fishery in South Carolina. The meetings will include discussion of the biology and life history of the species, population status, and potential management actions designed to insure the sustainability of the fishery.

DNR staff will be on hand to take stakeholder input on sheepshead management, in particular, but will also address any other topics of interest to the public. The meetings are scheduled to take place during the month of October in Horry, Georgetown, Charleston and Beaufort counties to allow interested parties an opportunity to provide input without having to travel a great distance. Interested individuals may also participate in an online survey available beginning Oct. 11 through the DNR website.

The public meetings will take place between 7 and 9 pm on the following dates and locations:

Tuesday, Oct. 11 - Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Campus, 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort

Monday, Oct. 17 - DNR Marine Resources Research Institute; 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston

Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Carolina Ballroom, 2nd floor, rooms A&B, Robert Reed Conference Center at Springmaid Beach Resort, 3200 South Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach;

Thursday, Oct. 20 - Kimbel Lodge at the Belle W. Baruch Institute, Hobcaw Barony, Hwy 17 north, Georgetown

Individuals may inquire further or send comments to DNR biologist, Wallace Jenkins by phone at (843) 953-9835 or via email at Jenkinsw@dnr.sc.gov. Your input is valued so please plan to attend a meeting in your area particularly if you target sheepshead recreationally or commercially.

Recent action by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will likely remove sheepshead from federal management by Jan. 1, 2012, and turn management over to the respective states. South Carolina's sheepshead fishery takes place predominantly within state waters. Since 1983, sheepshead have been managed as part of the federal Snapper Grouper complex and were included in the aggregate 20 fish/day bag limit for the numerous species in this complex.

Fishing For Flounder

2011-09-29T10:44:00.000-04:00

This has been one of the better years we’ve seen for flounder fishing in quite some time. Theories abound on why we are seeing more fish and some very large fish being taken by angler. Some people attribute it to the delayed start of the commercial shrimp trawling season. They think that more fish were allowed to move inshore before the trawlers got going. I’ve heard others say that the early hot weather we experienced in May of this year. Whatever the case may be, we have definitely had a good year and this fishing will continue to be good until late fall.

It does not take a rocket scientist to look at the shape of a Flounder and determine where this fish spends the majority of its time. That’s right, the Flounder spends the majority of his day lying around waiting on an easy dinner to come by. Flounder fishing in the inshore waters of the lowcontry is excellent from mid-summer through the end of fall. There are many anglers in our area passionate about Flounder fishing and while many of us consider catching one a bonus while fishing for other species, serious Flounder anglers are very methodical in their approach. While there are many different techniques and rigs, most Flounder fishermen will agree that you need to get your bait down to the bottom. This may sound pretty simple, but keep in mind some of the best Flounder fishing is found in inlets where current can often prevent a light sinker from ever reaching the bottom. For this reason the rig you use becomes the most important part of your plan of attack.

Flounder are often found in inlets and the mouths of creeks due to the abundance of food and the current bringing dinner to them. This is important to keep in mind when determining what type of rig to use. In areas of light current you may be able to drift fish and drop your bait right over the side and down to the bottom. In areas with heavy current you may need to cast upcurrent and bring your bait back down past the fish. Remember you want to give the fish every opportunity to see the bait and eat it, so getting your bait in front of the fish is a requirement.

Rig preferences vary from angler to angler and these are a few of the more popular rigs. They are relatively easy to make and easy to handle when casting or fishing straight down on the bottom. Attaching a mudminnow to a standard grub is an excellent choice. This rig is especially handy when fishing shallow water areas and shellbanks. It is by far the easiest to cast and also gives you opportunity to experiment with different color patterns for different areas and weather conditions. The grub is not as effective in areas of heavy current because a ½oz leadhead will not always reach the bottom in heavy current and getting any larger will often make the bait too large. Many anglers prefer a fishfinder rig with a weight, leader, and a hook. The leader is usually a 16 to 20-inch piece of 20-pound monofilament connected with a barrel swivel. The size of the barrel swivel is very important when using an egg sinker for weight. You want to use a swivel large enough so the egg sinker does not slide over the swivel. The swivel will keep your sinker from sliding down and interfering with your bait and hook. The fishfinder rig is versatile and allows you to use a heavier amount of weight without affecting the size of the bait and hook. This rig can be casted and retrieved and the eggsinker will actually roll along the bottom with the bait in areas of heavy current. As with the grub rig use just enough weight to get the bait down on the bottom. Putting too much weight on a rig will cause the bait to stay in one place and not drift naturally.

I will also quickly mention different baits, which are another important part of the rig. Earlier I mentioned putting a mudminnow on your grub. You can also sweeten up a grub with a piece of fresh shrimp or a live finger mullet. The fishfinder rig can be rigged with many different types of bait. Flounder are opportunistic eaters. They have been known to eat squid, shrimp, crabs, mullet, mudminnows, small croaker, and menhaden to name a few. I recommend trying different types of bait until you find what works best for you. There is no one right answer and as I said before each fishermen has their own preference. I know a guy that swears by small menhaden. He says they are hands down the best bait you can find. I know another fisherman (me) that prefers to use live mudminnows and finger mullet because they are so hearty and Flounder love them. Flounder is also one of the most popular seafood dinners in the Lowcountry. Check out our recipe page for some great ways to prepare them.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Debris

2011-09-22T14:49:00.000-04:00

As we transition into late summer and early fall we will begin to see some large tidal events here in the lowcounty. Tides in excess of 6-feet bring great wading opportunities for Redfish in the grass as well as the opportunity to pole the marsh flats with shot gun in hand searching for the ever elusive Marsh Hen. These large tidal events will also typically cleanse the marsh of debris, debris that more often than not becomes a threat to safe navigation in the water ways.

Several years back my wife and I were running out to the Charleston Jetties after one of these large tidal events in search of some Sheepshead. We had noted a lot of debris in the water as we crossed the harbor on the outgoing tide and we were both watching our course of travel very close. As we rounded the corner by Ft. Sumter the wind was bucking the tide making conditions a little sloppy and spotting debris became all the more difficult. I slowed the boat down to no more than 15 knots and a few minutes later the engine began to cavitate real bad. I pulled the throttle back to neutral and raised the motor to take a look. As I trimmed the motor I found a 2-foot long 4X4 post had wedged itself between the transom and the engine and was obviously blocking water flow to the engine. Uncertain if there was possible damage to the hull I eased over to Cummins Point and did a visual inspection before we continued our fishing trip.

Extreme high tides, heavy rain events, and obviously tropical storms and/or hurricanes can all litter the water ways with debris. Floating, partially submerged, or completely submerged debris can all wreak havoc on any vessel underway. If there has been any type of event to contribute to debris in the water way travel a little slower and keep as many eyes as possible on the lookout. If operating at night; ensure that you have a spot light on board and man it during your entire course of travel. As always you should make sure your bilge pump is working properly before you head out and ensure that there are not any items in the bilge that could hinder the pumps operation such as fishing line, leaves, or any other items that could slow or stop water flow. It is also a good idea to have a manually operated bilge pump on board should you have an electrical failure. Most all of us carry a bucket onboard to store bait or a cast net. If possible try to select a bucket that will fit into the bilge area for bailing if necessary.

If you do hit debris, check all compartments immediately for water intrusion. Even if everything seems dry; try to get to an area where an external inspection can be done safely. If you do note water coming into the hull; call the Coast Guard immediately. Even a small amount of water could overwhelm the electrical system rapidly killing power to the VHF. You should also don life jackets immediately and attempt to block with flow of water with wooden plugs, plastic bags, cozies, beach towels, or any other items you may be able to utilize to plug holes or cracks and stop or at least slow water flow into the hull.

Should you come across large patches of debris or any particularly large objects in the water way contact Coast Guard so that they may put out an announcement warning mariners of the hazard to navigation.

As always stay safe and tight lines…
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Fall Fishing

2011-09-15T09:19:00.002-04:00

You can feel it in the air, and if you live near a high school you can hear it in the air on a Friday night as the high school band pipes up for the big game. Fall is coming and that is like music to the ears of an inshore angler. Gone is much of the boat traffic that at times can make fishing on the weekend next to impossible. The change of season brings with is come incredible fishing as the fish begin to realize that these huge schools of bait are not going to be around much longer so they better eat while the eating is good. Water temperatures become more moderate and fish are more likely to expend a little more energy chasing that top-water lure or gulp up that fly offering on the flat.

I am really amazed at how many people think that fishing is just a summer time activity and once the summer is over it is time to move on to something else. I understand that many times other outdoor interest like hunting take up some people’s fishing time, but for some people that did not grow up fishing year round like I did, they just never really thought about it. Now I am not saying that I want everyone to head out on the water right now to create another crowd, but I do hope that people that like to fish, realize just how nice fishing in the fall and early winter really can be.

I’ve had several people ask me how I think the efforts of our voluntary catch and release have worked in helping the trout to recover. While I am trying to get some official word from the SCDNR about it (they are conducting their studies at this point), I think we will all find out here in coming months as the trout fishing in the fall for the past several year has been outstanding. I have already talked to several anglers that are starting to catch some good numbers of fish, but will also temper these good reports by telling everyone that let’s not just assume they are in great shape until we get word from the guys that are conducting their studies.

