Southern Tides all about the water
November 2021
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In the Tides CREW
Issue No. 75 November 2021
Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
7 Editor's Note
Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu
9 Around the Reef 11 Recast and Recycle Winner
The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com
12 Dolphin Rescue 15 Fishin' for Jamie Party
Around the Reef Columnist Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov
15 Taste of the Tides 17 Sea Turtle Season Overview
The Riverkeeper Report Meaghan Gerard meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org Contributors
19 Riverkeeper Report 20 Community Updates
Rebecca Munday Gray's Reef NMS
22 The Bitter End
Rick Lavender GADNR Wildlife Resources Division
Copyright © 2015-2021
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, S.C.
(912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on social media: www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Instagram @southerntides_mag Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, Ga.
Subscribe to Southern Tides: Visit www.squareup.com/store/ southern-tides-magazine $35 for one year/12 issues. Thank you for your support!
About the Cover:
Georgia DNR biologist, Mark Dodd, helps rescue a dolphin entangled in a crab trap buoy rope near Richmond Hill in August 2021. See story on page 12. Photo provided by GADNR November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
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 listed above. 5
We still have plenty of sunny days and great adventures ahead! Ask about our Adventure Package for up to six guests! Check us out on Facebook for upcoming events!
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Editor’s Note A
lthough we’re down to our “winter weight” with regard to fewer pages, we’ve still managed to pack quite a bit into this issue and I wanted to comment on a few things. First I want to welcome Coastal Electric Cooperative as a new advertiser – and thank you Mark Bolton for making it happen! This is a great example of the connectivity in our coastal community. Although this isn’t a boating or marine-related business, their ad is relevant to our readers and our community as a whole. This is exactly the way I want businesses to look at advertising in Southern Tides. Even though we’re “all about the water” we still interact with, utilize and rely on plenty of other businesses outside of the marine industry. Finding and drawing on these connections brings us together and broadens our sense of community. What role does your business play in the coastal region? Can Southern Tides work with you? We’ve had a “first” this month. Aside from a couple photos with hands holding various sea life, this is the first time a human has ever been on the cover of Southern Tides. Mark Dodd, senior wildlife biologist with the GADNR, participated in rescuing a dolphin entangled in crab trap lines. He and the rest of the four-person team are proof that not all heroes wear capes. I find it fitting that the first person featured on the cover is someone who does so much for wildlife on our coast. Thank you, Mark! The story of that rescue and photos are on pages 12 and 13. It’s a good reminder that the DNR is more than just a law enforcement agency – they do amazing work, including protecting the animals we consider symbols of our coast. This reminds me of something Doug Haymans, director of the DNR Coastal Resources Division, said to me several years ago. “It’s our job to find a balance between nature and people.” It’s not an easy job and it’s often a thankless one, but the DNR staff continue to do it. Organizing events in today’s world is a risky endeavor, so putting together a fishing tournament wasn’t possible this year, but Fishin’ for Jamie organizer, Chris Caldwell, was determined to continue to raise money and awareness for skin cancer research. Check out the promotional spot on page 15 for the Fishin’ for Jamie Christmas Party, featuring a cornhole tournament, raffle, food and music, at Hogans’ Marina. We’ll see you there! You might have noticed this past couple months that we have a new regular column. The Riverkeeper Report brings you news from the five Riverkeepers on our coast, compiled by Meaghan Gerard, communications and administrative director for the Ogeechee Riverkeeper. Check this out each month for news, activities, and to stay up with the health of our local watersheds. Also this month, read about SCAD student, Abigail Askew, November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
who recently won a $15,000.00 prize for her contest submission on recycling fishing line and soft baits. She’s also an angler and part of the bass fishing team at her school. You go Girl! Readers, we hear you! After the September issue came out, we had countless comments about how glad you were that we finally brought Taste of the Tides back. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anything planned for the October issue, but made sure we did this month with seafood dressing. In my house, dressing (and/or stuffing) doesn’t last long on Thanksgiving, so I usually make a couple pans of it, and a couple varieties, including this one. Going forward we’ll make sure we have a tasty seafood recipe for you each month, and you can help if you have a favorite seafood dish you’d like to share! I hope you all enjoy these stories and the rest. I also hope you find time each day, not just on Thanksgiving, to feel thankful for the good in your lives. I know I do. See you out there!
