Southern Tides September 2017

all about the water

September 2017

2nd Anniversary Issue!

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all about the water STAFF Publisher/Editor - Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com The Bitter End Columnist - Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill jgaryhill@gmail.com Around the Reef Columnist - Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Ebb & Flow Columnist - Trey Leggett info@southerntidesmagazine.com Taste of the Tides Chef - Karin Westendorf info@southerntidesmagazine.com Contributing Writer - Cohen Carpenter cohen33c@gmail.com Writing & Photography Contributors - John & Lisa Holden jpholden56@gmail.com Contributing Writer - Dory Ingram doryingram@gmail.com Contributing Writer - Ryan Holden

rehryan@gmail.com

Social Media Manager - Kyara Mejia kyarajanetmejia@gmail.com

Copyright Š 2015-2017

All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission.

Southern Tides is a free magazine published monthly and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, GA, to Beaufort, SC.

I n the T ides 5

Editor's Note

9

Ebb & Flow - Visit with SEA

6

Community Updates

11 Around the Reef - Invertebrates 13 Did You Know? - Sharks!

13 Taste of the Tides Pan-Seared Scallops

14 Shark Tagging Ride-along with the DNR 20 Best of the Coast Winners 23 Thank You Advertisers!

25 Nature Muse Imagery

27 Thank You Community Partners!

29 What's Going On ...

30 The Bitter End When Things Go South

PO Box 30724 Wilmington Island, GA 31410 (912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Follow us on Instagram at southerntides_mag Follow us on Twitter at AllAboutTheWater Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, GA

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Letters to the Editor:

We love hearing from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you'd like to share, please do! Send your thoughts to any of our email addresses or our mailing address, listed above.

About the Cover: I Like You Little blue herons during breeding season. Photo taken at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bluffton, S.C. Photo by Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery

Community Focus Project Hurricane Matthew Debris - Wilmington River The Zulu Discovery team has identified numerous areas of concentrated marine debris in Chatham County using both aerial and marine resources. Many areas that look innocuous from the ground or water level, including many areas in the Wilmington River, prove to hold debris from docks and other structures torn apart during Hurricane Matthew. Much of this debris still contains bolts and nails, and is still in sections large enough to present a hazard to life and property should it re-enter navigable waters.

There is also significant debris present in protected areas and wildlife habitats.

Although Chatham County is taking steps to find a solution, funding for clean-up is not readily available.

Zulu and Southern Tides are working to start a community focus project in an effort to raise both awareness and funding for clean-up.

During extreme fall tides, debris can dislodge and return to the waterways presenting hazards to navigation and causing damage to docked vessels and wildlife.

If your home or business is in or adjacent to the Wilmington River, we urge you to contact us to attend a Community Focus meeting. No obligation is required, this is simply an information sharing discussion. Meeting location & date TBA via email and on Facebook.

If you know other homeowners or businesses that could potentially be impacted, please share this information.

Please email: amy@southerntidesmagazine.com, visit our facebook page Matthew Debris Focus Group, or call (912) 544-5520

Sponsored in part by Zulu Marine and Southern Tides Magazine

E ditor’s N ote

and easily. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication.

We continue to fine-tune our operating practices each month to allow for smoother function. The afore-mentioned hurdles are crossed and fires are put out as needed and we continue to refine to do better going forward.

We have a small group of regular contributors who bring you the columns and articles that make up this magazine. Some contribute every month, some when topics present themselves. Thank you, Captain Gator, Michelle, Trey, Karin, Cohen, John and Lisa, Dory, and Ryan! The magazine wouldn’t be where it is today without you. As always, please write to them; they love reader input!

Our success is also in large part due to our readers. Thank you, for two years of opening these pages every month, sharing the magazine with others, writing in to share your thoughts, subscribing, and following us on social media. YOU are why we do this.

We still have a lot of room to grow and still have goals to meet, but we’re getting there steadily. It’s been an amazing two years and I have complete faith that it will only get better.

Please enjoy the issue; we'll see you next month!

T

wo years! Twenty-four cover photos, twenty-four issues of articles, information and ads. Twenty-four months of working with amazing people in our community, having great adventures to share with you, of learning new things, and of becoming a publication that people recognize and look forward to reading each month. And twenty-four months of overcoming challenges, leaping hurdles, working on deadlines, and putting out fires. But here we still are, and doing well!

According to Entreprenuer magazine, most business courses, and various other business experts, it can take two to three years, or even as long as seven years, for a business to reach the point of being successful. Success is defined by more than just net profit – it’s a combination of income, meeting stakeholders expectations, having reliable vendors, workable operating practices, dedicated staff, community perception and recognition, growth, and stability.

In two years we’ve grown (slowly, but steadily). We’ve developed solid relationships with our stakeholders – our advertisers and community partners. Please take a look at page 23, where we recognize and thank our advertisers for their support and faith in the magazine.

As you interact with them, please take a moment to let them know you saw their ad and maybe even thank them for being part of the magazine.

Also see page 27, where we thank our community partners – the people and organizations who contribute to the content on these pages, promote the magazine, and work to support our coastal area As to reliable vendors, ours are the best available. In particular is Walton Press, that prints these pages every month. They're the best team I’ve ever worked with and completely dedicated to our growth and success. Our service rep, Christine Cardaro, is an amazing person and I wish I could afford to hire her away! Leisa, Joy, Mike and the rest of the crew also contribute greatly to making things flow smoothly

Amy Thurman Editor in Chief

amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

On a somber note, our thoughts and prayers go out to the people in Texas and Louisiana who are dealing with the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Many of the volunteers staffing shelters, assessing damage, providing food and supplies, and other tasks in the affected areas are Red Cross volunteers from all over the country.

They’ve trained for their roles and each has committed to leaving their homes and families for at least two weeks so they might be of service to those in need.

As a people, Americans are a generous and giving lot and pulling together in times of need is one of our greatest strengths. If you have an interest in helping in situations like this, either at home in your own community or when disaster strikes in other parts of our country, send me an email. I’ll personally put you in touch with a Red Cross contact in your area who will help you take steps to help others when the time comes.

Left to Right: Sarah Webb, Kristin Palmrose, Kaylan Collins, and me, on the aft deck of the R/V Marguerite. See Shark Tagging, page 14.

Photo by Todd Kasper

September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

5

Community Updates SCDNR Deploys Officers to Texas Coast In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Texas Parks and Wildlife requested the assistance of S.C. Department of Natural Resources game wardens for the purpose of search and rescue efforts. SCDNR officers headed to Texas on August 31, where they joined game wardens from Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, along with other first responders from multiple agencies, in searching the floodwaters for survivors.

Game warden assistance was requested because these men and women have experience working on the water and are skillful in navigating through flood conditions.

The duration of SCDNR officers’ stay in Texas is unknown and will be determined by the speed of recovery and ongoing needs for search and rescue, door-to-door checks, and manpower assistance.

Agreements exist between certain state agencies that, in cases of natural disasters, partnerships form and agencies assist each other with recovery efforts.

