For ten days this fall (Sept 26-Oct 6), anglers of all ages cast their lines across the Port Royal Sound to compete in the first Port Royal Sound Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament – and contributed to science in the process!
Organized by the Port Royal Sound Foundation in partnership with the SC Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR) and Canada-based Angler’s Atlas, this fishing tournament was a little different than normal. This was a catch, photo, and (ideally) release event managed through the MyCatch mobile app, which was a great way to collect valuable data about fish in the Port Royal Sound.
“Hosting a fishing tournament that encouraged everyone – from serious anglers to young families – to get out on the water and experience the beauty and biodiversity of the Sound, just made sense,” said Jody Hayward, Executive Director of the Port Royal Sound Foundation. “Our partners and sponsors helped make it a successful event that supports our mission by engaging anglers in collecting important fisheries data AND encouraging fun and responsible fishing. We can’t wait for next year!”
The inshore slam species include flounder, spotted seatrout, and red drum, but the tournament incentivized reporting all fish caught with $10,000 in cash and prizes including the largest Slam, the most fish caught, the most species caught, and more. Over the 10 days, 152 anglers submitted 1,829 fish representing 41 species. Here are a few highlights:
- The most fish recorded by a single angler was 217 fish.
- The smallest fish caught (on a hook!) was a mummichog at 3.9 centimeters.
- Some of the more rare and surprising species reported included Irish Pompano, Crevalle Jack, and Gafftopsail Catfish.
- 837 red drum were recorded – more than double the number of red drum reported through creel surveys annually statewide.
The tournament also encouraged best practices for conservation and sustainable fishing. Targeting bull reds – large adult red drums coming inshore to spawn or reproduce – was discouraged by limiting the length of qualified redfish to 32”. Competition for best ‘hero shots’ and release videos prioritized good fish handling techniques. And while it was not required, the tournament encouraged responsible fish handling, and catch and release in all of its communications.
“The Port Royal Sound Foundation’s first Inshore Slam Tournament was a big success and SCDNR was proud to be a part of it,” said Matt Perkinson, SC DNR Saltwater Fishing Outreach Coordinator. “The app-based format allowed anglers to directly contribute tons of data and provide a great snapshot of the inshore catch in southern South Carolina. This was the first tournament of its kind in the region and we’re excited about harnessing the power of both anglers and technology to learn more about our fisheries moving forward.”
The Foundation is committed to establishing this event as a premier inshore fishing tournament in the watershed – to celebrate the diversity of fish that call this estuary home, and to encourage its protection and conservation so we can enjoy it for generations to come.
For more information, visit https://portroyalsoundfoundation.org/inshore-slam/. Sign up for the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s newsletter and follow on social media for information and announcements.