Sept. 6, 2011

Shrimp-baiting season opens Sept. 9 in S.C. waters

The 2011 shrimp-baiting season will open at noon Friday, Sept. 9 in South Carolina waters. Although an unusually cold winter resulted in some mortality of white shrimp, adequate numbers survived to produce a fair fall population. Timely rainfall this summer has also contributed positively to the population.

Recreational shrimpers who purchase a shrimp-baiting license can legally cast their nets for shrimp over bait during this season. Shrimp-baiting season will remain open until noon Tuesday, Nov. 8. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) opens the shrimp-baiting season annually on the last Friday on or before Sept. 15 each year.

The shrimp baiting season lasts 60 days, resident licenses cost $25 and non-residents licenses cost $500. The catch limit is 48 quarts of shrimp measured heads-on (29 quarts heads-off) per boat or set of poles per day, and each boat is limited to a set of 10 poles. When taking shrimp over bait, no cast net may be used having a mesh smaller than one-half inch square measure or one inch stretch measure.

Post-season mail surveys conducted every year since 1988 indicate that recent total catches have been less than 1 million pounds per season (heads on) after peaking at more than 3.6 million pounds in 1997. Despite the decline in total catch, catch per trip has remained relatively stable, averaging about 20-22 quarts per trip since 2001. The stable catch-per-trip suggests that shrimp abundance has remained relatively good, but fewer licenses and shrimping trips are resulting in a lower overall harvest. Recent sampling by DNR's Crustacean Monitoring Program caught fair numbers of shrimp along the southern coast, according to Larry DeLancey, program supervisor. Areas around Port Royal Sound and Georgetown produced the largest shrimp.

DNR Law Enforcement Division in Charleston advises baiters not to have bait or poles in a boat that is in the water before noon on Friday, Sept. 9. The public is asked to report violations of saltwater recreational and commercial fishing laws by calling the Coast Watch hotline number (1-800-922-5431) toll-free, 24 hours a day.

Changes to striped bass size, possession limits effective July 1

Regulations effecting striped bass angling were signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2010. Under the new regulations, the size and possession limits have changed for the inshore waters and territorial sea.

SCDNR conducts online survey to track winter's effect on spotted seatrout

South Carolina’s recreational anglers are currently being polled by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in an effort to discover if the winter’s unusually cold weather impacted spotted seatrout populations.

The online survey is found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/seatrout.

The January cold spell led to below-average water temperatures along the coast, and SCDNR officials believe this could have been a time of great stress and even mortality for the spotted seatrout population.

The online survey focuses on anglers who have targeted spotted seatrout since Feb. 1, and gauges what their success rates have been compared to the average catch over several years.

There is also a section of the survey to record when and if someone saw dead fish or even lethargic fish during that time period. Lethargic trout are thought to have been easy targets for predators like dolphin during the unusual cold spell, and predation may explain why anglers did not observe many dead fish.

Capt. Bob Sanders (803.259.1374) of FishingWithBob Charters at Edisto Island has had great concern over the spotted seatrout population since the cold weather. Sanders, who has a reputation for being able to find the trout for clients, said there have been very few located this year in the waters around Edisto.

“We’ve started a grassroots moratorium on keeping trout,” he said. “The numbers are way down from predation during the extended cold this winter. So turn those trout loose.”

Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic set for March 26-28 in Columbia

The 26th Annual Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic will be held at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia March 26-28. Doors will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, March 26; from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 27; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 28.
           
New and returning major attractions for 2010 are Frank Addington, Jr., (known as the Aspirin Buster), Dennis Stratton (Creating the Great Hunt Experience with Children), Roark Ferguson (conservationist, herpetologist, and wildlife adventurer) and Joella Bates (first woman in the world to arrow Africa’s Big 5).    

Also new this year, live entertainment in the midway with Nashville singer/songwriter Mike Stewart. Stewart, an Aiken, SC native, spent more than 20 years in Nashville where he wrote million selling songs for such greats as Ronnie Milsap and The Pointer Sisters. Mike has recorded with Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy, Hank Williams, Jr., Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Vince Gill, Travis Tritt, Dobie Gray, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, The Judds, Clifford Curry, Bill Pinkney & The Original Drifters and many others. His vocal talents won him a spot on the Capitol Records "All Night All Stars" CD which includes soulful tracks from music legends like Greg Allman, Levon Helm, T. Graham Brown, Bobby Whitlock, Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie and Russell Smith. Mike Stewart with special guests Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips will perform two shows on Saturday, March 27, noon and 2 p.m.     

