Less is More LETTER TO CHARLESTON
COUNTY REGARDING SEGMENT
C OF THE MAIN ROAD CORRIDOR
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
As we all know, showing a little support can go a long way. That’s why Kiawah Island Town Council agreed to endorse a letter of support to Charleston County Council, regarding Alternative 8 for the Main Road Corridor Segment C project from both mayors of Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island.
Benefitting Community and Environment
SIPOA CONTINUES COMMITS FUNDS TO BEACH PROJECTS
BY RHIANNON SCHALAUDEK For The Island Connection
T(continued on page 3)
The letter, signed by Mayor Bradley Belt of Kiawah Island and Mayor Bruce Kleinman of Seabrook Island, states, “This recommendation, which reflects extensive public and stakeholder input, represents a well-considered and balanced solution that addresses, at least in part, near-term and future transportation issues on Johns Island.” This letter was submitted during the public comment portion of the planning process, which ended on June 14. Alternative 8 was developed after the second public meeting in 2022. As a result of input from stakeholders, elected officials, residents and County staff, Alternative 8 was proposed based on a
It’s Official! FINAL SHORT TERM RENTAL RECS ADVISED
BY THERESA STRATFORD
For The Island Connection
With much anticipation, some hope and an added dash of dread, Seabrook Island’s Special Committee on Short-Term Rentals came to the Town Council meeting on June 25 with recommendations they deduced from the past six months of meetings, research, studies, observations and interviews.
It was six months of hard work, but work that committee members know will contribute to the quality of life on the island.
he Seabrook Island Property Owners Association is pleased to announce the resolution of the recent challenge to its sand recycling project for beach renourishment. The settlement allows this important project to move forward on schedule and supports SIPOA’s long-term commitment to responsible beach management and environmental stewardship.
Pursuant to the resolution, SIPOA will continue funding endangered bird monitoring and habitat mapping efforts by public and private partners—efforts which have been funded by SIPOA for nearly a decade. Notably, the community has also committed $50,000 to support a comprehensive study by Coastal Science & Engineering, SIPOA’s long-term beach management consultant, to explore solutions to restore critical erosion at Deveaux Bank and increase the community’s resilience to erosion and storm events.
Deveaux Bank serves as an important sanctuary for migratory, shore and wading birds and is a major nesting area for seabirds, including many protected species.
2024, SIPOA was granted its second recertification as an Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community, which demonstrates progress toward goals in 15 areas of environmental sustainability, including habitat preservation and stewardship.
(continued on page 2)
The special committee’s recommendations, however, are nowhere near an end of the short-term rental saga. But, at the very least, they take the overall process one step closer. It will now be up to the Town Council, as a whole, to agree on the parameters of a potential short-term rental ordinance – one that will attempt to consider all sides of the issue. There is no doubt that the shortterm rental issue is a contentious
“The terms of this settlement reflect our dedication to preserving the community’s acclaimed natural environment while continuing to responsibly manage our beach projects,” said SIPOA’s Vice President, John Lassiter. “The project is consistent with SIPOA’s decades-long beach management practices, which benefit both the community and the environment. We are proud to contribute to the restoration and protection of our local wildlife and to enhance the resilience of our community in this manner.”
SIPOA values the many unique features of Seabrook Island and proactively maintains them. In 2016, following the 2015 Beach Renourishment/Relocation of Captain Sams Inlet project, SIPOA was cited as one of “America’s Best Restored Beaches” by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. In May
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CONTRIBUTORS
Theresa Stratford
Jenny Peterson
Bryan Hunter
Jessica Vernon
Norm Powers
Bonnie Younginer
Future
deadline: JULY 3 for the JULY 12
P.O. Box 837
Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS
TOWN OF KIAWAH
Board of Zoning Appeals Committee
Monday, July 15, 3 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Arts & Cultural Event Council
Thursday, August 1, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday, August 6,10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Traffic Routes
(continued from page 1)
combination of other alternatives presented at that time, specifically Alternatives 6 and 1a.
Since tree impacts were of significant interest at the first public information meeting in 2020, Alternative 1a was developed as a modification to the original Alternative 1.
