This past weekend we made a run to the R-8 reef to try for some winter sheepshead. We pulled right up to the structure and dropped our reef marker buoy. Dad and I had a couple of guys with us that were new to the reef fishing experience and asked what the marker buoy was all about. As I began to explain its purpose I was reminded of a time many years back when we left home ill prepared for the reef.
Imprinted in my memory from childhood is a fishing trip Dad and I took to 4KI to target big Bluefish during their early spring run. One of dad’s friends had fished the previous weekend and had caught some big Blues right over the top of some structure at the reef. His friend was kind enough to share his loran numbers with us as well as pass on some rigging tips. We went with great expectations of some serious action on light tackle. The weather conditions were not quite ideal, but that is to be expected in early spring in the lowcountry and we were not about to let some rough seas keep us from having a good time. After a long ride from Stono Inlet in sloppy four-foot seas we arrived at the reef. Dad asked me to pull our reef marker from underneath the console while he prepared the anchor. After spending about 5 minutes with my head underneath the console and turning three shades of green, I reported that I had some very bad news. “What is it Tim? You are not getting sick are you?” “No. No, I think I will be okay, but I cannot find the reef marker,” we must have taken it out the boat when we were giving the boat its annual spring cleaning, and forgot to put it back. He and I both knew it would be tough to get on the structure without a way to mark it especially with the rough seas, moderate winds, and fast current; however, we had just spent 2 hours getting our brains beat out to get there so we knew we had to give it our best shot. Dad said, "Well just get on the numbers and then start looking on the depth sounder for the structure, once we are over it let me know and I will drop the anchor, hopefully the st