Find upcoming events from Maine to Florida, along with detailed destination reviews of major hubs and lesser-known small towns. If you’re looking for the best cruiser resources, you’ve come to the right place. Each month, Southern Boating posts Regional Reports that cover the Atlantic Coast in detail. Chesapeake, Southeast Seaboard, the Carolinas, and down to Miami, Southern Boating keeps you updated on marinas, events and the resources you’ll need to successfully navigate the U.S. Atlantic.
What’s better than a weekend boating and fishing trip? Not much in our book. Whether you like rivers and creeks, or the open ocean, the Southeast has something to offer every angler. We’ve put together a list of what we think are the top 5 fishing spots in the Southeast. Have we missed one of your favorites?
5. Louisiana Bayou, Louisiana
The Bayou is unique in that it offers anglers both freshwater and saltwater settings to fish. This region of Louisiana offers wetlands, shallows, waterways and off-shore and deep-sea fishing into the Gulf of Mexico. When it comes to freshwater fishing, Louisiana’s system of waterways is unmatched in the United States.
4. Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Lake Guntersville offers 70,000 acres of beautiful open water. This area is host to many of the top fishing tournaments including the Bassmaster fishing series. There are lots of bass in this lake and plenty of local guide services who would love to help you catch a trophy.
3. Lake Okeechobee, Florida
“The Big O” has been a bucket list lake for bass anglers for decades now. Lake Okeechobee is a lot like an enormous pond with its miles and miles of healthy grass and shallow water. The Sunshine State is the Fishing Capital for trophy bass fishing, as well as other sports fishing. Simply put, Lake Okeechobee is one of the premier fishing destinations in the world.
2. Pamlico Sound, North Carolina
With North Carolina’s mainland to the west and a string of narrow islands to the east, Pamlico Sound is the perfect breeding and feeding water for a wide variety of saltwater fish. From shallow flats to offshore fishing, the area is a haven for anglers who want a variety of options. It’s one of the best places in the world to catch mullet, sheepshead, redfish, and shark.
1. The Florida Keys, Florida
The Florida Keys are one of the most stunning, vibrant, and action-packed fishing locations in the world. The year-round warm and tropical temperatures and beautiful scenery all add to this Floridian fishing experience. With a 125mile long arc of islands to that make up the keys to explore, there’s a trophy fish for any angler. Here you’ll delight in Bonefish, Redfish, Yellowtail, Barracuda, and in the deep sea for Dolphinfish, Marlin, and other open-water predators.
Did we miss any of your favorite fishing sites? Let me know in the comments!
Boaters know the value of healthy oceans better than almost anyone. Whether your interest is fishing or cruising, no one wants to do it in unhealthy water. Get schooled and brush up on some basic marine education.
September is when schools get back in session, but it’s also a time along the Southeast Coast to learn more about marine education.
Florida Oceanographic Society
A nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal areas through education, research, and advocacy, the Florida Oceanographic Society offers educational programs to the public. Its 57-acre marine life nature center on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida, between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean, conducts research and restoration programs for the improvement of the regional coastal ecosystems. Presentations educate the public on environmental issues, such as protecting coastal ecosystems and marine life.
Founded in 1971 as a premier marine research facility in Fort Pierce, Florida, Harbor Branch is part of Florida Atlantic University. The mission of its team of scientists, engineers, students, staff, and volunteers is to use ocean science to help create a better world. Harbor Branch-FAU’s Ocean Discovery Visitors Center offers a variety of educational opportunities along with a lecture series that enables the community to learn about the marine environment and the important research conducted by the institute.
As part of the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum, the Marine Station, also located in Fort Pierce, Florida, is a research facility focusing on the marine ecosystems unique to Florida’s offshore waters and the Indian River Lagoon. The facility’s programs study the biodiversity, life histories, and ecology of marine organisms in the lagoon and oceanic waters of Florida’s Treasure Coast. On the third Thursday of each month, the center opens its doors to the public to share its current research projects. The center also holds public lectures throughout the winter where scientists present their work.
Mote Marine Laboratory at Florida Keys History & Discovery Center
Research and environmental stewardship are two tenets of Mote Marine Laboratory.
Mote Marine Laboratory comprises scientists and explorers acting as stewards of the ocean. They are driven by research and education to create a better environment for generations to come. Their belief is: “The answers are in the ocean, and together we will find them.” The Mote Laboratory field station at the Florida Keys Discovery Center in Islamorada, Florida, provides a beautiful and educational view of the unique coral reef ecosystem of the Florida Keys and the challenges it faces.
The University of North Carolina, Institute of Marine Sciences: UNC-IMS operates a research facility in Morehead City, North Carolina. The Institute’s mission is to serve the
public by conducting cutting-edge research, training young scientists, and providing expertise to governmental agencies and industry. Each Thursday during the school year, a
notable marine scientist will present a lecture on their current research project.
Cool. Crisp. Clean. You have to love fall boating in the Northeast, even if signs show that the end of the summer boating season is near. Still generally hot, especially in recent years, the predominant winds this month will eventually shift from the southwest and drop out of the north and east.
The north shift brings the season’s first chills, while the easterlies initiate a bit of chop. Neither are particularly worrisome at this point, although they are harbingers of change that will steadily intensify through October and November.
