Hey guys quick question. I’ll be fishing from the beach on Sullivans for the first time this afternoon and someone told me it’s illegal to swim or kayak bait from the beach? Any truth to this?
I’ve never heard of that.
I don’t know if it’s illegal but I’ve talked to a couple shakers that advise against it due to it being highly frowned upon by the residents. One of the guys had someone call the cops for it and the cops told him he had to leave. From what I understand if the folks that live there don’t like it then they have more power than your legal rights in the matter. I’ve looked through the city ordinances and can’t find anything that says you can’t. Sucks cause I’ve caught some decent sharks on sully’s with casted gear. I suggest going the 5 min down the road to IOP. Most of the locals there don’t have a problem with it.
Also, I wouldn’t swim baits out there. Both sides of the island have inlets with very dangerous currents
ive casted/swam shark lines from sullys many times and never had a problem, although there are a few posted areas where you cant swim (breach inlet and left side of fort moultrie), however many signs simply say unguarded area swim at you own risk. as for swimming baits out ive done it several times before where you can swim but you better be a strong swimmer and be prepared for tourists to call you nuts. the only experience i had with anyone not liking me fishing was someone walking on the beach claiming she was from peta that would also whine about people fishing for whiting let alone sharks. it was kinda funny though she said shes in the animal rights group fro virginia but forgot what its called (i answered it for her) and when she asked me what i used for bait she had no clue what a stingray was amongst other things…VERY entertaining experience!!! 
any time ive bought up a shark people around seemed very interested with it rather than whine at me but im sure others have different experiences too. hope ya went out and had fun at least!
People are shocked when they find out that sharks swim close to the beach. I had one couple ask me," does dnr still put shark repellant tablets out around the beach?" I agree with bigcountryboy and go down to Iop and swim your baits out.
I think I remember reading that it is illegal to take bait out by boat and dropping it…then returning to shore to fish. This was popular back in the 50’s and 60’s and it is how the shark model at the Myrtle Beach Bass Pro Shop was caught. Old timers would paddle bait way out and use a balloon for a float. This has been illegal for some time now. Maybe just don’t use a balloon float and its not illegal? Kind of sketchy. You can always call DNR and ask.
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
Thanks for the advice guys! We ended up just wading and casting. Nothing for 4 hours and then this dude showed up at sunset. Isn’t this a cownose ray?
quote:
Originally posted by OhioNavyNukeive casted/swam shark lines from sullys many times and never had a problem, although there are a few posted areas where you cant swim (breach inlet and left side of fort moultrie), however many signs simply say unguarded area swim at you own risk. as for swimming baits out ive done it several times before where you can swim but you better be a strong swimmer and be prepared for tourists to call you nuts. the only experience i had with anyone not liking me fishing was someone walking on the beach claiming she was from peta that would also whine about people fishing for whiting let alone sharks. it was kinda funny though she said shes in the animal rights group fro virginia but forgot what its called (i answered it for her) and when she asked me what i used for bait she had no clue what a stingray was amongst other things…VERY entertaining experience!!!
I would love to run into someone from peta while fishing. I would debate them to death.
quote:
Originally posted by Last MangoThanks for the advice guys! We ended up just wading and casting. Nothing for 4 hours and then this dude showed up at sunset. Isn’t this a cownose ray?
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Yes. The biggest ray I ever caught looked just like that but bigger. It kept turning and pulling in the current and took me over half an hour to get to the boat. That was a fun fight.
Apparently they’re trying to market them in Virginia as food. They eat oysters and clams and such. I’ve never eaten any kind of ray. I’ve only used smaller ones as bait. Anybody tried it?
Back on topic…I’ve never heard of not being able to paddle bait out. Nothing those hippy, yuppie snobs on Sullivan’s do surprises me anymore.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
if you have eaten “scallops” youve eaten ray…so ive been told anyway…i wouldnt know… i cant eat any fish ever because im allergic lol
“Fish On”
I’ve heard that too, but heard they’re called “bay scallops”. I don’t know about that though. All the ray meat I’ve ever seen has been as red or redder than beef.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
bonecrusher: it wasnt hard at all to deal with that lady and i just let her go for my personal amusement 
mango: yup thats a cownose…at least you had a fun fight!
hoofarded: i tried a small piece of a ray i kept for shark bait once. all i did was slice off a hunk of wing, toss it on the grill, and douse with some lime juice. after peeling the skin back and scraping the meat off the flap of cartilage (easy when cooked) it really wasnt bad at all. not saying it was as good as say grouper, wahoo, or flounder and im not gonna load my freezer with ray meat to eat but wouldnt refuse it if someone served it to me and might toss a chunk on now and then when i save some.
I was told soaking it in soy sauce, lime juice, and minced garlic is the way to go. I might try it if I catch one (and nothing else) one day.
I do think the “bay scallop” thing is just a rumor, though.
A guy on the pier at the North Charleston waterfront park stopped me from throwing one back one day, took it, cut the wings off, and told me it “tastes just like scallops”. I kind of rolled my eyes and said “Enjoy!”
I don’t mean to sound like a fish snob, but before that I had never even considered eating ray.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
If you catch rays call me! I won’t eat them but they are the best bait for large sharks and i need to stock up for big hammer challenge may4th
I love screwing with the New Yorkers…They ask " ya catch a shock?" I tell em Im not near anything that could shock me…
Key West 1720 115 HP Johnson Saltwater.
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Never saw a definitive answer on this one guys… if it is not illegal, than you can do it all you want. I don’t care what the locals say… ive dealt with the animal rights activists while sharking on Sullivans many many times, it is nausiating. I myself am a Law Enforcement Officer… and I am quite sure if there is no law on the books for paddling baits out then no one would tell me otherwise…
i looked through the regulations and found absolutely nothing about paddling baits and did it out on folly and sullivans so far this year no trouble.
I have also paddled out baits on Sullivan’s right next to the no swimming sign down at Ft. Moultrie. No one has ever said a thing to me.