For updates on SCDNR’s search and rescue efforts, keep an eye on the SCDNR Facebook page and the SCDNR Twitter page. Image provided by SCDNR.

Message in a Bottle Creates New Friendship

Doug Stephens (left) holding the bottle he threw in the ocean that was found 36 years later by Ryan Burchette (right).

Photo provided by Doug Stephens

You might recall “Message in a Bottle” from the July issue of Southern Tides. In 1981, Doug Stephens of Acworth, Ga., wrote a note, put it in a beer bottle with a stoppered top, and tossed it in the water off the Southern end of Amelia Island.

While picking up trash on the beach on Little St. Simon Island in June of this year, Ryan Burchette of Brunswick, Ga., found the bottle. The message read, “This bottle was set adrift off Fernandina Beach, Florida on the 10th of June, 1981. To the finder, I would appreciate it if you would respond as to where, when and found by whom. My permanent address is as follows, on the back. Thanks - Douglas H. Stephens.”

Through the power of social media, Ryan was able to track Doug down within less than a day's time, and the following afternoon they spoke on the phone.

In August, the two men met in person when Doug stopped to visit on his way to Amelia Island for his annual vacation with his family. Ryan returned the bottle to Doug and a friendship was formed.

“It was really great to meet Ryan,” Doug said. “If the bottle had traveled further, to some faraway place, I likely never would have gotten to meet him or his family. So glad to know I now have a friend in Brunswick and I hope Ryan knows he now has a friend in Atlanta. Who knows, I may meet him for a beer next year on the way to Amelia Island!”

Southern Tides Hires Social Media Manager

You may have seen an uptick in activity on our social media pages lately. Armstrong senior Kyara Mejia has joined Southern Tides as an intern in her final semester before graduating.

“She came prepared,” said publisher Amy Thurman. “She created a multi-level plan to increase our followers, promote our advertisers, share content with readers, and generally give us the social media platform we’ve struggled with in the past.”

Kyara will post several times per week on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and has created themes for each day of the week to keep audiences engaged and interested. Whichever platform you prefer, there will surely be something of interest – if you aren’t following us yet, do so soon and keep up with the latest news and information.

Kyara is originally from Los Angeles, but was raised in Athens. Rather than attend UGA, she opted to step out of her comfort zone and come to Savannah. “I wanted to move far enough from home where I could make new connections, friendships, and networks, but still be close (Go Dawgs!). Being close to the beach had to be part of the deal too, after all I am a California girl.”

After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in professional communications (with a minor in sociology) she hopes to use her degree to help media outlets use social media as a tool for business and audience growth. “I also hope to freelance and write for magazines about some of my favorite things to do like Social Media Manager Kyara Mejia. discovering new restaurants, trying new cuisines, drinking craft cocktails, and being stylish on a budget.”

Photo by Amy Thurman We’re thrilled to welcome Kyara to our team and hope you’ll feel free to interact with her!

On Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine, on Twitter, follow us at AllAboutTheWater, and on Instagram @southerntides_ mag. Please also check out our online version at www.issuu.com/southerntidesmagazine.com. You can reach Kyara directly at kyarajanetmejia@gmail. com.

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SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2017

What IS that? Bonus Round Answers and Winners

In the August issue, we quizzed you to see if you could identify several species commonly found in our coastal waters. As a bonus round, we offered three more photos and asked you to email your answers in for a chance to win a free, one-year subscription to Southern Tides.

Thanks to everyone who participated! Lancy Burn, of Daufuskie Island, was the only submission to get all three correct and has gotten himself a one-year subscription for his efforts. All other submissions were put in a hat (a basket, actually) and we drew out the name of Marty Danilchuk, of Dandridge, Tennessee, who picked up a copy of Southern Tides while in South Carolina on vacation last month. Marty will also be receiving a subscription.

Here are the correct answers.

Left: A parasitic isopod, commonly known as a sea louse, though we also accepted fish louse and sea tick to accommodate local terminology.

Center: An Atlantic cutlass fish.

Right: A five-lined skink, though a photo that small makes it difficult to tell the difference between a five-lined skink and a broad-headed skink, so we accepted either.

Photos by Amy Thurman

New Paddling Website Launched in South Carolina

Paddling the beautiful waterways of South Carolina just got a whole lot easier! The new website www.

GoPaddleSC.com just launched and features an interactive map of waterways (referred to as blueways on the site) in South Carolina that allows users to easily search for a water adventure based on criteria such as skill level, location and duration of trip. The online map includes listings of trip ideas and waterways across South Carolina, as well as resources that will help paddlers navigate coastal tides or river flow gauges. The website will be updated with additional content on a regular basis and currently includes descriptions of 63 waterways, 108 trip listings, 390 points of interest, and 612 river accesses. Since it’s launch on June 28, the website has had over 3000 users with views from 20 countries and 46 states. This project was a collaborative partnership between Upstate Forever, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, the SC Department of Natural Resources, and various other organizations and donors. Image of home screen, provided by Paddlesc.com

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Ebb & F low A Visit with SouthEast Adventure Outfitters

By Trey Leggett

W

ith over one hundred miles of coast, hundreds of miles of rivers, and hundreds of thousands of acres of marsh, Michael Gowen, founder and co-owner of SouthEast Adventure Outfitters (SEA), likes to say, "Coastal Georgia has a huge trail system … it's just all wet! And kayaks are the boots, backpacks, and mountain bikes of the coast."

Founded in 1994 on St. Simons Island, SouthEast Adventure has grown into the largest kayak tour operator and kayak sales business in coastal Georgia, and has introduced tens of thousands of paddlers to the beauty of the Golden Isles. Their headquarters on St. Simons is in the heart of Pier Village and stocks all kinds of outdoor gear, clothing, and accessories. Their Brunswick shop is kayak central, with over a hundred in stock, and a private dock for demos and tours. They have an outpost at Village Creek Landing on St. Simons for boating, kayak fishing, and kayak tours. Trips further afield include the Altamaha and Satilla Rivers, Cumberland, Sapelo and Blackbeard Islands, and many spots in between. I spoke with Michael about SEA's impact on the water sport community.

TL: What types of merchandise and recreation does SouthEast Adventure Outfitters offer the public?

MG: We have functional, nice gear from Hydroflask, ENO, KAVU, Teva, Columbia and other major vendors. Although our primary focus is sharing the beautiful Golden Isles of Coastal Georgia with the kayak tours we offer daily.

TL: SEA does numerous guided tours each month. What is the most popular tour for the whole family?

MG: Our three main trips are perfect for families. Our trip around East Beach is one way on the tide and great for a little more adventure. Our shorter, 2-hour trips from our Brunswick dock and Village Creek Landing are great for youngsters and first timers. Having tandem kayaks is great for introducing kids down to three years old to the fun of kayaking.

TL: SEA seems passionate about assisting youth with kayaking lessons and tours. What activities and organizations does SEA support?

MG: We couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given and we are firm believers in supporting our local nonprofits through at least 100 free kayak tours a year for groups that will bring kids to our shop that otherwise haven’t been, or would never have a chance to kayak. We offer school group trips, church groups, and other groups at steep discounts too, and are always looking for partners to share the fun.