Fall Weather
Early September weather tends to be much like August from a boating standpoint in our region, so don’t feel overly pressured to be on the water every time you have a few free hours.
Just stick to your schedule when boating in the fall. Keep an eye on the long-term weather forecast in case any tropical storms or hurricanes are intent on rolling up the coast. The threat of these could cost several days at port even under sunny skies. They are often preceded and followed by serious ground swells from offshore which sometimes make inlets impassible and regulates the fleet to bay, harbor, and Long Island Sound waters. Most years, this is just something to keep in mind, but there are times when it leads to serious alterations in schedules, so have a Plan B if undertaking a journey spanning several days.
Fall Fishing
Weather disclaimers aside, one thing you’ll surely want to do this month is revisit the fishing scene. September often sees the inshore grounds refresh with solid catches of scup (porgy) and amazingly abundant black sea bass leading the inshore hit parade scene from New Jersey through Massachusetts. False albacore generally arrives in nearshore waters to the delight of fly-casters and light-tackle enthusiasts.
Fall boating is primetime for anglers. Offshore, tuna and shark action tends to intensify from the New Jersey waters all the way to Massachusetts where anglers cast with surface poppers or work diamond jigs to draw bone-jarring strikes. Bluefin tuna in the 30- to 80-pound class make up the bulk of this catch with some of the action happening within 10 miles of the coast.
Fall Playtime
Fall is the perfect time to go whale-watching. You may even get to see a humpback, pictured above.
These same waters also feature a variety of whales, porpoises, sea turtles, and lumbering, oddly shaped ocean sunfish that can weigh 300 pounds or more. All are a treat to behold if you reach these waters. Just be sure to give the amazing creatures reasonable berth. Don’t interfere with their feeding and migration needs or risk a chance encounter with your hull or prop. For whales, especially, a respectful distance is necessary.
NOAA suggests at least 100 yards but notes that 500 yards from the creature’s forward line of progress is required for endangered right whales, so bring along binoculars. Here are the NOAA marine life viewing guidelines.
You should squeeze in as much playtime on the water as possible this month. Tubing, water skiing, snorkeling, rafting-up, late-summer festivals, and a little clamming or gunkholing remain on the menu. For the first two, make sure to follow safety protocols like having a spotter on duty in addition to the driver. For the latter options, choose a mix
of familiar spots where fun and success are ensured but also explore some new areas to expand your local knowledge.
The bottom line this month? Don’t fret, there’s still plenty of fall boating season ahead. But don’t dilly-dally either. Head down to the dock, cast off your lines, and drink it all up—
safely, of course.
By Tom Schlichter, Southern Boating September 2019
The Coimbra make have sunk, but it created a haven for fish.
The early morning hours of January 15, 1942, were fateful for the British supply ship Coimbra, a 423-foot tanker with a 60-foot beam and 81,000 barrels of fuel oil on board. At 3AM, in the fog, she took a torpedo amidships from U-boat 123, igniting her cargo before a second explosion broke her in three and sealed her fate. Capt. J.P. Barnard and 34 crew members perished in the strike; only six survived.
The attack, in 180 feet of water roughly 30 miles southeast of Long Island’s Shinnecock Inlet, was the second successful World War II U-boat ambush off the eastern seaboard.
More than 300 attempts would follow through 1945 with 255 ships sent to the bottom and 30 U-boats meeting their demise as well.
Most who endured the second war to end all wars are gone now, but many of the sunken ships remain as testament to the hardships suffered. Roughly 75 years beneath the seas
allowed them to integrate into the marine environment as hosts to coral, lobsters and various bottom-fish species as they slowly deteriorate. The Coimbra, in particular, is a favorite of northeast anglers and scuba divers being a relatively short run from New York and New Jersey ports.
She is also leaking oil.
Slick Rick
“We’ve seen indications of oil slicks on satellite images since 2015,” says Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Allyson Conroy. “Recent assessment confirms a pinhole leak allowing seepage from at least one of the oil tanks that remain intact within the wreck. The leak is inconsistent, and we estimate only five to ten gallons are escaping at a time. It’s not an environmental catastrophe, but it does need to be addressed.”
Oil slick leaking from the Coimbra.
To that end, the Coast Guard, working with contractors, began removing the remaining oil from the wreck using pumps. While they aren’t sure how much oil is still on the ship, dive teams have sampled at least some oil in eight different tanks. The assessment and removal process started in late May and should be completed sometime this summer.
Until then, boaters are required to stay at least 500 yards from the operation at all times.
Other Issues
So, then, what about the other 255 vessels that were lost along the East Coast during the U-boat campaign and additional ships that met unfortunate ends through unintentional means? Is it logical to expect they might begin to leak any remaining oil after three-quarters of a century below the surface?
“We don’t know of any other shipwrecks in the New York/New Jersey area leaking oil,” says Conroy. “Since most now serve as marine habitats in addition to memorials to their crews, we have no immediate plans to check them individually. We will address new concerns as they arrive.”
“Responding as necessary rather than pre-emptively seems like a good idea in this case,” says renowned scuba diver, PADI Master Instructor and retired USCG Merchant Marine Officer Capt. Steve Belinda of Miller Place, New York. “Heating oil is a diesel fuel which should rise to the surface and mostly burn off. It’s not crude oil which can form a sludge and slowly spill out across the bottom.”
