Ingredients for Success

Redfish populations along the South Carolina coast are considered healthy by both guides and state fisheries officials. This healthy fishery is reflected by the number of guides who make all or part of their living through fishing, and by the presence of the numerous fly shops in coastal towns. I always feel a little better about my chances to see fish if there is a local fly shop. Sure that means more anglers, but if I can buy flies locally, that also means fish.

During my travels, I often think about what specific factors have to exist to create a productive and sustainable fishing landscape. In South Carolina, a combination of public and private efforts have produced the good fishing that exists today. While I'm not going to discuss every factor that has contributed, I do want to prominently mention the state chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). CCA in South Carolina is more than a group of men and women who like to fish, although there is no shortage of dedicated anglers. CCA lobbies state politicians regarding fishing regulations, which resulted in a gill net ban as well as re-designating the redfish as a sport fish, as opposed to a commercial species. CCA has also initiated various habitat restoration projects along the coast, including an oyster shell recycling program known as the Topwater Action Campaign. This campaign has established locations around the state where oyster shells are collected and returned to the marsh to begin the cycle of life anew. Lastly, a large and active CCA community helps monitor activities along the coast that might negatively impact the environment. If a new bridge is to be built or a channel dredged, CCA is present to make sure the rules are followed and the marsh is protected.

Having a healthy fishery in a high demand and high use coastal state such as South Carolina doesn't happen by accident. Instead, a healthy fishery exists because of a lot of dedicated anglers do a lot of heavy lifting. In the case of South Carolina, those dedicated anglers make up the CCA.