TL: What plans does SEA have for the foreseeable future?

MG: We’re always looking for ways to improve. Online reservations have been a great improvement and our online store keeps moving along. Improving all our processes, a loyalty program, more non-profit support, and trying to keep our retail fresh and relevant are all on our list.

SEA has an abundance of kayaks and paddleboards, including September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

Above: Guests having a blast while kayak fishing with SEA. Below: As anyone who follows their facebook page will tell you, the SEA team captures some great photos on the water, like this leaping dolphin.

Photo provided by SouthEast Adventure Outfitters

brands such as Hobie Cat, Wilderness Systems, Bic, Native Watercraft, and Perception. I’ve had a relationship with SEA for years and can tell you that their customer service, down home attitudes, patience, and overall demeanor are top notch. The knowledge and experience of their staff about kayaking, kayak fishing, and paddle boarding is like no other. Pay them a visit and explore what Georgia’s coast has to offer.

Stay safe and tight lines.

Trey fishes for Hobie Kayaks, Hobie Polarized Sunglasses, ENGEL Coolers, and SouthEast Adventure Outfitters.

Email: info@southerntidesmagazine.com 9

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A round the Reef

By Michelle Riley

Communications and Public Outreach Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

M

ost Southern Tides readers know that Gray’s Reef is called a “live bottom” because of the thousands of invertebrates that live on the hard substrate at the bottom of the reef, forming a dense carpet of living creatures that can completely cover the rocky outcroppings and ledges. But what exactly is an invertebrate, and how can you identify some of them?

An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. Most animals are invertebrates; by definition, the term includes animals such as ants and spiders. Some invertebrates living in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary have been described in Southern Tides’ Did You Know? segment, but others are not as well known.

Common invertebrate residents of Gray’s Reef include spiny-skinned animals, such as sea urchins, sand dollars, sea stars, brittle stars, and sea cucumbers. Soft-bodied animals in the sanctuary include slugs and snails – such as banded tulips and lightning whelks – clams, and scallops.

Nudibranchs (NEW-dee-bronks) shed their shells after their larval stage; these soft-bodied mollusks delight divers with their vivid colors. Squids and octopuses also thrive at the reef.

Invertebrates at Gray’s Reef often choose their preferred habitats. For example, lobsters, sea urchins, octopuses, and crabs like to hide among the reef’s ledges and crevices. Sea stars, clams, burrowing worms, and snails prefer the loose sediment found in the sandy areas of the sanctuary.

Tube worms, fan worms, and bristle worms are prolific at Gray’s Reef, including the beautiful Christmas tree worms that folks like to see.

Animals with stinging cells are found everywhere, which is why most divers at Gray’s Reef wear wet suits: sea nettles are lovely to watch, but no fun to touch! Sea anemones and gorgonians (soft corals such as sea whips and sea fans) also sting their prey.

No Gray’s Reef inventory would be complete without mentioning tunicates (commonly known as sea squirts) and sponges. Bright orange and red tunicates, and sponges of all shapes and colors live on the flat tops and slopes of the reef. One diver remarked that whenever she dives at the sanctuary, the sponges make her think of Dr. Seuss books from her childhood. Indeed, in Gray’s Reef, one can find vase sponges, barrel sponges, finger sponges, chicken liver sponges, and more!

To learn more about the residents of Gray’s Reef, please visit the Encyclopedia of the Sanctuary at https://go.usa.gov/xRfMg.

Background photo: A sea nettle jellyfish (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) making its way above the reef.

Bottom: Beautiful examples of live bottom in Gray's Reef.

Left, sea sponges and coral.

Middle, a sea urchin with s hells and soft coral.

Right, a group of sea sponges.

Photos by Greg McFall/NOAA

Questions? michelle.riley@noaa.gov (912) 598-2417

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Taste of the Tides

D id Y ou Know?

Pan-Seared Scallops

Dozens of shark species inhabit the waters along the Southeastern U.S. coast, and most are commonly misidentified.

with Lemon Cream Sauce

By Karin Westendorf

Blacktip and Sharpnose Sharks • A neonatal, or newborn, Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) exhibits dark coloring on the edges of the caudal (tail) and dorsal fins, commonly causing misidentification as a blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus). Photos provided by Kristin Palmrose

Chef at Large

Not a fan of scallops? Try serving the sauce with pan-seared, locally-caught shrimp instead!

INGREDIENTS

Atlantic sharpnose pups are usually smaller, ranging from 11 - 14 inches.

1 lemon 1 ½ cups dry white wine ¼ cup sliced shallots 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 tsp ground turmeric 3 pounds large scallops 2 tbsp (¼ stick) butter, divided 2 tbsp olive oil

Blacktip shark pups are usually larger, ranging from 12 - 28 inches.

Blacktip and Spinner Sharks •Blacktip and spinner sharks (Carcharhinus brevipinna) are regularly confused due to both species having black markings on the tip of their fins.

• The spinner shark’s anal fin has a black tip, whereas blacktip sharks do not— the anal fin is whiter in color.

INSTRUCTIONS

• With vegetable peeler, remove peel (yellow skin only), in long strips. Squeeze 1 ½ tablespoons of juice from the lemon.

• In a small, heavy saucepan, combine wine, shallots, garlic and lemon peel. Boil until mixture is reduced to ½ cup.

• Add cream and turmeric, bring to simmer. Stir frequently until mixture thickens and is reduced to about 1 ¼ cups.

• Pour mixture through a fine strainer; discard solids left in strainer. Return sauce to pan.

• Whisk in 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. (Sauce can be made a day ahead of time and refrigerated.

Before serving, bring to simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally.)

• Preheat oven to 400. Pat scallops dry, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.

• Melt one tablespoon of butter with one tablespoon of oil in a heavy, large skillet over high heat. Working in batches, add scallps to skillet, searing until browned, about one minute per side. Add remaining butter and oil as needed.

• Transfer scallops to rimmed baking sheet. Bake scallops until center is almost opaque and heated through. (About 3 minutes) • To serve, drizzle sauce on plate, arrange scallops atop sauce, and garnish with a sprig of parsely.

The bottom anal fin is white on a blacktip shark, shown here, while spinner shark anal fins will have black edges.

Bull and Lemon Sharks • Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) are frequently mistaken as both species have rounded, blunt snouts; even though the lemon shark can have tints of yellow coloration.

• The size comparison between the first and second dorsal fins of these sharks can help distinguish between the species. A bull shark’s first dorsal fin is larger and more triangular than the second dorsal fin, but the lemon shark’s dorsal fins are similar in size and triangular shape.

The first dorsal fin is much larger than the second in this bull shark.

Photo by Brenda Bowling/Wikimedia

The first and second dorsal fins on lemon sharks are similar in size.

Photo courtesy of wikimedia

y! o j n E

While there are numerous distinguishing features amongst shark species, these evident characteristics may help you accurately identify a shark when you next come in contact with one of these amazing fish!

