I know everyone says that fishing in the Ashley is a whole other world from the Wando, Cooper, ect but I was still hoping someone might have some insight. Everyday I drive over Northbridge (where Sam Rittenberg turns into Cosgrove) and I see huge mudflats on both sides of the bridge on the West Ashley side. It LOOKS like a great place for flounder fishing and gigging, but since its the Ashley River and I hear people talk about pollutants from the factory etc, that fishing isn’t as good. Anyone have any thoughts on that area?
Maybe somebody is trying to keep you away from their spot? I know there are a few guides who fish that general area. Go give it a shot. Exploring new areas is part of the adventure.
You know, people eat fish out of the harbor, and the Ashley dumps into the harbor. If people tell you fish are somewhere, they probably are there. If people tell you there are NO FISH somewhere, you should certainly go confirm that for yourself.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
I would practice catch and release in the Ashley. Maybe some parts of the harbor too, but definitely in the Ashley. No reason at all not to fish there, but believe me there are some very bad pollutants in the Ashley. You can see a couple of the chemical companies from those mudflats you are talking about…
at night they sparkle green from phosphates…kinda neat looking too
“Fish On”
quote:
Originally posted by OccamsRaiserI would practice catch and release in the Ashley. Maybe some parts of the harbor too, but definitely in the Ashley. No reason at all not to fish there, but believe me there are some very bad pollutants in the Ashley. You can see a couple of the chemical companies from those mudflats you are talking about…
Please name some names.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
I can name 2…SCE&G and Rhodia the old Albrite & Wilson Chemical plant…SCE&G is def not as bad as Rhodia but i know Rhodia’s effluent is not good for the water they get fined for it all the time just like Westvaco but thats chump change in fines compared to what they make so they arent concerned at all
“Fish On”
The Cooper river makes the Ashley look like a pure mountain stream.
If you are concerned about eating fish from the Ashley - and I am not saying you shouldn’t be - you should be concerned with eating fish from any river, or simply eating fish for that matter.
The Wando and Stono Rivers are relatively clean. You are correct, the Cooper is also pretty polluted. I believe it’s one of the 20 most polluted in America. But as to the OP’s question, those mud flats by the North Bridge are very close to some really nasty point sources of pollution and a Superfund site. Just sayin. This very issue was debated on the forum here not too long ago. I’ll say it again, people are free to eat fish from wherever they choose and I’m not criticizing those who do. I would not personally or let my family eat fish from the Ashley or Cooper Rivers. Knowledge can be a burden and ignorance can be bliss.
no arguements here
“Fish On”
I appreciate the comments. Maybe I’ll try it one day - but I think I’ll try a few other places first…
Jesus…this is sickening to know. These companies should be shut the phuck down if they can’t do better than that. I’m not a tree hugger either. It just seems with all the technology available today these companies could do better. Of course that woild probably cut into their bottom line.
Also to the OP…has anyone told you there is a long time poster known as Nature Boy…?
I would think flounder moving in for the next month would be ok.
nm
Fathers neighbor caught some shrimp near Rhodia about 10 years ago… Within a few minutes of pulling them out of the water he said they would burst open. My uncle used to work for Rhodia and he says it’s one of those if I told you I would have to kill you deals. He told me never eat anything near Rhodia.
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120327/PC16/120329917/1165
Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda
i eat a lot of fish out the the rivers and creeks around here, but to be honest no matter where ya catch it in Charleston area the fish are tainted with high levels of mercury.
"-Of 41 people tested for The Post and Courier, 17 who eat freshwater fish
from South Carolina rivers had hair samples with mercury levels higher than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe. Twenty-four had samples higher than what’s typically found nationally in people who frequently eat fish.
–Six who were tested had mercury levels that would put them in the top 1 percent of those measured in a recent nationwide study. Leading mercury scientists and doctors contacted by the newspaper urged those with the highest levels to consider medical attention. "
above quote is from the article linked below.
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20071028/PC1602/310289911
17’ Chris Craft
100hp 4 stroke
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.
quote:
Originally posted by Vinmanhttp://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120327/PC16/120329917/1165
That’s the article I was thinking of. Cooper is the 4th dirtiest in the country. The exploding shrimp of the Ashley are well known too.
Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda
I have eaten fish and shrimp caught near Rhodia all my life and look how good I turned out.
you will have much better luck on flounder on “hard” bottom than mud flats. After years of gigging local rivers, it is obvious that flounder go not like soft pluff mud. We may see a few on on mud, but the majority are on sand, shell and rock, which makes sense since there is bait around rocks and shell and mud flats are pretty sterile. As far as the “exploding shrimp”, this is how BS gets passed around. The shrimp were fine, but the phosphorus was pulled from the bottom with a cast net and unknowingly dumped into the bucket with the shrimp. When phosphorus makes contact with the air, it bursts into flame…thus the story got started that the shrimp were exploding. Good story but not true.
.
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”