TIDELINE MAGAZINE ARTICLES 
Charleston Boat Show attendance swells 42 percent
Thursday, Feb. 2, 02 47 p.m.Held last weekend at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, the annual assembling of boat and accessory dealers drew 11,228 people during its three-day run.
Read More
Winter Wahoo
Rig wire for razor-tooth torpedoes
Friday, Jan. 6, 02 27 p.m.Moving at up to 50 mph, wahoo rank among the fastest fish in the ocean. Their range circles the globe, sticking mostly to the warm-water currents of tropical and sub-tropical open ocean zones.
Even in winter, the water temperature off Charleston can hang in the 70s. So get out there — the wahoo are waiting.
Read More
2012 Charleston Boat Show
Friday, Jan. 6, 12 00 p.m.The annual Charleston Boat Show plays out like a big family reunion as boaters, fishermen and women and thousands of other marine-life enthusiasts return each year for the largest maritime event in the Lowcountry.
Read More
New Pursuit for College of Charleston
Friday, Jan. 6, 12 00 p.m.David Sneddon of Bluffton donated his 31-foot center console Pursuit 310C to the college last summer. After months of working out registration paperwork to finalize the gift, a team of professors and researchers took their new ride (nicely powered by two Yamaha 250-hp four-stroke engines) out for a shakedown cruise.
Read More
Grouper grabbers
Load up on live baits and hit the ledge
Wednesday, Nov. 2, 03 21 p.m.“Two trips in a row. Forty-five minutes and we’re done, limited out,” says veteran commercial and recreational angler Paul Godbout. “These big grouper, they’re almost too easy now.”
That’s right, grouper is in, and the fishing is phenomenal. But you’ve got to get them while the getting’s good. Grouper fishing shuts downs for a spawning season closure from Jan. 1 through the end of April.
The keys to success, Godbout says, are nice live baits, the right equipment and dropping in the right spot.
Read More
Black sea bass off the menu
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 12 00 a.m.The bottom-fishing saga continues for Southeastern anglers, with black sea bass off the menu for the second time in a year.
Read More
Fishing the rocks
Tuesday, July 5, 10 00 a.m.Where’s The Grillage? Where’s Dynamite Hole?
Those questions have been asked so many times by so many anglers that the actual location of these “secret” fishing holes has become a bit of a running joke among the Lowcountry’s cadre of longtime anglers and charter captains. You may not be able to see behind those Costa lenses, but trust me — those eyes are rollin’ faster than the tide.
Read More
Jetty Giants
Go one-on-one with Charleston’s biggest and baddest fish
Tuesday, July 5, 09 55 a.m.Beginning on the beach at Morris Island to the south and Sullivan’s Island to the north, Charleston’s two jetties jut out to sea for about 3 miles. The massive structures were built in the late 19th century to protect the port city’s shipping channel.
The jetties’ 6 miles of rock form one of the state’s most impressive and oldest artificial reef systems, a popular angling destination that features not only structure, but also dramatic depth changes and dynamic currents.
Read More
Black sea bass catch limit reduced starting Wednesday
Monday, June 20, 05 27 p.m.The ruling had been expected for months; it comes three weeks after the season was re-opened and just after offshore anglers reported some of the best fishing and biggest fish.
Read More
Dolphin bite is heating up!
Friday, May 13, 11 33 a.m.The dolphin bite is heating up off Charleston! Check out these picks from a recent trip.
Read More
Join the club!
Fishing clubs are all about family, friends and fun.
Tuesday, May 3, 01 39 p.m.A new Summerville club joins a long list of Lowcountry fishing associations, some decades old. Many fishing clubs are open to all, but some offer memberships by invitation only. Many clubs organize fishing tournaments, from informal members-only competitions to larger multi-day tourneys with open entries, corporate sponsorships and cash payouts.
Here’s a look at some of the well-known Lowcountry fishing clubs.
Read More
Ace a spade
Early summer marks the return of huge schools of spadefish to nearshore reefs
Tuesday, May 3, 01 24 p.m.A good day of spade fishing will leave your forearms burning, your line twisted and your body dehydrated because the action is so fast you never even stop to drink. This fast-paced fishery is a blast, not only for expert anglers but also for kids and beginners looking to rack up some serious saltwater experience.
Read More
So you want to be a guide?
Tuesday, May 3, 01 22 p.m.
Sure, fishing for a living sounds like a fine thing. But would-be charter captains should look before they leap. It’s hard work, there are plenty of hoops to jump through and the fish aren’t always biting.
Read More
Editor's Letter
Tuesday, May 3, 01 14 p.m.Believe me when I tell you that the tips we garner from local experts are usually spot-on. They’ll help you catch more fish. So much so, in fact, that I sometimes find myself wondering if we’re encouraging anglers to head out there and “wear ’em out.”
