• As holidays approach, squeeze in some quality time outdoors
  As the season begins to cool, more and more anglers stay closer to home. Occasionally, word is passed that some species is hot somewhere along the coast, but for the most part anglers will work home shores. Perhaps it's the approaching expense of holiday season that keeps the tires from rolling, but many sportsmen who enjoy the outdoors still manage to bide their time among choices that are reasonably comfortable. That is to say, they keep the home fires lit. At the same time, they are open for suggestions that give them an opportunity to get out and about.

• Natural baits as versatile as your imagination
  Because the subject of lures and baits covers such a vast array of options, it was necessary to split the column into two parts. I think we pretty much covered the basics of the care and feeding of artificial lures and the rules which govern their productivity last week. This week, we come to the use of natural baits.

• Some general information on artificial baits
  Last week I mentioned I would pass along a few of the have-to-have, should-have and better-have items related to saltwater fishing with a focus on the surf. I am willing to share my list of things you can't do without while dragging your feet in the sand, but there are provisions.

• Fishing with family can be quite rewarding
  The odds of this happening are remote, but the odds of this occurring to members of the same family are phenomenal.

• A good hunting dog is worth a little mischief
  For those of you who follow this column, you are aware of my longtime fishing partner, David Pointer. Having retired at an early age after wise investments, David is unique in that he can pretty much do as he pleases, when he chooses to do so.

• Let's clear up the lines of communication
  I received an e-mail from a reader who stated he was a bit confused. It seems some of the terms used in my columns have a few anglers scratching their heads. I wish to apologize and promise to do better in the future. I have been at this for many years and may often use terminology that can be interpreted differently. Often, this is attributed to the reader being new to the sport or coast and not well versed on our Lowcountry dialect. Allow me to clarify:

• Confidence a very important part of successful fishing
  If you are like me, it's hard to remember just how long it's been since you started fishing. It's not an age thing, it's more like selective recall.

• This time of year is ripe for angler success
  October marks the transition of seasons, and both fish and weather have a tendency to be more friendly. With milder temperatures showing during the past week, anglers spent more time on the waters. Fish were cooperating, and although a few winds kicked up later in the week, the catch was not interrupted.

• No jockeys required for upcoming race in Beaufort
  Every so often something comes across my desk that is genuine and sparks a good bit of interest. Such is the case of the upcoming shrimp race.

• All of your outdoors questions deserve answers
  About this time of the year, I like to answer my e-mails. Many times the questions posed are from anglers seeking an answer. I may not have all the answers, but I can assure you, I know where to look.

• Fripp Island tournament brings end to summer season
  The 19th annual Fripp Island Kingfish Tournament closed the summer fishing season last weekend, and the fish were cooperating, which made the event that much better.

• Some advice on chasing spottails in high-water conditions
  I don't presume to know all there is to know about fishing. To say so would only instigate another tirade by readers that I have truly fallen off the deep end.

• A little common sense goes a long way at the boat ramp
  I witnessed an incident at a local boat landing that should have all boaters on edge. While we are all familiar with the term "road rage," what I saw was a case of "ramp rage."

• There's more than one way to catch a fish
  I am a pretty fair judge of character. That is to say, from the get-go I can usually tell if an introduction has any merit. I am referring to individuals introduced at social gatherings as potential fishing mates.

• The early bird gets the fish during dog days of summer
  With afternoon and evening thunderstorms running the gauntlet through the Lowcountry, things have slowed down just a bit. It's how it should be for us more refined southern folks, and it helps reduce tensions and anxieties brought on by the obsessive heat of the day.