OutdoorSC.com

Call them spottails, redfish, reds or channel bass, the species is undeniably the most sought-after fish of late. Perhaps it is their abundance or their fighting ability or maybe it is their excellent flavor that makes them so popular. Whatever the reason, fishing has been good and anglers are content in their pursuit.

Tarpon are in the area, too, but numbers are reduced. The majority of sightings have come at Trenchards Inlet, with only occasional rolls from Broad River. A few nice tarpon were taken from the Coosaw River, but weather has slowed things considerably.

Other active species include sheepshead, which can be taken from the docks, rock piles, bridges and seawalls. They're hitting fiddlers, clam strips, mussel and oyster. Trout are hard to locate but eager to strike offerings of shrimp along grass edges on tapered banks. Flounder are taking mud minnows and shrimp slow-trolled around sandbars and oyster beds.

Whiting are plentiful and taking offerings of live or fresh-cut shrimp. Small bluefish and ladyfish will strike any fresh bait you toss, and catches are hard and fast along the flats. Jack Crevalle have shown in good numbers from the Port Royal Sound around the deeper drops and shadow waters of channel markers. Recent catches from larger feeder creeks and main rivers surrounding Daufuskie Island suggest they are content to stay in the area awhile.

Offshore activity has been underwhelming. Active among offshore species are Spanish mackerel, which are favoring Clark spoons. King mackerel in waters 60 to 90 feet, wahoo, spadefish and a few dolphin also have been taken recently. The Gaskins Reef, Gordon Wreck and Betsy Ross Wreck each have produced good catches of blackfish, sheepshead and large black drum. Cut bait and squid are your best choices.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Anglers are gearing up for the 18th Annual Fripp Island Kingfish Tournament, based at the Fripp Island Marina on Old House Creek. A captains meeting and Lowcountry cook-out will be held from 6-7 p.m. Aug. 29, and a representative from each boat must attend. The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 30. Fishing begins at 6 a.m., with weigh-ins closing at 6 p.m.

Cash prizes will be awarded from, and based upon, entry fees -- 40 percent of the prize money will go to the angler who catches the largest king mackerel, and 20 percent will go the second-largest king. Other prizes include the aggregate weight of two kings (14 percent) and largest Spanish mackerel (15 percent for first place and 11 percent for second place.)

If weather spoils the fun on Saturday, the tournament will move to Sunday with the awards ceremony to follow. For information, call the Fripp Island Marina at 843-838-1517.

• The Harry Hampton Spartanburg Hunting and Fishing Expo will be held in the Upstate, Aug. 22-24 at the Spartanburg Expo Center on 6655 Pottery Rd.

Sponsored by the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, the event will include more than 54,000 square feet of exhibit and seminar space.

For information, contact Mary Pugh at 803-781-2989 or mpugh@sc.rr.com.

DNR HAS POINT(S) TO MAKE

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources tries to score deer racks throughout the state. The most recent round of antler scoring for whitetail deer revealed 229 new records.

Of the 558 antler sets scored during 15 scheduled sessions this spring, 228 met the minimum score for state entry with 219 sets of typical and nine non-typical racks. There are currently 5,038 sets of antlers included on the state records list, 4,858 typical and 180 non-typical.

BEAUFORT BOAT 2ND IN GOVERNOR'S CUP

The race for the Governor's Cup Billfishing Tournament Series title went down to the wire. "Cerveza," owned by Thomas Russell of Reston, Va., and captained by Butch Davis, was named Outstanding Billfish Boat.

"Daymaker," owned by Mark Daniel of Georgetown, won the series' final event, the Bohicket Marina Invitational. "Roulette," owned by Richard Pingree of Beaufort, finished second in the series standings, tied with "Daymaker."

TACKLE TIP

To assist in keeping your tackle box organized, I came upon a simple clip-and-hook method of keeping things in their place. Large safety pins can be used to thread leaders, hooks, beads or just about any small item with an eye on the wire and snap it shut. Three or four large pins should keep everything in order.