With that being said, there is some great redfishing both in the flats and rivers and in the surf and around the jetties. The flounder fishing is very good in the fall as well as the sheepshead fishing. There are so many different types of fishing you can do and different ways to fish for these species that it really makes the fall a great time to learn a new technique that you have been thinking about or read about somewhere. You may surprise yourself, learn a thing or two and catch a few fish in the process.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

What is Your Net Worth?

2011-09-08T09:06:00.000-04:00

What is your net worth? Kiplinger defines net worth as the value in dollars of all assets less one’s liabilities. So asking one’s net worth is kind of a personal question; besides what does Kiplinger and one’s net worth have to do with a fishing website newsletter anyhow? According to my bother Andy, “net worth is defined as the number of shrimp caught in the cast net per cast on each shrimp pole.” Now we are getting somewhere!

September has arrived and that means the beginning of Shrimp Bating Season here in the lowcountry. If you want a test of your sanity try shrimping with my dad and two brothers one evening. We work as team while shrimping; Dad makes the bait and helps head, Andy drives the boat, Vasco helps me shake down the net and heads, and I throw the net. The team effort works great. Most of the time when we return to the dock we have all the shrimp headed and ready to be packaged; however, this team will really get on your nerves if you let them. Just prior to throwing Vasco will make a comment like, “let’s get on the money,” if the net is open and over the bait dad usually comments, “that’s a money throw,” and on a good night when the shrimp are on the bait, and I am throwing well Andy follows up after he sees me dump the net with, “your net worth is on the rise.”

If you do not have an open net over the bait each and every time you will not have good net worth. Over the next couple of weeks many folks will be purchasing new cast net for the 2011 season. Three key elements go into selecting the proper net for shrimping: mesh size, weight, and length.

Mesh size- is simple, and is regulated by the state. All cast nets used for recreational baiting must have a mesh size of a ½-inch or larger.

Weight- the faster she sinks the less opportunity the shrimp the shrimp will have to swim from underneath, also the less influence from the tidal currents. I have found that three quarters to one-pound of lead per foot of lead line is ideal. There are heavier nets out there, but they will wear you out quick. Remember you want to ensure the net lands right on top of the bait when you throw. When the tide is running hard, even if you have a heavy net you may need to lead your bait.

Length- the biggest mistake made by most folks is trying to throw a net that is too big for them to handle well. Remember a 12-foot net half way open is less ideal than a 6-foot net wide open. When I throw a taco (crescent moon) with my 7-footer my dad does not say, “now that’s a money throw;” however, Andy quickly says “your net worth just fell.” Larger nets take longer to prepare to throw, are harder to retrieve, take longer to get back in the boat, and are harder to shake down, not to mention the additional fatigue! Remember with a shrimp net you may throw as many as a 100 plus times in one night, so select a net that you are comfortable with!

Improve your net worth with a wide open net every time!

Tight lines!

Captain Tim Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

The Mullet Run

2011-08-31T13:16:00.001-04:00

Last year we made a September trip out to do some surf fishing. We knew the mullet were thick and thought we would have a very good opportunity to fish around the schools of mullet as they made their way along the beach. We made a late afternoon run after work and were not disappointed with the amount of mullet working their way through the surf. Actually there were some of the largest schools that I have ever seen and we could see them coming from a long distance down the beach. As a few big schools made their way in front of we saw larger splashes in the middle of the schooling mullet. At first we were not sure exactly what we were seeing until they came closer and we realized that there were tarpon crashing the big schools of bait and each time they did, they sent mullet flying in all directions. Several of the tarpon cleared the water and would crash back down with an explosion of whitewater. This went on for about 30 minutes as school after school of mullet came by. We cast into the middle of the schools hoping to get a shot at a tarpon, but 4 oz. sinkers we were using to reach them seemed to take out bait out of the strike zone too quickly.

Each September lowcountry anglers look forward to the fall mullet run. These large concentrations of bait make a great target for anglers to fish around and will attract many different types of fish. You may see tarpon or you may hook into some large redfish, many different types of sharks and king mackerel. Finding these schools of bait is not difficult if you know what you are looking for. Most of the time you will see them jumping as they make their way along the beaches and inlets. With the larger schools you will see a distinct pattern in the water as they swim along the surface. Fishing around the perimeter of the schools will normally produce some good fish and keep the school in front of you. Many times your bait or lure will mimic a bait that has broken away from the school and presents an easy target for a hungry predator.

Some methods for fishing a school of mullet include free lining a live mullet around the school. You may also rig a live menhaden on a balloon and float it around the schools of bait. A balloon combined with a breeze blowing off of the beach can also allow you to get your bait out farther away from the shore if you are fishing from land. Many anglers prefer to fish with artificial bait and if you choose this method you will want to use a bait that is similar in size and shape to the mullet. There are a variety of large soft plastic baits on the market that can be rigged below a popping cork or fished deeper with a lead head. There are also an endless supply of larger hard baits that are available in both surface baits and diving baits. Some of the larger baits are made by Bomber, Rapala, and Storm lures to name a few. Check with your local tackle shop for recommendations of size and type of bait they carry and recommend. Make sure you save a little time in between football and hunting to get out and take advantage of some great fishing.

Andy Pickett,

CharlestonFishing.Com

Local Tackle Shops

2011-08-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

The landscape of Charleston and the lowcountry has changed quite a bit in my 40+ years of living here in Charleston, but one thing that has stood the test of time is the presence of local tackle shops. I can remember people saying that the big stores would end up squeezing the small guys out of business. Many of those big companies have come and gone over this time. More recently I heard people say that the internet and online stores would be the end of small local tackle shops and yet they are still here and thriving. There is a demand for local tackle shops that I do not see ever going away. I can remember going to John’s Rod and Reel as a kid. Back then the store was located in Mr. John’s garage at his house. Not only could you get the tackle you needed, but you could also get some good, timely fishing information and a few good stories to boot. Today’s local shops fill a niche that big stores cannot fill. The local shops are usually staffed by local people that grew up fishing the waters of the lowcountry and understand not only what is being caught here and now, but also know what type of fishing is coming up and how to help anglers get the items they need to help make their trip a success.

Over the last decade of owning this site I have come to appreciate our local tackle shops in a different way than I did as a customer. Getting to know the owners and learning the depth of their commitment to the local community has really given me a new understanding of all the things they do. These owners are not only there for the local fishing community supporting countless fishing clubs and tournaments, but they heavily involved in many different facets of the community. The amount of time they spend helping others outside of the fishing community is pretty amazing. The list of the number of charities and other organizations they donate their money, products and time to is lengthy and helps our local community in many ways that most people do not even realize.

I often hear people mention a deal they saw at an online store or a deal they got at a big box store, but most anglers I know still choose to support local shops as is evident by the presence of these shops after all the years and naysayers saying they would become a thing of the past. I believe when I am an old man, which is still a really long way away, mind you, I will still be able to walk into a local tackle shop where the employees know my name, can help me with any questions and tackle I may need and probably even have a good story for me as well.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Fishing With Kids

2011-08-04T08:50:00.001-04:00

Last week I had been eyeing the tide and the weather for the tailing tide Friday night. The wind was supposed to be 5 knots and the tide was going to be high right at 8:00pm just before dark. Thursday night my whole plan was changed when my wife asked me if I would take her niece, husband and two daughters fishing along with my two kids and her. Being the great guy that I am, I smiled and said absolutely. I knew right off that eight of us in a flats boat was not going to work for fishing the grass it would be dangerous to hand all the kids a rod and let them start casting, so I made a plan to take everyone to Morris Island and fish in the surf. I knew that I would probably be very busy baiting hooks, casting rods, catching bait and keeping everyone fishing so I did not bring a rod for myself.

There is one thing that you are reminded of when you are fishing with kids and that is the pure enjoyment of fishing. As adults, many times when we plan a trip if things do not go according to our plan or we do not catch a particular species we were targeting the trip may not have as much enjoyment for us. We are always caught up in trying to make the trip go according to how we want it to go instead of being flexible and going with how things develop. I really did not have much room to throw the cast net so I waited until we were at the island to try and catch bait. While I found plenty of mullet they were all very small and not at all what I normally like to fish with in the surf. After several casts I decided I needed to get everyone fishing or we would run out of daylight, so we set up each of the kids that wanted to fish with a rod and that left 2 for the adults to hold. We ended the night with a few sharks and a whiting, not exactly what I consider a successful trip. I was feeling kind of bad that we did not get any big redfish or any of the fish I like to target in the surf, but the kids thought it was the greatest thing in the world. Our niece and her family had never been to Morris Island and they thought it was really cool just to go to the Island. My son, who is 11 years old, caught a pretty nice size shark and was quite pleased with himself and I held the shark for all of the kids to touch and look at. My son was the only one that had seen a shark up close and they were all quite fascinated with just about every aspect from the shark’s skin to its eyes and teeth.

The next day I heard all about how much fun the kids had and that we needed to go back again soon and do it all again. My son thinks surf fishing is one of his favorite types of fishing now because he always seems to catch a nice sized shark and he says he never really knows what he may catch next. There is something about that pure love of fishing and the excitement of the element of surprise, that none of us should ever lose. Taking kids is a great way not only to introduce them to the sport, but it also serves as a reminder for us that there is more to fishing than just going out and conquering our prey. Even though I missed what I thought would have been a perfect night of fishing the grass, I know there will be plenty more of those nights, but the memories I will have of fishing with my kids and family will stand out much more than even my best night of tailing fish.