By Kristin Palmrose University of North Florida, Shark Biology Program Alumnus Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Coastal Division, Seasonal Employee

September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

13

Photo by Joann Choo/ Creative Commons

DNR Logbook Shark Tagging!

By Amy Thurman

Photos byTodd Kasper and Amy Thurman

C

louds sat low and heavy in the early morning sky as Todd Kasper and I arrived at the Georgia DNR dock in Brunswick. Todd was along to take photos and video as we rode with the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) on their longline expedition to tag redfish and sharks. We worried the weather might disrupt these plans, but chief biologist Donna McDowell assured us that rain wouldn’t stop the trip, only lightning would.

We were going out on the R/V Marguerite, a 41-foot Guimond trawler with an open aft deck, rigged with a hydraulic winch. As it turned out, I was familiar with both the boat and its captain, Tony Blount, from when I’d worked in a boatyard in Savannah a couple years earlier and he’d brought it in for service. Small world.

We got underway around 7:30 and got to know the crew as we motored out to the first drop location. In addition to Donna and Tony, also aboard were marine technicians Graham Carithers, Kristin Palmrose, Sarah Webb and Kaylan Collins. Graham’s role was mostly to assist Tony at the helm as a spotter and relief, while Donna, Kristin, Sarah and Kaylan were to work the drops on deck. Todd and I were to stand in where needed, in between shooting photos and taking notes.

The longline project’s primary purpose is red drum research. Information is noted about each fish caught, then logged into a database, where it can then be used for life history information, such as growth, habitat use and movement.

However, it quickly became clear in the early days of the project that as many or more sharks then reds were being caught, and the project became two-fold, recording shark data as well. This data is also logged into a database and used to better understand life history, as well as yearly trends.

As we approached our first drop of the day, about six miles offshore, east of Little Cumberland Island, the crew baited hooks. 60 large circle hooks, each attached to 24 inches of 200-pound-test leader with a clip on the opposite end; 30 hooks were baited with cut mullet and 30 with cut squid.

When Captain Tony sounded the horn to announce we’d reached the drop, the crew got to work. Donna manned the winch, spooled with 500-pound-test line. Kristin and Sarah attached a large buoy and tossed it overboard, followed by a 26-pound weight. Sarah and Kaylan then lined up to hand the

Opposite Page: Red on the hook! Donna helps haul in our first redfish of the day.

Above: Kristin (right) hands a baited hook to Kaylan, who then passes it off to Sarah. This relay allows all crew members to use both hands while maintaining their balance.

Right: Sarah clips a baited hook to the longline.

Below: Finally something on the line! Kaylan unclips a shark and passes it off to Donna.

leaders off to Kristin, who clipped them to the line at intervals as Donna spooled the line out. The 30 mullet hooks went first, followed by the squid. Sarah called out when there were ten hooks left, then six, then three, while Donna signaled their status to Tony so everyone was on the same page with the process.

After the last hook was attached, Sarah then handed Kristin the end weight and buoy. Kristin attached both, tossed them overboard, then released the line from the spool, and the rig was set. Half a nautical mile of line with 60 baited hooks.

Tony turned the boat around and motored back to the start buoy, where the techs conducted water and air testing: they logged salinity, dissolved oxygen, surface temperature, air temperature, and wind speed and direction. Then we waited; the rig was down for 30 minutes at each drop. Finally, Tony sounded the horn announcing it was time to haul the line back up and the excitement level on the aft deck ratcheted up several notches.

Sarah used a boat hook to snag the buoy and clip the line back onto the spool. Donna signaled to Tony that it was attached, then began spooling the line back in as Tony idled slowly forward. Kaylan took position just before the winch and, with a gloved hand, kept the line steady and unclipped the hooks as they surfaced. She handed the hooks off to Donna, who passed them on to Sarah, who put them back in their slots on the work table.

We were all eager for the first catch. After a couple empty hooks, something finally rose to the surface. It was a sharpnose shark, about two feet long. Kaylan handed the shark off to Sarah, who worked quickly in order to release the shark as soon as possible. She removed the hook from its mouth, then called out information to Kristin, who noted it on the log sheet – species, sex, presence of an umbilical scar in young sharks, length from nose to fork and nose to tip of the tail, weight, and lastly, the condition of the shark when it was released. Because sharpnose sharks are so prevalent, easily the most populous species in our waters, they aren’t tagged.

While Sarah was handling the first shark, several more were brought up. Kristin took the next one and those that followed were placed in a large tub of sea water. When Sarah finished with hers, she immediately took another from the tub and got to work on it, and Kristin followed suit.

Wait a minute.

“You stick your hands in a tub of cloudy seawater and grab a shark?” Todd asked.

“You just grab them behind the head, in front of the gills with one hand and grab the tail with the other,” Kristin said, with a grin.

“None of us has ever been bitten,” Sarah added, also smiling. “We wear gloves.”

When the last hook was unclipped from the line, there was an almost audible sigh of disappointment from the whole group – the set was done, the excitement over for the moment.

While Tony motored to the next drop zone, the crew cleaned up gear and work stations, checked and organized data sheets, and baited hooks.

Although Todd went right to work on the first drop and helped bait hooks and hand off sharks on the line, I observed and took note and photos,

are sometimes confused with blacktips, see Did You Know? on page 13), and two blacknose sharks. We also caught a bonnethead – the first time I’ve ever seen one up close. The unique shape of its head proof that our world is populated by some truly unique creatures.

Another shark I’d never seen before was a finetooth we pulled up in the late afternoon, much to Kristin’s delight. She’s studied the species and although she’d seen them before, it wasn’t a common catch and she enjoyed the opportunity to inspect it.

Although the majority of the catch were sharks, we did eventually pull up two redfish. Both were just over 38 inches in total length and were gorgeous! Sarah and Kristin worked quickly, first scanning the fish to determine if they’d already been tagged – neither had. They noted what bait each fish was caught on, length, weight and overall health. If the fish was drumming, it was also noted as male on the log sheet. Next, two tags were attached to each fish. The first, a passive integrated transponder, or PIT tag – a small “chip” similar to the microchip used on pets. The second was a dart tag, a small yellow stem attached directly beside the first dorsal fin. The fish were then released and the overall condition on release was noted, as well.

(Continued on next page.)

One incident later in the afternoon had hearts pumping. Kaylan

Opposite page: (Top) Kristin measures a sharpnose shark while Sarah logs the information.

(Middle) Kristin implanting a dart tag in a redfish.

(Bottom) A blacktip shark being tagged.

This page: (Top) Todd unclipping a shark from the longline.

(Bottom) A bonnethead shark was also tagged and released.

to get a feel for how the crew’s system worked. On subsequent drops, we both jumped in at every opportunity, baiting hooks, unclipping the leaders and handing off either the catch or empty hooks to waiting hands, measuring, removing hooks, logging data, wherever we could help without disrupting the routine. Even with us in the mix, the crew worked fluidly together, each move efficient and productive, working quickly to get the job done, even as they alternated stations at each drop.