Other Wrecks
Belinda, who has dived on numerous northeast wrecks, says he knows of only two others, besides the Coimbra, with slight oil leaks. One is the Ayuruoca, aka the “Oil Wreck,” in the Mud Hole off New Jersey. “The other is the ocean liner Andrea Doria,” he reveals. “She sank after a collision with the MS Stockholm in 1956, about fifty miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her leak appears to be diesel, too. When we come up from diving there, the top twenty feet or so of anchor line is sometimes black, and you can see a bit of oil reflecting on the surface. It’s been that way for many years.”
New York is growing its footprint of artificial reefs. But the state needs help.
In what has been the largest expansion of New York State’s artificial reef system, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been spreading more than 43,000 cubic yards of clean, recycled Tappan Zee Bridge material, 5,900 cubic yards of jetty rock, 338 cubic yards of steel pipe, and over 30 vessels across several artificial marine reef sites in the waters surrounding Long Island.
Cranes deposit pieces of the Tappan Zee Bridge to create an artificial reef in New York.
Now the DEC is looking for volunteers to help gather data to fine-tune reef expansions and creations going forward. Through the department’s Artificial Reef Program, volunteer
anglers and scuba divers record and share their catches and observations while visiting the dozen artificial reefs located in Long Island waters. Information provided by the public will help the DEC better understand the abundance of marine life on each reef. It will also help track species and wildlife and the amount of fishing and diving at each location.
Data Driven
“This data can be used to further enhance the fishing and diving opportunities in New York’s marine waters by creating more effective reefs in the future,” says Jesse Hornstein,
a marine biologist with DEC. “It takes only minutes to fill out the surveys, and there’s even an app you can download to make reporting catches, sightings, and observations really easy.”
According to Hornstein, there’s a lot to learn from gathering even basic data, such as species, size of fish caught or seen and the kind of bottom they were holding over, as that can help determine the best materials to use in the future.
“We know from aerial surveys that Long Island’s westernmost reefs are most heavily used,” says Hornstein, “but there is a lot more information we can put to good use when it comes to understanding the potential of these structures. Maybe different types of fish hold around different types of structure. We also want to see the difference in species abundance between wrecks to the east, west and in Long Island Sound, and if various reef layouts make a difference. All the data gathered helps build a more complete picture so that we can better expand existing reefs and build new ones that will be even more productive.”
These insights sound fishy
More information on New York’s marine-based artificial reefs is needed, but there is no doubt they effectively draw and hold fish. Observations are already providing some
interesting insights. Reports from volunteers indicate fish and marine life gravitate to new structures faster than expected. Anglers and divers report that tautog and black sea bass inspect new deposits within weeks of placement.
“We’ve also learned that tautog and black sea bass prefer sunken vessels and concrete deposits over rock piles, although they will occupy all three,” says Hornstein. “It’s also interesting to note that menhaden (bunker fish) sometimes congregate in the waters above our reefs. A study by Stony Brook School of Marine Science found that dolphins visit these structures to feed. I’m looking forward to seeing what new surprises more
data will bring.”
Everyone who loves recreational boating is painfully aware of the demographics of the average boat owner. Boating needs young people. Can Optis fix that?
It’s interesting that Major Clifford McKay of the Clearwater Florida Optimist Club had the same intent in 1947 when he requested a local gentleman by the name of Clark
Mills to design a low-cost, easily built sailing dinghy that children could race as an on-water version of the then-popular Soap Box Derby.
Mills’ plans of an economical sailing program were donated to the Optimist Club. THe design would go on to become one of the most popular boats ever built. More than 150,000 boats have been registered within sailboat racing’s One-Design category. The Optimist Pram is the biggest youth racing class in the world. Opti programs have introduced countless children to boating.
This spring, yacht clubs and summer camps throughout the Southeast will continue the tradition when they begin accepting registrations for programs dedicated to teaching young sailors in what has become lovingly referred to as Optis.
Bow to Stern Boating in Oriental, North Carolina, is a great example of a successful youth sailing program. Its Youth Sailing Camp offers a kid-friendly, yet intensive sailing experience to students ages 7 to 16.
The program combines on-the-water experience with classroom activities for beginner, intermediate and advanced sailors. Young sailors are able to progress through the different levels at their own pace. Registration opens in May with programs running
from June 17th-August 23rd.
Additionally, Bow to Stern Boating offers a fleet of over 60 boats available for charter such as sailboats from 8′ to 45′ or power vessels perfect for cruising local creeks or for taking a Neuse River voyage. They also provide group programs for Scouts, Church Groups, Military Groups and even Corporate Training teams.
For boaters, May is breakout month across the Northeast.
While some serious anglers have probably had their vessels in the water for several weeks by this point, especially along the southern New Jersey coast where stripers are already hot on the bunker schools, it’s now when most pleasure boaters make a splash and get their seasons underway.
