Dolphin Tagging Update

Posted: July 2, 2008

Marine Anglers,

The slow tagging activity in May allowed time for me to explore the catch-effort data on dolphinfish collected under the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey. I was surprised at what I found but there are a lot of fishermen out there that are going to say I told you so. If the national survey data is presenting an accurate picture of the dolphinfish fishery, then I may not have achieved my first objective in this study: to acquire data on a healthy population of dolphinfish. Because of the questionable accuracy of this survey, this information should be viewed just as a wakeup call that the U.S. dolphin fisheries could possibly be declining.

Offshore anglers have taken comfort in the belief that with all the other offshore game fish in trouble, at least they had healthy stocks of dolphin and wahoo to sustain their favorite recreation. Now at least half of this comfort may be gone. Information presented in this (July) issue may not be exciting or entertaining, but every offshore fisherman should read it. I suggest that you act on this information the next time you are offshore fishing by reducing the number of dolphinfish that you retain.

Good fishing,

Don Hammond

BEAUFORT COUNTY’S FISHING AND BOATING PLAN

Posted: July 2, 2008

Back in March Beaufort County Planning conducted a number of meetings to get public input on a number of components of our next “Comprehensive Plan”. They were insightful enough to include a section about our Maritime Heritage, which covers recreational boating and fishing and also to ask for opinions from Amber Von Harten, Captain David Murray and myself. The following is a “draft” of the recap of that we suggested be included in the plan. All boaters and fishermen need to read this, see if it is comprehensive enough and give their opinions. This is Beaufort county’s next long range plan on how to spend your taxes and support your lifestyle.

Beaufort County should enhance its boat landings to serve the diverse needs of recreational boaters and fishermen and commercial fishermen.

Beaufort County staff should conduct in-depth surveys to determine who uses the boat landings; which landings are receiving the greatest use; when are the peak demands for boat landing usage; and what are the landings being used for.

Where sufficient land is available, County staff should make it a priority to enlarge and enhance existing boat landings before considering the creation of new boat landings.

County staff should promote increased security at boat landings by installing better lighting and exploring the feasibility of installing security cameras.

County staff and the Trust for Public Lands should work with the US Naval Hospital and surrounding property owners to secure permanent unrestricted access to the Fort Frederick Boat Landing.

Beaufort County should increase opportunities for on-shore fishing on marshfront and waterfront properties owned by the County or other public entities.

Where sufficient land is available, Beaufort County should provide fishing piers, crabbing docks, and sea-walls at County boat landings and on other properties with water access potential (Lemon Island, Camp St Mary’s, Altamaha, Fort Fremont, etc.).

Adequate separation of shore-based fishing facilities and boat ramps should be maintained to avoid potential conflicts between users.

Beaufort County should provide more launch areas for small nonmotorized (kayaks and canoes) in locations consistent with the Beaufort County Trails and Blueway Master Plan.

Beaufort County should pursue alternative funding sources for water access facilities.

The County should seek state and federal funding sources such as OCRM Coastal Access Grants and the DNR Water RecreationalResource Fund Beaufort County should explore the feasibility of a user fee at County boat landings to fund new water access facilities.


You can send your comments to the Planning Department in care of Robert Merchant robm@bcgov.net, call him at 470-2722 or fax at 470-2731. The final draft is due July 7th so send your comments now!

The Port Royal Flotilla

Posted: June 9, 2008

Ever wonder just how many boats are out there in Port Royal fishing for cobia?

The following photos were taken from 12:07pm to 12:18pm on May 17th 2008.  The pictures cover main cobia fishing locations in Port Royal which include the Broad River Bridge, The Turtle, The PI Rip, and the Christmas Tree. 

Satellite Tag Recovered on HHI Beach!!

Posted: June 3, 2008

While walking the beach on Hilton Head Island, Richard Fessler of Tonawanda, New York found one of the cobia satellite tags that had been installed on one of our local cobia by the Hilton Head Reef Foundation’s marine biologist, Don Hammond on May 2nd. The tag was undamaged and had apparently been pulled loose, with a lot of effort, by the cobia or by a fisherman who may have discarded it. Either way, Mr. Fessler earned a $300 reward for returning the tag so it can be reused.