Read More
An ounce of prevention may be worth a bounty of fish
Monday, May 2, 06 00 a.m.
The key to healthy oceans isn’t so different from keeping a fit body: It’s a lot easier to avert damage than to fix it. Preventing harm from overfishing – taking species faster than they can reproduce – is the best way to ensure a future of bountiful fish for anglers, the ocean ecosystem, seafood eaters and tourists.
Read More
Catch limits proposed for mackerel; cobia fishery may face spawning closure
Public hearing April 12 in North Charleston
Friday, March 25, 03 34 p.m.Proposal would leave daily bag limits unchanged for king mackerel, but lower for Spanish mackerel. Cobia limits would remain unchanged, but a spawning season closure is on the table.
Read More
Fishing for blackfin tuna off Charleston
Monday, March 21, 02 44 p.m.I was pretty fired up after writing Tideline magazine's latest cover story on blackfin tuna, and jumped at the first chance I got to give the new tuna techniques a try.
Read More
It's tuna time
Tuesday, March 1, 02 13 p.m.Don’t you dare look down your nose at blackfin tuna. These furious fighters are fun to catch and fantastic on the plate. Best of all? Unlike the long-lost yellowfin tuna, blackfin are still plentiful off our coast.
Read More
Get ready for Cobia!
Tuesday, March 1, 02 04 p.m.Our world-class cobia fishery cranks up in April. Don’t miss the early action.
Read More
Fix our nation's fisheries law
Guest column by Capt. Mark Brown
Tuesday, March 1, 01 56 p.m.Charleston commercial fisherman Capt. Mark Brown says that because so little evidence is needed to declare that a fishery is undergoing overfishing, the nation's top fisheries law has become a monster that is now devouring the freedom to fish.
Read More
To close or not to close: Is that really the question
Guest Column by Jason Ward
Tuesday, March 1, 01 32 p.m.Jason Ward is an avid offshore fisherman and experienced diver well known in the Lowcountry’s angling community. Ward, a software developer by trade, fishes on his 26-foot Glacier Bay, Banshee. Ward leads off this edition’s “Scuttlebutt” with a guest column on recent changes to federal rules governing bottom fishing off the Southeast.
Read More
Source: Black seabass season to close Feb. 12
Monday, Jan. 31, 01 58 p.m.The popular recreational fishery for black sea bass will close until June starting Feb. 12, according to federal fishery managers.
Tom Swatzel, a member of the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, said a regional administrator with the National Fisheries Management Service provided that closure start date.
Read More
Angry anglers confront fisheries managers
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 05 57 p.m.Dozens of angry anglers, charter boat captains and commercial fishermen confronted federal regulators Wednesday in North Charleston during a public comment period on new bottom-fishing regulations and potential new restrictions for popular open-water species such as dolphin and wahoo.
Read More
Charleston Boat Show
Friday, Jan. 21, 06 40 p.m.This year's Charleston Boat Show drew larger crowds than last year, and by most accounts, boat show visitors had a much more positive outlook on the local maritime industry. Here are some images from the show, itself, and from a vendor appreciation event hosted by The Post and Courier and Tideline magazine, the Lowcountry's premier maritime publication.
Read More
Cold-water redfish
Friday, Jan. 7, 11 17 a.m.Massive red drum swirl just under the surface in a school 300 strong. You stand there stunned, mouth agape, as hundreds of bright orange monsters crush baitfish in the clear blue-green water off your bow. The best thing? Almost nobody else knows these fish are here.
Read More
The secret's out!
Friday, Jan. 7, 10 59 a.m.There’s a new hot spot for Lowcountry shore-based anglers, and from the looks of photographs taken there over the past few months, the fishing is very good, indeed. Flounder, seatrout, red drum and lots of big sheepshead — what more could you want?
Read More
Maritime events
Friday, Jan. 7, 10 34 a.m.Seminars, meetings and expos of interest to local anglers
Read More
Take it easy at the boat ramps
Friday, Jan. 7, 10 00 a.m.We boaters have an insatiable passion for the water, but most would rather clip a wild Bohemian’s toenails than spend more time than they need to at a public boat ramp. Fact is, boat ramp antics can be a royal pain in the aft.
Read More
Gift of fishing
Friday, Jan. 7, 09 47 a.m.Who gave you the gift of fishing? Was it your dad? Your mom? A neighbor or a friend? Maybe you can remember the exact moment you picked up a rod and reel for the first time, or the exhilaration you felt from that first sharp tug of a fish. Maybe you best remember sharing time on the water with a best friend or relative.