Amy Thurman
Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
Happy Thanksgiving!
7
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Around the Reef By Rebecca Munday Communications Intern Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
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even science divers and one outreach specialist recently boarded the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in Charleston, S.C. for the annual summer research expedition. The 8-day mission in August proved successful, with the science team completing more than 200 dives and amassing almost 100 hours of time on the ocean floor. Scientists from multiple organizations – Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia Southern University, Appalachian State University, Savannah State University, NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), and NOAA’s Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) – participated, working alongside NOAA Corps officers and the crew and technicians of the Nancy Foster. During the science mission, researchers conducted many experiments both inside and outside of the sanctuary’s Research Area (RA). In late 2011, NOAA established the RA in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary to increase scientists’ opportunity to understand natural ecological changes within the sanctuary versus changes caused by human activity. This year, scientists collected data by conducting what are called “community surveys.” In this scenario, they count the reef ’s benthic (bottom-dwelling) animals and fish at numerous sites, using stationary photo quadrats. Photo quadrats count the benthic animals using digital photography and subsequent image analysis. Scientists also studied the overall habitat by measuring reef characteristics such as ledge height. Studying the benthic habitat and fish in both parts of the sanctuary help scientists learn about how natural ocean processes, natural disasters such as hurricanes, and human activities affect the reef. In another project, Dr. Craig Aumack and Dr. Risa Cohen of Georgia Southern University collected samples of macroalgae from Gray’s Reef. Macroalgae, such as seaweed, can be seen with the naked eye. Their ongoing research provides data about the types and species of algae living in Gray’s Reef. For the past year or so, Gray’s Reef has been collaborating with Savannah Geiger, of Savannah State University, who is a fellow at NOAA’s Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center. Savannah is working in the area of microplastics. The expedition divers collected samples of water and sediment at the sanctuary. Savannah is analyzing the samples for microplastics, which are sesame-seed sized pieces or smaller of plastic. The tiny pieces of debris break off of larger plastic or come from health products such as toothbrushes and combs. Little is currently known about how microplastics affect marine life. Researching their presence in our waters will help scientists learn more about them and their effects on Gray’s Reef. The Gray’s Reef dive team also documented sightings of the invasive species, lionfish, which have no known predators in the South Atlantic other than man. As the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster set sail for home, expedition members reflected on wonders of the ocean and the beauty of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. To learn more about Gray’s Reef, visit the Facebook page graysreefsanctuary or the sanctuary’s website at graysreef.noaa.gov. November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Science Team on the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster. Photo by Ben Prueitt, NOAA
Diver filming on the sanctuary sea floor. Photo by Greg McFall, NOAA
Sea star atop a sea urchin. Photo by Greg McFall, NOAA For Information contact Michelle Riley: michelle.riley@noaa.gov 9
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Recast and Recycle
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SCAD student Abigail Askew's Berkley Recycling Machine won the first place prize. Photo by Abigail Askew
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ecycling old fishing line and soft baits into new products is labor-intensive, inefficient, and for many anglers, simply not easy to do. This hampers the ability to grow the volume of line and soft bait recycling in the U.S. However, winners of the BoatUS Foundation and Berkley Fishing Gear “Recast and Recycle Contest,” aim to change that. The prizewinners took home a total of $30,000 in prize money. “Today’s fishing line and soft bait recycling remains laborintensive and costly,” said Alanna Keating, BoatUS Foundation’s director of outreach. “Working with Berkley, our Recast and Recycle Contest sought out new and innovative ideas to improve the recycling process, increase the amount of recycled material, or offer a technology breakthrough in the way line is recycled and reused.” First Place - Abigail Askew Before she began designing her winning concept, recent Savannah College of Art and Design graduate Abigail Askew designed her own survey to query anglers on what prevented them from recycling line and baits. She then addressed those concerns with her contest concept, which doubled as her school’s senior year capstone project. “Anglers want to do what’s best for the environment, but I found they don’t always know how to or have a way to