Phin, Thanks for posting that and you are 100% right. My grandfather was a lot like the man you described. He was extremely patient and it just seemed like he knew what the fish were thinking. He always caught the fish and never owned a boat. Maybe a little of that rubbed off on me. I’ll probably never reach his level of knowledge but I inherited his passion for fishing, love and respect for the sea and his sensitive “trigger finger”
I’ve been lurking these boards for years. Rarely posting but reading and soaking up knowledge. I keep up with the “Mojo” thread and always read the daily offshore reports. This is a great resource for anyone interested in learning and that’s because there are good people like yourself that are willing to share their wisdom. I’m very much appreciative of everyone who is willing to share info and promote fishing in Charleston.
If you ever need a hand working on the boat I’d be thrilled to help sand, fair, or even sweep the floor and vacuum dust. Id love to do my own project boat someday and am always interested in learning. Thanks again…J.P.
so many years ago. my dad used to load up my bicycle and we would take the long walk to the detroit river in detroit. here i am now, fishing the atlantic. i miss my dad.
I’ve learned more in the last 40 years offshore (and inshore for that matter) not catching fish than anytime else. That’s when you dig deep, go with your gut, try new things and listen to that little voice in your head. Sometimes it even works. I too learned by going with an old salt, following him out…in the early days of the RDF and paper recorders…didn’t take me long to understand what “deadrise” meant, or should I say…lack of it. Good topic Phin.
Good stuff here. I learned to fish in fresh water on Lake Erie up north. (I know another dam yankee). But after moving here 6 years ago I bought my first boat a 1720 Key West and set out of my learning curve into salt water. Watching these forums and talking to local tackle shops learned alot. Then I got a 185 Sea Hunt and moved nearshore, that didn’t last. Now I have a 24 Sea Hunt(1 year ago this month)and have been learning offshore. Phin was one of the first to really help me out. Having meant him on here and buying some bottom rigs from him and some words of advice he took me out one day. Just happen to be the day he caught his world record Hog fish. What a great day. Still learning more and have alot to learn. hint hint!!! Now I have been doing the trolling thing and have caught 16 or 17 dolpin in 4 trips and last Sunday my first wahoo. Another thanks to Second Chance on here and ECFC that has taught me to troll and rigging my boat with outriggers and the use of equipment. And now I have been taking people that had never caught a fish offshore and thats what its about. Thanks again to Phin and Len, and everyone else thats answered a dumb question I had.
I find it funny that my status on this site is a “Senior Member.” If you read back through my posts, the vast majority of them have been asking questions that you guys probably take for granted. I’ve never had one not answered in a supportive way. I’m thankful for this site and all of the teaching, bragging and even the arguing that happens on it. It is one of the most influential parts of my learning. There’s nothing “senior” about me on this site. My dad didn’t fish, I didn’t live near the coast and until I was on my own, didn’t even make it to the coast more than once per year and it was mostly to Myrtle Beach (dad’s doing there).
My first saltwater fishing-type experience was with another member on here, RDW. He took me shrimping out of Edisto in about 2003 or so. I met him at my first real job. I’ve been hooked ever since. Traded a car to get a truck so I could eventually have a boat. I took a 2nd job as an Residential Director (dorm dad) at a dorm at a local college to allow me to move out of my house, rent it and free up some cash flow to eventually by my first boat.
Another member, Oneal, has taught me tons too. He’s always willing to make the drive down and is a very patient teacher. I enjoy fishing with both Oneal and RDW, as well as a couple of our mutual friends that don’t frequent the site nearly as much as we do.
I find the dynamic of this site interesting. Saltwater fishing is becoming more available to more folks (like me) from what I can tell. Boats are more plentiful. It’s not uncommon for an old 80’s model cuddy to be out next to you 20-30, or even 60 miles out. That boat is affordable, maybe a bit risky, but affordable for a lot of folks that in the 80’s could only dream of them in the way that I dream of a bigger boat everyday. Now, they have it and I have my boat(s). The fishery is being shutdown slowly but surely. I can see the dilemma that would drive someone who is an actual expert to not want to teach or to think it isn’t his job. It may also be his demise t
I grew up in Va. And fished the bay since I was ten years old. Rock fish and blues were the target. My uncle retired and bought a simple cabin cruiser. Today’s sporty.