Andy Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

The Spanish Are Here

2011-07-14T11:41:00.000-04:00

In April 1898 the Spanish American war broke out and at the time Ft. Sumter was in ruins with nothing more than an unmanned lighthouse on the island. With the entrance to the harbor defenseless Charlestonians went to work building Battery Huger, a large re-enforced concrete block installation for defense on the island. Though the harbor never came under attach from the Spanish they still come and visit in large numbers patrolling just off the beach and many times passing Battery Huger to gather around Castle Pinckney another historic Charleston landmark. These aggressive Spanish have tremendous appetites and are known to attach a Clark Spoon at the blink of an eye.

Thank you for wading through a little bit of Charleston history there; of course in the latter part of the previous paragraph; I am referring to Spanish Mackerel a great game fish here in the low country that can be served up from a good summer time meal. The Spanish is the smaller of the mackerels that we see here in South Carolina behind the Cero Mackerel and of course their big cousin the King. Since Spanish are smaller they are often overlooked as a game fish but make no mistake about these fish are aggressive fighters that put light tackle to the test with their explosive strikes often leaving the water with the bait followed by long fast runs.

Spanish prefer water temperatures above the mid sixties and therefore move into our coastal waters typically in late April and stay through mid-October. These fish usually feed in large schools are and most easily spotted chasing bait with Terns and other sea birds in pursuit of stunned baitfish and scraps. Much like their larger cousins, Spanish prefer cleaner water and therefore they stay just off the beach and in the shipping channel; however they will move into the inlets and harbor to feed most often on an incoming tide. Spanish are not as structure oriented as many other species; essentially as long as bait is plentiful they can be located in open water.

The keys to success in catching Spanish lies in approaching the school properly and in choosing the right bait.
- As far as approaching the school, first try to determine the direction the school is traveling, and then attempt to move parallel with the school either by preferably drifting or if necessary by motoring. Obviously you will want to keep the school within casting distance, but make every effort not to get too close as the school may sound.
- While Spanish can be taken on live bait the more common approach is to target a school using artificials. The best bait for Spanish will mimic to the “t” the bait they are chasing. In other words if they are chasing a school of glass minnows, one of their more common prey here in the Carolinas, then you will want to use a lure the same size and shape as the minnow. I have found Clark Spoons to be a great match to the glass minnow and I keep several different sizes in the tackle box to attempt to match the same size the Spanish are feeding on. From experience I can tell you that you are not likely to entice a strike by throwing a nice large artificial bait into the mix if they are feeding on much smaller baits of a different variety.

As far as tackle for the Spanish I prefer light to ultra light (8 to 10 pound) spinning tackle. I like to use braided line as it is easier to cast long distances with light-weight plugs and it is more abrasive resistant should the hooked fish swim through the school. I usually match my mainline with a 12 to 24 inch leader as the Spanish have a mouth full of teeth. While lightweight steel leader is by far the best in protecting against cut offs, sometimes these fish can be leader shy especially when they are in clear near shore waters. Because of this, I use a 20 to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader most often. While you may get cutoff from time to time with the fluorocarbon I believe it is a good trade off to for the increased interest the fish have.

According to the recent reports on the site the Spanish are thick currently so go and get them!

Tight lines…
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

King Mackerel Fishing With Kids

2011-06-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

I can remember my younger years of fishing and the sound of a reel when a big King Mackerel crashed one of the live baits in our spread. That sound would wake you from a lazy daydream or a deep sleep and you were wide awake with adrenaline flowing as soon as the reel went off. The great thing about this type of fishing was that I could go and do it at a young age and if I was not feeling well or ready to come back in, the ride was a short one. King Mackerel fishing offers a big fish thrill without the 45 mile ride for kids and can be a great way to introduce them to the ocean and offshore trolling techniques. I learned quite a bit about how to fight a fish, gaffing a fish and handling a large fish with plenty of sharp teeth once you get them in the boat. I also was able to see some pretty awesome displays of speed, power and aerial acrobatics by some of the kings we caught over the years.

June is an excellent month for king fishing from the end of the jetties out to 90’ of water. Live menhaden and mullet make for some exciting and readily available baits. Kings will also hit a variety of other fish like blue runners, pinfish and bluefish to name a few. The range of artificial baits they will hit is also pretty wide. Big Rapala’s, King Getters and several other types will work well. Check with your local tackle shop and they can recommend a few that should do the trick. Finding areas with well defined structure like the jetties, or areas of live bottom will normally hold fish. We always liked to fish areas of live bottom with a ledge or some type of sharp relief on the bottom. Slow trolling or anchoring over these areas (when fishing live bait) works very well. If you decide to anchor, you may want to bottom fish while your baits do their thing off the back of the boat. The more action you can create, in the area you are fishing, is a good thing.

Most kids once they catch their first king are ready to do it again. We all have tricks for keeping kids entertained while things are slow and this type of fishing has a few things to help keep their interest if things are slow. Bottom fishing will keep them engaged and if you are fishing with live bait, most kids enjoy keeping an eye on the live bait and if they are like my daughter, they may even name them. June is a great month for king fishing it is also a great month to take a kid fishing.

Andy Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Ace of Spades

2011-06-02T14:24:00.001-04:00

The week before last I took off from work in hopes of getting on the water in search of some fish. The first part of the week I awoke each morning to strong winds and some unseasonably cool temperatures curbing my fishing plans. As the week moved on the weather started improving and I was able to fish inshore on Wednesday and Thursday in some tolerable conditions. The forecast for Friday was light and variable winds and 1 to 2 foot seas so I put together a trip with some buddies to one of the local artificial reefs in search of some Spadefish.

This year I added a new spinning reel to my arsenal thanks to the folks at Quantum reels. My new lightweight Saltwater Quantum PTS 40 Catalyst spinning reel is loaded with 12-pound mono backing and topped with 200 yards of 10-pound Berkley Power Pro Braid. This reel retails for around $150 and is equipped with features most often found on reels that retail for twice that cost. The Catalyst features infinite anti-reverse for strong hook sets, 9 ball bearings and a 5.2:1 gear ratio for a flawless retrieval, multi-stack ceramic drag washers providing smooth, reliable and durable fish stopping capability, and a strong titanium bail equipped with a very smooth magnetic trip. The lightweight aluminum body looks sleek and is topped with Saltguard 6-layer coating capable of withstanding many years of abuse in the saltwater environment. Knowing the Spades reputation for drag dogging runs and hard fights I knew it would be a great test for the lightweight PTS 40.

The four of us rolled Charleston harbor around 8 am on Friday. We cleared the tip of the jetties by 8:30 and were greeted by a slick ocean and a very distinct tide line. We filled a 5-gallon bucket with jelly balls within a matter of minutes and we were on our way to the reef. Upon arrival, I started checking each set of numbers for Spades as my crew surveyed the surface for any tailing activity. As we passed across the top of one of the tugs the depth recorder gave me an erroneous depth reading of 20-feet. The Spades were so thick they had eclipsed the entire bottom on the recorder! As we set up a jelly ball teaser the fish came to the surface. We rigged up with some quarter-once egg sinkers that floated on the main line on top of a small swivel. The swivel was matched to a 2-foot section of clear 20-pound mono and then a #1 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook. This would be my first time using the circle hooks now required under the new regulations for Spades so I figured there may be a little bit of a learning curve. We drifted with the Spades for about 45-minutes and they all seemed to have lock jaw. We were just coming off of a full moon and the water was filled with sea lice. Fearing the fish may have gorged themselves on the sea lice overnight I was not sure if we would be able to entice them to eat.

Since the fish seemed extremely finicky we made a few changes. One of us baited up with peeled shrimp and another with some squid to give them some choices. We all also scaled back our tackle to just our main line tied directly to the leader with a blood knot fearing the fish may be leery of the swivel and egg sinker in the water. We had been drifting with the school and occasionally using the motor to stay with them for just over an hour when the first fish drilled one of my buddies peeled shrimp, out of habit he reared back to set the hook and pulled the bait right out of the Spades mouth. Within minutes another one of the guys got hit this time on a piece of the jelly ball. He too tried to set the hook and yanked it out of the Spades mouth. Then another hit; this time we patiently let the fish eat the bait. The drag started screaming and the battle ensured. The dinner bell had been rung and the bite was on! Over the next 2-hours we put 20 fat Spades in the boat and broke off at least a dozen more. Anticipating the work ahead of us filleting fish we left the Spades biting and called it a day.

The Quantum Catalyst truly is an Ace of Spades! I fished with the Catalyst the entire day and I was quite impressed with its capabilities. This reel preformed absolutely flawlessly throughout at least a half dozen battles with some of Spades pushing the 10 pound mark. This is one smooth reel with an excellent drag system and very strong construction. I look forward to many years of great performance out of this reel and hopefully many more hard fights.

Tight lines…

Captain Tim Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Mother’s Day

2011-04-27T18:39:00.001-04:00

If you have not been watching your calendars; Mothers Day is right around the corner (Sunday May 8th). Since we will not be running a full newsletter next week I thought I would share this article with you this week. I originally put this together about 3-years ago when there was an ongoing discussion on the site about fishing mentors. Due to the approach of Mother’s day I thought it would be appropriate to re-run.

