Season set to open Friday at noon

It's that time of year again, and I'm not talking about hurricane season although as I write this our office is in storm mode. And unless the tropical storms and hurricanes dump copious quantities of water into our creeks, the 2008 shrimp baiting season that opens at noon Friday should offer at least fair opportunities to shrimp baiting enthusiasts. The 60-day season continues until noon Nov. 11.

Larry Delancey of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources heads a group that has been sampling along the coast and affirms that the season should be fair once again, depending on the weather.

"There are relatively good numbers of shrimp in some areas, but size distribution looks smaller than last year," Delancey said in a DNR news release about the season opening. "This year, at least early in the season, shrimpers may find better numbers in rivers, than later down in areas closer to the ocean as many areas remain very salty despite recent rainfall."

Licensed shrimp baiters ($25 for a resident and $500 for a non-resident) are allowed to harvest 48 quarts of shrimp measured heads-on (29 quarts heads-off) per boat or set of poles per day, and each boat is limited to a set of 10 poles.

Realizing that not everyone has been around the Lowcountry since the practice became widespread about 25 years ago, here's a brief explanation of shrimp baiting. Bait is dropped into relatively shallow water to attract shrimp and then shrimpers use a cast net to catch the shrimp.

What type of bait? The most commonly used bait is dried fish meal combined with some type of binder, usually called clay. When baiting first began, shrimpers would dig pluff mud or clay to use as a binder. Now, the binder and meal can be purchased at tackle stores, feed stores and many boat dealers or hardware stores. The bait and binder are mixed together with enough water to hold them together into softball-sized baits. Many people prefer to flatten the baits like hamburger patties so they don't wash around in the current.

What's this thing about poles? Poles are used to mark the location of the bait. The first thing you do upon arriving at the shrimping grounds is establish an area you plan to shrimp. You are allowed 10 poles per boat, and the poles can be set out in a line that does not exceed 100 yards. The poles must be set at least 25 yards from another set of poles. The poles must include the license tag, and each pole must have reflective tape affixed. Once you establish your line of poles and have your bait made, you can then begin putting out baits, usually two or three per pole tossed far enough from your pole that your net can spread over the bait but not land over the pole.

Baiters cannot have bait or poles in a boat before noon Friday. Cast nets used for casting over bait must have a mesh size of at least one-half inch on each side, or one inch in length when stretched.

Although shrimping can be very productive in the daytime in areas like Bulls Bay, it is usually done just after dusk. Popular areas in Charleston include the areas around the U.S.S. Yorktown and the James Island side of the harbor. Just look for the lights of other boats.

Be reminded that you must adhere to all boating regulations, which includes displaying red and green running lights as well as a stern light, and be especially careful when you're operating your boat at night.

So enjoy the coming season.