Bundle Up
One point that sticks out in my mind about early season boating along the New England coast is that it can still be quite chilly. With water temperatures hovering somewhere around the 50-degree mark, it’s still too cold to take a serious dip or enjoy water sports without slipping into a wetsuit until after Memorial Day. Further, air temperatures on the water can be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than inland, so don’t be fooled by a sunny day. Winter is behind us, at least on the calendar, so there’s nothing wrong with dipping in your toes or trudging through calf-deep water to do a little hiking or exploring along a quiet stretch of beach.
If cruising this breakout month, you’ll want to pack along some extra clothes including a heavy sweatshirt, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt. It’s also a good idea to carry a knit hat and pair of gloves if you boat in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine. The extra clothing is especially important should you count youngsters amongst your crew. Right now, before the season gets rolling, is also a good time to place an extra pair or two of sunglasses in the glove box along with a spare tube or squeeze bottle of sunblock rated SPF 30 or higher.
First Up
Where to head first? My wife, Felicia, and I always enjoy checking out new boats in their slips, getting out to do a little beach combing, and trying a new dock-and-dine experience. We’ve noticed over the years that early spring generally finds some of the more popular waterfront eateries uncrowded at lunchtime with the service especially upbeat since the staffs aren’t burned out from summer’s inevitable waterfront crush.
Fishing, of course, is always an option, and May can be a barn burner. The better catches early in the month tend to come from the most southern ports. Stripers, blues, porgy, and fluke, for example, work their way up the Jersey Coast, spread along Long Island’s South Shore and wrap back into Long Island Sound around Memorial Day.
By early June, action will have spread to Rhode Island, Cape Cod and beyond. Often, the first fish of the new year are big ones because they are better able to withstand cool water temperatures than smaller fish. That’s not a hard and fast rule, of course, but it’s one more justification for getting your boat in the water as soon as possible.
There’s special anticipation that accompanies the first few boating trips each spring. After all, who knows what the winter has brought in terms of unexpected shoaling, shifting channels, missing buoys, ruptured bulkheads, and the like. The combination of heavy ice flows, stiff winds and high tides can do some strange things, especially in shallow, inshore waters.
Once you’ve carefully scoped out your home grounds and noted any obvious spring shoaling, dock damage or other gifts from Old Man Winter for which you’ll need to make notations on your charts, it’s time to dig a little deeper and investigate any man-made changes since the end of last season. The good thing is that some of these are repairable and not problems.
Massachusetts
In fact, one of the nicest things about early season boating is discovering improvements. Those are brought about by dredging, marina upgrades, spring shoaling, and increased accessibility. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), for example, is installing an additional 118 transient moorings for boats up to 40 feet LOA at various locations within the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park, including Spectacle Island, Georges Island and Peddocks Island. The project is expected for completion by the start of summer.
Once installed, reservations for day and overnight use will be available online for a fee. Designated temporary pickup and drop-off areas on the Spectacle, Georges and Peddocks piers will also be available to boaters. The additional moorings will allow boaters to easily explore the natural, cultural and historical resources of the area. The park, located just minutes away from the City of Boston by boat, comprises 34 islands and peninsulas. At least six of the islands are publicly accessible and offer activities such as swimming, hiking, camping, and fishing. The park also includes six listings on the National Register of Historic Places, three of which are also National Historic Landmarks. bostonharborislands.org
Long Island
Those who challenge the rough and tumble waters of Moriches Inlet on Long Island’s south shore will be happy to know that the Army Corps of Engineers addressed the
shoaling over the winter, removing approximately 120,000 cubic yards of sand to create a 200-foot-wide, 10-foot deep passage through the inlet. Four severe winter storms during the harsh winter of 2017 had created a build-up of over 300,000 cubic yards of sand, clogging the inlet, which nourishes Moriches Bay with refreshing ocean water while
offering boaters and anglers an outlet to the open sea.
Conditions continued to deteriorate through last fall until the project got underway in October. The inlet seems considerably tamer now, but caution is always advised while
traversing this cut.
Long Island, New York, Congressman Lee Zeldin, who was instrumental in procuring the funds to get the inlet dredged, also managed to procure more than $3 million to dredge
the ICW in Moriches Bay to a uniform depth of six feet in a nearly three-mile stretch just inside the inlet. Work was completed in late February, so boating prospects are really
looking up on this shallow bay.
Your Backyard
Not all marine improvements come with a big splash. Look around your own boating waters with a little focus, and you’ll find plenty of habitat restoration projects. Seeding
clams and oysters that help filter and clean our waters, for one. You may spot dune replenishment projects designed to rebuild and protect exposed beaches from serious erosion. Both bring more birds, fish and marine creatures within sight. They all add up to a better boating experience in the long run, so help out, keep an eye open and don’t overlook the small stuff.
Northeast boaters looking to get an early start to the 2019 boating season would do best to back off the throttle coming out of the gate. Going back a few decades, a March kick-off was commonplace for skippers sailing anywhere between New Jersey and Rhode Island. That first launch time frame was often scheduled to coincide with a solid run of tasty winter flounder or open water for clamming, the latter a welcome job for part-time baymen.
As early spring fishing fortunes and shellfish populations have faded in recent years, most northeast boaters have pushed back initial forays into April or even May, especially those
who have second homes near the coast or enjoy cruising and water sports more than wetting a line. That makes it even more important than ever for early launchers to be on their toes because there are fewer eyes on the water during the early season.