For more information on the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, call the DNR Columbia office at (803) 734-4008.
           
Admission to the 2010 Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is $6 and parking is $2. Seniors 60 and over get in for $5 while children 10 and under are admitted free. Visitors bringing five canned-food items for Harvest Hope Food Bank receive $1 off admission. Join us as we celebrate and thank our Veterans for their service at the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic on March 28. Free entry for those in military uniform and $1 off admission for any veteran with proper ID.
           
Classic-goers will find hundreds of exhibitors on site with the latest fishing, hunting and outdoor equipment for show and sale. Also in 2010 will be the Fifth Annual S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Archery Classic-goers will find hundreds of exhibitors on site with the latest fishing, hunting and outdoor equipment for show and sale. Also in 2010 will be the Fifth Annual S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Archery in the Schools Tournament. The tournament is a culminating event for the Archery in the Schools program and 1st place teams in each category will be eligible for the National tournament. The DNR’s education staff and volunteers will be on hand to help kids catch a catfish at the highly popular SC Reel Kids Fishing Pond. DNR’s Take One Make One trailer with air rifle and electronic shooting ranges and Bass Tub fishing technique demonstrations will also be at the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic.
           
The Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic is sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, WIS-TV, WCOS Radio, SportsTalkSC, Professional Printers, Huntin’ the World—Southern Style TV, eXmark and The State Newspaper. 

 

Marine recreational fisheries on-line survey needs public input

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources is working to produce an educational tool to help everyone better understand the state's marine fishery resources, and to help that along, the public is being asked to take an on-line survey.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) envisions a concise simple format combining information from anglers, scientific literature, and work conducted by DNR. For this effort to be a success, the DNR needs help in defining products that best serve the public's needs and interests.

Please take a few minutes on the survey to tell the DNR a little about how you interact with natural resources and your specific interests related to inshore marine recreational fisheries, which are the focus of the first phase of the effort. Information collected in the survey will be used to help direct the DNR's efforts toward the species and topics most important to the public.

Link to Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KZQ85R5

December 7, 2009

Governor's Cup Billfishing Series sets 2010 tournament schedule

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources recently announced the 2010 proposed schedule and tournament information for the 22nd annual S. C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series.
     
Before the S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series began in 1989, virtually all billfish caught by anglers were killed and brought back to the docks. The Series was established to promote the state’s billfishing opportunities and encourage conservation of the ocean’s limited natural resources. The Series continues to actively encourage the conservation of marine resources by promoting catch and release of both billfish and other game fish. The partnership between DNR and the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series has provided an important link to the sportfishing community, and has allowed for an extremely efficient and cost-effective means for gathering important scientific data useful for managing the fishery.
     
During the 2009 Series, the release rate was 100 percent, with 187 billfish being caught and released including 28 blue marlin, 17 white marlin and 142 sailfish. The high release rate achieved during Series tournaments significantly contributes to the future of billfish populations. By maintaining close relationships with the sportfishing community, including boat owners, captains and anglers, data are also acquired for trips conducted not only at sanctioned tournaments but from those taking place throughout the year.
     
Private sponsorships are the lifeblood of the S.C. Governor’s Cup Series. The DNR greatly appreciates the generous support of the Series 2009 Sponsors including corporate sponsors: Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC and Jarrett Bay Boatworks; and major sponsors: HMY Yacht Sales, Southern Lumber and Millwork, and The Charleston Angler, as well as contributions from the Advisory Board of Directors, the Newsletter sponsors and others. The funds collected each year support DNR’s oversight of the annual series. Contact Wallace Jenkins for more information to help support future S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series events.
     
Tournament dates and contacts for the 2010 S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series are:

• May 12-15, Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament, contact Bryan Richardson, 1880 Andell Bluff Blvd, Johns Island, SC, 29455, (843) 768-1280, fax 768-3481, Dockmaster@bohicket.com.
  
   
• May 26-29, 43rd Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, contact John Horton, PO Box 1704, Georgetown, SC 29442, (843) 546-1776, fax (843) 546-7832, jhorton@georgetownlandingmarina.com.
  
   
• June 23-26, Carolina Billfish Classic, contact Deidre Menefee, 1625 Savannah Hwy., Charleston, SC 29407, (843) 345-0369, fax (888) 758-3950, dm@fishCBC.com.
      
   
• July 7-10, HMY/Viking MEGADOCK Billfishing Tournament, contact McKenzie Estes, PO Box 759, Charleston, SC, 29402, (843) 278-4920, fax (843) 577-7704, mestes@megadock.com.
  
