A recent segment with Carolinas Outdoors  "Catfishing the Carolinas" article series focused primarily on fishing Santee Cooper in SC. Brad Faircloth was fortunate to have Darryl Smith of Capt. Darryl Smiths Guide Service send in an article with a few tips and tricks to help everyone catch a TROPHY CATFISH. Here is a recent catch (shown left) of a group that fished with Captain Darryl. You can read "How to Catch a Trophy Catfish" article here.

Going Boating? A Crew Safety Briefing Could Save Lives      

National Safe Boating Week May 16-22

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 29, 2009 - Having friends and family aboard is what boating is all about. But in an emergency could they quickly locate a fire extinguisher or provide accurate location information to rescuers -- without your help?

For National Safe Boating Week May 16 - 22, BoatU.S. Seaworthy magazine Editor Bob Adriance has developed a short Crew Safety Checklist. "Boating is supposed to be fun, so we do not want to unduly alarm our guests. However, every skipper should take a few minutes before they leave the dock to share these tips with crew." They are:

1. Life Jackets: Offer a correctly sized life jacket to those who wish to wear one, show guests where they are stored and how they are properly worn.

2. Fire Extinguishers: They should be easily visible near engine and galley areas. Take a moment to explain what types they are and how they are meant to be used. Point out any fire port locations for snuffing out engine compartment fires.

3. Flares: Show where they are located and how to safely activate without causing injury.

4. Engine and Fuel Shutoffs: Especially on sailboats, it's not always clear how to shut off the engine (usually by pulling out the "kill" knob).

5. VHF Radio: It's very important to familiarize the crew with its operation, how to make a radio distress call, and DSC one-button rescue mode (if equipped).

6. Battery Switch: Show the crew how to turn off power in case of an electrical fire.

7. Chartplotter, GPS, and Loran: At a minimum, crew should know to find a latitude/longitude position with these electronics. Pinpoint its location on the unit's screen. Have a paper chart aboard, show your crew where you're departing from and headed for the day.

8. Man Overboard Gear: Show where it is and give a brief explanation on how to use it.

To help boaters learn more about these and other safety related items, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has an Online Boating Safety Study Guide at <<http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation/toolbox>>.
               
 

MIDLANDS ANGLER BREAKS BULLHEAD CATFISH RECORD

An Irmo angler at on the Broad River near Columbia recently broke the South Carolina state record for bullhead catfish by more than 3 ounces with a 6-pound, 6.3 ounce fish. George Eleazer, from Irmo, S.C, was on the Broad River Wednesday, April 1 when he caught the record fish. Eleazer took the fish to a Food Lion on the Peak Exit just off I-26 north of Irmo and had the fish weighed on state certified scales at 6-pounds, 6.3 ounces. The bullhead catfish was certified officially as the new state record by Hal Beard, regional fisheries biologist for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Columbia. The fish had a total length of 27 inches. Check South Carolina Freshwater Fish Records at: www.dnr.sc.gov/fish/freshrecs/records.html .

Short on Worms? A new online Bait Shop Locator from BoatU.S. Angler can help you find a bait and tackle shop near you or help you plan a fishing trip far from home.

Found online at http://www.BoatUSAngler.com/bait the free Locator allows anglers to search by state, zip code, regions, bodies of water, or the type of tackle used (salt or freshwater). Over 8,000 bait and tackle shops are listed in 50 states as well as the Canadian provinces.

Once you've found a bait shop, the Locator will also let you know the availability of services such as guides, charters and weigh stations, and supplies such as ice, fuel, fishing licenses, groceries, as well as any discounts offered to BoatU.S. Angler members.

To help anglers get the most out of their fishing, BoatU.S. Angler also offers a free online Fishing Guide and Charter Locator, Fishing Tournaments Calendar and Fishing Show Calendar.

Tips From BoatU.S. for Getting the Financing You Need

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 12, 2009 - For boat buyers, getting a loan to finance a new or used boat is much tougher these days as many banks have dropped out of the market. However, that doesn't mean money is not available, says the nation's largest recreational boat owners group, BoatU.S.

"The real news is that today's shrinking pool of lenders are simply returning to the lending standards they had prior to the sub-prime loan debacle," said Vice President of BoatU.S. Finance Charm Addington. "As for lenders like BoatU.S., who never focused on riskier loans, there is still money available for qualified boat buyers."

BoatU.S. has these tips on how to get a boat loan in a tough lending market:
1. Before you start window shopping, ensure that all three major credit reporting bureaus -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -- have your most current information. By law, these consumer credit reporting companies must provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. (For more: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm )

2. Banks now generally require down payments in the range of 10-15% -- more for boats older than 20 years.

3. Keep an eye on your liquid assets. Banks today want borrowers to have enough cash for the down payment and sales tax as well as a safety net or cushion in case your financial picture changes.

4. When you find your dreamboat, know its book value (with all of its options and accessories). The free BoatU.S. Value Check service at http://www.BoatUS.com/buyer/valueform can help.

5. Gone are the days of "relaxed guidelines" and "no documentation" loans. Today's lenders generally look for two years of banking and income (W-2) statements, as well as other assets.