Now, where did that shoal come from?
Safety Reigns
Naturally, you’ll want to start that first trip on the water with a standard pre-launch checklist to make sure there are no mechanical issues before leaving the dock or ramp. Ensure you have a full set of life preservers aboard that are Coast Guard approved, properly fit your crew and are in good working condition. It also makes sense to file a boating float plan with a responsible family member or friend. If you plan to cross any big or rough water, you might want to consider wearing a survival suit because northeast water temperatures can remain fatally cold well into May.
“Be sure that you’ve replaced your fuel filters, checked that water pumps are working properly and have fully charged all batteries because those are three things that can fail quickly after being out in the cold all winter,” says Capt. Tony DiLernia, a Manhattan, New York, charter skipper. He also notes that buoys, or lack thereof, can be a problem on some waters. “On the eastern end of Long Island, for example, some buoys that are removed for the winter months might not be returned until late April,” says the experienced skipper. “You’d better know your course ahead of time to stay in the channel and avoid possible groundings.”
Where did that channel marker go?
Capt. Ramsey Chason, a Massachusetts Sea Tow skipper whose coverage area includes Cape Cod and The Islands, notes that the further north you head up the coast, the more likely it is that markers will be lifted. “That’s because winter ice floes can grab and drag them a considerable distance,” he says. What’s more, points out Chason, is that rough seas and winter storms often shift sand, so even if a buoy is in the correct location, it’s possible the channel may have moved.
“We see this happen frequently in areas that get a lot of winter storms, like Chatham, Massachusetts,” explains Chason. “The channel there definitely moves a lot during the winter months.
The same goes for Stage Harbor where a small channel skirts Morris Island. Some years it’s wider in the spring; other years it’s completely closed off. In general, if things don’t look right, they probably aren’t, so keep an eye on your depth recorder and trust your instincts as to appearances above the water.”
Hazard Watch
Watch out!
You’ll also need to watch out for floating debris, especially loose pilings, logs, pieces of dock, or other substantial objects that may have been in the water for a prolonged period of time. Many of these potential widow-makers will be partially submerged, difficult to spot at high speeds and nearly unavoidable unless noticed well in advance.
“You are especially likely to cross paths with larger debris during full and new moon tides when more water and strong currents can dislodge such items from their resting places,”
cautions DiLernia.
Should you find any serious hazards, or inconsistencies with aids to navigation, report them immediately to the Coast Guard. They’ll issue a safety alert and see that the matter is appropriately addressed.
History and boating come to life in the warmth of the southeast coast. Experience what life was like aboard this collection of historic boats and yachts, which are available for day trips, evening events or private charter tours.
When & If
When and If
When World War II was drawing to a close, General George S. Patton was contemplating retirement and his post-war life. He commissioned the famous naval architect John Alden and the F.F Pendleton shipyard to design and build a custom 63-foot schooner for him and his wife, Beatrice. He said at the time, “When the war is over, and if I live through it, Bea and I are going to sail her around the world.” Unfortunately, General Patton died of heart failure in 1945 without the opportunity to fulfill his dream. The boat was commissioned When and If and kept in the Patton family until 1975. It has now been beautifully restored and is available for charter at Stock Island Marina under the management of Sunset Sail Key West.
In 1928, Frank Pembroke Huckins invented one of the first planing hull forms, the Huckins Quadraconic hull, which became the renowned “Fairform Flyers.” Famous in the 1940s as builders of the durable Navy PT boats that helped the Allies win the war in the Pacific, Huckins Yachts went on to become one of the preeminent yacht builders.
KINGFISHER is a supreme example of a Huckins motor yacht and is available for day cruises, special events and weekend charter excursions so the public can experience the classic yachting life. KINGFISHER has recently undergone a complete restoration and is based in Palm Beach, Florida, for the winter season and in Charleston, South Carolina, during the spring and fall.
When the founder of the company that would become Berkshire Hathaway wanted a new yacht built in 1957, he commissioned naval architect Geerd Hendel and boat builder Malcolm Brewer to design and build Pearl Necklace. The 71-foot yacht was a gift to his wife, who had requested a simple strand of pearls for her birthday. The owner drove PT boats in World War II, so the yacht was equipped with four engines. Built for speed, he often raced his friend and neighbor, Jack Kennedy, on Cape Cod Bay. Now docked at the Morningstar Marina in St. Simons Island, Georgia, the renamed String of Pearls is available for day excursions, sunset cruises or private events.
For serious anglers, the only thing better than catching a big fish is getting an award for doing it, which is why anglers flock to the Annual Key West Fishing Tournament.
Fishing tournaments draw anglers in record numbers each year. Fortunately, in the southeastern states, there is a tournament for just about every type of fish and every type of angler; you could fish in a different tournament nearly every weekend throughout the year. But there is one tournament that covers every type of legally caught fish in a region, is open to every type of angler (young and old, male and female, professional and amateur), doesn’t care if you’re fishing from a boat, a bank, a beach, or a bridge, and runs continuously for six months. Welcome to the 54th Annual Key West Fishing Tournament, which begins on New Year’s Day and continues until August 31st.