As I read through the responses and stories on fishing mentors I began to reminisce of my childhood days and about my great fishing mentors. I was born and raised on James Island and God blessed me with two awesome parents that love me, love the great outdoors and the entire saltwater fishing experience. From day one my parents took me fishing, crabbing, and shrimping. If it were not for my infant christening pictures with Father Kelly holding me up in Nativity Church over the holy water; I would swear that my parents had me baptized in saltwater and Charleston pluff mud as an infant.

Growing up dad spent countless hours with me in the back yard teaching me how to cast my push button Zebco and I distinctly remember him showing me how to run the boat in the maize of tiny creeks behind Morris Island while he caught bait. He showed me how to fillet many species of fish and would patiently work with me in the kitchen the night before an offshore trip teaching me the fine art of tying a Bimini twist. Dad taught me how to throw his 6-foot nylon cast net and how to rig a menhaden for Kingfish. He instructed me how to, and sometime how not to, gaff a fish. My father has always included me on every single fishing trip, he has taught me to respect the ocean, to enjoy the fellowship of friends and family out on the water, and to conserve the fishery.

My dad got me started there is no doubt about that, but my mom contributed a lot as well. Since us rough and tough fisherman often forget about the support the women in our lives give us in this sport I thought I would share a little about my mom.

My mom is very attractive and proper southern lady; but since she had three boys and loves being outside as much as we do, we often call her one of the guys. Most of the time mom takes being “one of the guys” as a compliment, but there are times she is quick to remind us guys she is a lady! Growing up dad worked Monday through Friday supporting our family and therefore mom watched us during the week from sun up to sun down. Mom knew how much I loved fishing and sometimes she would take me during the week to one of the creeks close to our house in Fort Johnson Estates, or to a family friend’s back yard on the lakes of Eastwood.

I vividly remember one of my first fishing and crabbing trips with mom. It was a nice summer day and she and I walked about a mile through the woods that were across the street to an old dock on Parrot Creek behind Holy Cross Cemetery. I had my push button Zebco and was throwing it off the dock while mom was catching blue crabs on chicken necks. I remember I started to retrieve the lure when I felt a lot of resistance. “Mom, mom I got something,” I shouted! She helped me hold the rod while I reeled. After a short “fight” I reeled in an old boot! It was just like something from an old movie or TV show! Mom began to chuckle, and while I was disappointed that it was not a big Bass, I feel quite certain that I laughed too.

Another memorable fishing trip with mom was in the early-eighties during an unusually cold Thanksgiving weekend. Mom, Dad, my bother Andy and I ran across the harbor, up the Wando and into Beresford Creek on a thirty-degree morning to catch some schooling winter trout. We had started off slow trolling and found a good size school. Dad dropped the anchor over and we all proceeded to land some nice trout on just about every cast. While we were anchored up fishing another boat with a young couple came trolling by. Due to the wind direction we were able to hear their conversation as they passed and went on up the river. Every few minutes we would hear the young lady say, “I am cold can we go home now.” I bet she repeated that a good 20 times before her husband finally gave up and headed for the ramp. I don’t think the temperature ever got much higher than the mid-forties that day; but, mom never complained once, she just kept on catching fish and laughing with the rest of us often mimicking the girl, “I’m cold can we go home now.”

Mom has always been more into inshore fishing, as she has never really developed her sea legs, and could care less about leaving the confines of her favorite creeks. When I was in my mid-teens dad lined up a week long Tarpon fishing trip for the family in the Florida Keys. It was mid-May and the fish where thick under the Seven Mile Bridge. Dad hired a local guide to fish with the first day so we could get a good feel for the techniques used by the locals and then use our own boat for the rest of the week. The guide showed up to pick us from the dock in Marathon in a 17-foot Hewes flats boat. We then headed about midway down the bridge right in the middle of a channel. The wind was blowing hard out the south west that day and was bucking the tide making it quite sloppy under the bridge. We must have missed at least a dozen Tarpon that afternoon and while I know she was uncomfortable, mom stuck it out for at least 5-hours in that little flats boat in a standing 3-foot sea and never complained.

Over the years mom has supported my saltwater interest in many ways, from lathering me up with sunscreen while fishing with dad in the surf at Morris Island, to packing my lunch before a big day offshore. She embroidered many of my dress shirts with my favorite fish on the chest pocket and wrapped hundreds of fishing lures over the years and stuffed them in my Christmas stocking. Mom spent many hours in the local bait shops with me while I perused the tackle and asked the salesman a slew of questions and she encouraged me take to take a job at the old Johns Rod and Reel when I got into high school. She would fix me at thermos of hot chocolate before those cold winter trout trips and would use extra care to get the fish blood out of my favorite fishing shorts.

God has truly blessed me with two loving and caring parents. They have cared for me, prayed for me, and loved me unconditionally. My parents have been great mentors to me, and they have even taught me a little about fishing along the way!

Take a kid fishing!

Captain Tim Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

UV Protection

2011-04-14T11:17:00.001-04:00

With the warmer weather the last few weekends my wife and I have had the opportunity to get our kids out on the water. Watching after two boys under the age of two and half on the water is full time job for both us. Keeping up with the sunscreen applications just adds to the list of our chores. My wife and I have both spent our entire lives baking in the sun; and while our parents have always been on us about wearing sunscreen from our childhood we have both been rather lax about it until the last couple of years. Now with the need to protect our kids as well as ourselves we are attempting to be more consciousness in regards to our sun exposure.

To be flat honest I still dislike wearing sunscreen, I hate the greasy feel, the constant reapplying, and the burning eyes when I get in the water or sweat heavily. Experts tell us skin cancer is rapidly becoming the most common form of cancer and it is also the most preventable type. Recognizing the risk, I now use a combination of the methods below to cut down on my exposure.

Limit Activity During Peak Times - This method hardly ever works for me unless it corresponds to the tide I am fishing; if you can stay out the sun during the hottest parts of the day, between 11 am and 4 pm you will limit your exposure during the suns most intense harmful rays.

Lightweight Full Brim Hat – While I prefer a visor on hot days due to the increase in air flow around my head, the visor offers no protection to the back of the neck or the tops of the ears. A full brim canvas, nylon, or straw hat will shed the majority of the sun from your entire head. Tilly Hat’s offer a good variety of canvas, and nylon hats and most of their products will float if dropped in the water.

Long Sleeves – Farmers have been wearing long sleeve light weight shirts for decades while plowing fields in the summer heat. Columbia Sportswear® and others like them have come a long way with their nylon guide shirts. The large wind flap in the rear offers great air flow and the oversize pockets offer great storage for tackle while wade fishing. These shirts now offer an SPF rating and lightweight pants with similar construction are also available. There are also several sport shirt manufacturer such as Under Armor offering light weight long sleeve sports shirts with an SPF rating. I prefer these myself as they breathe very well and provide good evaporative cooling.

Bandana – A trick out of the wild west and used by anglers for many years now. A 99-cent bandana offers a great barrier for the sun when worn around the face or neck. I drop mine in the cooler every half hour or so in the summer heat then tie it around my neck to stay cool and help keep from getting a “red-neck.”

Beard - Would not recommend this to our female readers, but it definitely helps keep the sun off some of the most sensitive skin on the face.

Gloves – Skin cancer attacks are more prevalent on areas of the skin that are thin such as the nose, ears, and the back of the hands. There are several manufactures that make light weight Lycra or nylon gloves with an SPF rating. These gloves are available with the fingertips removed for knot tying and casting.

Buff – One of the most recent inventions in sun protection; these sun masks have really caught on here in the lowcountry over the last two years. These lightweight elastic masks can be worn several different ways, around the neck, around the neck and over the nose, or on up covering the ears and entire head. In addition to offering great sun protection these buffs also offer good protection from sand gnats on early morning top water trout trips.

Polarized Sun Glasses – Don’t forget to protect your eyes when you are covering up. While UV rays do not cause a traditional “sun burn” on the eyes the damage can be far worse. Polarized lenses are critical as standard tinted lenses can actually trick the pupils into dilating thus allowing even more harmful UV rays to enter to eye.

While these items will help you cover up, your will still need some sunscreen to protect those areas of the body left exposed. I utilize zinc oxide on a regular basis for sun protection on my nose, lips, and ears. While zinc is one of the most primitive forms of sunscreen, in my opinion it is still one of the best. With zinc I can quickly tell if I am covered or not, at less than $4.00 for a tube at the drug store it very economical, it is water proof and can be applied even when you are wet. Also you do not have to worry about zinc rubbing off and burning your eyes.

For larger body parts remember to use a sunscreen that offers both UVA & UVB protection, one that is waterproof, and has an SPF rating of at least 15. Also be aware that there a few sunscreen lotions still on the market that contain PABA or para-aminobenzoic acid. PABA has been know to cause allergic reactions in some and may stain clothing. Read all sunscreen labels in full prior to use and follow the manufacturers’ recommendations and warning. Always use extreme caution when applying any sunscreen to children and infants.

