The Lowcountry Catch » Lowcountry Happenings

Isn’t Hurricane Season Over?

will — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:32:52 +0000

Well, someone forgot to tell Ida that. This late (after) season storm formed off of the east coast of Costa Rica, hit Nicaragua as a category one, skimmed between the Yucatan and Cuba as a category two, and is now taking aim at Pensacola, FL. From there, it is supposed to move off of the east coast as a tropical depression. There has been a large high pressure entrenched to the north of us, and the pressure differential between that and the remains of Ida are going to create some interesting marine conditions for us, and very possibly gale force winds from the North East. If you’re looking to buy some local oysters for the weekend, get your order in now! Good luck to the folks on the Florida panhandle!

Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season. Again.

will — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:28:59 +0000

Well, the Atlantic hurricane season finally decided to put it in gear this week, and it did it quick. Right now, we have three named storms in the Atlantic: Ana, Bill, and Claudette. This is the first time since 1984 that the season has kicked off like this. Even though TS Claudette is making landfall right now, Hurricane Bill is stealing the show for the east coast. Right now, Bill is a category 2 hurricane, but is to quickly jump to a three and hold there. According to the current computer models, Bill isn’t a threat to our coast, but I, for one, will feel better once its passed. This being the 20 year mark since Hugo and all.

Even if it stays out to sea, the swells from Hurricane Bill will still have an impact on shrimping. The forecast is for 9 foot seas with a 13 second period Saturday and Sunday. That’s BIG for our coast. It’s safe to say that no one will be dragging. As for the longer term impact of the swell, who knows? Hopefully none, and hopefully the impact of the swell is all we’ll be worried about.

To stay up to the minute with hurricane forecasting and information, I use the following resources:

And for swell, I use the Navy’s FNMOC models (Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center)

Have any favorite hurricane tracking tools? Leave them in the comments below.

Huge Cobia Off Ocracoke Island

will — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:02:10 +0000

I ran into a buddy of ours from the Lowcountry, Brian Macomson, last night, and he was showing me some pics of the cobia he’s been catching off of Ocracoke Island up in NC. He’s been fishing with Captain Russell Williams on his 30′ Island Boatworks express. They’ve been sight casting for the cobia and caught ten total this day. The biggest was 90 lbs. which is a record for the island and only 6 pounds shy of the North Carolina record. I know, not necessarily the Lowcountry, but definitely a nice fish. Click here and scroll down for the story.

Opening day of shrimp season tomorrow, and although I doubt anyone will be out, I will still post a report.

Shrimp Festival 2009 a Success

will — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:12:30 +0000

This past Saturday was the 2009 Lowcountry Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet in McClellanville. Other than a few rain showers, it was a complete success. There were nine boats involved with the blessing, and they all were looking good and ready to go. We rode on the Henrietta and had a good (lively) crowd. The festival itself was in high gear by the time we got there with live music and tons of good food.

After that, the kentucky derby was a tear jerker with Mind That Bird bringing home the bacon (sorry Mr. Dubai), and the after parties were fun, or so I’m told. I hope I will be excused for the lack of photos, but if you live in a glass house, you know. Summer is officially here for the Lowcountry!

McClellanville Shrimp Rap

will — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:21:57 +0000

Here it is, just in time to get you pumped up for shrimp festival, SH to the R to the IMP. Word has it that the artist formerly known as NUB and of RAKE fame will be making an appearance. Stay tuned.

WARNING: NSFW or young ears.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shem Creek Blessing of the Fleet

will — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:59:17 +0000

F/V Carolina

Yesterday was the blessing of the Shem Creek shrimp fleet in Mt. Pleasant. I was on a kayak tour, and watched the boats from there. It seems as though a good time was being had by all, and the boats look ready to go. There weren’t as many boats as in years past, but it looked like a few boats are ready to go shrimping, but stayed at the dock for the blessing. The crowd at Alhambra Hall was rocking it out to the East Coast Party Band, and the crowd on the water was slowly getting cooked in the beautiful 80 degree weather.

As for what we’ve been up to lately, there are a few new developments. The name of the game in April has been clams. Stephen and Shawn having been clamming off of Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms and doing pretty well. Jeff and I have been working on an escalator dredge behind Goat Island and also doing well. It seems like the clam market has fallen off this week, and the escalator dredges won’t be running. On to the developments: Stephen is in the process of purchasing the F/V Belletrix 2. This is one of my favorite trawlers in Jeremy Creek, and I’m going to be stoked to see Stephen at the helm. Welcome to the wheelhouse, Stephen!

Richie is in the process of getting the Henrietta ready , and she should be ready to go for the shrimp festival this Saturday. Jeff and I are going to help him spread some paint around the topsides on Wednesday. All of the boats in Mclellanville are looking good, and there should be a good many boats for the blessing.