It was founded in 1965 by a Key West legend, Capt. Gainey Maxwell, as a way to support the Lower Florida Keys fledgling charter fishing business. Today, the tournament’s goal is to promote sport fishing, conservation, and tourism in the Lower Keys. According to tournament officials, “Each year, more than 2,000 anglers receive the Outstanding Angling Achievement award to commemorate their catch or a Sportsmanship Award for released catches.”
Awards are available for 44 different species in nine different line classes from 8-pound to stronger than 50-pound test line. Categories also include fly, spin and plug tackle. As a way to promote conservation and the release of fish, the tournament sets minimum weights in each class to discourage the loss of smaller fish. Awards are also limited to minimum lengths for some species in the release category. Entering the tournament couldn’t be any easier. Just have your catch weighed at one of the participating weigh stations by an official weigh master, fill out an entry form and mail it to the tournament office or deposit it in one of the entry drop boxes at Garrison Bight City Marina, Esky’s Rod Shop, Sunset Marina, or Sugarloaf Marina.
Encouraging the next generation of anglers is an important part of the tournament’s mission. Two of the most popular categories are the Junior Division for anglers up to 15 years of age and the Pee Wee Division for anglers under 10.
So many ports, so little… well, you know the tune. Here are the top ports on the East Coast.
East Coast boaters have a tremendous number of substantial ports to investigate. But other than checking out those closest to home, how do you decide which ones truly merit a visit by sea? For me, at least, a splash of history often seals the deal. These top east coast ports have some history behind them.
I want to cruise where famous battles once raged, boating achievements were made and a sense of yesteryear is felt yet still enjoy the conveniences of the modern boating era. Add in a few tales I never learned in school, great restaurant choices plus scenic views, and I’m hooked.
With just those parameters in mind, here’s a quick overview of four historic boating destinations worth adding to your cruising calendar. Each is also a busy port from both commercial and recreational standpoints, so you’ll need to stay on the lookout for tankers, ferries, tall ships, and cruise ships in addition to novice sailors and other pleasure craft. So take a cruise to these top ports on the east coast!
Boston, Massachusetts
Two peninsulas and a smattering of islands broke the power of the Atlantic Ocean providing a safe haven for ships when Europeans first settled Boston around 1630. The original is around Town Dock and most of the Great Cove where early sailors arrived have been filled in over the centuries. Now, it’s home to Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, and the Custom House Tower. When it was completed in 1721, Long Wharf jutted nearly a third of a mile out into the harbor.
Today, the towns of Hull and Winthrop buffer the ocean’s onslaught. The 34 remaining islands are part of the Boston Harbor Islands State and National Park, which includes lighthouses on Long Island, Little Brewster Island and the Graves. The filled tidelands have shortened Long Wharf to half its original length, but it’s still a bustling place. Watch all the action from the Chart House restaurant or grab a drink at The Landing. Just south of the pier is the New England Aquarium.
The Boston Tea Party Boat.
Boston Harbor
The Boston Children’s Museum.
The New England Aquarium.
As early Boston bustled downtown, the surrounding waterfront neighborhoods became home to major shipbuilding facilities. That explains why you’ll find the USS Constitution docked in the Charlestown Navy Yard, where ships were constructed through WWII. In addition to climbing aboard “Old Ironsides,” visitors can explore the yard and learn about the history of boatbuilding.
Amid the modern, glass buildings that line the city’s shore, the historic Fish Pier still processes seafood caught up and down the coast. The waterfront highlight here is the Institute for Contemporary Art, which sits cantilevered over the harbor. Down the street is Fort Point Channel, ringed by the Barking Crab, Hook Lobster, Tea Party Museum, and the Boston Children’s Museum.
Cruiser Resources:
Boston Harbormaster:617-343-4721; VHF 16 constitutionmarina.com: Transient docking and yacht charters libertyfleet.com: Tall ships sailing at Long Wharf
Newport, Rhode Island
Known as both The Sailing Capital of the World and the nation’s “first resort,” Newport was founded in 1639 and immediately established itself among the most productive coastal colonies. For nearly 400 years, commercial, military, and pleasure craft have patrolled its port waters.
This, of course, was the long-time home of America’s Cup Trophy, which was held by the New York Yacht Club from 1857 to 1983—the longest winning streak in global sports history. The 132-year record was held until Australia II took top honors for the Royal Perth Yacht Club. Though the departure of The Cup broke the hearts of American sailing enthusiasts, it spurred the birth of Sail Newport later that year. The nonprofit organization provides hundreds of children with sailing lessons and instructional programs. Sail Newport was instrumental in luring some of the most highly touted regattas to the area. That includes the America’s Cup World Series in 2012 and the Volvo Ocean Race in 2015 and 2018.
Sail Newport
There’s plenty to explore here, both cultural and nautical. Check out the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Newport Art Museum, Fort Adams State Park, and the Redwood Library & Athenaeum (America’s oldest lending library). For true shipbuilding aficionados, the Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame in nearby Bristol is one of the nation’s most important historic maritime treasures.
Finally, be aware that the City of Newport has a Maritime Center for transient boaters to do laundry, take a shower and get on the Internet. It’s located in the basement of the Armory Building on Thames Street.