Tight lines,

Captain Tim Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

SouthCarolinaOnTheLakes.Com

Wired

2011-03-31T14:27:00.002-04:00

One of my projects on this springs honey do list consists of repainting our flats boat. No this is not actually on my wife’s honey do list, I put it on mine, and she has agreed that this project would be pretty fun for me to tackle. Last night I found myself working underneath the console removing all the gauges so I could get some fresh paint on the dash. I was diligently labeling every wire and it’s location when I realized some of my masking tape had fallen off two wires. I scratched my head trying to figure out which wire went where when I remembered I had a copy of this article on marine wiring printed off and hanging on my peg board in the garage.

As I am sure you are well aware marine wiring usually presents some unique challenges such as working in some real tight areas, feeding wire through tight chases, feeding wire through T-Tops or other superstructure piping, and perhaps the hardest part of it all, keeping all the wire well organized. If your boat was wired by a reputable manufacturer; then believe it or not there is some method to the madness for the mess of wires underneath your console. Below is the color code used in the marine industry; according to the American Boat and Yachting Council Standards, perhaps it will help you decipher the usage.

Yellow w/red stripe - This wire is for the starting circuit. It runs from the starter switch to the starter solenoid.

Solid Yellow - Two uses. 1) It is used in the alternator field terminal to the regulator on the engine. 2) Power wire for the bilge blower if your boat is so equipped, it runs from your fuse or switch to your blower.

Dark Gray - Two purposes. 1) Power wire for your navigation lights. It runs from your fuse or switch to your lights. 2) Tachometer wire-it runs from your tachometer sender on the engine to your tac.

Brown - 3 different purposes. 1) On the engine it is for your generator armature, it runs from generator armature to the regulator. 2) Also on the engine it is used for the alternator charge light and is runs from generator terminal/alternator aux terminal to light to regulator. 3) Power wire for bilge pumps, bait well pumps, macerator pumps, it runs from a fuse or switch to pumps.

Orange - Two uses. 1) It runs from your ammeter to alternator output and accessory fuses or switches. 2) It is for the accessory common and it runs from the distribution panel to the accessory switches.

Purple - This has two uses. 1) Ignition wire, it runs from the ignition switch to coil and electrical instruments. 2) Power for electrical instruments, it runs from the distribution panel to electrical instruments.

Dark Blue - This is the power wire for the cabin and instrument lights and it runs from fuse or switch to your lights.

Light Blue - This wire is used for oil pressure and it runs from your sender unit on the engine to gauge.

Pink - This is used for the fuel level gauge and it runs from sender to gauge.

These are the primary wires that you need to be able to recognize for the most common trouble shooting exercises. With a $15 voltage meter, knowledge on how to use the meter to read voltage and continuity, and with this basic knowledge of color coding you can trouble shoot the most common electrical problems. I would also recommend purchasing a $2 test light, they are worth their weight in gold when your back is hyper-extended and your entire body is contorted while trying to check for power underneath your helm or console. If you are re-wiring something, make sure to use the proper color wire for the purpose of future trouble shooting. Also remember that silver solder makes the best connection, all wiring should be marine grade tin coated, and all connections should be sealed with marine grade shrink tubing.

Tight lines…
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Controlled Retrieve

2011-03-24T08:54:00.001-04:00

It is well documented that I am addicted to top-water inshore fishing. There is something about watching a fish crash a top-water lure that gets my adrenaline going. After many years of this type of fishing, my reaction is like a big kid. With so much excitement there was one thing I had to tone down over the years and that was how I reacted with the reel when a fish hit and I missed it. In all of the excitement I would begin reeling really fast, often times missing another chance at the fish. Tempering my excitement and keeping my reeling at a steady pace or even taking a moment to let the lure rest has produced many more fish and a much better strike to hook up ratio. If you top-water fish enough you will have one of those moments where you quit reeling to do something only to have a fish crash the bait and catch you by surprise. Keeping this in mind and measuring your retrieve speed when you have a strike and miss will give you more opportunities to catch that fish and do not be afraid to let the lure rest every so often as well it just may surprise you.

Andy Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Natural Spring Cleaner

2011-03-17T11:47:00.001-04:00

It is that time of the year again for a little bit of spring cleaning. As many of you will recall I usually put together an article this time of year on several marine grade cleaners featuring both new products on the market as well as some tried and true products that I have used over the years. With so much focus on the environmental impacts of cleaners these days and with everyone watching their budgets so tight; this year I have provide you with a much shorter list of products. This is a list of products you most likely have sitting in your kitchen pantry or medicine cabinet already and are effective and natural cleaning agents for some of the most common and troublesome marine related issues.

General marine vinyl wash and mildew removal - Mix (1) tablespoon ammonia, (1/4) cup hydrogen peroxide, (3/4) cup of water. Scrub with a soft to medium bristle bush, rinse thoroughly with fresh water, allow to air dry.

Marine canvas wash and mildew removal - Mix (1/4) cup of laundry detergent, (2) tbsp. vinegar and (1) gallon of water in a bucket. Sponge it onto the canvas. Use a medium bristle brush to scrub from the center out to the edges and corners of the canvas. Once you have washed the entire canvas, thoroughly rinse and allow the canvas to dry in the sun before storing.

Rust stains on fiberglass or gel coat – White vinegar or lemon juice can be put on the stain full strength. These weak acids will remove minor rust stains. If stains are more severe try several applications of the acid or mix either of these two acids with borax, a common household cleaner to form a paste. The paste should be left on the stain until dry and then rinsed away.

Mildew growth on hard surfaces such as fiberglass or gel coat - Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour and rinse with fresh water.

Hopefully these natural cleaners will provide you with the ability to take care of some spring time detailing without breaking the bank.

Tight lines…

Captain Tim Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Spring Is In the Air

2011-02-24T16:06:00.002-05:00

With the warm temperatures we’ve experienced over the last two weeks, everyone is getting excited about spring time fishing. The creeks are beginning to come alive with bait and fish are emerging from the winter slumber with a healthy appetite. A particular fish of interest this time of year is the ever popular redfish. During the winter months these fish school up for protection from predators, like porpoises, and for warmth. As we emerge out of the winter months, the fish will stay in schools until water temperatures rise.

Once you find a school of fish you want to keep in mind that you were probably not the first person to find these fish and they will normally spook easily. During the cold winter months, fish were not as active and did not move much, but now that waters are warmer fish will more readily move from an area or quit eating if they are spooked. You will also want to keep this in mind if you see another boat working a bank. You want to give them plenty of room so you do not spook a school they are working.
Give yourself options when it comes to bait. The same bait does not work all of the time in all conditions. We’ve had good success in the past getting the fish started on live bait and getting them competing for food and then switching to artificials. Once getting the food becomes a competition the fish become much less picky and will hit a variety of different lures. Lately I’ve talked with people that have had success on mudminnows, dead shrimp, crab parts, and every artificial lure from hard baits to soft plastics. The schools of fish they are seeing are very large many times with 200 or more fish. A couple of anglers catching 25-50 fish or more a day is not uncommon.

Keep in mind that the redfish population here in the Lowcountry has not always been this healthy. Those of us that have been around a while can remember when we hit some hard times when it comes to catching these fish. Anglers practicing conservation has rewarded us with these huge schools of fish and many of us feel that we are on the verge of a fishery unlike anything we have seen here. There are a good number of small fish and this is a good sign. How you handle the fish when you get them to the boat is critical. If you are able to unhook them while still in the water, it is even better for their health. There is nothing wrong with keeping fish to eat as long as you stay within the rules and regulations, but also keep in mind there is nothing that says you have to keep a limit each time you go either. If you know how far we have come, you can appreciate making sure future generations will benefit from our actions.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Life Rafts

2011-02-17T09:12:00.002-05:00

This week’s article was actually put together 8-years ago for CharlestonFishing.com by Captain Mike Crouch. Mike, an active participant on ChalrlestonFishing.com, is a well known and respected Captain and works with one of our long time sponsors, Sea Tow. Though the article has some age on it, all times addressed here by Mike still hold true and I hope you will give his suggestions some serious consideration. As most of are currently in the process of getting our boats and gear ready for the spring and summer offshore trolling season here in the lowcountry I thought it was very appropriate to run this article again. Thank you Mike for this contribution and remember lets be safe out there!
I have received a lot of questions this past week about electronics and safety equipment, specifically E.P.I.R.B.S and life rafts. Let’s talk about life rafts first.

There are far too many fishermen out there, especially those of us that fish beyond what is known as a coastwise route that do not carry sufficient safety gear. A coastwise route as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations is one past 20 nm. As you know the code only applies if you are carrying passengers for hire, but several of you wanted the information for the safety of your crew, friends and family. Kudos to you!

Life rafts or rescue pods are designed for one reason only and that is to keep you and your crew dry and afloat if your vessel becomes un-seaworthy or sinks. Several months ago there was an article in the paper about a guy in New Jersey who went offshore, sank and was found hanging on to a cooler. Unfortunately this occurs more times than you think. Read the Coast Guard website about the weekly rescues they perform and you will get an idea of how often this occurs. But with a little planning and of course a little money, good safety practices are within reach.

There are several reputable companies that put out a great product and Duey at West Marine can point you in the right direction. I suggest that you fisherman who regularly make the trip out past 20 nm consider adding a life raft or rescue pod to your inventory. They take up very little room and the initial cost is well worth the comfort of knowing that in the event you have to abandon your vessel, you will be warm, dry and afloat. I carry a four person rescue pod. It’s not much bigger than a suitcase (12”x 24”), fits on the top of my t-top and is a great source of comfort just knowing that I have one onboard. You can get these rafts with or without the coastal packs which contain water and food rations.

