A little bite

Written by Andy Whitcomb

For several years around early October, my beach-starved family has vacationed in South Carolina.  We cannot get enough of the waves, the dolphins, the sand between your toes… and, uh, everywhere else.  This year, our South Carolina trek was in July, but the fishing results were similar.

While in Mt. Pleasant, I visited the tackle store: “Haddrell’s Point” (www.haddrellspoint.com) a couple of times. The first day, they were closing but were kind enough to stay open a little late so this novice could buy a license.  The next day I revisited and, like a kid in a candy store, wandered around and gawked at the massive selection of everything I needed.  Lures the size of most fish I catch.

When the kids get a little older, we’ll charter a boat and experience some deeper water fishing; but for now, I am content to wade out and cast in the surf.  Although beach fishing was allowed, the “no shark fishing” sign was puzzling. The fellow at the Marina said all I would catch in the surf would be sharks and rays.  Even though not targeting sharks, and trying not to chum (occasionally losing shrimp from my pocket) that is mostly what I caught… and saw others catch.  Tiny sharks with back-tipped pectoral fins.  In the surf.  In front of the Battery.  Off the Pier.

I contacted Bryan Frazier, Marine Biologist with the South Carolina DNR in Charleston to try to learn more.  He e-mailed that the sign was generally directed at anglers targeting big sharks (5ft +) using larges baits, who often kayak baits beyond the surf.

He also educated me on the shark species when I sent him a photo of what I caught.  “No doubt that is an Atlantic sharpnose pup, “ he wrote. “South Carolina’s coastal and estuarine waters serve as primary nursery grounds for five species: Atlantic sharpnose, sandbar, blacktip, finetooth, and scalloped hammerhead sharks.  As many as 10 other species of sharks can be caught in SC waters, but these and bonnethead sharks are the most numerous. The sharpnose is by far the most plentiful; they reproduce annually and have as many as 12 pups per year. They are found in all areas including open ocean to salinities as low as 18 parts per thousand (ocean is 35 ppt, fresh 0ppt).  Due to its high fecundity, the sharpnose has one of the more robust populations. “

Every day, several large fish were missed.  On numerous occasions, I felt something pick up the bait and then—nothing—and would reel in to find my monofilament has been severed easily as if I was spooled with Twizzlers.

Had a little help this year.   Managed to pull my 8-year-old son off his boogie board long enough to catch his first shark and my 5-year-old daughter was right there by my side.  It has probably been 10 years since I’ve used a stringer.  However, I always have one with me… and used it to attach one end to my swimming suit and the other through my daughter’s floaty suit.  (As if having me wrapped around her finger wasn’t enough.)  Tethered to my side in 4 feet water, she giggled and splashed as the waves rolled around us while I caught and released these “cute” little fish with teeth.

On the porch in Oklahoma, the stiff fall breeze reminds us of our SC visits… and we can’t wait to get back.  In fact, I think I’ll visit the kids’ sandbox, dump some sand down my shorts, wander down to El Pondo, and cut my line.