Cruiser Resources
Newport Harbormaster, and to obtain transient dockage (first-come, first served): 401-845-5815; VHF 16 discovernewport.org: For all things about visiting Newport sailnewport.org: Sail Newport is RI’s public sailing center herreshoff.org: Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame fortadams.org/visitfort-adams: Fort Adams State Park
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is the northernmost port on the eastern seaboard that doesn’t freeze in the winter months. It’s also home to the largest naval complex in the world, situated in the Sewells Point area near where the Monitor and Merrimac had their historic encounter. You can see remains of the Monitor and discover additional maritime history at the Mariner’s Museum and Park.
Norfolk also hosts the “Mile Zero” mark on the ICW. A new, 3,000-square-foot mural representing the Magenta Line on ICW charts was unveiled at Nauticus Pier last September and shows how proud this port is of its seafaring community. The pier marks the waterfront for downtown Norfolk> You’ll also find the National Maritime Center with its museum, aquarium and the battleship for which it’s named.
To grab a bite while surrounded by history, pull in at Nauticus Pier and take a short walk or cab ride to Freemason Abbey Restaurant and Tavern. Originally dedicated as a church in 1873 by the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church, it later housed the First Church of Christ Scientist and then served as a meeting hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Today, wait staff serve an award-winning she-crab soup.
Be sure to take a look, too, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. Following defeat at the Battle of Great Bridge, England’s Lord Dunmore attacked Norfolk from the sea while fleeing Virginia on January 1, 1776. In retaliation, Patriots set fire to the homes of loyalists and the fire destroyed almost the entire town. The church was the only major building to survive, although a cannonball did strike its wall and can still be seen today.
Cruiser Resources:
Norfolk Harbormaster: 757-625-3625; VHF 16 or 68 watersidemarina.com: For transient dockage and easy access to the new waterside district restaurants, stores and bars visitnorfolk.com: Plan your trip to Norfolk freemasonabbey.com: Freeman Abby Restaurant and Tavern
Charleston, South Carolina
Colonists sailed into Charleston Harbor in 1670. Tales of merchant traders, pirates and naval foes have been told ever since. While the city skyline is now speckled with church steeples and ship-loading cranes, a leisurely cruise across this large harbor is a panoramic experience that harkens back to the era of cannons and rum casks.
The “Lowcountry,” as locals call the shore aligning this harbor, spans 90 miles of coastline, salt marshes, barrier islands, and pristine beaches. The last manned lighthouse built in the U.S. was Charleston Light, an iconic black and white tower first lit in 1962 that still shines from Sullivan’s Island. The harbor’s most visited ship—the USS Yorktown—doesn’t move, but many folks are moved by the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum located in the hanger bay of this decommissioned WWII aircraft carrier. At Charlestown Landing, the S.S. Adventure is a reproduction of a 17th-century merchant vessel.
Two Charleston forts offer a bow seat to history. Fort Moultrie traces America’s coastal defense from 1776 to 1947. The original 1776 Palmetto-log fort came under fire from the British before it was even completed. A century later, it served to defend both Union and Confederate forces.
Across the harbor, Fort Sumter drew the opening volleys of the Civil War from Confederate troops. Today, the Fort Sumter National Monument features one of the country’s greatest collections of 19th-century seacoast artillery. Charleston Harbor was also the site of the first successful submarine attack in history in 1864 when the H.L. Hunley ambushed the USS Housatonic at night during the Civil War.
That famous quote, uttered by Chief Brody (Roy Schneider) to Capt. Quint (Robert Shaw) in the 1975 movie thriller Jaws serves as a catch-all phrase for being under-gunned. Last summer along the northeast coast, however, it seemed more appropriate than ever in several instances when great white sharks plucked distressed stripers and tuna from the ends of anglers’ lines.
From the Cape Cod surf on out to the Hudson Canyon waters that straddle New York and New Jersey, there were more reports of hooked trophies gobbled by sharks last summer than at any time in recent memory. Such reports numbered in the dozens from surf casters, and one offshore angler claimed a 400-pound tuna was taken in a single bite. Another reported feeling two “bumps” before his line, with an estimated 200- pound bluefin battling at the end suddenly went slack in the vicinity of the Coimbra wreck. Five minutes later, a huge great white appeared parallel to the port side, 50 yards of fishing line trailing from its mouth. The highly experienced offshore skipper estimated the shark’s length at 18 feet.
The summer of 2018 also witnessed several shark attacks involving swimmers. Two confirmed incidents came from Long Island, New York, and two more occurred in Massachusetts. The Long Island attacks were attributed to sand tiger sharks, less dangerous than larger great whites, but that didn’t quiet any nerves.
All this begs the question: Are we seeing more and larger sharks invade northeast waters or simply hearing more about such incidents due to 24/7 news coverage?
“We’ve seen subtle increases in the great white population since they became a protected species in the late 1990s,” says Dr. Gregory B. Skomal, a fisheries biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and a leading shark expert. “There’s anecdotal evidence for a growing population; spotter planes are seeing them, anglers are reporting encounters, and we’ve tagged over 150 off the coast of Massachusetts alone. I’m not surprised they’re showing up amongst Long Island’s tuna fleet or even in close to shore.”