recycle,” said Askew, who also competed on her school’s bass fishing team. Recycling accessibility became her contest entry’s primary goal, and her idea netted her a $15,000 prize. Askew’s theoretical design repurposes an idea from old: colorful, eye-catching 1960s-style plastic souvenir machines. The “Berkley Recycling Machine” brings line and bait recycling out into the open, instead of throwing discarded line into a beat-up cardboard box under the counter at your local retailer. The injection-molding machine also has appeal for kids, who, while watching discarded soft baits get a second life, also learn the importance of keeping our waters clean. The young designer, who earned her B.F.A. in Industrial Design, offers that machines could be located in retailers and at launch sites, and could become a popular novelty. For more and to see the second and third prize winners, visit the Recast and Recycle website: BoatUS.org/Contest. November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
servicesavannah@hinckleyyachts.com 2400 Mechanics Avenue, Thunderbolt (912) 629-2400
11
DNR Rescues Entangled Dolphin
By Rick Lavender Communications and Outreach Specialist GADNR Wildlife Resources Division
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orth Atlantic right whales entangled in commercial fishing gear is a familiar headline. But DNR staff also deal with a lesserknown entanglement: bottlenose dolphins caught in crab trap buoy lines. While involving a much more common species and on a much smaller scale, these incidents can still mean life or death for the animal. Or in a case this summer, an adult dolphin and her calf. Alerted by DNR Range Safety Officer Kevin Michaud to a dolphin in trouble near Richmond Hill Aug. 4, senior wildlife biologist Clay George and crew arrived to find the buoy rope of a trap wrapped tightly around the dolphin’s tail. With the weight of the trap pulling her under, she struggled to surface and breathe. Most dolphin entanglements are straightforward. Not this one. “She had managed to roll and twist over 20 feet of rope around her tail,” George said. Complicating matters, dolphins can die suddenly from the stress of being entangled. The quicker they’re released, the better. And this dolphin had a calf close by, one too young to survive alone. The four-person team (Mark Dodd, Clay George, Ashley Raybould, and Trip Kolkmeyer) followed a basic plan. Snag the line. Control the tail. Loosen and determine where to cut the rope – fast. Slice carefully. All while hanging onto a thrashing 300-pound mass of muscle. It worked. The dolphin swam away rope-free and her calf quickly joined her. “It’s the second case I can think of where we disentangled a mom while its calf swam around nearby,” George said. Why dolphins get entangled is not clear. Some may be trying to steal the trap bait or playing with the rope or buoy, or maybe they're accidently caught as they swim past. While not common, entanglement also isn’t a freak occurrence. The Aug. 4 incident was the third crab-trap entanglement reported in Georgia this year and the only one that did not end in death. DNR has documented 29 confirmed and suspected entanglements since 2000. Of those, 43 percent of the dolphins died. Fortunately, this dolphin had not been entangled long. When the crabber had checked the trap that morning, she wasn’t there.
Top: Wildlife biologist Mark Dodd brings the entangled dolphin alongside the boat. Above: Care must taken to prevent the dolphin from developing Capture Myopathy, when muscle damage is incurred as a result of extreme exertion, struggle or stress.
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Top Left: Clay George and Mark Dodd work to loosen the ropes. Bottom Left: George cuts quickly, even as the dolphin thrashes. Right: The team caught one last sight of her swimming free along the bank with her calf at her side. All photos provided by GADNR
WATCH THE VIDEO
To see a video of the rescue, visit: https://bit.ly/august_rescue
WHY NOT CUT FIRST
Here's why staff first loosen the rope and assess where to start cutting: • Loosening makes it easier and safer to slice the rope without accidently cutting the dolphin. • This approach helps ensure all of the rope is removed so the dolphin doesn’t swim away with any, raising the risk of infection and death by constriction. When dolphins are entangled in a crab trap buoy rope, the trap acts like an anchor. As the animal twists, rolls and pulls, the rope cinches tighter around them. WHAT YOU CAN DO If you see an entangled, hurt or stranded dolphin, please report it immediately to DNR’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network, (800) 2-SAVE-ME (800-272-8363). Note the date, time, place and, if possible, the coordinates. November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
13
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Fishin’ for Jamie 2021 Christmas Party December 18, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hogans’ Marina Wilmington Island, Georgia
Taste of the Tides Seafood Dressing What’s the difference between stuffing and dressing? Stuffing is used to fill the bird while dressing is baked in a pan. We don’t recommend using this to stuff the bird as it could result in a “fishy” tasting turkey, but it’s delish baked alone. Maybe it’ll be a new tradition for your family Thanksgiving! Remember to support local fishermen by shopping at your local seafood markets!
