Congress gives break to recreational boaters

It was a victory spurred on by individuals who share a unique trait -- common sense.

Tossing other interests off the table, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives agreed on passage of the "Clean Boating Act of 2008," which restores a 35-year-old permit exemption for recreational boaters. Originally designed to curtail industrial polluters, the permit would have subjected recreational boats to the same maintenance and operation procedures as those of large sea-going vessels and commercial ships.

"One of the real keys to success here was our collective ability to activate the grassroots," Margaret Podlich, government affairs director for the advocacy group BoatUS, said in a news release.

She noted that tens of thousands of letters and e-mails were generated by boaters and anglers over the past 12 months, urging congressional leaders to exempt recreational boaters from the regulations.

The bill now awaits President Bush's signature.

FEATHER-CUTTING TIME ARRIVES EARLY

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources board recently decided to move up the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting season. The move still needs approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but once it is published in the federal register, caps can begin to pop.

Here is a rundown of the season:

• Morning doves: Sept. 1-6 (noon to sunset); Sept. 7-Oct.4; Nov. 22-29; and Dec. 19-Jan. 15.

• Canada geese: Sept. 1-30 (statewide).

• Early teal: Sept. 19-27.

• Marsh hen: The season will be a two-parter once again. This will include king, clapper, sora and Virginia rails and common moorhens and purple gallinules. The first season will be Sept. 15-20, and the second will be Oct. 13-Dec. 15.

• Woodcock: Jan. 2-31.

• Common snipe (also called Wilson's snipe): Nov. 14-Feb. 28.

For season confirmation, information concerning youth hunts Sept. 1 for the Upper Savannah River Chapter of Quail Unlimited or opening day dove hunts at Evans Field, call the Clemson DNR office at 864-654-1671. You also can obtain an application, which are due Aug. 11, by calling this number.

LOCAL FISHING TRENDS

Hot weather and humidity has anglers searching for that window of opportunity. With a little perseverance, you can catch fish.

Your best bet is to fish the incoming tide and full flood tide. Stay close to structure when fishing the flats, and work the grass and oyster reaches. Stay directly on pier and bridge pilings, and use the incoming slack tide for better control when vertical jigging.

Active species include spottail bass, which can be caught with artificial shrimp such as DOA, Gulp and Rattle Tails. Sheepshead still favor live fiddlers, with large China Backs being most productive. While trout have been hard to locate, trolling prospective areas and then dropping a marker buoy will ensure you remain in productive waters. The falling tide works best, and while finicky and easily spooked, trout are still curious and are attracted to popping lures and floats baited with fresh shrimp. Flounder also have been caught during the outgoing tide and favor larger creek mouths and major inlets close to deeper waters. Once again, trolling is best. Mud minnows are the preferred bait.

Other active inshore species are whiting, croaker, ladyfish, small bluefish and plenty of blacktip shark.

If you're heading offshore, Spanish mackerel, pompano, dolphin, bluefish, black drum, wahoo and yellowfin tuna are active. So are some bottom dwellers -- such as blackfish and triple tail -- that are holding along the edges of active bottom.

If freshwater is your thing, now is the best time for top-water lures. Pencil poppers like the Smithwick, Bagleys and Rebels are working well. Super floater and weightless worms fished with 7- to 8-foot fishing rods and light spinning reels make the perfect combination.

With the abundance of mullet and menhaden, as well as good runs of brown and white shrimp, gamefish are plentiful. But gamefish tend to pick and choose times more effectively than anglers. By fishing known hot spots and favorite fishing holes, your chances of hooking up are greatly increased. Save your fuel for more favorable conditions.

DOVE-HUNTING TIP

The start of dove season offers advantage to hunters. By setting up your stand close to water during early season's warmer weather, your chances of getting a shot in greatly improve. Doves have excellent eyesight, and if you shoot around early morning flights to water the chances of them flaring off are greatly reduced.