   
• July 28-31, Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament, contact Becca Smith, 3702 Docksite Road Edisto Beach, SC, 29438, (407) 463-2082, fax (843) 869-3738, smithbeccae@gmail.com.

For more information on the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, contact DNR’s Jenkins by e-mail at jenkinsw@dnr.sc.gov or (843) 953-9835, and Dukes by e-mail at dukesa@dnr.sc.gov or (843) 953-9365.

For South Carolina's recreational anglers, weakfish could very well go from having no limits at all to total protection in a matter of a few years.

There were no regulations on weakfish in the Palmetto State until 2007, meaning until then South Carolina anglers could land as many fish of any size of the species as they wanted.

Before 2007, many anglers did just that - annually harvesting dozens, even hundreds, of weakfish on autumn fishing trips to nearshore hard-bottom areas in the Atlantic Ocean off the Grand Strand, where weakfish have long been known to congregate.

In June 2007, a daily bag limit of 10 fish per person and a minimum size of 12 inches were established as the first-ever limits on weakfish in the state.

Now, a complete moratorium on recreational landings of weakfish, also known locally as summer trout or grey trout, is one of the management options being considered by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in response to a recent stock assessment along the East Coast.

Bob Beal, Director of the Interstate Fisheries Management Program, presented a draft of the proposed changes to the ASMFC's weakfish fishery management plan during a public hearing Wednesday night at the Springmaid Beach Resort and Conference Center.

The stock assessment, compiled by a technical committee of scientists and biologists and presented to the ASMFC's management board in August, found that the weakfish stock along the East Coast has declined markedly and is in a depleted state.

However, the weakfish's decline is more a result of natural mortality and not overfishing. Predation of weakfish by species such as spiny dogfish and striped bass, particularly in the mid-Atlantic, has taken a toll.

The draft presented by Beal contained four recreational management options for states from Massachusetts to Florida to consider:

Option 1: Status quo. All states would be eligible to maintain regulations effective in 2008.

Option 2: Reduced creel limit at current minimum size limits. All states would be eligible to continue recreational fishing at current size limits but would be required to reduce bag limits to two or one fish.

Option 3: Combined size and creel limit restrictions to reduce harvest by X percent or more. All states would be eligible to continue recreational fishing using minimum size and maximum creel restrictions that would reduce harvest by 50, 75 or 90 percent or more.

Option 4: Harvest moratorium. All states would be required to prohibit the recreational harvest of weakfish. All weakfish incidentally caught would have to be immediately returned to the water.

Considering that the stock assessment considers the weakfish stocks to be depleted, it is unlikely the ASMFC's management board will choose the status quo, or option 1.

"There's a pretty strong likelihood the board is going to take some reduction [in weakfish limits]," Beal said. "What that will be is hard to say."

One of several attendees of the hearing, who wished to remain anonymous, urged the ASMFC to allow the weakfish limits to be set on a state-by-state basis, or option 2.

The draft presented by Beal also contained management options for the species commercial fishery, which is insignificant in South Carolina.

"It's a recreational fishery - there really is no commercial fishery for weakfish here," said Mel Bell, director of the Office of Fisheries Management for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. "That's a little different as you move farther up the Atlantic into North Carolina, Virginia and farther up into the mid-Atlantic."

NotesS.C. Department of Natural Resources biologists in attendance estimated that 75 percent of all recreational weakfish landings in South Carolina occur in estuarine or near-shore waters in the Atlantic Ocean in or adjacent to Georgetown and Horry counties.

The ASMFC has coordinated interstate management of weakfish from 0-3 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean since 1985. The management unit includes the entire U.S. East Coast weakfish population from Massachusetts through Florida.

The ASMFC's vision statement reads: "Healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.