Boat Raffle 13-foot Boston Whaler! Raffle tickets available at Hogans Cornhole Tournament $50 per team, 50/50 payout Food and Drinks Burgers, hotdogs, chips, Cokes and water Live Music, Raffles, and Fun! All proceeds donated to the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavillion
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All proceeds benefit the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion
INGREDIENTS 1 cup yellow (or Vidalia) onion, diced 1 cup celery, diced 2 32-ounce boxes of chicken broth 1 stick salted, sweet cream butter ½ tsp thyme Dash of ground sage or 2 fresh sage leaves 1 tsp Creole or Old Bay seasoning (optional) 1 bag herb seasoned stuffing mix (I use Pepperidge Farm for both herb and cornbread) 1 bag cornbread stuffing mix (or an equal portion of your preferred bread for stuffing/dressing) 1 pound crabmeat ½ pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, chopped & lightly sauteed 1 cup raw oysters, chopped (optional) DIRECTIONS • In a large sauce pan, add one box of chicken broth, diced vegetables, butter, thyme, sage, and seasonings if using. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer five minutes, or until celery and onions are soft. • Add ½ of each bag of stuffing mix to a large pan (as a starting point). Stir to combine the two. • Pour half of broth and vegetable mixture over bread and stir quickly until all bread is wet. • Add additional stuffing mixture and/or broth until you have the amount of dressing you want and the desired wetness. • Stir in seafood until evenly distributed. • Spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray, then spoon dressing into pan. Press gently to fill gaps, but do not pack down tightly. (One bag of stuffing with additions typically fills a 9x13 pan, if you’re doing more, you may need two pans.) • Add to oven an hour before the turkey is done and bake for one hour. If you like a more moist dressing, you can drizzle chicken broth (or turkey drippings if you don’t use them for gravy) over the dressing a couple times as it bakes. If top starts getting to dark, lay a sheet of foil across the top of the pan, but do not crimp down to seal.
Sea Turtles Dig the Dark!
Every year, female loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the dark. Then, newly hatched turtles use moonlight reflecting from the ocean waves to find their way home. This is why Coastal Electric promotes shielding or turning off beachfront lights after 10 p.m. during nesting season. Suppor ting
Lights Out For Sea Turtles!
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2021 Sea Turtle Season Overview Overall Numbers
577 Unique Females 2500 Nests 1704 DNA Samples Assigned 59.9% Mean Hatch Success
Season Openers and Closers
First Nest: Loggerhead, Little Cumberland Island, May 1 First Emergence: Loggerhead, Sea Island, July 14 Last Nest: Loggerhead, Wassaw Island, August 23 Last Emergence: Cumberland Island, October 18
Nest Numbers
2484 Loggerheads 4 Greens 1 Kemps Ridley 11 Unknown
Location, Location, Location Blackbeard Island: 305 nests Cumberland Island: 646 nests Jekyll Island: 128 nests Little Cumberland Island: 94 nests Little St. Simons Island: 127 nests Little Tybee Island: 2 nests Ossabaw Island: 381 nests Sapelo Island: 154 nests Sea Island: 78 nests St. Catherines Island: 249 nests St. Simons Island: 1 nest Tybee Island: 19 nests Wassaw Island: 316 nests
Photo provided by Caretta Research Project
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The Riverkeeper Report Compiled by Meaghan Gerard Communications & Administrative Director Ogeechee Riverkeeper meaghan@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org
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olunteers from the St. Mary’s Riverkeeper joined students from the University of North Florida's Coastal and Marine Biology Program to work on a living shoreline coastal restoration project along the Old Town Fernandina waterfront on the Amelia River. Altogether, more than 70 refurbished crab traps have been installed into the shoreline next to the Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park, where the project can be viewed at low- to mid- tide. www. stmarysriverkeeper.org/