It was amazing to watch these four young women work together so seamlessly, and between drops while talking with them, their passion for what they do reflected in their voices and on their faces.

All are at various stages in education in marine sciences, and each clearly love their chosen fields.

Although some of the drops were routine, logging only common species, there were several that generated a lot more excitement. We caught six blacktip sharks (juvenile sharpnose

September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

17

was pulling hooks and Todd was leaning against the rail watching what was coming up, when they both jumped back a step. They looked at each other, and both spoke at once.

“What was that?” “Did you see that?” “That was huge!”

As the line spooled in, a very large shark had lunged upward as it neared the side of the boat, before slipping off the hook and disappearing below. It happened so quickly that neither Kaylan nor Todd could identify it. When I asked how big it was, Todd circled his arms to indicate the head size.

“Huge!” was all he said, shaking his head.

Although we didn’t land any that large on this trip, the crew have pulled up extremely large sharks in the past. If they’re too big to safely bring aboard, as much data as possible is noted while they’re alongside the boat before they’re released.

We returned to the dock that evening around 6:30. After eleven hours on the water and ten longline sets, we were all damp, dirty and tired, but there were no complaints to be heard. It was Crew of the R/V Marguerite, left to right: Kaylan Collins, Donna McDowell, Sarah Webb, an amazing experience and we learned a lot. These Captain Tony Blount, Kristin Palmrose, and Graham Carithers. trips are conducted monthly at multiple locations along the Georgia coast. The collected data helps give scientists a better understanding of the various species in our waters, including their population size, sex, and overall health, while the individual researchers aboard the vessel develop more hands-on knowledge about the species they’re studying. This shared information allows those of us who live in, and love, our coastal region, the ability to learn about species around us that we might not otherwise have any understanding of at all.

Join us next month as we share a ride-along with the SCDNR on a crustacean trawl!

• Apps, burgers & fresh local seafood • Full bar • Indoor & outdoor dining • Live music on weekends • Open seven days

Come by boat!

912-319-2174

JEKYLL HARBOR MARINA

• • • • • • •

Dockage and Dry Storage Gas/Diesel Wifi, Cable TV Courtesy bicycles Pool Pump-out Ship’s Store

912-635-3137

inquiry@jekyllharbor.com www.jekyllharbor.com

ZACHRY'S - Providing fresh seafood in Glynn County for over 35 years!

1 Harbor Road

Jekyll Island, Georgia

If you don’t see this behind your boat ...

Call us. We’ll come get you!

Serving Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah and St. Catherines Island Service provides for ALL recreational boats you own, borrow or charter, anywhere in the world!

• Call your local tower for special signup discounts • Fast, experienced, and reliable service • BoatU.S. 24-hour dispatch services, call: 800-888-4869 • Towing service with ALL the benefits of membership in BoatU.S.

Towing • Soft Ungroundings Jump Starts • Fuel Delivery

For 24/7 Response, Call:

912-507-BOAT (2628)

$149

an mem nual bersh

ip

Readers from Beaufort, S.C., to St. Marys, Ga., voted on their coastal favorites and we're thrilled to bring you the results!

We have several second-time winners as well as several new names added to the mix.

Congratulations to all!

all about the water

2 Annual Best of the Coast Survey Results nd

Quick Guide •Businesses that have won their category for the second time are indicated by two stars:  •Southern Tides advertisers are highlighted in blue.

•In categories with significant votes in multiple areas, winners are listed by area, north to south. If a category is not broken down by area, enough votes were not received for that area.

•If a website or Facebook page was not available for all winners in the category, a listing wasn't shown for any.

•Categories that did not receive sufficient votes to determine a winner are not listed.

Power or Sail?

Getting on the Water Best Marina: Isle of Hope Marina www.iohmarina.com

83%

Best Boat Ramp: Rodney J. Hall Boat Ramp  (Locally known as Butterbean Beach)

17%

83% of readers prefer power 17% prefer sail

Best Kayak Tour/Rental (by area): Beaufort Kayak Tours - Beaufort  www.beaufortkayaktours.com Sea Kayak Georgia - Tybee Island www.seakayakgeorgia.com Southeast Adventure Outfitters - St. Simon  www.Facebook.com/SoutheastAdventure

Fishing Best Bait House (three-way tie): Bandy's Bait Co. - Butterbean Beach  Joey's Bait House - Wilmington Island Thunderbolt Bait - Thunderbolt Boat Ramp

Best Jet Ski Rental: Tybee Island Kayak & Jet Ski Rental  www.tybeejetski.com

Best Tackle Supply (by area): Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply - Port Royal www.facebook.com/beaufort-boat-dock-supply River Supply - Thunderbolt www.riversupply.com

Best Dolphin Tour: Spartina Marine Education Charters - Bluffton  www.spartinacharters.com Captain Mike's Dolphin Adventure - Tybee Island  www.tybeedolphin.com Southeast Adventure Outfitters - Brunswick/St. Simon www.Facebook.com/SoutheastAdventure

Best Inshore Charter (by area): Captain Stan Allen - Tybee Island www.marshlandadventures.com Captain Brooks Good - St. Simons Island www.coastaloutdooradventures.com

Best Dive Company: Scuba Shack - Richmond Hill www.scoobashack.com Diver's Den Georgia - St. Marys www.diversdengeorgia.com

Best Offshore Charter: Captain Judy Helmey - Wilmington Island  www.missjudycharters.com Best Fishing Club: Savannah Sport Fishing Club  www.ssfc.org

Best Eco Tour: Spartina Marine Education Charters - Bluffton  www.spartinacharters.com Sundial Charters - Tybee Island www.sundialcharters.com

Best Fishing Tournament: Fishin' For Jamie www.facebook.com/fishin-for-jamie 20

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2017

Most Voted on Categories

Sailing Best Sailing Club (tie): Chatham Sailing Club www.facebook.com/chatham-sailing-club Savannah Yacht Club www.savannahyachtclub.org

BEST NFP DOCKSIDE BAR

Best Boat Detailer: Waterline Up - Thunderbolt  @waterline_up on Instagram Best Boat Show: Savannah International Boat Show www.savannahboatshow.com

55%

of those who voted are boat owners; 9% plan to be soon!