Standard equipment on these rafts include lifelines inside and out, a sea anchor, locator light, knife and repair kit. And of course you can add equipment as needed. I have added a survivor 06 watermaker, flares, medical kit and a couple of space blankets.

Whatever raft you choose, be advised that they usually have a life expectancy of about 10 years and it is strongly recommended that the dealer or an approved facility inspect them yearly. Take a little time and think what you would do should you have to abandon your vessel and how long you would have to spend in the water until rescue comes.

Tight Lines
Captain Mike Crouch

E15 Fuel

2011-02-10T15:04:00.000-05:00

Last week the boating and fishing community was buzzing about recent articles letting us know that 15% ethanol is on the way. When 10% ethanol was introduced, we all learned quickly how this blend of fuel can negatively affect boat motors, certain types of fuel tanks and fuel lines. If you do not have a horror story of your own, someone has probably shared their horror story with you. Below is an article sent to us by Boat US talking about precautions to take with the new E15 fuel blends. Make sure you understand what you are putting into your boat when you head out to fuel up. It appears that E15 will not even be recommended for use in boat motors.

With E15, Boaters, Anglers Will Need Extra Vigilance When Filling up at the Gas Station

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 7, 2011 - With the EPA's recent decision to allow the use of gasoline with up to 15% ethanol (E15) in 2001 and newer model cars and trucks, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) says that trailerboaters will need to remain extra vigilant when filling up their truck and trailered boat at the local gas station. That's because while E15 could be fine for the tow vehicle, it's not good - nor authorized by the EPA - for use with boats. A strong solvent, ethanol has been known to degrade marine fuel systems, damage engines, add safety concerns, and lead to expensive repair bills.

"When filling up at gas stations, boaters are used to pulling up to the pump and filling up the tow vehicle first, and then putting the same fuel nozzle into the boat," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "If that happens with E15, it could be a big mistake."

The EPA intends to put a warning on the pump - a small label with the exact wording yet to determined. "This is going to be a lot different from the choices offered to boaters today, where it's nearly impossible to misfuel gas or diesel engines, or where there are few consequences when choosing 87 octane over a higher 93 octane gasoline, for example," added Adriance.

All of this means that when E15 starts to appear in gasoline stations, boaters must heed the warning on the pump and shouldn't even think about using it in a boat. Here's why:

Going Lean isn't good: In addition to hydrogen and carbon found in regular gasoline, ethanol also contains oxygen, which means less air (or conversely, more fuel) is required for combustion. The term "enleanment" is used to describe what can happen when there is too much air and not enough fuel. While most cars and trucks on the road today have closed-loop systems that can adjust to prevent enleanment, most boats have open-loop systems which do not, adding a greater risk of heat-related damage to your boat's engine with E15.
Compatibility questions: Many components on a boat come in contact with ethanol-laden gasoline, including fuel lines, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, fuel injectors, carburetors, pressure regulators, valves, o-rings, and gaskets. The compatibility of these components with any blend greater than E10 is currently unknown. The failure of only one of these components in your engine could lead to failure or, worse, a fire or explosion.
A "good" thing isn't what it seems: Phase separation is what happens when gas becomes over-saturated with water, leading the water/ethanol mixture to separate from the gasoline and fall to the bottom of the tank (where the engine's fuel pickup is located). However, since ethanol absorbs water more readily than gasoline and it burns harmlessly through the engine, adding more ethanol to gas will decrease the chance for phase separation. You'd think that would be a good thing, right?

However, as you increase the amount of water in ethanol, this mixture also becomes more acidic, increasing the potential to corrode metal, including aluminum fuel tanks.

Also keep in mind that once gas has phase separated, the only remedy is to completely empty the tank. While BoatUS believes fuel additives in general are a good thing, it has not seen evidence of any additive being able to restore phase-separated gas back to its original state.
Your warantee won't help you: Marine engines are only warranted for use with up to 10% (E10) ethanol.

For more information on ethanol, go to BoatUS.com/seaworthy/ethanol.asp. Or, to ask a question or see a discussion on where to find ethanol-free gas at marinas, go the BoatUS ethanol message board at http://my.BoatUS.com/forum.

Time to Gear Up!

2011-02-03T08:48:00.000-05:00

When I was growing up “fishing season” started in April and ended in December with the late fall/early winter trout run. For the most part we were off the water from January through March. While these days we have all figured out there really is no start and end to “fishing season” here in lowcountry as there is still lots of activity going on this time of year; there is still no doubt that January through March are a “slower part of the season.” During this slower part of the year I like to go through my tackle, boat, and other gear to ensure I am 100% prepared for when weather becomes more cooperative and I can get out on the water. You will also find that this is generally a slower time of the year for your tackle shops, electronics shops, canvas guys, dealers …etc so if you have repairs they can jump on them and have them ready in plenty of time for the “season” Here are just a few itimes I check out and prepare this time of year:

Engine maintenance – are you up on your services, do you still have spare belts, filters, etc?

General Boat Maintenance – are your electronics working well, do you have any major cleaning to take care of, if the boat sits in the water is it time for a bottom cleaning, time for new paint, anchors and rode in good shape?

Trailer maintenance – are the tires in good shape, do you still have a working spare, do the bunks need to be recovered, bearings need to be repacked, are the leaf springs and hardware in sound condition?

Curtains, canvas, cushions, covers – do all your zippers function as they should, any rips or snags that need to be addressed, cushions dry rotting, can you see through your isen glass?

Safety gear – are your flares in date, first aid items all still there and in date, life jackets and throwables in good shape, EPIRB still registered, batteries in safety equipment up to date, spare batteries still around?

Rods and reels – are the eyes on rods in good shape, do the reels need to be cleaned and lubed, drags and clickers working properly, time for new line?

Tackle – do you have enough terminal tackle, do leaders need to be re-rigged, are hooks sharp and free of rust, is tackle organized well?

Obviously this list could go on and on, it is not meant to be all inclusive, but more of a reminder of some things to go ahead and get taken care of so when weather turns and the bite really gets hot you are not sitting on the hill waiting on the local repair shop to do your 100-hour service.

Tight lines and hopefully fair weather soon….

Captain Tim Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Proposed Fishing Closures Hit the Mainstream

2011-01-27T16:04:00.001-05:00

Recent news that NOAA planning to close black sea bass fishing has hit local anglers in a big way. Over the last several years there have been many battles fought about how to make sure species are not being overfished and how to make sure fish stocks are being kept at healthy levels. Most of the closures thus far have not affected large groups of anglers. Do not get me wrong, there are many people the fish offshore for snapper, grouper and other bottom dwellers, but many of these species are out of the range for a large portion of the fishing population, while black sea bass are readily available just outside the Charleston jetties and do not require all of the tackle and large boat to pursue. Anglers that have been affected by the offshore closures have been arguing for the past several years, that closures are a drastic measure and the science that is being used to drive these closures is flawed at best. Decisions are being using data that is 10 years old and most anglers believe that bag limits and tighter slot sizes will work without shutting down entire fisheries. There is a high level of distrust among recreational anglers that regulations are designed to cater to special interest groups that want fishing outlawed and each time another closure is announced another victory is scored by these groups.

There have been many heated discussion over the years about what needs to be done and while the folks that would prefer to see these closures take place are very organized, the recreational fishing interest are very much fragmented and lack organization. There is infighting among organizations that were formed with the recreational interest in mind and recreational anglers lack the power of a common mission and goal in order to make their, very big voice, heard as one. Anglers have also become aggravated with each other. Those who have a strong interest in offshore bottom fishing have taken shots at anglers who do not bottom fish offshore saying they should have gotten more involved on their behalf. Their frustrations are understandable seeing that most anglers do not get involved until they are directly impacted by a new regulation or closure. Many people told me they do not feel like there will be any serious changes in the direction that NOAA is heading until the big offshore trolling is affected. Many of the people that own these boats are people of means and influence and know people that can work to get laws changed, but they fear that by the time these folks are really affected it will be too late.

Another part of the equation that has led to frustration on the part of recreational anglers is the many levels and layers to the regulations. Unless you were to sit down and really study them, they are too confusing for the average person to get their mind around and more often than not they throw up their hands and give up. I’ve had conversations with more than one angler who is aware that there is some sort of closures, but have no idea what types of fish or any other details.

With this recent announcement of proposed closures, NOAA has hit some species that a much larger population of the fishing community can relate to. People have begun to realize that information they have been hearing from anglers that have been engaged in this process for several years are true. Closures will not just stop with a couple of species and they may very well end up involving entire sectors of fishing. I’ve had more people email me and ask question about regulations and how they can become more informed. For those of you that are still wondering and want to learn more about proposed changes in fishing regulations you can keep up with by logging onto http://www.safmc.net/ you will find information on current regulations and proposed regulations. You can also attend public hearings dates, times and locations are also listed on the site. Find a group that you feel best represents your interest. Take your time and talk to members of organizations that represent recreational interest. One thing to consider when choosing a group is finding out where a groups funding comes from. Make sure their money and support comes from groups that share your interests.