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he Satilla Riverkeeper held its annual River Wide Clean-Up on October 2. The Satilla Riverkeeper mobilized 43 volunteers over nine sites and picked up 2,648 pounds of trash from the Satilla River. They focused efforts at US 84 Landing, Burnt Fort Landing, 121 Landing, US 301 Landing, Jamestown Landing, Highway 64 Landing, and Highway 99 Landing. www.satillariverkeeper.org/
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s the last remnants of the Golden Ray shipwreck are removed from St. Simon’s Sound, Altamaha Riverkeeper will keep the pressure on regulatory agencies. Fletcher Sams, executive director of the Altamaha Riverkeeper, fears the clock is running out before government agencies declare that there isn’t a need for a comprehensive investigation. “It’s a no-brainer in my book,” Sams said. “It’s just ensuring that the resources on the coast which contribute in very large parts to the economy are intact in the future. I really feel like without a full assessment, it’s going to be hard for the stewards of that resource, the state Department of Natural Resources, to tell the public that everything’s safe with a straight face.” altamahariverkeeper.org/
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avannah Riverkeeper is hosting Free Family Fishing Clinics throughout the fall. The most recent clinic brought more than 30 Augusta youth to the riverbank. With partners at the SCDNR and the Augusta Woman's Club, SRK got to see endless smiles on the faces of children who'd never held a fishing pole and learned the fundamentals of the sport. The clinics are open to anyone ages four and up. For upcoming dates, visit www.savannahriverkeeper.org/
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he Ogeechee Riverkeeper has launched the Protect the Vernon project to provide hands-on community awareness, immediate water quality benefits from reduced environmental hazard impacts (pathogens and litter), and restoration planning for long-term sustainability in the Vernon River and its tributaries. The multiyear project involves multiple stakeholders and will work to have the waterway “delisted” as impaired by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org/vernon/
The Vernon River, flowing by Halcyon Bluff. Photo by Meaghan Gerard, ORK November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
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Community Updates Red Grouper Record Shattered
A 49-year-old Kingsland man landed a record-breaking red grouper (Epinephelus morio) off the Georgia coast Oct. 4, 2021, and has been certified as the new state record holder for that species. Bruce C. Bartlett Jr. of Henrietta Drive caught the 26-pound, 6.4-ounce red grouper measuring 34.5 inches east of Navy Tower R4 aboard his boat Fishslaya Duece. The fish breaks the previous record of 19 pounds, 7 ounces set by John Wren in 2012. Doug Haymans, director of DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, which oversees the state’s Saltwater Gamefish Record Program, said Bartlett’s catch is a credit to the years of experience he has as an angler. “This achievement recognizes not only the size of the catch, but Mr. Bartlett’s skill as an angler and the sportsmanship displayed in landing a record-setting gamefish,” Haymans Bartlett with his record-setting red grouper, said. that weighed in at 26 pounds, 6.4 ounces. Bartlett landed the red grouper using a 5-foot, 8-inch Ugly Stik Tiger rod with Shimano Torium reel with 65-pound Power Pro line using a live cigar minnow as bait. His terminal rig was a fish finder sinker slide with an 8-ounce bank sinker to a 100-pound barrel swivel, following by a 60-pound fluorocarbon leader and 6/0 Eagle Claw circle hook. The catch was weighed at M & A Seafood Market on North Lee Street in Kingsland on scales certified by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Saltwater Gamefish Records Committee, comprised of DNR marine biologists and staff, approved the new record Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Bartlett will receive a certificate signed by Gov. Brian Kemp acknowledging his record catch, and the record will be added to the list published at CoastalGaDNR.org/ SaltwaterRecords. It will also be included in the 2022 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations guidebook.