Per the Charleston County website, “Alternative 1a includes a multi-use path for the entirety, and the southern terminus for road improvements is shortened. Alternative 1a includes widening Bohicket Road from Edenvale Road to Brownswood Road. This alternative includes sections of a 4-lane divided roadway with a center left-turn lane to minimize impacts to grand trees. Some sections include a five-lane roadway with a center turn lane to minimize impacts to residents in the more densely populated area of Bohicket Road. This alternative includes intersection improvements at Edenvale Road, Plow Ground Road, Maybank Highway and Brownswood Road, plus includes a multi-use path from Betsy Kerrison Parkway to Maybank Highway.”
Alternative 6 was also modified due to some traffic and environmental analyses. “Alternative 6 consists of intersection improvements along Bohicket Road, North Edenvale Road, Plow Ground Road, Maybank Highway and at River Road and Betsy Kerrison Parkway. A new connection from Bohicket Road to Brownswood Road in the vicinity of Haut Gap Middle School is also proposed. This new road would extend across Maybank Highway at Boyd N. Hayes Road.”
The combination of the two is what Alternative 8 has turned out to be and is the alternative that not only Kiawah and Seabrook prefer, but also what Charleston County staff are recommending to Charleston County Council as the “preferred alternative.”
Alternative 8 reads, “Alternative 8 includes widening Bohicket Road from Edenvale Road to Brownswood Road. This alternative includes sections of a 4-lane divided roadway and sections of a 5-lane roadway with a center turn lane to minimize impacts to residents in the more densely populated area
of Bohicket Road. This alternative includes intersection improvements at River Road/Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Edenvale Road, Plow Ground Road, Maybank Highway, and Brownswood Road and includes a multi-use path from Betsy Kerrison Parkway to Clark Hills Circle.”
This isn’t the first time that the Town of Kiawah Island has publicly endorsed an alternative for Segment C. Back in May of 2022, the Town announced their endorsement for Alternative 7.
Of the six alternatives presented at that time – 1, 1a, 3, 4, 6 and 7 – Kiawah Island suggested to their constituents that they support alternative 7 (The Sea Islands Way), which was actually submitted to Charleston County by the Town of Kiawah Island after the initial public meetings back in the fall of 2020.
Alternative 7 was proposed to improve Bohicket Road from Edenvale Road up to Brownswood Road. Their suggestion is to widen Bohicket Road between Edenvale and Brownswood.
Most of the oak trees on the southern end would have been left alone. Improvements to Plow Ground Road from Bohicket Road to River Road were also proposed at that time.
However, Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 7 were eliminated by Charleston County Council in 2022 due to extensive impacts and two alternatives –Alternative 1a and Alternative 6 – were carried forward and further refined into one new design alternative, which we now know as Alternative 8.
As Belt spoke about the Segment C project at the June 4 Town Council meeting, he emphasized the importance of the impacts to Kiawah Island residents.
“This is our one shot to get road improvements out of the County. We can all see that more extensive changes aren’t going to happen,” he said.
The Town Council all agreed that their top priorities with these improvements were safety, saving the trees and preserving the urban growth boundary.
“There is no doubt that there will be tree and homeowner impacts, but this alternative is the lesser of those impacts,” Belt concluded.
Short-term
Rentals (continued from page 1)
one. Chair of the Short-Term Rental Special Committee is Town Council Member Darryl May. The process started in January of this year when May chose the eight members to the committee from 20 applicants.
The term for the committee was through June of this year, hence the final recommendations being presented to Council on June 25. The members had to be drawn from a diverse group of interests including, but not limited to, the following: owners and/ or managers of duly permitted short-term rental units operating within the town; full-time residents and/or property owners of the town who do not own or manage a short-term rental unit within the town; licensed real estate agents and/or brokers licensed to operate within the town; and other interests or professions deemed appropriate by Town Council.
May chose three non-short-term rental owners or managers. Those three are Debra Lehman, Ted Johnson and Tracey Kirchoff. As for the owners and/or managers, he chose Johanna Young, Nancy Buck, Oliver Sever, Starr Murphy and Susan Murphy. Five of the members are full-time residents of Seabrook. Specifically, those full-time residents are Lehman, Johnson, Kirchoff, Buck and Sever.
The committee was tasked with bringing together stakeholders from a variety of interests to study short-term rental activities and trends.
Some of the issues they addressed included limiting the number of short-term rental units operating on Seabrook Island; limiting the ownership of multiple short-term rental units within town limits; fair and reasonable fees and taxes related to short-term rentals; fair rules to protect the safety of short-term rental occupants; fair rules to protect the safety and quiet enjoyment of the community for the other property owners; and lastly, fair policies related to the operation of short-term rentals on Seabrook Island.