Marine Rescue Squadron Tournament

Posted: May 27, 2008

2nd Annual Marine Rescue Squadron Tournament Saturday June 21, 2008
More info...

More Cobia Satellite Tags Deployed

Updated: May 27, 2008

UPDATE: We were able to deploy the last satellite tag Monday fishing with Gumbo. It was a perfect specimen, 49in. FL, ~50 pounds and most likely a female. It was caught by two firemen from Hilton Head. The angler was Allan Hykes and the other fisherman was Scott Sexson of Hilton Head. They were fishing from their private boat, Bethieg J . This year, all of the cobia tagged with satellite tags came from the Christmas Tree drop.

With the help of two of Beaufort County’s best Charter boat captains, marine biologist Don Hammond was able to deploy four more pop-off satellite archival tags on cobia caught in the Broad River and Port Royal Sound. These computer tags are programmed to stay with the cobia from 30 to 180 days, pop to the surface and then transmit to passing Argos satellites information about the movement and habits of the fish during that period. Don is also conducting an Atlantic Ocean wide tagging program for dolphin fish, both studies are in cooperation with the Hilton Head Reef Foundation, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and SC Sea Grant.

$500 REWARD FOR TAG RECOVERY

Posted: May 6, 2008

The pop off satellite tags used on our local cobia cost the Hilton Head Reef Foundation about $4,000 apiece plus satellite time expenses. If you catch one of the fish that was recently tagged with a satellite tag, the Foundation can offer you a reward.

If you want to release the fish, write down the tag number, report it to us with the catch location information and we will write you a check for $500.

If you want to keep the fish to eat or for a tournament entry, just cut the tag loose, protect the computer portion and call us. The reward for the undamaged tag of a kept fish is $300.

The number to call is (843) 795-7524 or contact us through the website

Cobia Sales Warning

Posted: May 6, 2008

Although we all love to see fresh local cobia offered in our restaurants and at our seafood dealers during our cobia run, it’s important that SCDNR is able to get good information every year about how many cobias are being removed from the fishery. They do landing surveys of the recreational fishermen to make estimates and the charter captains have to file a monthly logbook report, but there is a big gap in the information on how many cobias are being sold.

SCDNR issues a separate commercial fishing license ($25) to anyone wanting to sell seafood, but there are reporting requirements which help them keep track of the fishery. Until this year there have been almost ZERO reported commercial sales of cobia in Beaufort County, which is a joke. SCDNR is advising everyone that a commercial saltwater license is required to sell a fish and that you can only sell your legal daily limit of two fish. So, if you are on a charter or out with your buddies and load up on fish, you can only sell what you caught not theirs also. Each of them will also have to have a license to sell their catch.

You can only sell it to a SC Licensed Wholesale Dealer who has to keep track of his purchase and sales. In other words, SCDNR can ask the dealer for proof of purchase of his cobia and who he bought it from. I know that SCDNR law enforcement will be paying special attention to those fish caught in the tournaments. Nobody is saying that sales are bad; we just need to follow the rules. Without good catch information, much of the research that SCDNR is doing to understand and protect our cobia fishery is worthless.

You can apply for a sell license at the SC-DNR website.

SC DNR Cobia Reminder

Posted: April 21, 2008

As the peak time of the year approaches for pursuing cobia in the state’s inshore waters, the DNR reminds all saltwater anglers of the various regulations in place designed to protect and conserve cobia stocks. S.C. Regulations for cobia, applying to all anglers include:

Posession limit of 2 per-angler of any one day
33-inch minimum fork length size limit
Must be landed with head and tail in tact

Anglers are advised that a S.C. Saltwater Commercial Fishing License must be obtained in order to sell saltewater fish. Commercially licensed anglers can only sell 2 cobia per angler per-day and only to a S.C. Licensed Wholesale Dealer, who must keep accurate records of the transactions. All S.C. licensed charter fishing vessels must maintain an accurate Charterboat logbook identifying quantity and type of fish caught by anglers aboard he vessel each day. 

Reports of saltwater violations can be made anonymously through the DNR’s Operation Coast Watch Program. Call 1-800-922-5431, toll-free and available 24 hours a day.

Help ensure the cobia fishery remains a healthy one! Read Karl Brenkhart's (SC-DNR) letter to Anglers.