Reminder: Right Whales Arriving Soon
Right whales will begin arriving in our coastal waters in the coming weeks. Please remember to watch for them. Mariners operating in the coastal waters of the southeastern United States in winter should instruct all watches to look for right whales. Right whales will appear as black objects in the water and may just barely clear the surface. Look for a "V" shaped spout created when the whales breathe. At night and during other periods of reduced visibility, vessel operators should use the slowest safe speed to reduce the risk of collisions with rights whales. If you should see a right whale, slow your vessel and take measures to avoid it. Do not assume the whale will move from your path. Record the latitude and longitude, LORAN coordinates, or identify the location of the whale with regard to buoys. Note the direction of the whales travel. Notify authorities and other ships in the area immediately. In Georgia, call 800-272-8363 (1-800-2-SAVE-ME). 20
Wildlife Viewing Grants Available
Georgia is offering a helping hand to projects that help people experience the animals, plants and natural habitats emphasized in Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan. The opportunity comes by way of the state Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Viewing Grants Program. The agency is now accepting proposals for 2022. New this year, applicants will file online at georgiawildlife.com/ WildlifeViewingGrants. The deadline to apply is Jan. 7, 2022. The grants are capped at $3,000 per project and supported through the Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund, which is managed by DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section. Wildlife Conservation Section Chief Dr. Jon Ambrose said the goal is to provide viewing opportunities that raise awareness of native animals not fished for or hunted, rare native plants and natural habitats – particularly those considered conservation priorities in the Wildlife Action Plan. This comprehensive strategy (georgiawildlife.com/ WildlifeActionPlan) is focused on conserving Georgia wildlife and their habitats before these plants, animals and places become rarer and costly to conserve or restore. The six projects approved last year varied from building viewing platforms along nature trails at historic Prater’s Mill in Whitfield County to helping the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation replace and upgrade a boardwalk in the Tifton school’s nature study area, which is open to the public. Although the grants are small, the interest they tap is big. About 2.4 million people took part in wildlife-viewing activities in Georgia in 2011, spending related spending estimated at $1.8 billion, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey. Grant proposals can include facilities, improvements and other initiatives that provide opportunities for the public to observe nongame animals, plants and natural habitats. Notification of awards will be made by Feb. 23, 2022. Visit georgiawildlife. com/WildlifeViewingGrants to learn more and submit proposals.
Student Fish Art Contest
Go Draw a Fish! Youth have the opportunity to win prizes and recognition while learning about fish species, behaviors, aquatic habitats and conservation. Using art and writing, the Georgia Fish Art Contest (part of the international Wildlife Forever Fish Art® Contest) can ignite children’s imagination and inspire them to discover more about fish and fishing. This year, if a child wishes to enter the International Fish Art Contest, they can choose any fish species. To enter, youth in kindergarten through grade 12 can create an original illustration of their chosen fish species and a one-page creative written essay. However, there also are many additional specialty award categories for 2022, including the Guy Harvey Award, the IGFA Conservation Award and the Go Fish Georgia Award. These additional contest opportunities may have different species and/or entry requirements. For example, the Go Fish Georgia Award celebrates fish species found in Georgia which are commonly sought by anglers. Contestants entering the international competition may also choose to apply for one or more specialty awards. Essays for kindergarten through third grade, or for countries outside the US, will be judged and awarded – but not required. More info about award categories and all requirement details found at www.fishart.org. Participating educators will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a free guided field trip at the Go Fish Education Center (www.gofisheducationcenter.com) for one class. All Georgia contestants must complete the Georgia-specific entry form (www. wildlifeforever.org/georgia-entry-forms). Entries are due by Mar. 31, 2022 and can be submitted digitally or by mail to Marion Baker/Go Fish Education Center (1255 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA 31069). November 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
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The Bitter End Not Just for Snowbirds
By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
I