Over the past six months, the committee met nine times and held four public forums. They also read over 450 written comments by constituents.
The summary of recommendations presented to Council on June 25 was an accurate reflection of what the committee voted on – some unanimous and some quite divided.
May said, “Committee members experienced intensity, especially with time and emotion. When I interviewed people for the committee, I tried to warn them, but I didn’t do it as much as I should have. There was always high attendance throughout; there was a high level of work, and I thank the members, as well as Joe and Katharine for supplying data for them.”
Mayor Bruce Kleinman said, “I share the gratitude, however, I especially want to thank Darryl. It was a long and arduous process. It will necessitate special meetings of Council, and we are in the process of coming up with a timeline of meetings now.”
Town Council planned a meeting on July 11 for a work session to begin going through the recommendations. “This will help us decide whether and to what extent Council thinks there should be an ordinance, and from that we will draft an ordinance, and the process will proceed,” Kleinman said.
Among the many recommendations in the 10 pages presented to Council, some of the highlights include:
Ownership of multiple STR permits should be prohibited.
(continued on page 5)
Councilman May moved to recommend prohibiting multiple (two or more) short-term rental permits; Lehman seconded. A vote was taken as follows:
• In Favor: Johnson, Kirchoff, Lehman, May
• Opposed: Buck, Murray, Sever
Councilman May moved to recommend to Council some form of caps, particulars to be subject to further motions.
Lehman seconded. A vote was taken as follows:
• In Favor: Johnson, Kirchoff, Lehman, May
• Opposed: Buck, Murray, Sever
• The motion passed 4-3.
Councilman May moved to recommend an island-wide cap, an overlay district, or cap by district to Council; Lehman seconded. A vote was taken as follows:
• In favor: Buck, Johnson, Kirchoff, Lehman, Sever, May
• Opposed: Murray
• The motion passed 6-1.
Councilman May moved to recommend an island-wide cap; Kirchoff seconded. A vote was taken as follows:
• In favor: Buck, Johnson, Kirchoff, Lehman, Sever, May
• Opposed: Murray
• The motion passed 6-1.
Councilman May moved to recommend that an STR permit holder be exempt from the cap if they demonstrate rental income of at least $5,000 during the prior year. If an owner does not have $5,000 in rental income, they may demonstrate to the zoning administrator that the STR was advertised and actively available for rent.
• Lehman seconded.
• All voted in favor.
• The motion passed by a vote of 7-0. Staff recommended two administrative changes to the STR ordinance:
1) Allow the zoning administrator to withhold the issuance of STR permits for specific reasons (similar to the language included in the 2023 draft ordinance); and
2) Eliminate the requirement for annual STR permit renewals and allow a STR permit to remain valid indefinitely as long as it remains in good standing.
• Councilman May moved to recommend in favor of the administrative changes recommended by staff.
• Buck seconded.
• All voted in favor.
• The motion passed by a vote of 7-0.
Residential Cleaning Services
Unique and Vibrant Flavors
MAKAN OFFERS WELL-EXECUTED MALAYSIAN CUISINE
BY NICOLE NELSON For The Island Connection
Charleston has established itself as a regionally and nationally known food destination with numerous excellent restaurants, many of them centered around the abundant seafood, local produce and heirloom ingredients of the American Southeast. With this national attention and reputation comes an opportunity to expand outside of the more traditional restaurants and into more diverse offerings. Makan, which just opened in downtown Charleston, looks to introduce well-executed Malaysian cuisine to the Lowcountry. Makan, now open on the corner of Rutledge Avenue and Cannon Street, brings new and unique flavors from its well-established Washington, D.C., location. Chef/owner James Wozniuk has received accolades from the Michelin Guide (Bib Gourmand award each year since 2021), James Beard and Zagat. He has years of experience with the flavors of Southeast Asia, traveling and living extensively in the region before opening several successful restaurants in Washington, D.C. Makan was his first solo restaurant, and the Charleston location is his first venture outside of the nation’s capital.
