Lake Marion – Santee National Wildlife Refuge

“Here Kitty Kitty Kitty…” is how you call for a Catfish. Unfortunately for our crew, the cats were in no mood to play on Friday. While filming on Santee National Wildlife Refuge, we had an opportunity to go out with Captain Alan Spence, a local guide who specializes in catfish and striper fishing in South Carolina. Captain Spence had his pontoon boat rigged up with 6 rods and a Hummingbird fish spotter. He hoped to find blues and flatheads, both popular species of catfish fished in Lake Marion and found in large numbers during almost every month of the year. 

The Santee National Wildlife Refuge is one of two popular public access points on Lake Marion.  The lake is well known for its fishing, and abundant wildlife, but boaters must beware as there are several submerged stumps that can result in unintended and sudden damage.  As we drifted along with Captain Spence told us stories of past clients reeling in 50 plus pound catfish and did his best to have us take home one of our own. Unfortunately, the winds were off and the fish weren’t feeding. But this didn’t deter Captain Spence from staying on the water for the entire afternoon and entertaining us like any great guide would do. Besides, floating on a pontoon on the lake at sunset isn’t a bad way to end another long day either!

Anna Harris is the Vision Coordinator for Conserving the Future and a member of the team taking vision on the road.

The common catch phrase, “that’s why it’s called fishing, not catching”, was thrown around on the boat today. Jim Yergin and John Kooper were our hosts on the 28 foot skiff and we couldn’t have asked for better company. Jim and John seem to have known each other since boyhood, yet it took 65 years for these friends to meet. They fish two or three times a week and catch anything willing to bite. Jim doesn’t eat fish, but friends and family usually enjoy the catch and those special enough also receive their catch filleted, but as John said, “it depends on the person.” These boys spend an awful lot of time on waters around the refuge, and you can tell by their tall tales that they care deeply for Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. 

Bulls Island, a popular part of the refuge, is an island with a lot of passion from the local community. The ferry over to Bull’s is run by Coastal Expeditions, an outside entity, but you could have mistaken their charismatic captain for a refuge employee by the way he described the unique ecosystems and wildlife found here. Starting this spring, the refuge has brought back weekend expeditions on the island, with the help of their local Coastal partnership. And the endangered loggerhead sea turtles, something this refuge is known for, are recording unusually high nesting seasons. With all the recreational activities at this refuge, endangered species protection, and Friends group activism;  I was more than surprised to find how few actually work at the refuge complex. It’s the passion and drive from a few dedicated refuge employees, so accustomed to doing more with less, that has made this refuge into a world class recreational experience for all visitors.

Side note: Not many fish were caught, but we did reel in a shark or two! You can also follow Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge on Facebook.

Anna Harris is the Vision Coordinator for Conserving the Future and a member of the team taking vision on the road.