Skomal points out that a large great white is a massive animal. “An eighteen-footer would certainly have no problem eating a tuna in a bite or two,” he says. “A fish that’s bleeding and making the right kind of sounds as the fight goes on is a natural target. If a great white gets the chance, he’s going to grab a relatively easy meal. As for actual increases in shark attacks, last summer was a hot one. That means more people in the water, so a greater chance of shark encounters. But I don’t think the numbers were out of line.”
Is an increase in the seal population attracting more sharks to our coastline? “Absolutely,” says Skomal, at “least along the shores of Cape Cod. Sharks are amazingly adaptable creatures. They’ll feed on whatever is available. We also have more bunker [fish] these days, too, so that may be another part of the equation.”
Either way, experts agree most sharks leave northeast waters by late December if not sooner, so we should all be safe until next spring. Then again, the research group Ocearch, together with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, tracked a 16-foot, 3,500-pound great white shark they named Mary Lee for 40,000 miles over five years starting in 2012. In 2013, it left the Northeast for southern waters as expected but then returned to New Jersey and Long Island for the last week of January.
With many boats stored away in the Mid-Atlantic, winter is a fine time to visit cozy, indoor boating and fishing shows or brush up on your boating skills.
Winter is a great time to take a boating safety course. It’s also a good time for mariners to schedule an upcoming lesson with One Knot On Water Boat Training. While basic boating courses oer information on navigation rules and basic boat handling skills, actually docking a boat in a strong current or wind can be an anxious undertaking. One Knot, now available in Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach, helps mariners gain confidence in maneuvering their boat on the water. John Phillips, a licensed captain, launched One Knot in 2016.
“We learned that our market is bigger than new boat owners,” says Phillips. “The people most interested are husband-wife and parent-teen teams. It turns out husbands and dads aren’t the best instructors.”
Phillips tailors training sessions to each customer’s needs. A general overview can be offered or more focused instruction on specific aspects of boating, such as handling lines, understanding throttle response, setting an economical and safe cruising speed, and so on. Instruction starts at $225 for three hours.
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland, offers hands-on learning opportunities throughout the year. From 10 AM to 4 PM on January 12th, work with shipwrights and learn some boatbuilding fundamentals by taking part in the restoration of Delaware, a 1912 river tug that hauled scows laden with lumber and towed schooners up and down the Eastern Shore’s narrow, winding rivers. On January 19th from 10AM to noon, knob turning, button pushing and screen reading will be part of Capt. Jerry Friedman’s talk titled “Electronic Navigation for Non-Technical People.” Friedman, a 100- ton, USCG-licensed Master, will answer questions and provide short non-technical descriptions of how GPS, GPS plotters, radar, depth sounders, and automatic identification systems work. cbmm.org
Safety Course IDs Required in Virginia
Virginia boaters looking for an easy way to demonstrate they have passed a safety education course can now order a lifetime boating card through the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries website. The durable, driver’s license-styled card is $10 and is available to anyone who has passed a course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). If you have yet to take a basic boating safety course, winter is a great time to get it done or take a refresher.
In Virginia, all personal watercraft operators ages 14 and older and all operators of motorboats with a 10-horsepower or greater engine need to take a boating safety course and must have a course completion card on board when operating a vessel. There are, however, some exceptions, such as proof of relevant military service or U.S. Coast Guard license holders. If you have previously taken a NASBLA-approved boating safety course and still have a card or certificate, carry it with you. Most state boating courses, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary courses, and U.S. Power Squadrons (USPS) courses are now NASBLA-approved.
Both online and face-to-face course options are available and affordable. The basic Boat Virginia Course offered by the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries is free. Courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and USPS may include some cost to cover materials, generally $25 to $50, but they are well worth the investment and may help save your life.
With many boats stored away in the Mid-Atlantic, winter is a fine time to visit cozy, indoor boating and fishing shows and plan for the next boating season. Besides offering a large selection of boats to mull over, many shows offer seminars focused on ways to improve your skills on the water and present a large selection of information booths and vendors offering the latest equipment, accessories, and service.
At the end of this year, our thoughts are still with those in the Southeast who were so badly affected by Hurricane Florence which came through the Carolinas in September. Much hard work has been put into rebuilding homes in North and South Carolina, and seasonal cruisers heading south this fall have dealt with Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) restrictions, shoaling and favorite ports of call closed due to the storm. The iconic “boater’s Route 66,” commonly called the ICW (aka “the Ditch”), where mud shoals and sandbars build up in channels as maintenance dollars for dredging ebb and flow.
A lot of effort has been put into opening the ICW dredging through the affected states, and there is good news aside from applauding the effort expended in clearing the waterways: increased ICW dredging. According to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has had $25 million in supplemental disaster funds added to their budget.
The money has been allocated for restoration of sections of the ICW damaged by the past year’s hurricanes as well as dredging that was previously planned. As reported in an NMMA statement, the USACE Wilmington, North Carolina District will use the funds to improve conditions at the southern end in North Carolina. The USACE Charleston District will focus on the stretch of the ICW dredging between Charleston and Georgetown, South Carolina.
The Jekyll Creek area of Georgia will also receive attention in areas where depths are below the controlled minimum. Ongoing dredging under the USACE Jacksonville District will continue into early 2019 for portions of the ICW near the Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County, FL.