We visited during the soft opening and were greeted by the gracious and professional staff who guided us through the backstory of the chef and restaurant
and the amalgamation of Malaysian flavors with locally sourced ingredients. The interior space features extensive use of glass that allows for a view out onto the increasingly bustling corner of this part of the CannonboroughElliotborough neighborhood. The interior combines the charm of the historic building with colorful scenes from Malaysia and Southeast Asia,
a striking contrast that imbues the restaurant with a lively and airy feeling. We were seated at the bar and spoke extensively with the staff about many of the items on the menu. They were able to effortlessly accommodate our dietary restrictions, as we tried most of the items on the menu. The highlights included the Char Kway Teow (Penang street noodles), a delicious and vibrant example
of the classic stir-fried rice noodle dishes of the region; Bok Choy (with tofu, yellow bean gravy, and Fresno chili), a spicy and tasty vegan dish; and Curry Mee (noodle soup with coconut broth, tofu, and chicken sausage), an excellent variation of the noodle soups we were used to.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Sambal Udang Petai (shrimp and stink beans in chili sauce), which was packed with unique and unexpected flavors that paired perfectly; the Ikam Asam Pedas (spicy fish curry), a unique set of flavors that spice lovers will enjoy; and the Spicebird, the signature 15-spice roast chicken main dish from Chef Wozniuk, which took poultry to heights and flavors entirely new to us.
A variety of small plates and sweets round out the menu, many featuring the classic flavors of the region, such as coconut, peanuts, mango, scallions, ginger and tamarind. Most of these seemed familiar to our palates but were taken to new levels by the deft touch of Chef Wozniuk. Overall, Makan (meaning “to eat” in Malay) is a very welcome addition to this lively neighborhood on the Upper Peninsula, providing truly unique and vibrant flavors with a terrific staff in a welcoming space.
Learn more at makanchs.com.
Surf’s Up, Sisters 22ND ANNUAL FOLLY BEACH WAHINE
CLASSIC RETURNS TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S STRENGTH
BY AMBER DOSKOS
For The Island Connection
Ride the waves of women's strength at the 22nd Annual Folly Beach Wahine Classic, splashing down at the iconic Washout surf spot on Folly Beach, South Carolina from Saturday, July 27 to Sunday, July 28. The competition is free to attend, and spectators are encouraged to cheer on the Wahines.
The premier all-female nonprofit surf competition is not only a one-of-a-kind event in South Carolina, it’s the longestrunning, all-girl surf competition on the East Coast. Drawing 250 surfers and their families, friends and supporters from across the nation, the Folly Wahine is more than just a surf competition. It’s a celebration of girl power, camaraderie and the shared strength of women of all ages and abilities, inspiring girls to pursue their passions and ride the wave toward a life of purpose.
dedicated to caring for the ocean, sharing women’s strength, and supporting the community. Some partners include Warrior Surf, Surfers Healing, Waves 4 Women, She’s On Edge, Charleston Surfrider and Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network. Together, we make a difference by showing girls and their families the potential of strong women.
Promotional exposure, supporting women of all ages and abilities, and a sense of fulfillment are just a few benefits of becoming a sponsor or donating to the Folly Beach Wahine Classic. View opportunities and benefits and support the wahines at follywahine.com/sponsorship-anddonations.
Kiawah Village Dentistry is accepting new patients, please call and schedule your appointment today. From routine care to full smile makeovers, Dr. Plunkett and his caring staff are here to assist you. We are proud to offer the highest level of care to our community.
When you support the Folly Beach Wahine Classic, you are also supporting a network of local ocean-based nonprofits
You can learn more about the Folly Beach Wahine Classic, register to compete, become a sponsor and support the cause at FollyWahine. com. Keep up with the swell on Facebook at Folly Beach Wahine Classic and Instagram @ FollyBeachWahine.
Enjoy island living at its finest with stunning marsh and sunset views! This beautiful townhome features a master bedroom with ensuite, guest room with ensuite, wood floors throughout, and a lovely sunroom which brings the outdoors inside. Relax, fish, crab, or launch a kayak at the gated community dock just steps away, or ride your bike to the beach, Bohicket Marina, and the many restaurants and shops at Freshfields Village.
Iagree with Thoreau. And now that it’s summer, it warms up really fast where we live, so a morning walk is indeed the best time. My neighborhood is called “University Hill,” and it is actually a hill with plenty of places to stroll and always something new to see, whatever the season. Being a botanist, I don’t have to go very far to see interesting things.
For example, take the front yard of one of my neighbors. She lives in an old house with a historical marker about three blocks away. Her yard has been turned into a botanical garden – a garden that seems to have few rules about how it is put together. She has tomatoes and hot peppers growing in various containers, along with just about any herb you can think of. Toward the sidewalk is a grove of blackberries, now ripening. Near the front door she has some tall cut-leaf rudbeckias; I’ve never seen these growing in a garden before. But the best part, as you might expect, is what we have as this week’s Mystery Plant.
