I can’t say much being a outsider from up north but every time I come down to fish Lake Murray we always end up talking about why do all of these boats come so close to boats that are fishing. Now this past week I had my grandson with me fishing just off of Pine Island and a good size boat came between us and the shore. I didn’t say much until my grandson spoke up and ask what the heck is this guy doing. Don’t get me wrong we have some of the same issues on the St Lawrence river but not to this degree.
Best part of the day I let my grandson age 12 , certified to drive a boat back it off the trailer and over to the dock to wait for. Pulling out the trailer I notice the couple loading their boat point to my grandson. So when I was walking back to the dock I said he didn’t even wait for me. We were very impressed with the way the young man backed off and drove the boat.
Can’t wait to get back again to Lake Murray still have to figure out flat line with Herring.
I’ve always thought since I moved up here, that DNR should have a law that prohibits anything over 24’ on a landlocked lake. There is no place for a boat over that size out here. Just asking for problems, which clearly has happened. There have been wrecks between 2 smaller boats, and obviously casualties, but I would take my chances on getting hit by a 21’ bass boat over one of the ***** extension cocaine machines.
…DNR should have a law that prohibits anything over 24’ on a landlocked lake. There is no place for a boat over that size out here. …
And why does ANYONE need a boat with twins on the back on Lake Murray? I’ve always thought this and I just don’t understand the need except to maybe show off.
But anyway, I’ve gotten a little off topic.
As someone who has a friend that served on the grand jury for the Drew Smith case, I’m familiar with and remember the details of that. For those of you that may not remember, it has been almost 20 years, but this was the boating accident on Lake Murray that claimed the life of 11 year old Drew Smith. He was fishing with his father early one morning when they were run over by another boat. The driver of that boat was intoxicated. Drew died at the scene.
This tragedy gave rise to The Boating Safety Act of 1999, better known as Drew’s Law. Drew’s Law recognizes a death at the hands of drunken boaters is just as devastating as a death on our highways by an intoxicated driver. People convicted under this law are given mandatory fines and sentences that can not be suspended and there is no probation. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t50c021.php SECTION 50-21-113.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
Minimum mandatory sentence is 30 days and a fine of not less than $5000 for bodily injury. At least $10,000 and 1 year for a resultant death.
Copied from the Code of Laws - Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft
CHAPTER 21:
Equipment and Operation of Watercraft
ARTICLE 1
General Provisions
SECTION 50-21-113. Operation of moving water device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs resulting in property damage, great bodily injury or death; penalties.
(A) A person who, while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or the combination of alcohol and drugs operates a moving water device, or is in actual control of a moving water device within this State and causes great bodily injury or death of a person other than himself, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished by a mandatory fine of not less than:
(1) five thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars and mandatory imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than fifteen years when great bodily injury results;
(2) ten thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars and mandatory imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than twenty-five years when death results.
No part of the mandatory sentences required to be imposed by this section may be suspended, and probation may not be granted for any portion.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
I’ve seen other lakes adopt size restrictions. 24’ for power boats. 38’ for pontoon boats, (which should probably still be 24’), and 26’ for sailboats. I’ve seen some larger tri-toon boats with twins running on the lake as well. I’d rather take my chances in the ocean with my 17’ Whaler on most summer days than the lake. Place turns into a bath tub with only the largest boats being able to drive above plane. And they are creating most of the waves on the lake.
We have pretty much stopped fishing. We get to the lake early in the morning and head straight to the beach, stay all day and head back in after we see the pre-dinner crowd all race to get back to the hill. We turn the lake into an all day beach event. It’s much safer that way.
If I start back fishing, it will only be early mornings and off by 9-10.
Fortunately, being retired now, I can pick and choose my days to go fishing…
…sort of
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
Also would not mind a posted speed limit on the lake as well …
40mph is plenty fast enough to get around this lake and it should be idle speed in any coves/areas that are less than 1/4 mile wide …
</font id=“red”>Required Boaters courses and liability insurance while we’re at it …
I was shocked to find out the insurance is not required in SC - regardless we have insurance on our boat since it travels to FL
There is where you’d lose traction. Granted, my boat will only run 40-42 but every bass boat on the lake will run faster than that. Plus, taking into consideration how fast bass boats can go and the number of them on the water at any given time, the number of incidents like this during bass tournaments is virtually non-existent when compared to recreational boaters so I don’t think a speed limit is the issue. It’s a “people issue,” not a speed issue. Also, given the amount of money bass tournaments bring to the area, I couldn’t imagine anything like this ever getting by. Every organized/sanctioned bass tournament on the lake has to obtain permits from the DNR (pretty sure they’re not free). Post a speed limit like that, and that money will go away. The FLW Cup is coming to Lake Murray again (in August) and that tournament alone has already shown the amount of money tournaments like that pump into the local economy. Post a speed limit and I promise you tournaments of that magnitude will never come back. Same can be said for college bass tournaments, which are growing and spreading like wildfire right now. Again, post a speed limit and kiss them goodbye. I’m not saying money should trump doing what’s right but if we’re all being real, we all know the powers that be wouldn’t turn away that money for a speed limit on the lake. B
I almost always fish on Sundays. It works best with my work & honey do schedule. During the cooler months, I’m usually on the lake by about 7:30 in the morning till about noon or so. During the warmer “playtime” months, I’m on my way to my intended spot by 6:00am, before the sun is up. I don’t get my boat much above an idle when it’s dark. I try to be back to the ramp by 10:00. Any later than that, the yahoos are getting out on the water and the ramp turns into a 3 ring circus.