Food and Drink Best Seafood Market (by area): Lemon Island Seafood - Okatie Russo's Seafood - Savannah  Ken's Seafood - Richmond Hill City Market Seafood - Brunswick  Best Local Seafood Restaurant: Love's Seafood Restaurant - Richmond Hill www.lovesseafood.com Best Dockside Bar: Skull Creek Boathouse - Hilton Head www.skullcreekboathouse.com The Wyld - Savannah  www.thewylddockbar.com Fish Tales - Richmond Hill  www.fishtalesrh.com September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

51% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Destinations Best Boat Day Trip (tie): Daufuskie Island  Ossabaw Island Best Boat Weekend Trip: Daufuskie Island 

Boat Stuff

Best Boat Service: Hale Marine Services - Savannah  www.halemarineservices.com

47%

MARINA

Best Sailing Program (tie): Savannah Sailing Center  www.savannahsailingcenter.org Savannah Yacht Club www.savannahyachtclub.org

Best Boat Supply Store: River Supply - Thunderbolt  www.riversupply.com

40%

Best Lighthouse: Tybee Island Light  Best Island (by area): Hilton Head Island - S.C. Tybee Island - N. Ga.Coast Sapelo Island - Central Ga. Coast Cumberland Island - South Ga. Coast Best Beach (by area): Bradley Beach - Hilton Head Tybee Beach - N. Ga. Coast St. Catherines Beach - Central Ga. Coast

Everything Else Best Dock Builder: O'Quinn Marine Construction - Beaufort  Dockworks, Inc. - Savannah  Best Tour Captain/Guide: Captain Allen Lewis (Capt. Mike's Dolphin Adventure) Best Turtle Program: Caretta Research Project www.carettaresearchproject.org Best Coastal Not-For-Profit: The Dolphin Project NFP Honorable Mentions: Altamaha Riverkeeper Carolina Coastal Conservation League Clean Coast Coastal Conservation Association Gray's Reef Nat'l. Marine Sanctuary Foundation Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant One Hundred Miles Port Royal Sound Foundation Satilla Riverkeeper Savannah Riverkeeper 21

C O N G R A T S W I N N E R S

Maritime Metalworks Mobile Fabrication and Repair

Waterfront Dining

Aluminum Dock & Ramp Repair

Fresh Local Seafood

Sunset Party!

Boat Railings

Live & Frozen Bait

Live Music Drink Specials 6:30 p.m.

Every Thursday, All Summer Long!

T-Tops

Dockage

Trailer Repairs

Dry Storage

Serving the Savannah Area

912-484-5238

Transients Welcome!

Thursday Night

Join Us at the Tiki Bar!

Fish Tales 727.3473 • Ft. McAllister Marina 727.2632 3203 Ft. McAllister Road • Richmond Hill, GA • SM 605

Hale Marine Services

Your local factory authorized service center for Yamaha, Minn Kota and Power Pole, and we’re proud to carry Versa Dock �loating dock systems.

Call us for all your boating needs!

912-224-8313

2604 Causton Bluff Road

Savannah, GA

Thank You!

Southern Tides Magazine is funded almost entirely by advertising revenue. We wouldn't be here without the businesses that choose to spend their marketing dollars with us.

Thank you all for having confidence in us to reach your target market, and for supporting the magazine!

We truly appreciate each of you!

(Logos are shown in alphebetical order.)

Captain Tripp Lang's Charters

Coastal Expeditions

CIRCA 1870

GOODBREAD HOUSE

BED & BREAKFAST INN

The Landings MARINAS

Maritime Metalsworks

St. Marys Boat Services

September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

23

Safe Harbor Rigging Services

Checking in with Nature Muse Imagery

Port Royal based photographer Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery, has been featured in Southern Tides Magazine several times, and this month's cover is her third with us. Thank you, Kelley, for continuing to share your beautiful photos with our readers.

Kelley is a master naturalist and specializes in photographing birds and landscapes, on or near her local waters.

Her prints are for purchase and you can see more of her work at www.naturemuseimagery.com, on Facebook and Instgram, or in person at MacDonald Marketplace, in Frogmore, S.C. Enjoy!

Clockwise from top left: Spottail - Tailing redfish searches for food at a flood tide. (Port Royal, SC) Sunflower Bunting - Male painted bunting poses for just a moment at a sunflower field. (Donnelly WMA, Green Pond, SC) Three - Young woodstorks and a roseate spoonbill. (Bear Island, SC) Evening Kiss - Barred owls, who mate for life, displaying affection to one another. (Port Royal, SC) Poetic Morning - Fog drifting in and out at sunrise. (Port Royal, SC) Surprised Snowy - A snowy egret looking quite startled! (Fripp Island, SC) Photography by Kelley Luikey, Nature Muse Imagery

For all your

MAINTENANCE & REPAIR needs, visit 2823 RIVER DRIVE in

Historic Thunderbolt

Keeping you headed in the right direction!

912-777-4139

maricomnavigation@comcast.net

ALIGAITOR

Billy - 912-844-1804 Justin - 912-660-3763 billygartside@yahoo.com

MARINE WORKS

912-441-1750 gaitortail@coastalnow.net

Custom Metal Fabrication James Gartside

912-631-4104

j.gartside@comcast.net

Thank You!

Our community partners have provided us with articles and event listings, shared our content on social media, and actively helped support and promote Southern Tides.

We're so grateful for their efforts and will continue to work to promote and support each of them in kind.

Abilities Unlimited, Inc. • Altamaha Riverkeeper • Chatham County Marine Patrol Chatham Sailing Club • Clean Coast • CCA (Savannah) CCA (Skidaway) • Fishin' For Jamie • GADNR Coastal Resources Division GADNR Wildlife Resources Division • Geechee Sailing Club Georgia Marine Business Association • Georgia Sea Turtle Center Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary • Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Jekyll Island Authority • Lowcountry Annies • Lowcountry Institute Lower Savannah River Alliance • NOAA • Ogeechee Riverkeeper • One Hundred Miles Ossabaw Island Foundation • PaddleSC.com • Port Royal Sound Foundation • Satilla Riverkeeper Savannah Riverkeeper • Savannah Sailing Center • Savannah Sport Fishing Club SSU (Marine Sciences) • Savannah Yacht Club • SCDNR SCDNR Marine Resources Research Institute • SC Sea Grant • Ships of the Sea Museum Skidaway Institute of Oceanography • South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council Southeastern Guide Dogs Savannah • St. Marys Riverkeeper • The Dolphin Project Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers • Tybee Island Marine Science Center Tybee Island Maritime Academy • UGA Marine Extension and GA Sea Grant Wadell Mariculture Center • Wilmington Island Farmers Market We would also like to show our appreciation for a few members of our community who continually assist when asked with information, guidance, and wisdom: Nancy Butler, Erin Weeks, John "Crawfish" Crawford, and Mike Sullivan. THANK YOU!

Saturday, October 7, 2017 Celebrate Georgia’s Coastal Natural Resources!

23rd Annual CoastFest Learn to Kayak Learn Archery See a Working Bee Hive Touch Tanks Student Art Exhibit Birds of Prey Magician & Jugglers Black Powder Demos Cannon Firing USCG Boat Tours Indigo Snakes & Turtles Join the Fishing Rodeo Arthur Atsma & his Science Circus Native American Programs & Storytelling with Jim Sawgrass ... and much more!

September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

This free family event includes 70 interactive environmental, educational and resource organizations from around the southeast, nature trail with photography exhibit, and much more!

CoastFest is hosted by Georgia DNR One Conservation Way Brunswick, GA Near the Sydney Lanier Bridge For information call 912.264.7218 or visit CoastalGaDNR.org/coastfest

27

Safe Harbor

Rigging Services, LLC Proudly Serving Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida CIRCA 1870

s e s i u r C t Sunse Cruises Dolphin

G OODBREA D HOUSE

BED & BREAKFAST INN Four standard guest rooms & two suites, all with large private bathrooms.

