We spent a week recently on Edisto Island. I thought I would share some of the Island’s charm. It is an enjoyable area to paddle.
Pat and I paddled out too Otter Island one day and through the marsh creeks another. Here are some photos of our paddle trips.
Paddled across the mouth of the South Edisto River to the cut between Pine and Otter Islands. On the way back we stopped on Pine Island for a snack break.
Oysters exposed at low tide. The tidal change run 5 to 7 feet. and the current between tides runs fairly fast on an outgoing tide at the mouth of the river.
Paddling the marsh creeks.
Notice the ancient oyster bar with oysters on top of oysters until they grew high enough for the marsh and river sediments to bury them with mud and Spartina growth.
My son-in-law loves to fish. I think he could catch a fish in a mud puddle. He would at least try if he thought there was one. The thing about saltwater fishing my Dad always enjoyed was the uncertainty of what you might catch, as opposed to fishing freshwater. your never know what you might catch.
Landed?.. a DJI Phantom 4 drone. Thought he had the bottom.
The major catch was whiting which are very good eating. One Pompano made it to the table. They are delicious! While the only flounder caught was too small to keep.
This Sea Robin (another unusual catch) is a small bottom fish that uses modified pectoral fins as legs to walk/crawl on the bottom. They can have sharp spines on their dorsal fins and gills that have a poison which can cause pain for a few days. In the photo you can see a small spine near the top of the gill plate. The dorsal fin is lying flat on its back
Probably most folks would be more concerned about the 20 to 30 small sharks he caught, He caught 5 different species in all while fishing. Catching a shark was an attraction that often would draw a crowd of kids.
This is a Bonnethead Shark they don’t get over 4 feet long and patrol the shallows crabs are a favorite meal. I had a couple swim up to my boat while hunting before realizing I was there and swimming off in a hurry.
The small Sharp-nosed Sharks were the most common
This is a Scalloped Hammerhead they can get up to 12 feet in length. When larger sharks took the bait and when their tail would hit the line it woudl break. When we used very heavy mono line as long leaders that kept the line from breaking. Lost a couple that way before changing.
This Finetooth Shark was the largest fish caught. they grow up to 6 feet long.
This Blacktip shark took revenge and bit my son-in-law while removing the hook. He was lucky it didn’t shake it’s head, so escaped with just punctured fingers,
Even though the Bonnethead shark is edible all sharks were released. At night some shark fishermen caught some really big sharks, but we weren’t trying to catch sharks until they started break our lines. Certainly not set up with rods and reels to handle really big fish. We think the drone that was hooked had been used to fly the fishing lines out from shore since the heavy rigs aren’t really made for casting, like a surf rod.
Looking for fossil sharks teeth.
Shorebird’s eye view of the beach one stormy day.
Saw numerous squadrons of pelicans one group numbered more than 60.
Laughing Gull.
Edge of the dunes.
Flowers just above the dunes.
Marsh Rabbit above the Dunes.
Back at the house we had a King Snake join the fun in the pool. which lead to an empty pool and me being called to remove it,
This Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad also needed rescuing from the pool.
This Blue Bird seemed to enjoy watching the action at the pool.
We observed Cabbage Palm Moths gathering around some palms that looked like they were going to bloom.
This resulted in attracting a Great Crested Flycatcher
This bird has its eye on a potential meal flying in the left-hand corner of the photo.
Success!
I Saw this couple bring their Pringle 17 catamaran down to the beach, and helped them set the mast. Took a few photos of them sailing.
Don’t you just hate it when someone walks or flies in between you and the subject of your photo!!
Day turning to night.
Did a night walk on the beach and saw schools of what looked like very young Pompano feeding in the surf. They were very reflective in the light.
Of course there were the ever present Ghost Crabs out at night on the beach.
Headed back in for the night.