MYRTLE BEACH PUBLIC HEARING SET OCT. 14 ON WEAKFISH REDUCED CATCH

        Protecting the declining stocks of weakfish, a recreational species in coastal waters, will be the subject of a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Myrtle Beach.
        The public hearing will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Springmaid Beach Resort and Conference Center, 3200 South Ocean Blvd., in Myrtle Beach.
        For more information on the weakfish public hearing, contact Mel Bell, director of the Office of Fisheries Management for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), at (843) 953-9007.
        A recent assessment of the Atlantic Coast weakfish stocks indicated a marked decline in abundance, high mortality, and a generally depleted population. Weakfish, sometimes called gray trout or summer trout, is a close relative of the spotted seatrout.
        "To be in compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Weakfish Management Plan, South Carolina will most likely have to reduce the current daily bag limit of 10 fish per person in state waters," said Bell. "Exactly what measures will be enacted to protect weakfish have yet to be determined and will be based in part on public input received at hearings planned from New York to Florida.
        "South Carolina has a small recreational weakfish fishery primarily in nearshore waters during the fall and winter months," Bell said. "The state has no commercial fishery for this species."
        Researchers have determined that weakfish natural mortality has risen substantially since 1995 due to predation, competition and environmental changes. Natural mortality is presently thought to have a greater influence on weakfish stocks than fishing mortality, and stocks are likely to recover slowly even under a harvest moratorium.
        "Any changes in state law regulating the state's weakfish fishery will have to be taken before the South Carolina General assembly for adoption, possibly as early as the 2010 session," Bell said.
        South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy overall. Find out why "Life's Better Outdoors" at: www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html.

KEEP LIGHT'S OUT ON BEACHES FOR LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES

        The support of South Carolina coastal residents is needed more than ever to raise awareness and educate visitors to Keep Light's Out for Loggerheads.
        The loggerhead sea turtle nesting season is May through October. Nesting occurs on the beaches of South Carolina's barrier islands. From May to mid-August, loggerheads come ashore to deposit about 120 eggs in a nest cavity in the dry sand dune system. Sixty days later, loggerhead hatchlings emerge from the nest at night and head to the ocean. Nests hatch from July through the end of October. During the nesting season, loggerheads may be disoriented by artificial lights. A disorientation event occurs when artificial light from man-made sources leads turtles away from the ocean.
        To date in South Carolina, 34 disorientation events of loggerhead hatchlings have been reported to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Marine Turtle Conservation Program (www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle). This is compared to 23 in 2008.
        The numbers of disoriented nests per beach are:
        * Hilton Head - 12
        * Cape Island - 8
        * Town of Edisto Beach - 5
        * Isle of Palms - 5
        * Sullivan's Island - 1
        * Hunting Island State Park - 1
        * Myrtle Beach - 1
        * South Island - 1
        These disorientation events may have affected as many as 4,080 hatchlings (based on the average of 120 eggs in a nest). The causes of these disorientations include streetlights, gas station hood lights, city sky glow, exterior lights on commercial establishments, high density dwellings and beach-front homes, including pool lights. People on or near the beach carrying flashlights or lanterns, bonfires, and landscape lighting can also disorient loggerhead hatchlings.
        When loggerhead hatchlings emerge from the shell, they are attracted to the blue and green wavelengths of light which are naturally reflected off the ocean through celestial light. They use this natural light cue to navigate from the nest towards the ocean. This same mechanism is used by adult females when nesting. If an artificial light source on the beach is brighter than the natural light, the hatchlings will head towards this artificial source. These artificial lights can be a direct source such as a beach front home's exterior flood light or a street light; the artificial light can also be indirect, light pollution that creates a sky glow effect.
        When a hatchling sea turtle is attracted away from the ocean towards a direct or indirect source of light, biologists describe this as a disorientation event. The hatchlings become disoriented and crawl away from the ocean towards the brightest light. During this disorientation event, hatchlings are more susceptible to nocturnal predators and desiccation. While crawling the wrong way on the beach, hatchlings exhaust valuable, limited energy stores needed to swim offshore. Hatchlings need energy once they reach the ocean to swim towards floating Sargassum seaweed found as far as 60 miles offshore. They use the seaweed as camouflage to protect them from predators. The seaweed is also home to small crustaceans that loggerhead hatchlings eat to replenish their energy.
        Loggerheads are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and are protected by federal and state laws. The loggerhead nesting population in the southeastern United States is continuing to decline, and it has been recommended that this species be reclassified from threatened to endangered. If a sea turtle hatchling is disoriented by artificial light, the maximum federal fine for harming a threatened species is $25,000. County and local lighting ordinances exist to protect sea turtles. To see a list of lighting ordinances in South Carolina, please visit (PDF file): www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/volres/ordinances.pdf. Violating local or county lighting ordinances carry fines up to $500.
        As coastal development continues to increase, the number of disorientation events will also rise. If sea turtle friendly light fixtures and bulbs are used, this increasing trend can be reversed. Sustainable development allows for sea turtles and people to coexist in the beachfront communities. To learn more about available sea turtle friendly products, visit the DNR's new "sea turtle and lights" Web site: www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/lights.htm.
        Follow sea turtle nesting and stranding in South Carolina in real time. Visit the sea turtle nest monitoring page (www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?view=2) and sea turtle stranding page (www.seaturtle.org/strand).
        South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy overall. Find out why "Life's Better Outdoors" at: www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html.