Even if you have not been affected by the changes yet, you really should get informed. There is great concern that by limiting offshore fishing to such a large extent that the pressure on inshore species is going to increase dramatically. It is a trickle-down effect that could greatly impact inshore fishing regulations in years to come. Getting involved and informed now can make a great difference in the changes we see in the future. Most recreational anglers I know have an interest in tomorrow’s anglers and will do what they have to do to take care of our fisheries if given the chance. Most seem that they do not like old science being applied to today’s fishery and making knee jerk reactions closing an entire fishery without new assessments.

Andy Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Loop Knots

2011-01-13T09:37:00.002-05:00

Over the past several years, I have become really interested in (addicted to) top-water fishing for trout and redfish. Many years ago I fished for some species around the jetties and offshore using top-water poppers, but had only fished here in there for inshore species. I have been steady at it for several years now and not until recently did I remember a handy knot that I used to tie when fishing with sinking baits, like Mirro-Lures. The loop knot is a very simple knot that allows a wobbling bait or a top-water bait to move more freely and have a better action. I’ve tried a few different ones and everyone has their favorite knots. I tend to stick to the ones that are easy to remember and hold up well. I have found this Non-slip Loop Knot to be very easy because it basically combines a basic overhand knot with an improved clinch. http://www.proknot.com/html/non_slip_mono_loop.html It is quick easy and I’ve yet to have it fail on some very nice fish. I am by no means saying this is the best loop knot you may find others that work for you just as well or even better. I am saying that a loop knot can make fishing certain types of lures, especially ones of the top-water varieties much more effective and easier. You will find you do not have to work as hard to get the desired action out of your lures.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Buying For the Angler That Has Everything

2010-12-09T10:10:00.001-05:00

It happens every year. Most of us have a good friend or family member that loves to fish. Each year we pick our brain and try to come up with something they do not already have. For anglers that have been fishing for decades, sometimes this can be quite a task. While buying something they don’t already have is nice, many times buying something they are already using can be very useful. This is especially true when it comes to lures and terminal tackle, like hooks, line, etc.

Anyone that fishes on a regular basis can always use more of the basics. This time of year, soft plastic grubs are very popular and plenty are lost on shell banks and dock pilings, while others are destroyed by hungry fish. Other popular items that tend to wear out over time are fishing clothes, pliers, filet knifes, fishing line and multi-tools.

If you are dead set on getting them something that they do not already have, there are a few areas where technology is always changing and you may be able to get them the “new improved” model. Some of these items include fishing rods, reels, electronics and coolers. Some of these items are very specific so it is best to make sure you know what models they are looking at or make sure what you are buying can be returned without a headache. Other ideas that can be easy and are sure to make any angler happy are magazine subscriptions and gift certificates to local tackle shops.

Andy Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

Fishing With Suspending Baits

2010-11-18T13:03:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago a good friend and I were talking about different fishing techniques and lures. He mentioned that one of his favorite fall and winter time baits were suspending baits (more specifically, slow sinking baits). I knew some bass fishermen over the years that fished with these types of lures, but had never given much thought to fishing them myself. I went out and purchased a couple of lures and gave it a shot. I caught a fish here and there, but did not have the type of success that I normally have with other types of lures. I talked with my buddy again and told him that I was a little disappointed in the results and had not fished with them much since. We did not have much time to talk, but he said he could not believe that I was not getting more fish than I was.

After looking at those lures in my tackle box for several more trips I decided I either needed to try fishing with them again or get rid of them and put something in the box that I would use. I went online and read article after article trying to learn what I could about this type of fishing. The more I read the more I realized that I did not know the purpose of suspending baits or how to fish with them. I was retrieving them much too quickly and not allowing them to work as they were designed. I can now say that these types of lures work very well especially in the fall and winter months here in Charleston. Here are a few things I have come to understand:

Suspending baits are designed to hang in the strike zone. Many models are slow sinkers and are designed to look like an easy feeding target for a fish that may not want to exert a lot of energy in cooler water temperatures. As water temperatures cool and bait thins out, fish automatically lower their activity levels and slow their metabolism way down so they do not need to eat as often. They prefer to hunker down and if something comes along that is just too tempting to pass up they will eat.

Taking your time and allowing a lure to stay in one spot in the water column is the key to success. Pausing is one of the hardest parts of this type of fishing for me because most of the lures I have fished my whole life were cast and crank. Last week I was casting a Badonk-A-Donk SS lure and not being familiar with how quickly they sink, I had the lure about 10’ from the boat watching is drop, when a redfish came out and crushed it. I was able to watch the entire process and saw that the lure was sinking very slowly when the fish decided it was going to be lunch. Each company and lure work a little bit differently in the water. It is important to pay attention to how quickly the lure sinks and how twitching and retrieving the lure effects depth and action.

There are a variety of suspending lures on the market and everyone that fishes them has a preference. Check with your local tackle shop to see what lures are hot and don’t be afraid to ask if they know how most people are fishing them. Many manufacturers will also have information about different lures, techniques for fishing with them and also offer sink rates for different style and size lures. Choosing the right lure for the water depth you are fishing is very important so make sure you know what type of lure you need for different conditions.

Andy Pickett

CharlestonFishing.Com

CharlestonFishing.Com Revamped

2010-11-11T13:05:00.002-05:00

This past April marked CharlestonFishing.Com’s 11th birthday. I distinctly remember sitting in my parent’s sun room with Andy and Vasco as Andy began to talk about his ideas to start a site and Vasco grabbed a note pad and assured us he could build a site to suit our needs without a problem. Andy and I compiled a list of information and services we thought would be well suited to the site and Vasco began programming, compiling menus, forums, links and everything else we needed to pull it altogether. I also distinctly remember Vasco going live with the site and calling me at work to give me the site address. As the site popped up a large grass carp was centered in the middle of my screen with a short menu bar on the side. Even though I about fell out of my chair when I saw the carp that Vasco had used as a logo of sorts I knew he was onto something really good as Andy’s idea had now become a reality.

Over a decade later we now average over 6000 visitors per day and many of our forums pages may receive in excess of 750,000 hits in a single month. The site also now boasts close to 3-dozen sponsors. We all recognize that this tremendous growth and success of the site all comes back to our readers and your continual feedback. As we progress into our next decade Vasco has been steady at work revamping the appearance and features of the ever evolving CharlestonFishing.Com.

Over the last year many of our readers have asked us to become active on social networking sites such as Facebook; while others have asked us to join Twitter so they could keep up with the latest fishing related news. Just a few other requested features include an easier to navigate menu, addition of to the north and to the south forums pages, an online photo album, and Blogsot to name a few. Vasco has incorporated these requested features plus many more into the latest site layout that was launched this past Sunday.

Vasco, Andy and I would like to say thank you to all of our sponsors and to each and everyone of you that helps CharlestonFising.Com be such a great success. We hope everyone enjoys the new features and continues to give us feedback and ideas that help us stay the most up to date and useful over the next decade.

Tight lines and following seas…
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Going for Goliath

2010-11-03T23:39:00.002-04:00

Last Friday I received a call from my good friend Mark Davis, who works for Bomber Saltwater Grade Lures. He was getting ready to head down to Boca Grande, Florida the following Wednesday to meet up with some outdoor writers and fish with Bomber’s new Badonk-A-Donk SS lures and invited me to come along. I was like a little kid on his birthday; it is amazing how after fishing my whole life of over 40 years, that a fishing trip to somewhere I have not been yet is like my first fishing trip all over again. To give a little background, Mark also host a television show called, Big Water Adventures with Mark Davis, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. On his show Mark can get a little crazy, wrestling big sharks out of the water by hand and grabbing hold of wahoo looking to get a hold of someone with their razor sharp teeth. I tell this part because when I came home and told my 9 year old son I was going to Boca Grande to fish for snook, redfish, trout and a shot at a Goliath grouper, he immediately asked if I was going to get in the water with the Goliath and get my picture taken. He had seen Mark do this on his show and I told him I would try to bring back a picture for him, not really sure if I was going to get in the water with one of these huge fish or not.

Mark and I arrived at Buchan’s Landing where we would be staying for the next 2 days and met up with the owner Taylor Meals. Mark had told me on the way that everyone he’d met here treated him just like family and I quickly saw what he meant. Mark introduced me to Taylor. He welcomed me, told us where we would be staying and sent us on our way. We got our stuff loaded into our villa and about 10 minutes later Taylor showed up just to hang out and talk with us. He recommended a place to eat and then came and joined us for dinner that night. The second night we were there, he let us know about a place that was serving all you can eat ribs and he and his wife came and joined us and it seemed just like we were all family eating together. The people we met in the town were all very welcoming and it felt like I had gone back in time to a place where if they did not know you when you arrived, they all knew you before you left.

One the first morning we drove down to the Gasparilla Marina to meet up with our guides, Captain Ryan Rowan and Captain Chris O’Neill. Both Captains were optimistic that fishing would be good and we were ready to get rolling. I went with Ryan and Terry Tomalin, of the Saint Petersburg Time. Mark went with Chris and Jeff Weakley, Editor of Florida Sportsman Magazine. The plan was to get out and fish with the new Badon-A-Donk SS lures. Chris and Ryan took us to an area that was alive with fish and the action began. We caught ladyfish, trout, snook and redfish in a short amount of time. The new lures were doing their job and I also snuck in a nice red on the Badonk-A-Donk top-water lure. We fished that spot for a little while and then Ryan took Terry and me to some other areas where we continued to catch more fish and we had a really productive morning.