t’s that time of year again, time for the annual snowbird migration. Not just coots and loons of the winged variety, but the boating variety as well. Each fall we start seeing these boaters flee the northern climes, headed on a southerly course. An early indication is increased chatter on channel 16, sometimes entire conversations. (Please remember this is a hailing and distress channel!) But I say that with a smile on my face as many of us envy their lifestyle and hope we, too, can one day join the flock. Some make this journey in long jumps on the “outside,” while others make their passage using the “ditch,” properly known as the Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW for short. However, the ICW is not just for Snowbirds; many locals along its three thousandodd miles of connecting waterways use these waters for fishing, skiing, and other forms of pleasure boating. The main reason for the ICW’s existence was as a much needed easy route for commerce within and between coastal states. It was originally planned as one large circuit of the eastern and southern coasts, but the connecting portion called the Cross Florida Barge Canal was never completed due to environmental concerns. So today it is broken into the Atlantic section and the Gulf Coast section, or the GICW. But let’s slow our roll just a second. This idea isn’t, or wasn’t, a new idea. The seed was planted way back in the late 1700s, not long after we became a nation, and then again in 1808 by Treasury Secretary Robert Gallatin. Though the needed 20 million in funding didn’t occur then, the advent of the War of 1812 opened our eyes to the need of such a thoroughfare and the 1824 General Surveys Act placed this into the purveyance of the Army Corps of Engineers. Connecting four major projects on the east coast it was slow coming to fruition, considering after the Civil War monies were being diverted to railway commerce. Even though the railways received the funding they couldn’t handle the demand, which became apparent in the 1906 harvests. Federally mandated, the control depth of the ICW is 10-12 feet, and for many years that wasn’t an issue. Tugs and barges using the waterway were moving tens of millions in commerce annually. However, the decline of this commerce has seen the ICW falling into disrepair with many areas now only passable during high tides. One such place is between Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound, aptly named Hells Gate (Hell Gate on NOAA charts). Folks, when you see something named like this on a chart, take it as a warning: it’s not likely going to be rainbows and unicorns. I’ve been sailing these waters since the early 2000s both recreationally and professionally. I remember heading south with our race boat with a six-foot draft and trying to time it with the tide even back then. Today’s charts have this dangerous section listed as a shoaling area.
Hell Gate, shown here on NOAA Chart No. 11509, is best approached only at high tide, as low tide water even in the channel can be less than three feet.
While preparing this piece I found several articles from cruisers with horror stories, from having bottom damage, to running gear nearly destroyed, to commercial traffic suffering the same fates and costing thousands of dollars in repairs. I’m afraid if something isn’t done this essential avenue of transit will be lost. Not only as a means of travel north to south and vice versa, but also as an important part of maritime history. This needs to be brought to the attention of our elected officials and the Army Corps of Engineers before we lose it forever. Till our wakes cross again, peace and love and shrimp and grits. I’ll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com 22
6349 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA
912.352.1222 • MyCBHomes.com FEATURED
Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927
11 Marcy Ct
What a great place and area to call home! This is located on a cul de sac street with easy access to shopping and other amenities. This is a very special three bedroom two bath home with no carpet, screened porch, private backyard, and tons of fruit trees (loads of fruit). The front porch welcomes you in to a great room with a wood burning fireplace, kitchen with SS appliances, granite counters and a breakfast area and bar. Master bedroom is ensuite with a large walkin closet and separate vanity area.
lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com Find me on:
@lynmccuen
BEDS: 3 BATHS: 2 SQFT: 1,600 PRICE: $230,000 1432 N Camden Cir
Just Sold! 4629 Sussex Place
Just Sold! 13609 Rockingham Rd Eye-catching curb appeal canopied by mature trees, large lush backyard and outdoor living area surround this home. This property offers a spacious great room w/ fireplace that could easily be transformed into larger master suite or in law suite. Beautiful French doors open up to a large sunroom overlooking the expansive yard with two out buildings and a climate controlled shop. Plenty of space for children to run and play or even to add a pool or garage with breeze way. Updates galore! Comfort and space a plenty!
BEDS: 4 BATHS: 3 SQFT: 2,088 PRICE: $342,500
Thinking about selling !! We have buyers !!!
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Living Shorelines
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Assembled with bags of recycled oyster shells Stabilizes eroding shorelines or failing bulkheads Plantings of native grasses enhance stabilization Encourages growth of oysters, which provides water filtration Provides habitat for multiple fish and crustacean species Increases resistance to flooding
To get a copy of our Guide to Living Shorelines, email jamie.king@zuludiscovery.com!
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(912) 544-5520