During those early mornings, I’ve notice that most navigation lighting on boats is, to me, sub par. Dim anchor lights the size of a peanut are tough to see. I’ve got bright white LEDs for my anchor light and bright LEDs for my navigation lights. I want to be seen out there!
And just like my Harley, my boat doesn’t go anywhere on a holiday weekend.
!
Speed limit restrictions would likely only be for nighttime. Wouldn’t hurt any money coming in for tournaments. There is no need to run faster than 20-25 mph after sunset. Absolutely no reason. The lake is dead, and you can get across the whole think in 20-30 minutes at that speed.
DNR is already out there on weekend nights with night vision and FLR, would be easy to spot and cite the offenders. Would likely catch more DUIs as well.
Speed limit restrictions would likely only be for nighttime</font id=“red”>. Wouldn’t hurt any money coming in for tournaments. There is no need to run faster than 20-25 mph after sunset. Absolutely no reason. The lake is dead, and you can get across the whole think in 20-30 minutes at that speed. </font id=“red”>
DNR is already out there on weekend nights with night vision and FLR, would be easy to spot and cite the offenders. Would likely catch more DUIs as well.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
I could get onboard with that. Makes sense…which, sadly, is a lost art.
It is frustrating. Before buying my boat in December of 2015, I always used to say it was difficult to live in SC and NOT own a boat. Now, I still believe that and there’s no doubt SC offers both numerous and fantastic fishing/boating opportunities but a combination of the clueless and the wreckless actually makes me think twice before putting in the time and effort to go to the storage facility to get my boat (won’t fit in my garage and can’t keep it parked in my driveway per HOA) and prep/rig the boat for hitting the water. Like Geronimo eluded to, I’d rather take the time to prep the boat and drag it 2 hours down to Charleston to fish the saltwater than deal with the clueless and the wreckless on Lake Murray. That’s not to say that same crowd isn’t down in Charleston but it’s a lot easier to get away from them down in the salt.
I’m not saying I have the answer but something has to be done.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
Just of note, in my experience, the permits DNR grants to organized events on the water is FREE. It is just a way to give them a heads up of something that’s going on.
We tried to have a marsh hen derby/tournament, and my DNR family member recommended getting the permit just in case, and it almost prevented us from doing it. Called them up and heard it was free and was completely shocked.
Speed limit restrictions would likely only be for nighttime</font id=“red”>. Wouldn’t hurt any money coming in for tournaments. There is no need to run faster than 20-25 mph after sunset. Absolutely no reason. The lake is dead, and you can get across the whole think in 20-30 minutes at that speed. </font id=“red”>
DNR is already out there on weekend nights with night vision and FLR, would be easy to spot and cite the offenders. Would likely catch more DUIs as well.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
My boat runs about 45 mph WOT, but doesn’t get on plane until about 25-27 mph. 30-32 is a good cruising speed for me and where I usually run. Maybe 35 tops. But I agree with a speed limit, especially at night.
I don’t think anyone would cite you with a 25 limit if you are throttling between 25-30 to stay on plane at night. Pretty much any boat should be able to maintain that unless you have a purpose built bass boat built to run 72. Then you might have to switch props if someone does a lot of night fishing. Shouldn’t be hard considering those boats probably carry 15 extra rods, and 2 extra batteries. An extra prop for night fishing shouldn’t break the bank.
While near-shore, inlet areas have speed limits or no-wake zones, aren’t most lakes that have restrictions regulated by horsepower limits rather than speed limits?
While near-shore, inlet areas have speed limits or no-wake zones, aren’t most lakes that have restrictions regulated by horsepower limits rather than speed limits?
I’m not aware of any such restrictions on Lake Murray. I know some of the fastest power boats on the east coast come to Murray for certain “poker runs.”
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.