Whole house rental available.

(includes use of kitchen & two kitchenettes).

Full, hot, gourmet breakfast included. (dietary needs accommodated).

Downtown Historic St. Marys.

Pet Friendly!

(912) 882-7490 www.g dbreadhouse.com info@g dbreadhouse.com 209 Osborne . . Marys, GA

Captain Tripp Lang’s Charters

912.510.6219

www.telltalecharters.com

info@safeharborriggingservices.com www.safeharborriggingservices.com

843.295.8735

John S. Ramsey, Owner Authorized

Boater Safety Course Presented by the Georgia DNR and Chatham County Marine Patrol

Inshore Fishing & Sightseeing Cruises

www.FishSaintMarys.com

info@telltalecharters.com Departs from Pickney Island Landing

Dealer

This is a Georgia approved class, required for anyone born after January 1, 1998 to operate any vessel on Georgia waters.

The course is instructed by CCMP and GA DNR Resource Rangers. It covers all required equipment and Georgia boating laws.

All students must pass an exam and provide their social security number to receive the ID card.

912-674-1085 or 912-674-0838

Tell Tale Charters

3rd Saturday every month Must register at

www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com Savannah Mall Community Meeting Room

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

(912) 264-7237

Coastal Expeditions Captain Eric Moody Jekyll Island, Georgia

Fishing Charters Dolphin Tours Sightseeing Trips

912.270.3526

www.coastalcharterfishing.com

What’s Going On ...

29 Charity Clays Tournament & After Party Lowcountry Annie Oakleys Friday 1 p.m. registration, 2 p.m. shotgun start, 5 - 7 p.m. after party Forest City Gun Club, Savannah 100-shot tournament to support the Dwayne & Cynthia Willet Children's Hospital of Savannah. After party will include awards, food & beverages, music, raffle & more. www.lowcountryannieoakleys.com for full details.

September 15 - 17 Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival Jekyll Island Authority Friday 4 - 9 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Jekyll Island Historic District Live entertainment, artist's market, kids' zone, craft brewfest, wildlife demonstations, food, and more! jekyllisland.com/shrimpgrits

30 Eco Cruise Port Royal Sound Foundation Saturday 11 a.m.

310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie Cruise along the Chechessee River with Captain Amber, aboard Spartina. Be on the lookout for wildlife as you learn about this unique ecosystem. info@portroyalsoundfoundation.org (843) 645-7774

16 Boater Safety Course - Last Course of the Summer GA DNR and Chatham County Marine Patrol Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Savannah Mall Community Meeting Room Required to operate a boat in Georgia waters for anyone born after 01-01-1998.

(See promo opposite page.) www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com (912) 264-7237

Wilmington Island Farmer's Market Every Saturday in September and October 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Islands High School, Wilmington Island Shop fresh local produce, delicious food & handcrafted artisan creations while enjoying family-friendly activities, including animal encounters, story time and fun games! wifarmersmarket@aol.com or www.wifarmersmarket.org

16 Satilla River Annual Clean-up Satilla Riverkeeper Saturday 9 a.m.

Throughout Satilla River basin The Satilla Riverkeeper hosts one river-wide clean-up each year. Choose a site and come help us clean up our beautiful river! www.satillariverkeeper.org/events.html (912) 510-9500

October 3 Tuesday Talk - Marine Bio-Acoustics Port Royal Sound Foundation Tuesday 5:30 p.m.

310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie Dr. Eric Montie, professor at USCB, will speak on marine bio-acoustics, a technique that helps identify species spawning aggregations & distribution of vocal fish. info@portroyalsoundfoundation.org (843) 645-7774

16 Adopt-A-Highway Litter Pickup Port Royal Sound Foundation Saturday 8 a.m.

310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie Coffee and supply pickup at the Maritime Center, then off to clean up our roads.

Volunteers needed (ages 13+)! Please let us know if you can make it. info@portroyalsoundfoundation.org (843) 645-7774

6 - 7 Beaufort Shrimp Festival Hosted by Main Street Beaufort, USA Friday 6 - 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Downtown Beaufort Great Food, live music, games & entertainment for the whole family, 5k race, & more. www.mainstreetbeaufort.com/beaufort-shrimp-festival/

17 Adopt-A-Stream Chemical Monitoring Workshop Savannah Riverkeeper/Ogeechee Riverkeeper/Altamaha Riverkeeper Sunday 1 - 5 p.m.

Houlihan Boat Ramp, Port Wentworth We'll train volunteers to monitor chemical water quality for the Adopt-A-Stream database. No cost, but limited space. You must contact us to register. jacob@savannahriverkeeper.org (706) 826-8991

7 CoastFest!

Georgia DNR Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

DNR Regional Headquarters, One Conservation Way, Brunswick Family entertainment, nature trail, Native American songs, storytelling and dances, Science Circus, jugglers, touch tanks and more. (See promo, page 27) coastalgadnr.org/coastfest (912) 264-7218

20 Green Truck Pub Charity Pint Night Ogeechee Riverkeeper Wednesday 5 p.m.

Green Truck Pub, 2430 Habersham Street, Savannah Enjoy a Moon River Brewing Company draft beer where $1 for each beer goes to ORK. info@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org (866) 942-6222 22 The Isle of Hope Pavilion Series Isle of Hope Marina Friday 6 p.m.

50 Bluff Drive, Savannah Gather under the pavilion for music, dancing, food, and drinks!

(912) 354-8187

14 Skidaway Marine Science Day UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Saturday Noon - 4 p.m.

SkIO campus, 10 Ocean Circle, Skidaway Island Behind the scenes tours, displays, demonstrations and activities on all subjects marine, plus food trucks from Savannah Food Truck Fesitval. www.skio.uga.edu/events/skidaway-marine-science-day/ (912) 598-2325

23 September Recreational Paddle Ogeechee Riverkeeper Saturday, 9 a.m.

Harris Neck Road & Wildlife Drive NW, Townsend Our monthly paddle will be a stretch of the Ogeechee’s narrow twists and turns from Wadley to Coleman Lake. www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/paddletrips

19 "Lost at Sea" The Liminal Essence of Immigration Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum Thursday 6 p.m.

41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah Opening reception for an international art exhibit, conceived by Bertha Husband, investigating the nature of relocation & acculturation across the ocean. sarahshartzer@shipsofthesea.org (912) 232-1511

28 Brunswick Station Open House UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant Thursday 4-7 p.m.

715 Bay Street, Brunswick Visit our native garden, tour the R/V Georgia Bulldog, interact with animals & learn about sea turtle research. econnell@uga.edu (912) 264-7268

22 Springfield Canal Rivers Alive Cleanup Savannah Riverkeeper Saturday 9 a.m.

Park at GA State RR Museum, meet at corner of Louisville & Boundary St. We'll be picking up trash along the Springfield Canal in Savannah. Water, gloves & trash bags provided, close-toed shoes recommended. jacob@savannahriverkeeper.org (706) 826-8991

September 2017 SouthernTidesMagazine.com

29

T he Bitter End

Let’s start with a simple day at the sandbar or on a barrier island.

