To say that 2020 was a challenging year for the Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina would be a great understatement. The organization, made up of avid recreational fishermen who defend conservation, was able to hold just five of its 15 large fundraising banquets and operated with 30% of its normal fundraising.
“But we were able to do all of our planned projects. We were able to keep our office open and had no layoffs,” said CCA South Carolina executive director Scott Whitaker.
“The important thing this year was habitat work. We managed to make some reefs. We sank a ship in October off Georgetown and we also secured three additional structures for 2021 that have already been paid for. That was a big deal to be able to fully fund three new ones. projects in 2020, despite all the challenges, and we have some new donors coming on board in 2021 for our habitat program.
“We did some scientific research this year with (SC Department of Natural Resources) in Cobia and we look forward to doing more of that in 2021. From legislation to habitat, to recycling oysters and restoration to scientific research, these kinds of things will continue. “
Whitaker said one of the biggest efforts for 2021 will begin soon, with the aim of providing additional protection for the sole. South Carolina currently has a minimum size limit of 15 inches for sole and a basket limit of 10 per angler per day with a daily boat limit of 20.
“Sole is being challenged to its full extent,” said Whitaker. “Practically all the states that have hiccupped their shores are looking for some kind of change in management, if they haven’t already. Everyone is recognizing that something is going on with the bumps and we need to act now, ”he said.
A reduction in the cage limits and / or a change in the size limits are all under consideration. “Everything we have in the toolbox,” said Whitaker.
“Obviously, we work with (SCDNR) and, once the data is collected and presented, we have discussions with them. Because of the process in South Carolina (the gaming laws are enacted through the legislative process), we want to be on the same page as (SCDNR).
“South Carolina is one of the most proactive states in trying to stay ahead of fishing issues and not let something happen that we should have done three years ago.”
Here is a look at the projects the CCA was involved in 2020:
• SCDNR has been at the forefront of cobia research, and CCA South Carolina has intervened to assist with a tracking project along the entire length of cobia. Guinea pigs are captured by rod and reel and an electronic tag is implanted in the fish’s body. When a tagged cobia travels within a quarter mile of any of the more than 850 listening devices located along the East Coast, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, it pinges the receiver.
Whitaker said that Matt Perkinson, SCDNR’s saltwater fisheries coordinator, contacted him several years ago to write letters of support. Whitaker went to Bubba Roof of Sea Hunt Boats, which helped CCA with the purchase of 20 tags and four transponders. The four new recipients donated by the CCA SC Topwater Action Campaign were to be deployed on three artificial reefs frequented by cobia along the central coast of South Carolina and are being dubbed the “CCA Triangle”.
• Earlier this year, Atlantic triplets and hoe fish – two species targeted by recreational fishermen – received more protection when South Carolina lawmakers approved measures to prevent them from being overfished.
Tripletails, a species that is appearing in the waters of South Carolina more often, were not previously regulated. The new law established a minimum size limit of 18 inches for tripletail with a cage limit of three per person and nine per boat.
The cage limit for swordfish – 30 per boat per day in state waters – has not been changed, but there is now a minimum size limit of 14 inches.
• In October, a trawler was sunk by SCDNR at the CJ Davidson Jr. (PA-16) reef off the coast of Georgetown, where it joined a large barge and 20 Army vehicles at approximately 15 meters deep. The trawler addition was financed in part by Sea Hunt Boat Company and CCA South Carolina, which provided support for 14 reef projects.
Whitaker said the three ships that have already been acquired for 2021 will be dispersed in locations close to Edisto, McClellanville and along the Grand Strand.
• For the past four years, CCA South Carolina has organized its STAR fishing tournament in which 60 legal redfish (between 15 and 23 inches long) are marked and released at various locations along the coast of South Carolina. The first two fishermen registrants who catch one of the marked fish win a Sea Hunt boat package valued at more than $ 43,000.
If no registered fisherman catches a marked fish, a draw is carried out with a registered fisherman winning a boat. That was the case in 2020 with James McMillan from Wadmalaw Island having his name designed for the new boat.
Much publicity for the tournament, which began in July, was generated later that month, when a Sumter man landed not one, but two of the marked red fish during a family vacation in Folly Beach. Bryce Lyles, a 20-year-old Clemson student, did not know about the tournament when he reported the capture to Whitaker, but he and his father signed up later in the hope of catching another marked fish.
“We had a record number of fishermen participating this year and a record number of marked fish caught this year. Even people called after the tournament ended (October 4) saying they had caught a marked fish and just wanted to give us the tag information, “said Whitaker.
Mount Pleasant Pier Tournaments
Charleston County Parks and Recreation (ccprc.com) has announced four Cast Off Fishing Tournaments to be held at Mount Pleasant Pier. Tournament dates are May 1, June 19, September 11 and October 23.
America’s Boating Club
America’s Boating Club Charleston will conduct boat safety classes on January 9 and February 6 at 1376 Orange Grove Road, Charleston. Classes start at 9am and end around 4pm. Successful participants receive the Boater SCDNR Educational Card. The cost is $ 25 for adults (free for ages 12 to 18). Call 843-312-2876 or send an email to [email protected].