CharlestonFishing.Com's FREE Weekly Newsletter

National Safe Boating Week
This week is the annual National Safe Boating Week and each year this topic seems to become more and more relevant here in the Lowcountry. Our waterways have become really congested with the large amount of growth we are experiencing. Many people that have grown up in Charleston can remember when most of the people you ran across on the water had grown up around the water, learned how to run boats from a very young age and were taught what the buoys and range markers meant. Many of the people on the water today are not from this area and many of them are trying boating for the first time. This coupled with the fact that many people go out on the boat to have a good time and in the process drink alcohol many times a little too much. Overcrowded waterways with no speed limits, many inexperienced boaters, and alcohol are a recipe for disaster. Not only do you need to watch out for what you are doing out on the water, but you need to pay attention to others around you.
The focus of this years campaign is wearing your life jacket. The statistics of people that drown due to the lack of wearing a life jacket are pretty telling. 87% percent of people that drowned were not wearing a life jacket. Attached is a link to the site for National Safe Boating Week. I encourage everyone to take a look and read through the site. A boating safety course in another recommendation and many feel this should be required for everyone that operates a boat. Read More Here

First Round Results Of Governor's Cup Billfishing Series
     The South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series opened its 19th season with the Edisto Marina Tournament over the weekend. The Series features five tournaments along the coast beginning May 9th at Edisto Island and ending July 25th with the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament.
     "The weather kept everyone in port on Thursday of the tournament, but Friday and Saturday were beautiful," said Tom DuPré of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, who coordinates the Governor's Cup Series. "We had a super turnout for the tournament, which spotlighted an upgraded facility at the Edisto Marina. Hundreds of spectators came to see the daily weigh-ins, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Buddy Smith and all the folks at the Edisto Marina put on another fun event," noted DuPré.
     33 boats participated in the Edisto Marina Tournament, with 7 blue marlin and 1 sailfish released during the 2 days of fishing.
Points for Governor's Cup tournaments are awarded as follows: 600 points for a blue marlin released in good condition, 200 points for a released white marlin, and 100 points for a released sailfish. In addition, boats are awarded 25 participation points for each Series tournament entered up to a maximum of three events. The minimum size for Series points or awards consideration for landed blue marlin in 110 inches measured in a curved line along the body from the fork of the tail to the tip of the lower jaw of the fish.
     The Best Billfish Boat was awarded to "Northstar," owned by Anthony McAlister of Mt.Pleasant. Kenny Black captained the winning boat, which caught and released a blue marlin and a sailfish on Friday to take the first place award for 700 points.
     Finishing in second place at the Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament for releasing a blue marlin was "Artemis," owned by John Darby of Charleston, and captained by Buck Copleston. "Artemis" caught and released a blue marlin on Friday to earn 600 points.
Third place for the Best Billfish Boat was awarded to "Fin-Addict," owned and captained by Danny Massalon of Camden, for the catch and release of a blue marlin on Friday to garner 600 points.
Angler Matt Martin of Edgefield caught a 52.6-pound wahoo aboard James Martin's boat "Southern Accent," to earn top honors for the Largest Wahoo Award.
     The Largest Dolphin Award went to angler John Cleveland of Greenville, who reeled in a 35.2- pound dolphin on "Overspray," owned by Foster McKissick and captained by Mike McClamrock.
Angler Cliff Altman of Chapin won the Largest Tuna Award for reeling in a 42.7-pound yellowfin tuna on "Boatyard Blue," owned and captained by Mark Parish.
     Outstanding Female Angler Award went to Ginger Speaks of Chapin, for the catch and release of a blue marlin on "Fin-Addict," owned by Danny Massalon, also of Camden.
     The Outstanding Youth Angler Award went to Kasey Dantzler, age 15, from Elloree, for a catch and release of a blue marlin on Friday aboard "Dough Boy," owned by Ben Dantlzer, also of Elloree.
     For more information on the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series contact Tom DuPré of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources by e-mail at dupret@dnr.sc.gov.

Fishing this past week has been pretty good. Offshore the dolphin and wahoo bite is really good. The tuna are kind of spotty so far this season. Hopefully they will turn on soon and it does not turn out like last years tuna run. The dolphin fishing has been as good as we have ever seen and should remain really good for the next couple of months. Offshore bottom fishing is still going strong and butterfly jigs are proving to be worth all of the hype catching some nice grouper, reds and even black sea bass. The king mackerel are here and the bigger ones are showing up in their usual haunts over areas of live bottom and structure. Inshore the sheepshead fishing is going strong. The trout fishing is staying very strong along with the redfish. The Spanish mackerel are around the harbor and the inlets. The flounder are also here and should readily hit a finger mullet or mudminnow. Look our for big crowds on the water this weekend. Be safe and have fun.

Tight lines…
Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com