Don't forget to upgrade your distress alerts before Feb. 1

The Coast Guard is reminding boaters to check their boating equipment. After Feb. 1, only those distress alerts from 406 MHz beacons will continue to be detected and processed by search and rescue satellites worldwide.Older model EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) that transmit a distress alert on 121.5 MHz or 243 MHz will no longer be monitored by satellite, and is likely to go completely undetected in an emergency. Mariners disposing of their old EPIRB before Feb. 1 are urged to first remove the battery.

Cobia Research

SCDNR is seeking help from anglers for its ongoing Cobia research. Anglers who are targeting cobia are encouraged to collect DNA samples and donate them for the 2008 study. The samples donated to DNR provide valuable information about cobia recruitment, age, growth, and habitat use.In addition, genetic analysis will help characterize the wild population structure and identify fish that originated in the hatchery. Cooperation from anglers is a vital aspect of DNR's stock enhancement efforts.Interested anglers are encouraged to contact DNR's Karl Brenkert for additional information at 843-953-9838 or brenkertk@dnr.sc.gov.

Auction

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources will conduct a public auction of surplus property and equipment on May 21 in West Columbia. Items include vehicles, boats, outboard motors, ATVs and other surplus equipment. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Styx Receiving Compound at 2760 Fish Hatchery Road in West Columbia. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. May 21 and continue until all items are sold. Registration for the auction is 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. May 21. All items may be viewed on preview day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20 at the Styx compound. For questions regarding the auction, call SC Surplus Property at 803-896-6880.

Cobia

Inshore water temperatures now average 66 degrees. Within this range, larger Cobia favor local waters and their arrival marks a transition for anglers. This transition is well apparent to anyone traveling over the Broad River Bridge. It gives pause to "Do any of these people have jobs?"

Last Saturday, the count on the water during its peak tide was 26 boats, with a bit less on Sunday. Tally for the period was six Cobia with the largest at 46 pounds caught by Larry Crosly of Savannah. Larry's boat team was his brother Troy and fellow fisherman Skyler Thomas.

"We moved to the opposite side of the bridge away from other boats and had just dropped baits behind the boat when the fish hit. It was our first trip to the area and the only fish we caught the entire weekend. Although we were told to stay close to the other boats things began to get crowded. Skyler said we should move and with all the water around us one area looked as good as any other," Crosly said.

Bait & Technique

Drift fishing cut mullet on the surface. Cobia action can be expected to pick up over the next week. The arrival of optimal water temperatures which favor the species is just a matter of holding three successive days with like temperatures and little wind. Juveniles remain close to Broad River but larger fish remain just offshore. A good many anglers have reported sightings of larger fish just under the surface cruising the buoys and channel markers. Other active Species include Flounder, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Spottail Bass, Whiting, Croaker, Wahoo, Dolphin, Shark, Blackfish, Grouper and Snapper.

Freshwater Trends

Many of the upper lakes have reported favorable water conditions although water levels remain low. A variety of panfish are actively taking natural baits and spinner imitations from shore reaches and timber drops. Catfish activity has been very good from the lower lake region of Lake Marion and reports of large catfish moving to shallow spawning waters remain consistent. Stripers (rockfish) action is slower than expected and can be attributed to surface temperature fluctuations, 3-5 degrees in some areas overnight. Stained, cloudy waters hold more stable temperatures which stripers seek during seasonal changes. Artificials are still favored over natural baits and the larger 5-6 inch trolling/diving varieties work best.

Combahee River reports remain slow for Largemouth Bass but good for Black Crappie and Catfish. The Ashepoo and Edisto Rivers are fair bets for panfish and the Savannah River stays the top choice for the third week for all species.

Note to Anglers

Fishing Tournaments are common along the coast and our waters hold their fair share of events. Anglers and sponsors like to associate themselves with those that maintain environmental awareness, respect for the species and angler safety. The majority of tournaments which are readily recognized will have an official weighmaster, a tournament director, and a rules committee. In addition the SCDNR Boating Safety Office will have been informed. For an official Marine Event form, contact SCDNR at 843-953-9378.

Each year tournaments come and go, the best survive the challenge and remain among the elite. If you would like to share your fishing tournament with readers or simply wish to notify others of an outdoor event, contact me. Ours is a huge expanse of wonderful opportunity to be shared and enjoyed by everyone respectful of it's limitations. I can be reached at rodcrafter@islc.net

Tackle Tip

Fish live in a world 10 times more denser than ours. For this reason, it is essential to not make any unusual noises, especially if fishing from an aluminum boat. A remedy for this is to make sure everything is within easy reach, have your rods rigged and ready and leave the large tackle box at home. Another sound saver method in aluminums is to glue or Velcro small pieces of outdoor carpet to the bottom of your tackle box.

Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley.-- Author Unknown

'Till Next week,

Good Fishin'

Lee