Now that’s a tall fish tale

Twenty years is a long time. That’s what I thought when the judge sentenced me for insider trading.  

 

Just kidding! The 20-year reference is for publishing The Daniel Island News. Yes, it has been 20 years.  

 

Back then, Daniel Island was much smaller. As I recall, Codner’s Ferry and Etiwan Park were the only neighborhoods. There was only one boat landing (on Beresford Creek). So, I did most of my fishing in Beresford and Clouter creeks.  

 

Boat traffic was almost non-existent. The redfish, trout and flounder were big and abundant. Catching them was incredibly easy. Fish were literally everywhere.

 

As the island grew, so did boat traffic and angling pressure. However, thanks to the emergence of catch and release fishing along with sound fishery management practices, redfish, trout and flounder remained abundant.  

 

The island grew some more, and another boat landing opened on Ralston Creek. I immediately purchased a lot in Daniel Island Park so that I could use the new landing. With easy access to the Wando River and all the creeks that drain into it, there was an abundance of new water to explore. So much water that I needed help.

Thankfully, my son Elliott and I adopted Brody, and he turned out to be an amazing fish-finding and stock-trading dog.  

 

Twenty years is a long time. But it passed in the blink of an eye. Back when I began writing this weekly column, my children were children. Elliott and Maddie grew up fishing all around Daniel Island. Literally, thousands of days and countless memories of fishing together. Many of which I shared with you.  

 

Today, Elliott and Maddie are adults and Daniel Island has become a unique and wonderful island community. Twenty years later, it seems everything has grown (including my waistline). I am told by Sue Detar, the publisher of The Daniel Island News, that my readership has also grown (to about 10 people).  For my faithful few,

thanks for reading along!