Over the holiday season, Tideline magazine and Costa Del Mar sunglasses invited readers to share their stories about who gave them the gift of fishing, or to whom they have given the gift of fishing. The editorial staff chose the top three authors, who each will receive a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses: Scott Gordon, Lisa Giuliani and Kevin Kalman.
Read More
Editor
Tuesday, Nov. 2, 02 54 p.m.We’re planning a change for 2011. Starting with the January-February edition, we will give you space to voice your opinions about local maritime matters.
We hope that this new feature will become a place for civil discourse, away from the din and darts of online forums, where anonymity often breeds contempt and ultimately stifles constructive dialogue. We will publish a variety of remarks and commentary in every issue, from a one-paragraph retort to guest columns (in all cases, we will edit for space and content, and we will identify the author).
So! Have something to say about new fishing regulations? Are no-wake zones a boon or boondoggle? Something on the water get your goat? Know of someone who deserves recognition? Got a great fishing tip?
Read More
Rocking the reefs
Tuesday, Nov. 2, 02 41 p.m.You’ve got to love November and December in the Lowcountry.
Whitetail deer season is still in full swing, redfish and trout still crowd our inshore waters, shrimp-baiting season is wrapping up and waterfowlers are gearing up for a strong duck season. It just couldn’t get any better, right? Well, it can.
The next time you see a forecast for light winds this fall, consider putting off that deer or duck hunt. Put the boat in and take the short trip out to one of the many fantastic, nearshore artificial reefs dotting the South Carolina coast. Spend a few hours enjoying the non-stop action at these hot spots, and you might just find a new favorite fall pastime.
Read More
Win a pair of Costas!
Tell us your "gift of Fishing" story
Friday, Sept. 17, 12 50 p.m.Tideline magazine invites you to inspire others by sharing your story about who gave you the gift of fishing, or to whom you have given the gift of fishing. Send us your story, along with a photo and brief caption. The editorial staff at Tideline will review the entries and select the top three most inspirational stories to feature in our January/February 2011 issue.
The three winning entrants will receive a complimentary pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses!
Read More
Ode to redfish
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 07 25 a.m.High tide or low tide. In 60 feet or 6 inches of water. Winter, spring, summer or fall. However you look at it, the spottail bass reigns supreme in Lowcountry waters.
Read More
Editor's Letter
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 07 20 a.m.Where would we be without redfish?
Boat dealers, tackle shop owners, lure manufacturers, charter captains, tens of thousands of recreational anglers: We all owe an enormous debt of gratitude to this remarkable fish.
Read More
Artificials best as waters clear and temps cool
Monday, Sept. 13, 06 00 a.m.There are thousands of different baits out there to choose from, and a person could spend a small fortune buying them. I have always been told that lures are made to catch us fishermen, not the fish. But I have a couple of favorites that are always in the boat when I go out during the fall months. During this time of year, the bait will start to leave our creeks and the water will clear up. This is prime time to trick fish into biting artificials.
Read More
After-hours gig
Wednesday, July 7, 12 46 p.m.It’s 2 a.m., muggy and mighty dark as we ease up to a bank off the Intracoastal Waterway north of Mount Pleasant.
Capt. Darryl Graham cuts the motor on the aluminum jonboat, and Andy Gianelli hops up on the bow, a 15-foot pole in hand.
For a moment, it’s quiet as we slip downstream with the falling tide.
When a small generator roars to life, halogen lamps lining the boat’s bow and side erupt in intense yellow light.
It’s night and day. Camera in hand, I stare over the side, fascinated by a scene relatively few people ever see. So this is what’s going on down there, under our hulls!
Read More
Editor's letter
Wednesday, July 7, 12 36 p.m.Back when I was a fish-crazy teenager, I had a buddy whose father would take us out flounder gigging every once in a while, usually behind Kiawah Island. The few times we tried it, we had a blast — gigging can be big fun, especially if you head out when the conditions are right.
I remember we once put 13 fish in the cooler, a feat that remains a personal best when it comes to flounder (as sad as that is to admit). I also recall a few decent doormats in the bunch, but you know how that goes: Fish generally get bigger, not smaller, each time you remember them.
Read More
Making memories, on the fly
Wednesday, July 7, 12 31 p.m.I’ll never forget the first spot-tail bass I caught on a fly.
I was 14 years old and had caught plenty of largemouth bass and bream in freshwater ponds, but never a spot-tail.
I grew up in McClellanville, just down the street from the boat landing, and knew my way around the creeks pretty well. Ellison Smith, a friend of my parents and the only person I knew who fly fished in saltwater, had recently taught me proper casting technique and had given me a ratty box of flies.
None of my other friends or family were into it, so I didn’t have a whole lot of support. But I was determined.
Read More
Safari under the sea
Diving off Charleston is better than you think
Thursday, May 6, 06 04 a.m.So what’s the coolest thing you’ve seen down there?
