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Topwater Nights
The announcement on the news last Thursday night that it was the summer solstice, rang a wake up bell for me. I had not been taking advantage of the long days and fishing after work nearly as much as I needed to. Evening fishing after work spells topwater action for Trout, Reds, Ladyfish, Blues, Spanish, you get the picture! As far as angling experiences go, watching a fish blow up on a topwater bait ranks extremely high on the excitement scale for me.
Read the article HERE

Permits Now Required For Water Structures
     Owners of floating water structures on the state's waters must now apply for a permit from the S.C. Department of Natural Resource (DNR) to keep those structures. Any structure that is not permitted will be deemed a public nuisance and will be subject to removal by the state. "Structure" is defined in part as structure located on any public waters capable of being used as a place of temporary or permanent habitation. The definition of a "structure" does not include registered or documented watercraft that is capable of navigation and are legally anchored or legally moored to a dock or marina.
     Legislation (H.3466), which was passed this year, allows the owners of water structures to keep them on the water for up to five years with a permit from the DNR. The permit costs $50 and owners have until August 22, 2007 to make application for one. A water structure will be considered a public nuisance after that date and will be subject to removal. A permit will allow the owner to maintain the structure for five years, after which the owner will be responsible for the cost of removing the structure. A permit may not be renewed, extended or transferred.
     Get a permit application by calling the DNR boating office in Columbia at (803) 734-3857 or Charleston at (843) 953-9301 or by going to the DNR website HERE The following information will be required as part of the permit application:
* A detailed description of the structure.
* The structure's location using latitude and longitude or marked on a
     United States Geological Survey topographic map.
* DNR will inspect the structure to insure it does not present a hazard
     to navigation nor encroach upon private property or a wildlife
     management area.
     DNR is responsible for removal of water structures. The managers of the major lakes, either power companies or the U.S. Corps of Engineers, are responsible for removal of water structures on lakes. A permit means the owner will be responsible for the cost of removing the water structure in five years time.

10 Things That Could Get You Into Trouble On The Water On America's Busiest Boating Holiday
The busiest boating time of the year is nearly here, the July 4th holiday. Harbors, bays and rivers will soon be brimming with vacationing boaters, vessels will flock to waterfront fireworks shows, and busy marinas and launch ramps will all contribute to recreational boating's own form of waterway rush hour.
According to the largest on-the-water towing fleet in North America, TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist, over 3,800 boaters across the US are expected to call for on-the-water assistance during the holiday week - more than any other time of the year. The towing fleet and the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety have teamed up to offer ten tips on how to avoid mishaps this July 4th:

It's a long day: A full day in the in sun will increase alcohol's effects on the body, so it's better to wait until you're safely back at the dock or home before breaking out the libations. Also bring lots of water, a VHF radio, and check the weather reports to avoid storms.

It's a long day, for the boat, too: As the firework shows end, like clockwork the TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist call center switchboards light up like a Christmas tree with hundreds of boaters needing jump starts. Running electronics all day such as sound systems, fans, or other appliances and failing to monitor battery usage could leave your boat dead in the water when it's time to go home.

Running the engine to charge the batteries: Raft-ups, or groups of boats tied together in a protected anchorage, is a great way to spend the holiday with fellow boating friends. But you should never run an engine with swimmers in the water or near exhaust ports. Even though the boat's transmission may not be in gear, propellers can still rotate, and odorless, colorless Carbon Monoxide can quickly overcome swimmers.

Trailer problems: The BoatUS Trailering Club reports that flat tires and burnt bearings are the two biggest causes for boat trailer breakdowns. What shape are yours in?

Don't overload your boat: Capsizing and falls overboard account for over half of all boating fatalities. Resist the urge to invite more friends or family to the fireworks show than what your boat was designed to carry. Heavily loaded small boats, and those with little freeboard such as bass boats, are more susceptible to swamping from weather or wake action associated with heavy July 4th boating traffic.

Wear life jackets: 70% of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 87% were not wearing a life jacket. Accidents can happen very quickly, sometimes leaving no time to don a life jacket.

Follow the rules of the road: If a boat is approaching your vessel from your starboard (right) side, do you know what to do? What happens when a light on another vessel "changes" from red to green? Brush up now before you head out.

Patience: The lines at boat launch ramps - in the parking lot or the water - can resemble a Southern California freeway at rush hour. Be patient, ready to go when it's your turn, and follow good boating etiquette.

Take your time to get home: July 4th is the one time a year many fair-weather boaters - who may rarely navigate in the dark - venture out after the sun goes down. The most reported type of boating accident is a collision with another vessel so it's a good idea to keep your speed down, post an extra lookout, and ensure all your navigation lights work. A spotlight is a must, and ensure all safety gear is readily available. Be extra vigilant about not running over anchor lines in crowded fireworks viewing areas, and don't take shortcuts in the dark.

Celebrate: Hey, its America's birthday and you're on the water! Be safe, be prepared and have fun!

Weather has been good this week for the fish, but looks like some change is on the way for the weekend, we shall see. I fished inshore the last two nights after work and managed some nice Ladyfish, a trout, and missed a nice red. Action has been good inshore as there are some nice finger mullet in the creeks now as well as some decent sized bait shrimp. Reds, Trout, and Flounder are being caught on these live baits as well as artificials. The full moon is almost here which will mean some tailing tides for the mid to late mornings next week. For those fishing the grass the reds are hitting Berkeley Gulp Crabs, natural crabs and weedless Johnson Spoons. Sounds like there are some decent blues being caught over structure and the Spanish are running in the inlets.
Offshore action has been good this week with some nice weather. I fished Saturday and stayed around the ledge most of the day. Managed to pick up 4 Kings and a Wahoo, had hoped for some Dolphin, but no luck there. Weeds are still scattered from the rocks all the way out and folks are still catching Dolphin in as close as 65-feet. The radio was active all morning with boats fishing 300-feet and deeper having good action on the billfish.

Tight lines…
Captain Tim Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com