Skull Creek Marina

April / May 2009

Springtime in the South

It is an exciting time at the marina!  Boats are getting cleaned and waxed, bottoms are being scraped and painted, the weather is here, azaleas are blooming, fish are biting, and there is no better time to get out on the water.  As you can see, slips are filling up with new owners and renters.  Get out to the docks and meet your neighbors!

Service Yard

The Yard is very busy getting boats ready for the season.  For spring cleaning, maintenance, and repairs contact Tom Petersen at 681-8436 to schedule your work.

Parking on the Pier

Hilton Head Plantation Security has started writing tickets for parking on the pier.  Please restrict your parking for temporary loading and unloading only. 

South Carolina “Clean Marina” Designation

This is the seventh in our series devoted to Skull Creek Marina’s goal to obtain the S.C.“Clean Marina”designation.  We hope you will enjoy these topics and be proactive about helping us protect our fragile environment.   

This month’s topic is:       Aquatic Nuisance Species

Exotic plants and animals such as the zebra mussel, hydrilla, and salvinia can hitch a ride attached to your boat or trailer or as tiny young present in water taken in by your boat.  Hitching from one waterbody to another, these aquatic nuisance species spread quickly and can become established in another waterbody.  They contribute to the degradation of water quality and fish and wildlife habitat by displacing native species and by blocking light needed by submerged aquatic plants.  Once introduced, control of aquatic nuisance species is very expensive and extermination is very difficult.

Stop the Spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species 

• Never release live or dead bait packaging into a waterbody, or release aquatic animals from one waterbody into another. 
• Share live bait with other anglers or empty your bait bucket in the trash before leaving the area.
• Inspect your boat and trailer, especially at the points in the diagram.  Remove any plants and animals you see before leaving the waterbody.
• Avoid chopping vegetation with outboard motor propellers.

• When hauling your boat, drain your motor, well, and bilge in a containment area on shore.
• Rinse your boat, trailer, and equipment.  It is best to use high-pressure and hot water.
• Be especially careful if you’ve been boating in an infested lake, or if you’re buying or using a boat that has come from out of state.  Flush raw water-cooling systems and clean sea strainers.
• Air dry your boat and equipment for as long as possible – at lease five days is optimal.
• If you find one of the nuisance species, or suspect there may be a new infestation, go to http://www.protectyourwaters.net/sc

Fishing News

Although sheepshead are around all year, anglers target them most during the winter and early spring.  Catches have been very strong around inshore structure.   Fish fiddler crabs (available at Lowcountry Outfitters) vertically on a Carolina rig. Spottail Bass fishing has been slow and sightfishing difficult due to windy conditions.  As temperatures climb, the bite should be on in the next few weeks.  Water temps are still a bit low for cobia; they should arrive when water temperatures hit 68 to 70 degrees this next week or two.  Tight lines!

Other Marina News…

We look forward to seeing you at our 2009 Monthly Cookouts at the Marina.   The next cookout will be Friday, April 17^th starting at 6:30, and the May cookout will be May 8^th at 6:30. Enjoy our beautiful sunsets followed by a full moon.  Please bring something to eat, something to drink, and something to share. Charcoal and grills will be provided.  Guests and pets are welcome.  See you on the docks!