Community Updates SkIO Ship Rescues Stranded Boaters
A routine research cruise quickly turned into a lifesaving, nighttime rescue mission for the crew of UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s R/V Savannah. On the evening of June 8, the ship rescued two Florida fishermen who were clinging to the hull of their capsized boat in the open ocean approximately ten miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral. The Savannah was conducting a fish survey with a team from NOAA when, around 8:30 p.m., they were contacted by the Coast Guard to assist with a vessel in distress believed to be three and a half miles from the Savannah’s position. Captain Raymond Sweatte steered towards the boat’s last known position, but on arrival, a search with the Savannah’s spotlight revealed nothing. Captain Sweatte began a search pattern, but still found nothing. He then noticed a faint radar target approximately two miles east of the Savannah’s position. He headed in that direction and as the ship R/V Savannah captain Raymond got closer, the target grew stronger. They came across a capsized 24-foot boat with two fishermen Sweatte, flanked by rescued boaters holding on for dear life. Justin DeSoto (right) and Andy The fishermen were identified as Justin Desoto and Andy Odom of Port Canaveral, Fla. The men Odom (left). said their boat started taking on water. As the seas and wind increased, they could not keep up with Photo provided by UGA/SkIO the inflow of water and mother nature took control. Both fishermen were brought onboard and provided blankets and water. A Coast Guard vessel met the ship and carried Desoto and Odom back to shore. “Over the years, and as anyone who goes to sea knows, you will come across boats adrift, some inshore, some 150 miles or more from land, but it is rare to find people in the water struggling to survive,” said John Bichy, UGA Skidaway Institute marine superintendent. “Those fishermen were probably only in the water for five hours or so, but if the Savannah had not found them who knows what their fate would have been.”
SC Sets New Catch Limits for Redfish
Red drum, redfish, spottail, channel bass – South Carolina’s most popular saltwater gamefish goes by many names and plays a key role in the coastal economy and ecosystems. In recent years, state biologists have documented a declining trend in the state’s red Photo provided by SCDNR drum population, which has been underscored by reports from longtime local anglers. These concerns prompted the SCDNR to take a closer look at the species last year, culminating in an assessment that found the state’s red drum population was experiencing overfishing. The South Carolina General Assembly responded by passing a new law intended to reverse overfishing, which Governor Henry McMaster recently signed. The new catch limit allows two fish per person per day and no more than six fish per boat per day, effective July 1, 2018. The previous catch limit was three fish per person per day, with no boat limit. The slot limit (15-23 inches) remains unchanged. “We’ve been monitoring red drum populations across the state using the same techniques for nearly 30 years, and what we’ve seen over the last 10-15 years is concerning,” said assistant marine scientist Dr. Joey Ballenger, who oversees SCDNR’s red drum research. “Across the state, we’ve seen declines in abundance of the juvenile fish most commonly targeted by anglers.” In addition, the SCDNR seeks to address increasing pressure on adult red drum by working with anglers to implement best handling practices. Valuable adult fish are highly susceptible to predators, disease, and exhaustion after release, making proper handling a matter of life or death. SCDNR urges anglers who target adult red drum to use the following best practices for release: • Use a rig that minimizes the chance of hook damage (short leader, fixed sinker weighing three ounces or more, and barbless, non-offset and non-stainless hook) • Use gear that shortens the fight time (20-lb and higher test line) • Keep the fish in the water (take photographs of the fish during revival and release) 6
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