I’ve seen it, as have many of you, when a lack of attention or a mechanical issue have left a boater sitting high and dry. Under ideal conditions this is no biggie. But being me, worst case scenarios always come to mind. Sudden storms are bad news, especially in the colder season when hypothermia can set in. Equally as bad as storms are high winds, which can turn miserable into deadly.

A ditch bag is a handy thing to have on any vessel, and depending on the season, items can be interchanged. Some handy things you should include in your ditch bag are ways to signal for assistance, such as handheld VHF radios, mirrors or other visual aids. One item that most of us have laying around is an old cellphone. What good is that, you might ask? Simple, the 911 feature is still functional on all phones whether you have a carrier or not. These make great backups in the event our regular phones become inoperable. Keep in mind, this is to be regarded as a means for signaling for serious or life-threatening situations, not for trying to order a pizza.

Many of us boat with our family, and nothing can make an unpleasant situation worse than worrying about the comfort of our loved ones. Things like protein bars and a few bottles of water go a long way toward aiding in their wellbeing.

Other items might include small tarps, which have multiple uses, from ground cover to emergency shelter to sunshade. Three things I feel every ditch bag should also contain are a knife, a length of paracord, and heavy-duty tape. Anther thing that floats in and out of my ditch bag depending on the season is a means to start a fire.

These have evolved over the years, but typically include flint and steel, as well as some tinder, and often a few campfire starter sticks. The reason behind the tinder is that there’s a strong possibility the wood we will try to burn may be damp or wet, so we must provide a fuel source capable of lasting long enough for a fire to catch.

A quick search online will give you more ideas for what to include in your own ditch bag so you’ll be prepared if things go south.

Well folks, while in the process of composing this column, I managed to get my group off Daufuskie, and pull one of our small boats out of the water. During the haul-out I ran into a gentleman at the ramp who recognized me as The Bitter End columnist! Wow, so folks really do read this! I’m honored that you allow me and the other fine writers here at Southern Tides into your lives each month. Here’s to another year!

When Things Go South

By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

G

reetings once again! It’s a good thing you, the readers, don’t know how late I usually am with getting these sent out to our editor every month. But, after struggling for several days (OK, weeks), I sort of have a rabbit hole for us to go down. Before that though, I’d like to give our editor and publisher, Amy, a big shout out for making this brain child of hers work for the last two years. Just dealing with me is a struggle in and of itself. [Thank you, Gator! You’re not all that difficult, just a wee bit tardy, but that’s why I set your deadline earlier than everyone else’s.]

Now, on to meat of the story. As a male and a professional mariner, I have a double whammy in having both testosterone and machismo.

Sitting here as I write this, I’ve been struggling to figure out a work around, of sorts. I have clients on Daufuskie Island who need to leave there today, but winds are blowing around 30 knots, so how to make that happen is a logistical nightmare. In this business, weather can throw more wrinkles than a raisin on you.

Living in the south, weather is always an issue, and boat motors are just as fickle as the weather. Actually, there are several things that can turn a good day bad, and a bad day worse, but that’s another column for another month. I realize that maybe not many of you are explorers setting out on long treks, but even boating locally you can find yourself in difficult situations. Just taking along a few extra items can make your life easier on those days when things go south.

Until next time, stay safe and I'll see y'all on the water!

Here is part of Captain Gator's ditch bag. He's woven the paracord into a lanyard for a flashlight, his knife also has a fid for working with line, and he keeps a backup battery charger for his cell phone. He also adds that duct tape is good, but electrical tape or any sturdy tape can suffice.

Photo by J. Gary Hill.

Email: jgaryhill@gmail.com 30

SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2017

Selling Savannah with Southern Hospitality Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927

6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA 912.352.1222

LAND

WILMINGTON IS

lyn@coldwellbanker.com

23 Walthour Cove

in a quiet m, two bath home Great three bedroo location. t ien en nv Co unity. cul-de-sac comm th has ba er droom. Mast Large master be stainless w Ne er. ow sh d an separate jetted tub . Fireplace is three years old appliances. HVAC en to the op ench doors that in family room. Fr rd. ya ck ba d ce ivate fen patio and huge pr $261,995

110 Robin Road

VERNON BERG

acres with uated on 1/5 Perfect home sit . Amazing ws vie ter wa ep d de beautiful marsh an luxurious th wi main floor master suite on featuring n open floor pla room, huge closet. Very ing din e, fic of , t room tiful au living room, grea Be . en ch d fantastic kit breakfast area, an vely patio.

Lo s. or flo n lai rce hardwood and po You'll fall in love. $699,500

le

ND

BURNSIDE ISLA

101 Melinda Circ

th a dock ter property wi Buildable deepwa ws of the vie ing nn Stu . ck and floating do lf an acre. rway. Almost ha Intracoastal Wate tor. The rac nt dy for your co Cleared and rea 0. ,00 00 $2 d at dock alone is value $449,000

121 Rose Dhu Newly renovated with new flooring , paint, counters and stainl ess steel appliances . Four bedrooms, three baths, spacious liv ing room, dining room, and master bedroom.

Split floor plan. Large laund ry room. Sunroom and deck overlooking huge back yard. The perfect storage building/m ancave graces rea r corner of yard.

COFFEE BLUFF

$274,900

128 Ventura Boul

evard

Updated, move -in ready home . Three bedrooms, two ba ths, great room open to kitchen. Lovely hardwood floors . Granite counters in kitchen . 12 x 24 detached insulated workshop with window unit. Ga s home generator. Privacyfenced back yard. $149,500

397 Squirrel Run

79+ acre private est ate with organic ve ge grape arbors, and fruit tree orchard. table beds, Morton-built barn. Garage and hu ge bonus room that co greenhouse. 3 Bedrooms and uld be 4th bedroom 1 bedroom, 1 bath . Additional gu and loft. Screened est suite. Billiard room, office enclosure with po ol, hot tub and adjoining screened po 10-horse stable, inc rch. Additional property with l. equipment shed, pa apartment, caretaker cottage, sture, lakes.

WILSHIRE ESTATE

S

EFFINGHAM CO

UNTY

$2,350,000

SOUTHBRIDGE

8 Saw Grass Cour

t

oded culsituated on a wo Wonderful home s. Open th ba bedrooms, 4.5 Dining de-sac lot. Four . ht lig al tur na lots of with floor plan with om ro ily coting, fam room with wains th island, wi en ch kit en op fireplace. Large a. Beautiful and breakfast are separate cooktop hardwood floors $399,000

112 Caroline's Re

treat

This stunning bri ck home in soug htgated community has it all, from the after lush back yard in largest, the area to private baths for each bedroom. Ki tchen has all the upgrades you could want and butler's pantr y makes entertaining a breez e. Luxurious maste r on first floor. With 5 bedro oms, 5.5 baths, an d a bonus room your family will and study. Come ho have room to sleep, play me to this unique property today! $749,000

WILMINGTON IS

LAND

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843.576.2233

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