We all met up for lunch on Cabbage Key, where the Jimmy Buffet song, “Cheeseburger in Paradise” originated. At lunch Mark gave me a big grin and said, “It is time to go and get a Goliath Grouper”. I jumped in the boat with Mark and the guys and headed over to the phosphate docks where these giants live. Mark kept a grin on his face as Chris got the heavy tackle rigged up. I was handed a Penn 80tw spooled with red 600 pound monofilament that looked like some type of licorice it was so thick. I was given a harness that was fastened around my back with 2 clips that ran from the harness and hooked me to the rod and reel. Captain Chris took a live stingray and hooked it up and we pulled toward the pilings. I was instructed to drop the bait down to the bottom, take one crank on the reel and get ready. I dropped the bait to the bottom and took a turn on the reel and immediately felt the bite. I reared back and set the hook and the rod slammed forward and I immediately realized I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. Mark backed the boat down to get the fish away from the pilings and then it was just me against the fish and I was not sure who had who. I was finally able to get some turns on the handle and get the fish up to the boat. I was amazed at the size of the fish and was quite surprised when they told me this was a small fish around 200lbs. We quickly unhooked the fish and it was time to rig up and try again. I followed the same procedure and got the same results. Within minutes I was hooked up on another giant and when I finally got this one to the boat my arms and legs were screaming for mercy. Once again I was told this was a small one, about 250 lbs. Mark was quick to tell me I needed to get a “big one”. I told him that big one or not the next would be my last, as I was not sure I could even bring in another fish. Mark told Chris to put on a big bait and he quickly rigged up a much larger live stingray. Down to the bottom it went and I was sitting there thinking, how is this fish going to get a bait that big in its mouth. I had a couple of strikes, but it seemed some of the fish were having a little harder time with this big bait. We pulled up and dropped again and the rod quickly bounced and before I could pull back to set the hook the rod tip was heading down toward the water and I was doing everything in my power to bring it back up. Mark backed us away from the pilings and once again the battle was on. I was having a hard time gaining any kind of ground on the fish. Each time I tried to lean forward and reel I could feel myself lift up off of the seat a little and at one point I found myself holding the rod and reel in one hand and holding onto the back of the chair with my other arm. Finally I was able to get a couple of turns on the reel only to have the fish take back the line I had just gained. I really was not sure, how this battle would turn out, but Mark and Chris both assured me that this was a grown fish. When I finally brought the fish to the surface I could not believe what I was looking at. It was the largest fish I’d ever landed and they estimated it to be 600-650lbs.

The next part of the adventure was to get in the water with this giant and get a picture. We eased the fish over toward the shallow waters along the beach and got out of the boat. Mark was quick to get the fish and make it comfortable and calm by holding it and stabilizing its body. I was still looking at this huge thing thinking that if it decided to swing that big old tail it would certainly knock me down. After a moment I was able to move up and get my arms under the fish and help support some of the weight. It was truly an incredible experience that I will never forget. After we snapped a quick picture, Mark showed me where to hold the fish by the mouth and I led it out to deeper water and it swam off and disappeared. These fish are federally protected and you must release them if you catch one.

This was a trip that I probably would have not have thought to take if I had not been invited. The Boca Grande pass is also the tarpon capital of the world and during the tarpon run the fishing is incredible. If you are looking for a fishing adventure I would highly recommend taking a trip to the south. Taylor can give you a comfortable, family friendly place to stay, right on the water with docking right outside of your room. Captain’s Chris O’Neill and Ryan Rowan can put you on any type of fish you wish to target. They are both experienced at catching the Goliath Grouper and every other species the area offers. I would like to say a special thank you to Mark for inviting me and to the other guys for making this trip as relaxing and fun as it was exciting.

Contacts:
Captain Ryan Rowan, 941-706-5061, captryan@tarponcaptain.com, www.tarponcaptain.com

Captain Chris O’Neill, Tail Chaser Charters, 941-270-7867, www.tailchasercharters.com

Buchan’s Landing Resort, Taylor Means, 1-877-buchans, http://ibiswebsite.com/buchans/

You can find the new Badonk-A-Donk SS lures in tackle shops and I can attest that they flat out, catch fish.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

Trick or Treat

2010-11-01T17:35:00.000-04:00

When you think of October you probably think of Halloween and kids dressed up in costumes screaming, â€œTrick or Treatâ€ as they make their way around the neighborhood collecting way too much candy. For anglers October and November are months that are known for targeting sheepshead around the docks and the Charleston jetties. For anglers just starting out fishing for these thieving convicts, the experience can be very much a trick or treat process. Sheepshead are very adept at cleaning bait off of a hook, many times without the angler even feeling their bite, or by the time they do feel the bite the bait and the fish are gone. I used to kid around with my friends that were good at catching sheepshead telling them the reason they caught such nice big fish was because I had been feeding them for years.

To avoid getting tricked you may want to go with someone that has been before. They key is to be ready and anticipate the bite. While there are all sorts of methods for catching these fish, I was taught a pretty simple system for catching them in the act. Sheephead are not like other fish in that they normally stay in one spot in the water column and use their teeth to quickly crush the fiddler from your hook. Most fish will pick up the bait and swim off with it and then we set the hook. Normally I like to fish as vertically as I possibly can and every ten seconds or so I raise the rod tip slightly. If I feel any resistance I set the hook and hold on.

Fiddler crabs are normally the bait of choice, but shrimp work well they can just be tough to get down to the target species before other smaller fish have picked them apart. Cooler water tends to thin out some of the smaller bait stealing fish and allows you to get a live shrimp down in front of the sheepshead. The strike on live shrimp may surprise you at times. The largest sheepshead I ever caught hit my bait on a dead run like a redfish and headed straight down the rocks. I was amazed when I finally got him boat side to see that it was actually a sheepshead. If you can find a good weather day and have an opportunity give sheepshead fishing a try. Once most people get a knack for catching them, they are normally hooked for life and enjoy the challenge these stealthy bait stealers pose.

Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com

First Aid and CPR

2010-11-01T17:33:00.000-04:00

I was getting signed up for my refresher class this week in First Aid and CPR and remembered this article I had put it together a few years back. Thought it was one well worth posting again, not because of my fabulous writing skills, but due to the content. If you have not taken these classes perhaps this article will spur you on a little bit. If you have taken these classes and it has been some time you many want to sign up for a refresher. My wife, a nurse at Roper Hospital, just had her refresher and she was telling me about some pretty significant changes in CPR methods that have recently been introduced. Without further ado here is the article from a few years ago:

Through my “regular” job I am set up to be a “first responder” to any in house accidents or incidents that occur. In order to fulfill these duties and in order to keep my Captains License up to date I am required to take a First Aid and CPR class once every two years. My company requires the training to be in compliance with the American Heart Association, and therefore certain topics must be addressed and the class is required to run at least 6-hours.

Last week I attended my bi-annual training. I will be the first to admit that in years past I have looked at the class as just another requirement to fulfill; however, this year I had a new outlook. Perhaps it is the fact that I have a newborn son at home and wanted to make sure I could help him should anything ever happen, or perhaps it is because my wife is a RN and I recently witnessed her and another nurse respond to a medical emergency at a resort while I ran and got help and all others just passed by and watched, or perhaps it is the fact that I am getting older, a little more cautious, and my obsessive compulsive personality wants to be prepared for any situation that I encounter.

The instructor, a 20 year EMT veteran with Charleston County, did an excellent job covering the course material. As he covered each topic he provided real life scenarios and helped all of us envision the circumstances we may find ourselves in as “first responders.” Several of the scenarios he covered were related around being in a rural area where there were limited resources around to call on for help. Multiple situations were where we may be providing CPR or First Aid to some one for an extended period of time before help arrived.

As I went through my own scenarios a few scenes kept running through my head, riding four wheelers out in the Francis Marion Forest with a group of friends, camping in the mountains with my wife and another couple, and fishing offshore with a few buddies. These are all activities that I believe most on this site can easily relate to and these all put us in the situation of relying on our own skills to help a victim of an incident ourselves with limited resources.

So the question is; are we prepared for a medical emergency? It really comes down to 3- simple items, 1) Communication, 2) Emergency Supplies, and 3) Training.

1) Communication
Do you have a way of calling for help? Is your cell phone charged before leaving for an outing? Do you and all your friends know how to call the Coast Guard on the VHF? Do you have an EPIRB? Is your EPIRB registration up to date?

2) Emergency Supplies
Do you have a portable first aid kit with you? Is the kit filled with the right basic supplies? Are those supplies up to date? keep a first aid kit obviously in the house, but I also keep one in the garage, one in the truck, one in each boat, and one in my back pack. I think I will buy one to keep on the four wheeler as well.

3) Training
$50 and 6-hours of my time gave me a basic skill set that may help me save a life one day. They say that over 70% of the time that folks perform CPR or First Aid it is on a family member or a close friend. These classes are available through American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and several other groups. I would highly recommend the small investment. Grab your family, a group of friends, or a co-worker and attend.

Tight lines…
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com
SouthCarolinaOnTheLakes.Com