Sunflower kin for summer walks
BY JOHN NELSON For The Island Connection
Maybe she started it from seed several years ago; I have no idea. Now the plants are taller than I am and quite impressive in a golden, summery way. It’s a perennial species which forms rhizomes. The stems tend to be square in cross-section with rather sharp angles. (I know what some of you are thinking, but no, not everything with square stems is in the mint family.) These stems tend to be a bit scratchy and hairy from the bottom to the top, and the leaves are opposite, two at a time on the stem.
The blades get to be nearly a foot long, generally with coarse teeth and with a rather sandpapery feel. About midway up the stem, each pair of these opposite leaves will be
totally fused to each other at their bases: what an odd way for plants to do it! We say that the leaves are “perfoliate,” which is just fancy talk for a stem appearing to grow through the leaves. (You may know of some Eupatorium species that do this, too.) The depression thus formed between a pair of leaves is deep enough to hold a bit of rain water, as it turns out, but we don’t know if this curious arrangement provides any real advantage to the plant.
And then the upper branches produce magnificent blooms. One look at these heads of flowers and you’ll know instantly yes, this is yet another member of the sunflower family. Each head is bounded by a series of bracts at the base. Ray flowers, about 20, ring each head. These flowers are fertile and produce fruits. Each fruit resembles a flattened sunflower seed with a narrow wing on each side. The disk flowers in the middle of the head, in this case, produce pollen but no ovules and hence, no fruits.
I can’t promise that you’ll see this plant on your next summer morning walk, but I’m sure you’ll see something worthwhile. Just watch out for the fire ants.
John Nelson is the retired curator of the Herbarium at the University of South Carolina, in the Department of Biological Sciences. As a public service, the Herbarium offers free plant
For more information, call 803-777-8175 or email johnbnelson@ sc.rr.com.
[Answer: “Cup plant,” Silphium perfoliatum]
identifications.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
~Henry David Thoreau
ONGOING
WHAT: Wimbledon with a Wink
around the islands...
WHERE: The Ryder Hotel, 237 Meeting St, Charleston WHEN: Daily through July 14
MORE INFO: The Backyard at The Ryder Hotel will undergo a sporty transformation the first few weeks of July, ushering in “Wimbledon with a Wink,” the hotel's cheeky celebration of the classic tennis tournament with a Charleston twist. The Backyard will pop-up its very own pickleball court for guests to try their hand at a few Wimbledon (with a Wink) matches. Guests can enjoy specialties from The Backyard’s summer menu, including Strawberry and Cremé bites, Wimbledoninspired strawberry-themed cocktails, and Volley Hard Seltzers.
FRIDAY, JULY 12
WHAT: Spirits Tastings
WHERE: Kiawah Spirits, 615 Freshfields Dr. WHEN: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Guests can savor complimentary tastings at Kiawah Spirits every Friday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., from a selection of fine spirits. Enjoy a timeless classic or discover a new favorite during this intimate experience.
WHAT: Music on The Green WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Music on The Green Concert series runs through August 31 with concerts every Friday. On July 12, enjoy a free live performance by Color The Night.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
WHAT: Sea Island Farmers Market
WHERE: 2024 Academy Rd., John’s Island WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Sea Island Farmers Market is a year-round delight for locals and visitors alike. This market offers a wide variety of fresh produce, artisanal foods and handmade crafts. It's the perfect spot to start your weekend with a basket full of farmfresh goodies and unique finds.
WHAT: The Sanctuary Sounds of Summer WHERE: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: The public is invited to join Sounds of Summer on the Grand Lawn of The Sanctuary throughout June, July, and August. The live-music event overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean is complimentary with a cash bar provided.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
WHAT: Bastille Day Brunch
WHERE: The Charleston Place, 205 Meeting St, Charleston WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Charleston Place's Palmetto Cafe will host a special brunch in honor of Bastille Day. The French-inspired culinary event will feature live music and a menu featuring highlights like an artisanal selection of French cheeses, croissants, Summer Vegetable Tian, Dauphinoise Potatoes, Duck a’ l’Orange, Salmon en Croute, and assorted desserts. Reservations are available on Resy, brunch is served from 10 am to 3 pm and the experience is $65 per adult, plus tax and gratuity; $35 for children under 12 and; children under 3 eat free.
