Landings busy with shrimp baiters
I watched as boats moved to and from the landings. You were hard pressed to find a parking space, and the turn-around of boats jockeying for position made things that much more congested.
If these were fishermen, I would think the fall season had gotten off to an excellent start. But this was not the case -- the boats were all laden with long poles, bait concoctions and coolers.
Shrimp-baiting season had arrived in full force, and these boaters were rigged and ready for action.
I quit baiting years ago, but there is a lot to be said for the practice, which can be as equally rewarding as it can be disappointing. It's all a matter of individual skills, knowledge of the water and a good deal of luck. Dealing with a lesser species has always been a matter of pride for those in pursuit of an easy return. While some brag of their prowess, as with fishing, there are twice as many that find the routine more work than it is worth.
A few tips:
• Find mud flats, creeks and sloughs, which are great places to set your poles and cast your net. Casting seems to be most effective in creeks with mud bottom during low tide.
• Casting in waters of 3 to 4 feet will produce larger shrimp. A dead giveaway is to watch for areas others have tried in the past and try to duplicate their efforts -- it'sall about moving and finding the best areas.
• Practice tossing your net in the yard prior to your trip. Muscles seldom used tire quickly. Learn to toss the perfect pancake instead of the folded taco so often seen by the inexperienced cast netter.
• Choose a net that is matched to your ability. Large nets readily become a burden. Also, heed S.C. Department of Natural Resources rules restricting cast nets used over bait to a mesh size of 1/2-inch bar mesh (1-inch stretch.)
• Do not form your bait into balls. Doing so will often result in your bait rolling away from your poles. Instead flatten them out and they will stay in place.
LOCAL TRENDS
Fishing this past week showed much promise. Cooler afternoon and milder morning temperatures made trips more enjoyable, to boot.
Water temperatures are holding at the lower 80-degree mark, and run-off from the creeks and main rivers has cleared previously stained and muddy waters.
Inshore waters have surrendered nice catches of flounder, spottail, sheepshead and, on occasion, many trout. A few scattered reports of tarpon have come from the larger creeks and inlets, but more have been sighted than caught.
Wind and rough waters made offshore fishing a bit slow last week. Planning trips for the big water can be a bit risky, but there are times opportunity beckons even the wary.
During a cool front just before the start of the fall season and the onset of high pressure, generally fishing is slow. A better choice would be to wait until the barometer is falling, after the front has moved through and just before the next front arrives. On the breaks, bottom fishing has been very good. A few reports of sailfish continue to show from waters at 65-foot depths, and with all the floating debris, dolphin have been marked while trolling for wahoo.
FOR HUNTERS
The season to pop a few caps while you lead your shots for marsh hens and teal is upon us. The two-part season for marsh hens -- including king, clapper, sora and Virginia rails common moorhens and purple gallinules -- will be from Sept. 15-20 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 15. The early season for teal will be Sept. 19-27, with a daily bag limit of four birds. Shooting hours for teal is sunrise until sunset. For king, clapper rails, moorhens or purple gallinules, it is 15 birds per hunter. Daily limits for sora and Virginia rails is 25 birds per hunter. Marsh hen shooting times are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
FROM THE KITCHEN
From the connoisseurs of fine food and easy meals comes a request for more recipes. During the shrimp-baiting season, many seek a new way to prepare the Lowcountry delicacy. I offer this old family recipe for "Parmesan Shrimp by the Twos."
2 pounds shrimp
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups parmesan cheese
2 eggs
2 cups bread crumbs
2 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Peel and de-vein shrimp. Mix lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce and marinate. Mix batter of eggs, cornstarch, water, flour, cheese and bread crumbs. Dip shrimp in batter and fry in olive oil. (A shallow cast iron skillet works exceptionally well.) When golden brown, remove, drain and serve. Goes great with mint tea, meal batter hush puppies and pear salad.
