How this Coastal Carolina student capped a masterful week in school and the fishing boat

It was a whirlwind of accomplishments early this week for Jimmy Dever.

On Saturday, Dever teamed with Capt. Tripp Hooks and Capt. Steve “Boomer” Montgomery to capture the 4th annual Speckled Studs Trout Tournament in Murrells Inlet against some of the best trout fishermen around.

Three days later, Dever walked across stage to receive his diploma during Coastal Carolina University’s graduation ceremony at the HTC Center on the CCU campus.

It’s been a memorable cap to his days at CCU for the 22-year-old finance major from Cinnaminson, N.J., who has designs on continuing his fishing escapades as a local fishing guide.

“The things that are going on right now, I’m really happy about it,” Dever said on Tuesday soon after receiving his diploma. “Winning the tournament was a good feeling especially going up again the top captains in the area. It’s something I’m proud of. (Graduating is) a relief off my shoulders. I’ve worked really hard this semester to get it all done.

“Now I can focus on getting my Captain’s License and see what the future has in store for me.”

Dever fished with Hooks, of Capt. Hook Outdoors, and Montgomery, of Salt Fever Guide Service, both of Ocean Isle Beach.

The trio, aboard Montgomery’s 23-foot Famous Craft, landed the fish of the day, a 6.54-pound trout and paired it with a 3.29-pounder for the winning 9.83-pound, two-fish aggregate in the all-release tournament.

The team of Caleb Hartley, Calvin Springs and Nick Wofford were second with a 7.10-pound aggregate. Trask Cunningham and Chase Kohl were third with 6.03 pounds, Dan Connolly and Nick Skodras were fourth with 5.91 pounds and Jason Burton and Chris Ossman were fifth with 5.68 pounds.

Dever, Montgomery and Hooks started by working the creeks on the south end of the inlet.

“We grinded all morning and didn’t really have any fish worth weighing until the tide switched (to falling) at 10 a.m.,” said Dever. “We thought our best chance was going to be at the jetties.”

So off they went to the rocks, known to hold gator trout and plenty of boats, especially during a tournament targeting gator trout.

After squeezing in a spot at the jetties, Hooks put out a live shrimp on a slip float, and the float disappeared, about 11 a.m.

“Tripp said ‘This is the one, if it’s not a trout it’s a red.’ “ recalled Dever. “I said ‘Tripp, just get it in the boat.’ He fought it for 5-6 minutes and we saw the spots and got it in the net.”

The trout measured 27.5 inches, and they knew they had a good one.

“We fished another half hour, and that’s when we got the 3.29 and felt pretty comfortable,” said Dever.

About 1:30 p.m., the team headed to the Murrells Inlet Fishing Center location on the Marshwalk to weigh in the fish.

Dever was left with a good feeling when the big spawner trout were released at the dock.

“I think (the release format) is a really good idea,” said Dever. “A lot of those fish we catch and weigh are females and it’s good to release them and repopulate. It’s good for, obviously, the fish, and you feel good about it to see that big fish swim off.”

Connolly, the tournament director, noted all fish that were released after the weigh-in swam off in good shape.

Other winners were:

• Youth Big Fish: Jackson King, 2.45 pounds *Largest Trout: Jimmy Dever, 6.54 pounds *Largest Black Drum: Jay Baisch, 2.55 pounds
• Largest Sheepshead: Jay Baisch, 2.74 pounds
• Small Fish Winner: Pete Gerace, 1.47 pounds The tournament proceeds went to support Capt. Rayburn Poston’s Student Angler League Tournament Trail, or SALTT.

Flounder Numbers

Earlier this year, a comprehensive regional study concluded numbers of southern flounder along the four-state Southeast coast including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are at historically low levels.

On the heels of the regional study, biologists from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources took a close look at flounder stocks in the Palmetto State and the results were just as alarming.

The study found flounder numbers in the state are at the lowest since the agency began keeping records.

S.C. DNR biologists want more info and are encouraging the public to take an online survey to provide input.

The survey can be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2V2VRV5

Proposals to change South Carolina’s limits on flounder are assuredly forthcoming in 2020, and anglers are urged to provide their flounder fishing knowledge by completing the survey.

Keep an eye on future columns for more on this important issue moving forward.