The Mclellanville Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet is coming up this Saturday, May 2. It is a huge town party and always a good time, so come on up to Mclellanville and check us out. If you’re looking for a shrimp boat to get on (we could all use a blessing, right) leave a comment below, and I’ll see what I can do.

Congratulations Stephen, Natalie, and Abigail

will — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:34:50 +0000

Congratulations are in order to Stephen and Natalie for the birth of their daughter, Abigail. Abigail was born last Wednesday at 1:21 and is 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and 20 inches long. She is healthy and happy, and, thanks to Natalie, has a full head of red hair. One day soon, I will be expecting her to join Maya in the youth oystering movement. Stephen has been out clamming recently around Isle of Palms with his brother, Shawn (also expecting). I’d like to wish them both good luck with all of those girls.

Spring Comes to Charleston, SC

will — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:56:48 +0000

Well, I haven’t heard many complaints about the weather lately. I was out with a kayak trip last Tuesday, and I think I managed to catch the worst of the last (hopefully) cold snap. We were chipping 6 inches of ice out of the bottom of the kayaks and had to pour sea water on the straps to thaw them out and get them off of the trailer. It was probably the coldest day I spent on the water this year. By the time Friday rolled around and we went oystering, the highs were up close to 70. Since then, we’ve seen the air temps hit 80 several times.

The oysters are looking great right now, and this is about the fattest we will see them until next year. The water is still relatively cool and is at 57 in the harbor right now. We are going to get a good bit of NE wind the next few days along with some rain and cooler temperatures, so expect that to drop back down again. Our oyster orders are looking good for the month of March, and Jeff and I will be out the next few days to get the 40 bushels we have ordered this week. Give me a ring (843-345-6830) if you want to get your order in.

When the weather starts getting warmer, it makes me think about shrimp season. Our long wait until shrimp festival and the blessing of the fleet is almost over. The water managed to just barely stay above 45 degrees, so our shrimp catch should have survived for the upcoming season. Most of the captains in McClellanville are starting to think about getting their boats ready for the season. I’m starting to think about eating fresh shrimp.

The forecast doesn’t look too good for being on the water for the next few days, but Jeff and I will be out anyway, so check back for updates. Until then, enjoy the weather.

Lowcountry Oyster Festival at Boone Hall

will — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:28:03 +0000

Imagine, it’s early on a cold Sunday morning and two gigantic tractor trailers filled with 65,000 pounds of oysters roll onto the back lawn…

The Music and Oysters for Wildlife at the Sewee Outpost last Saturday was a complete success. There were over 800 people there! The music was fantastic, and the oysters were tasty. However, January is the month of large oyster roasts, and “the biggest oyster roast in the world” is coming up this Sunday, January 25 at Boone Hall Plantation. There are usually well over 10,000 people there, but unfortunately they’re not getting the best oysters in the world at the biggest oyster roast in the world.

For an oyster roast that big, they need 65,000 pounds of oysters, which, according to my math, is about 1,300 bushels of oysters! The word from the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association, which promotes the event, is that there isn’t a big enough supply of local oysters, so they use oysters from Apalachicola, FL that are hauled up I-95 on tractor trailers. While it may be true that they can’t find enough local oysters, I would like to see some locals there as well (to be fair, they may have some this year) as the oysters from Apalachicola are very bland, bordering on tasteless and certainly not as fresh as oysters picked locally

Tickets for the event are $10 before or $12 the day of. A bucket of 3 dozen oysters is then $8, and tack on a few more if you need a glove and an oyster knife. Part of the proceeds do go to charities, but I will cater an oyster roast for much cheaper than that per person, and it would be all you can eat Bull’s Bay Oysters. You and your friends could then donate $5 each to your favorite local charity (mine is Charleston Kids with Cameras), and you would still come out on top.

I guess my point is that if you’re looking for a big party, or if you want to be able to say you’ve been to the biggest oyster roast in the world, then definitely check out the Lowcountry Oyster Festival at Boone Hall this coming Sunday. Otherwise, give me a call (843-345-6830), and I’ll deliver a bushel or ten to your house. I, for one, can already say that I’ve been to the biggest oyster roast in the world, so I’ll be on my back porch in Awendaw enjoying some of Bull’s Bay’s finest.

Sewee Outpost Benefit Oyster Roast this Saturday

will — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:35:49 +0000

Well, after checking the weather forecast, I can make one recommendation for the Sewee Outpost’s Music and Oysters for Wildlife this coming Saturday, January 17. Dress warm. Actually, I can make two recommendations. Definitely come, but do dress warm.

With music from the Blue Dogs, Cravin’ Melon, and Danielle Howle, plus all the Bull’s Bay Oysters you can eat, it’s going to be a big time. It looks like the rain will hold off this year, but it will be cold. The party is from 2-7 with the late night jam following. The party benefits the Sewee Association. Tickets are $30 and are on sale at the Outpost, or online at the Sewee Association’s site.

You can check out my original post here, or get a map to the Outpost here (the blue marker farthest north). I’ll see you there!