6. Don't let "Pre-qualifying" and "Pre-approval" confuse you. Going to a lender to pre-qualify simply means a borrower has their income and assets verified by a lender first, before a specific boat model has been chosen. A pre-approval does the same but also includes the specific boat model the borrower wishes to purchase. BoatU.S. recommends getting a pre-approval as it can help negotiations with a dealer or seller. However, if you still aren't quite sure on what boat you'd like to buy, tell your lender that you'd like to substitute a similarly priced boat in order to complete the pre-approval process. This gives you flexibility and the upper hand in boat purchase negotiations.

7. In a hurry? For a speedier boat loan approval on a new or used boat, ensure that the loan application is completely filled out. An empty line significantly slows the loan process, so have the boat/engine information readily available when applying for a loan. Sending in proof of income up front with the completed application will also speed loan processing, as does submitting a purchase agreement. Just ensure the purchase agreement allows you to back out of the purchase if financing is unavailable.

8. Also, for used boats, most banks require a survey so you may want to have a surveyor lined up before you apply for a loan. However, it's not recommended to have the survey done before the loan is approved -- wait until your lender asks you to do so. You'll find a roster of surveyors at http:/www.BoatUS.com/surveyors .

To learn more about BoatU.S. boat loans or to complete an online application, go to
http://www.BoatUS.com/boatloans .

 

Sportsman's Economy Package Hunting & Fishing Trip.    Cast N Blast            

We all know how gas prices have made it harder to get out and explore Carolina's Outdoors. It makes sense to find outdoor adventures closer to home. Santee Cooper Country is an hour from Columbia and Charleston offering a wide diversity of outdoor activities. Capt. Eddie Campbell's new Sportsman's Economy Package Hunting & Fishing Trip  offer fishing and hunting enthusiast an adventure like no other. You choose: redbreast fishing and deer and wild boar hunting on the Edisto River or catfishing Santee Cooper Lakes.

The Edisto River Basin is the world's longest free-flowing "blackwater" river which encompasses twelve counties, that include the midlands and Lowcountry areas of South Carolina.  The water is called "blackwater" because of the trees'  tannic acids and other vegetation along the river. The water's  flow make it ideal for entering the property from the river. This property consist of 146 acres outside the town of Pringletown and is rich with wild boar and deer. They are stalking them in the day time and stand hunting in the late evening.  Some 300 ++ lbs hogs have been taken out. See the wildhogs feeding here.

Capt. Eddie's Guided Trips are 110% full service. Any size group can be accommodated. He can make your travel and accommodations arrangements. Your hunting and or fishing adventure can be whatever you want it to be. I promise you there is no other thrill like it!

Call Capt. Eddie at 843-514-3201 to discuss your interest and to book your Sportsman's Economy Package Hunting & Fishing Trip.   These trips have many options and are customized for your fishing - hunting interest with camping or motel accommodations. We can accommodate from one to any size of group.

 SEE HOW YOU CAN WIN A FREE FISHING TRIP ON SANTEE COOPER LAKES!

CALL CAPT. EDDIE CAMPBELL

AT 843-514-3201 FOR DETAILS!

See Cast and Blast Fishing & Hunting Videos with Captain Eddie Campbell and Buck N Boar Troy Ayer     

This youngster caught this catfish while fishing with Capt. Steve Shipley. www.shipsguideservice.com  Capt. Steve catches Big Flatheads, not only at night but also during the day. Call  Ph. #803-897-2317  Cell# 803-854-4727 Make sure you watch Capt. Steve on Academy Outdoors Chad Brauer "Catfishing in the Southeast " in upcoming episodes on FSN Southwest, FSN South and SportSouth.

Governor Mark Sanford and the General Assembly have approved a new law limiting the harvest of Arkansas Blue Catfish. The law applies to only the waters of Lake Marion, the Diversion Canal, the Rediversion Canal above St. Stephen Dam, and Lake Moultrie.

The law limits the catch of Arkansas Blue Catfish to one fish 36 inches and larger per person per day, regardless of harvest method.  This includes bow fishing and applies to both recreational and commercial anglers. The new law was instituted to address catfish anglers’ perception of fewer large blue catfish as the popularity of these large fish has grown over the past decade. The law is expected to shift more of the harvest of large blue catfish to recreational rod and reel anglers, whose tourism dollars add considerably more to the local economy than do other harvest methods.

There continues to be no harvest restrictions on blue catfish less than 36 inches and anglers are encouraged to harvest as many as they can reasonably use. 

The law will be considered for renewal in 2010.

REWARD OFFERED FOR SANTEE-COOPER STRIPED BASS TRANSMITTER- A new study will monitor the movement of Santee-Cooper striped bass within lakes Marion and Moultrie and upper Santee, Wateree, Congaree, lower Saluda and lower Broad rivers. Fish will be tagged with internal transmitters as well as yellow external tags for angler identification. A $50 reward is offered for returned transmitters. Anglers are asked to return both the external tag and the internal transmitter. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) needs to retain the transmitters from each fish, so anglers are asked not to just clip off the yellow external tag. Anglers are also asked to record the total length and weight of each fish if possible and where the fish was caught. Anglers should call (toll-free) 1-888-TAGS-4-SC to report tagged fish and to receive their reward. Contact DNR fisheries coordinator Wade Bales at (803) 734-3932 in Columbia for more information.

Specializes in marine supply and boat supply including marine electronics, GPS, marine radar, fish finder, marine VHF, and marine products.

www.hardcorefishermen.net A list of directories for fishermen interested in fly, bass, salmon, ice, and deep sea fishing.
www.hardcorefishermen.net also provides access to a number of fishing trip resources.