• You can't say we didn't warn him
  I have the utmost respect for any officer of the law. Heck, I'm well acquainted with Chief Neil, and he still tolerates me to some extent. I believe his parting words on our last meeting were something to the effect that I wasn't a moral embarrassment to the community.

• Good guide can relieve your fishing frustration
  Did you miss that large cobia you had been promising yourself ? If you have the knowledge and experience, what's stopping you?

• Tarpon fishing: The joy of punishment
  If ever there was a reason for an angler to table their sport for less-challenging pursuits, tarpon fishing would be the catalyst. You can't begin to describe the adrenaline rush -- it has to be experienced. The pursuit will put you on edge for things to come and, once located, the game becomes more frustrating. As the battle progresses, it can be ego-busting to veterans as well as the less-proficient new guy.

• It's a hot time to go after spottails around here
  It's not often I get the opportunity to get back in the rivers. There was a time, however, that most of my fishing was done in the Ace Basin -- the tri-river region of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers.

• Father's Day brings back multitude of memories
  There are very few times when you fail to learn something on a daily basis. My father once told me when you quit learning, you quit living. Life is an adventure to be met standing on both feet facing the wind. Live it fully and enjoy the time.

• Okatie Elementary teacher brings her love of outdoors into the classroom
  Thinking outside the box; Although we understand that concept easy enough, there are only a select few who are really capable to put the theory to practice. Meet one who has.

• Targeting trout? Here's a few friendly tips
  My time on the water seems to be getting more limited. I can't really put a handle on the problem, it just seems I can't get out as much as I would prefer. I suppose it has something to do with having to work for a living, but when the opportunity shows itself, I am headed out the door.

• More ethanol shouldn't be forced on boat owners
  The nation's largest recreational boat owners group, BoatUS, is joining a chorus of boat, car and engine manufacturers in saying 'Not so fast' to a petition brought by the ethanol lobby to the Environmental Protection Agency that would allow the amount of ethanol permitted in gasoline to be increased from 10 percent to 15 percent.

• That lure sure looks tasty, but keep it out of your mouth
  During a tournament a few years ago, my fishing partner became very ill. This was a draw tournament where boat owners are teamed with non-boat owners by drawing names from a hat. You and your partner are teamed for one day. Many of these tournaments are for three days, so every day was a challenge with a new partner. Luckily, the onset of his illness was during the last hour of the tournament. Being a kind-hearted fisherman, I returned to the docks early for weigh-in and to seek medical attention.

• New cobia tourney coming to Port Royal Sound
  I no longer fish tournaments. It's a decision made long ago that I may have reason to regret.

• Warming trend, in the weather and on the water
  Fishermen and boaters alike are taking advantage of the onset of better weather conditions. The past week showed promise for some great days ahead, as the fish -- as well as Mother Nature -- finally decided to cooperate.

• Best bait in your tackle box? Confidence
  In his day, Bill Dance was a phenomenon on the bass fishing circuit, so much so he wrote a book entitled "There He Is." Basically, the book was about successful fishing with artificial worms. One statement from the book stands out. When asked which color was best, Bill replied "Any color will work, as long as it is blue."

• Taxes, cobia run hand-in-hand around here
  It's about this time of the year that many find themselves preparing for deadlines while others are anticipating rewards. Taxes and cobia generally run hand-in-hand around the 15th of April. Although there is little I can do to assist you with your partnership with Uncle Sugar, I can enlighten you to the arrival of cobia.

• Some bits of old angler widsom
  If you get to thinking you know something abut fishing, try moving someone else's fishing rod on a party boat.

• Does the collecting bug have you?
  I'll be the first to admit it; I have a passion for old fishing lures, tackle and paraphernalia. I can't say for sure when it all started but, if first impressions make the difference in choice, it had to be by nature.