WHAT: Shag by the Sea
WHERE: The Isle of Palms Exchange Club, 201 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms
WHEN: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Isle of Palms Exchange Club and their Youth and Scholarship Program of Service are hosting their second “Shag By The Sea” shag dance. All proceeds will go towards youth environmental education and scholarships. East Coast DJ John Smith will be the featured shag DJ. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served, and guests can bring their own beverages. Tickets are $50.
MONDAY, JULY 15
WHAT: Farmers Market
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Every Monday from June to August, Freshfields Village hosts its Farmers Market. The Village Green transforms into a bustling local marketplace, offering fresh produce, artisanal foods, and unique crafts.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
WHAT: Movie Magic Under the Stars
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and beach chairs for a complimentary screening of “Migration” (PG)
FRIDAY, JULY 19
WHAT: Champagne Party
WHERE: Sweetgrass Inn, 5757 Palm Blvd, Isle of Palms
WHEN: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
MORE INFO: On both Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20, attendees can enjoy all things bubbly paired with grilled oysters. There will also be a Big Band playing Gatsby-style music
WHAT: The Ocean Room Chef Tasting Dinner
WHERE: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: South Carolina’s only Forbes Five-Star restaurant presents a series of wine-paired Chef’s Tasting Dinners every month through October. For these exclusive dinners held in the private Wine Room of The Ocean Room, Chef Steven Brooks and Sommelier Bret Reynolds offer a multicourse dinner featuring an artfully-crafted menu incorporating seasonal flavors and the finest ingredients. Each dinner is $250 per person plus tax and gratuity.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
WHAT: Cars & Coffee
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
MORE INFO: The monthly Cars & Coffee event happens on the third Saturday of every month from 9 to 11 am, showcasing unique cars and offering the opportunity to purchase coffee from Java Java.
Cast a Line in Summertime SHRIMP, FLOUNDER, LADYFISH
AND MORE THIS MONTH
BY CAPT. GEOFF BENNETT For The Island Connection
What a great time to be fishing here in Charleston! The usual suspects, redfish and trout, are now complimented by a host of seasonal species, including Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and sharks. Combined with warmer temperatures, the fishing conditions are now superb.
Redfish have been making quick work of any well-placed bait. Make sure to carry your cast net and try catching some finger mullet or menhaden. We’ve been having the most success around docks, rock walls and other structures while fishing live bait. Make sure to use a weight heavy enough to hold the bait stationary, otherwise your rig will slide along the bottom until it snags.
As for trout, it is more of the same: Popping corks remain the way to go. Mud minnows and live shrimp are both performing well. Creek shrimp are starting to be large enough to net and use. If little fish keep picking at your live shrimp, switch over to a D.O.A. 3” artificial shrimp. Their Glow/Gold Rush Belly color has been quite productive.
Anglers targeting flounder have been reporting good numbers being caught. Work mud minnows or finger mullet along the bottom around structures.
Move the bait gently along, and, when you think you have a bite, pause a few seconds before setting the hook. We’ve been picking up quite a few flounder with mud minnows under a popping cork as well.
My favorite summertime fish is the ladyfish. With the warmer water temps, ladyfish will fill our waters. These exciting fish will readily eat bait under a popping cork and make your drag zing. Their acrobatic jumps and hard runs make these fish very entertaining. You’ll find them often in some of the same spots that you find trout.
See you on the water!
Since 2009, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of artificial and live bait fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit his website at charlestoncharterfishing.com, or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.
Tide Chart
1:40am/2:34pm 2:26am/3:23pm 3:15am/4:14pm 4:08am/5:05pm 5:02am/5:57pm 5:57am/6:49pm 6:50am/7:40pm 7:43am/8:30pm 8:35am/9:18pm 9:26am/10:06pm 10:19am/10:54pm 11:12am/11:43pm 12:07pm 12:33am/1:04pm 7:50am/8:30pm 8:32am/9:26pm 9:19am/10:24pm 10:11am/11:20pm 11:04am 12:14am/11:58pm 1:06am/12:52pm 1:55am/1:44pm 2:43am/2:36pm 3:30am/3:28pm 4:17am/4:20pm 5:04am/5:14pm 5:52am/6:10pm 6:41am/7:10pm
Source:
Atlanta resident Banks Holloran and his son Wells, 5.