Pose that question to veteran Charleston scuba diver Sally Robinson, and just sit back and enjoy. She’ll fire off story after story about incredible underwater encounters with spotted dolphins, other-wordly views of shipwrecks, and run-ins with unbelievably big Goliath grouper — all in waters off Charleston.
Read More
Lowcountry spearfishing
Offshore anglers dive into unknown chasing bottom fish and lobsters
Thursday, May 6, 06 03 a.m.It’s a guessing game, trying to catch fish with hook and line.
Anglers can use the latest in GPS and sonar technology to anchor right over what they hope is a reef or wreck loaded with fish, but when it comes right down to it, most fishermen really don’t know what’s down there, 60 or 80 feet below their boat.
Read More
Hit the Broad River for trophy cobia
Thursday, May 6, 06 02 a.m.The rod tip bounced once, like a good-natured slap to get our attention. A second later, the rod bent violently and the reel’s drag started singing its raspy song.
Our first cobia of the morning was buttoned up!
I wrenched the rod out of the holder and handed it to one of my buddies, the one who had not, until that very second, ever tangled with one of these big, brown beasts.
Read More
Man of Steel
Hanahan native pounds out works of art and runs the family hitch business
Thursday, May 6, 06 01 a.m.Every fisherman has a story or two. Steve Corbin can certainly weave some interesting tales of fishing and trailering mishaps, some his own and some he’s heard from others along the way.
Born and bred in Hanahan, the popular business owner is well-known as the local go-to guy to perform the impossible hitch installment. He’s been doing them since high school.
Read More
EDITOR'S LETTER
Thursday, May 6, 06 00 a.m.Some folks say tournaments take the fun out of fishing. They say you can’t relax and enjoy your time on the water whenever money’s on the line.
I’m not so sure.
Read More
EDITOR’S LETTER
Thursday, March 11, 11 42 a.m.Good for them.
Good for the thousands of anglers who traveled to our nation’s capital to have their say. Good for the Lowcountry fishermen who organized a local contingent of protesters, rented buses and raised money to fund the trip in late February.
Read More
‘Stone Crab Kids’
West Ashley family launches home-spun study of commercial crab fishery
Thursday, March 11, 11 37 a.m.Marty Spivey may have developed the best science class around.
The 49-year-old West Ashley dad and his three children — Sarah, 8, Annah Bethel, 10, and Josiah, 11 — have founded a research team known as the “Stone Crab Kids.” The Spivey gang’s goal? To help the state’s Department of Natural Resources determine if Lowcountry waters can support a commercial fishery for tasty stone crab claws.
Read More
Dolphins at risk
Mammals off Georgia show high PCB levels
Thursday, March 11, 11 30 a.m.Dolphins are getting sick from eating the same fish we do.
That’s the disturbing conclusion of the latest round of federal research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices at Fort Johnson, among other sites. Studies of dolphins in coastal Georgia discovered some of the highest levels of PCBs ever found in the fat of a marine mammal, 30 years after the use of the toxic industrial insulating compound was banned.
Read More
City Marina eyes deeper docks
Thursday, March 11, 11 28 a.m.The Beach Co. plans to spend $5 million to extend the Charleston City Marina by 150 feet into the Ashley River — cutting the river’s navigational channel in half as a result.
Read More
Buy local, buy direct
Fishermen take cue from farmers
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 05 04 p.m.With fewer fish to be had, Captain Mark Marhefka decided it was time to do business differently.
Dave Belanger came to the same conclusion when the recession socked the New York restaurant industry and affected demand for his clams.
Now, both men are appealing directly to the public. They are selling shares in their fish catch and seafood harvest like small farmers are doing through Community Supported Agriculture programs, or CSAs.
Read More
Fish, ducks, dogs and deer
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 05 02 p.m.Want to learn to cast a fly rod or throw a cast net? Want to see what new hunting and fishing gadgets are on the market? Want to learn how to make a pickled shrimp salad?
Or do you just want to finally pick up that bronze marlin statue you know in your heart you deserve?
Read More
One-on-one with Guy Harvey
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 05 01 p.m.One of the most popular marine artists ever, Guy Harvey’s distinctive paintings of fish and fishing have become a part of the angling culture worldwide.
In addition to being an artist, Harvey is an accomplished diver and photographer who holds a doctorate in fisheries management. A 10th generation Jamaican of English ancestry, Harvey, who now lives in Cayman, was a recent inductee into the International Game Fish Hall of Fame.
Harvey was in town recently for a signing at Palmetto Moon, and The Post and Courier’s Tommy Braswell caught up with the iconic artist for a one-on-one conversation.
Read More
The premier place to find Lowcountry Real Estate for Sale, Rentals and Commercial