BEAUFORT FISHING TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Standings for Beaufort Fishing Tournament, with species, boat, angler and weight in pounds:
LARGEST SPECIES RESULTS
Amber jack: C-Spoon, Todd Bradley, 66.78
Barracuda: Sea Wolf VI, Joshua Price, 25.26
Black drum: Roll-N, Karsten Dutton, 10.58
Blackfin tuna: Artemis, Ted MaMunes, 11.00
Black sea bass: Mikes Marine, Mike Spade, 4.72
Bluefish: TopGun5, Taylor Taylor, 11.62
Cobia: Happy Dog, Tennant Houston, 50.44
Croaker: My Time Out Jr, Frank Gibson, .68
Dolphin (dorado): Tortteaser, Lovick Hornsby, 50.32
Founder: Roeme, Scott Willard, 6.82
Grouper: No Worries, Steve Roll, 15.68
Jack crevalle: Sea Wolf VI, Matthew Moore, 2.18
King mackerel: Marvs Outboard, Bernie Vinoski, 41.94
Ladyfish: 3 Capt's, Swanton Anderson, 2.62
Little tunny: TopGun5, Tom Thomas, 14.78
Red drum: No Name, Ashby West, 5.10
Red snapper: Mikes Marine, Mike Spade, 18.00
Sea trout:Mikes Marine, Mark Clifford, 4.3
Sheepshead: Miss Fripp, Frank Gibson, 8.82
Spadefish: TopGun5, Tom Thomas, 8.20
Spanish mackerel: Marvs Outboard, Sibet Copeland, 6.2
Spotted seatrout: Roeme, Scott Willard, 5.24
Spot: Sea Wolf VI, Nick Polowy, 1.32
Toad fish: Mikes Marine, Frank Gibson, 3.14
Triggerfish: No Worries, Larry Andrews, 9.11
Vermillion snapper: No Worries, Seth Andrews, 3.02
Wahoo: No Worries, Steve Roll, 53.16
Weakfish: A+B, Ben Vegar, 1.04
Whiting: Reel Control, Joe Marshall, 1.24
FEMALE ANGLER
Amber jack: Hold-N-On, Melanie McCaffree, 28.90
Barracuda: Miss Fripp, Phyllis Gibson, 14.30
Black sea bass: My Time Out III, Phyllis Gibson, 2.10
Bluefish: Sea Wolf VI, Katie Gambla, 1.96
Cobia: Foreclosure, Cindy Reid, 22.56
Dolphin (dorado): Artemis, Pam Roy, 9.18
Flounder: Artemis, Pam Roy, 4.10
Grouper: Artemis, Pam Roy, 13.36
King mackerel: Dr Hook, Marsha Vinoski, 27.56
Ladyfish: Miss Fripp, Phyllis Gibson, 1.50
Little tunny: Sea Wolf, Chris Odioso, 12.7
Red drum: Mikes Marine, Bobbie Spade, 4.14
Red snapper: Mikes Marine, Sarah Florez, 6.44
Sea trout: Froggy Daddy, Carol Curren, 2.68
Sheepshead: Sea Wolf VI, Shelbia Sasse, 2.88
Spanish mackerel: Marvs Outboard, Sibet Copeland, 6.2
Spots: Lil Looer, Holly Carslake, 0.18
Toad fish: Artemis, Pam Roy, 1.96
Triggerfish: Artemis, Crissy Hinson, 4.60
Vermillion snapper: Mikes Marine, Sarah Florez, 2.07
Whiting: Froggy Daddy, Carol Curren, 1.14
10X10 YOUTH
Bluefish: White Whale, Peter Trask, 1.84
Croaker: White Whale, Peter Trask, .12
Jack crevalle: Sea Wolf VI, Matthew Moore, 2.18
Ladyfish: Miss Fripp, Kane Thorp, 2.0
Spotted sea trout: Just Because, Zach Wilson, 1.2
Spanish mackerel: Reel Hot, Mason Coner, 4.20
Whiting: Just Because, Zach Wilson, .88
YOUTH
Amber jack: My Time Out III, Kane Thorp, 16.30
Barracuda: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 17.04
Black drum: Prez, Andrew Carr, 2.46
Black sea bass: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 3.30
Bluefish: Sea Wolf, Taylor Poole, 2.46
Cobia: Sea Hawk III, Wes Chesnutt, 42.66
Croaker: White Whale, Peter Trask, .12
Flounder: Sea Buyyou, Tommy Buskirk, 4.56
Grouper: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 10.86
Jack crevalle: Sea Wolf VI, Matthew Moore, 2.18
King mackerel: TopGun5, Zach Brown, 23.4
Ladyfish: Sea Wolf, Taylor Poole, 2.46
Red drum: Reel Chance, Billy Amick, 4.86
Red snapper: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 14.32
Sheepshead: Sea Wolf, Shelbi Sasse, 2.88
Spadefish: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 6.16
Spanish mackerel: Sea Wolf, Hunter Pylant, 4.60
Spotted sea trout: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 3.34
Toad fish: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 1.01
Triggerfish: Mikes Marine, Brice Spade, 3.62
Vermillion snapper: No Worries, Seth Andrews, 3.02
Whiting: Reel Control, Megan Craig, .54