Worked for him for two summers out of OI and got hooked.
Moved to charleston and put a note card on the board at the city marina.and got calls to fish. These days it is called the Internet. Have had a chance to fish with many and the times have been good. Never owned an offshore boat but the rides still come in and provides my fix. I have fished the gov. Cup for many years all on others boats.
Kind of out of that now but still get calls and enjoy everyday.
I started with this addiction at the age of five with my grandfather taking me trout fishing on opening day in RI. By the time I was 10 I was riding my bike down to the local marina and fishing off the docks for blues, flats, tautogs and scup. I always listened to the old timers when they would come in off commercial trips, blues, yellowfin and bluefin, harpooned swords, saw plenty landed, and I was fascinated. When I was 13 I went on my first commercial boat, and went dragging for ground fish off of Nantucket. I had never been out of site of land but I never got scared. I got to see whales, dolphins and hundreds of different kinds of fish. I was a striker, and had to sort the catch. I knew then that I was made for this. Thus started my addiction, and i would spend all my free time on the docks. I learned from all the best fisherman, how to rig, how to sew up baits, reading the water, watching the weather. I was always wanting to know more and more. I spent all of my summers working on draggers or sword boats. I even spent time on the codfish party boats. I joined the Marines out of high school and got stationed down here.I kept fishing all the time. I became good friends with Capt. Randolph Scott and would bring my whole platoon out on the Carolina Clipper, there I met another local legend, OC Polk, and listened to EVERYTHING those two said. I still miss Capt. Scott every time I cross Shem creek. When I got out, I went right back to the sword boats here on Shem Creek. In the late 80’s there were about a dozen sword boats either local or transient working off of SC. I crewed the Michelle Lane, Miss Emma, and even the Betty Boop. We went from the Grand Banks all the way south to Dominican republic, Haiti and even Venezuela. In 89 I got a chance to crew (was going to fill in for someone) with a great mentor Harold Olsen on the Bonsai. Harold ran the only shark boat on Shem creek, and i look back at the summer of 89 as one of the greatest years of my life. I learned more about SC waters with him than anybody else I
Having spent my first 18 years in Iowa, I thought all good fishing involved Walleye’s in Canada. When I was transferred to SC 23 years ago for work a good friend changed my life taking me fishing for King Mackerel.
Something majical about deep blue water and a smoking reel. The cry of "fish on"was like perfect music to my ears. We Went through various boats usually moving up alittle each time. Now while it is not big, with the current one I can reach the stream on a nice day. My son at 14 has already released a nice sail last year and has caught numerous mahi, wahoo, tuna and kings over his years. Something special about him asking for a penn international 50 wide for Christmas so that we can try for more sails and maybe a white marlin this summer. (Of course he got it along with Santa putting a 30 wide in my stocking).
I have come to learn he is a better gaffer than I am, and that with each trip we go there is something neat to see and that I truly know next to nothing about deep sea fishing.
Dehydration/heat stroke??? His hands were clubbing up and his feet looked to be cramping up as well…Symptons started about 20-25 miles offshore.Slurred speach,clubbing of the hands.
Called coast guard with a medical emergency and they met us about 6-7 mles off of Edisto…
Spent many a day skipping school in the spring fishing lake Murray with my Dad and Grandad. The three of us would head out in a tiller drive Jon boat. Cooler loaded with RC cola, Yahoo and packs of Nabs. We would leave well before the workers were up and having their first cup of coffee. Some days we filled the cooler, others we only caught a sunburn. Didn’t matter; we were on the water doing what I loved.
I recently buried my grandfather and as I gave his eulogy, I reflected on those times. Couldn’t help but smile. I have 3 girls of my own now and all love being on the water. We started a tradition of visiting Edisto many years back and always look forward to getting back.
I was born and raised in Lexington, so technically, you could call it home,however every time we leave the low country, we feel we are leaving home. Charleston and the surrounding areas and not a place but a lifestyle. A place I hope to soon call home.
God bless all of you who live there. Never take for granted the blessing in which you have.
