‘People are ready to get out’: CCA SC’s Waccamaw Chapter set to stage annual banquet
Most everyone is ready for a little dose of normalcy, and the Waccamaw Chapter of Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina is offering just that, albeit a little later than usual.
The chapter usually stages its annual banquet and auction in March but the event, like most everything else, was postponed due to the coronavirus. The banquet is now set for next Saturday, June 13 at Sunnyside Plantation in Murrells Inlet.
Judging by the crowded waterways and boat landings since they were re-opened on April 17, local anglers and outdoorsmen are ready to go.
“Everything is trying to go get back to normal,” said Chris Hawley, Waccamaw Chapter Chairman. “People are ready to get out and do something fun, and this is a chance to do that - celebrate conservation with your local CCA chapter.”
Sunnyside is a perfect setting for the Waccamaw Chapter’s banquet, a scenic spot perched on the banks of Murrells Inlet amid ancient mossy oaks. The plantation located in the heart of Murrells Inlet is even more ideal during this crazy year of 2020.
The sprawling property will allow for plenty of social distancing during the banquet, plus CCA staff and volunteers are taking other precautions to help ensure attendees are safe.
“We are lucky to be at Sunnyside again where we have so much space to spread out,” said Hannah Smith, Assistant Director of CCA SC. “We have bigger tents than usual, will be readily providing sanitizer and as many contactless payment options as possible for raffle and auction sales.”
The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed CCA SC’s mission of protecting marine species and their environment while juggling public access to the state’s marine resources and waterways.
“Through the strange times that we have been a part of lately, CCA has been committed to our mission of ensuring the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them, specifically in advocating for boaters access to public landings during COVID closures and monitoring angler access issues in Palmetto State waters,” said Smith.
CCA SC communicated with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, lawmakers and the Governor’s Office to help re-open the boat landings on April 17, a move that was widely applauded by anglers and boaters across the state.
Also this year, CCA SC was instrumental in helping establish a first-time minimum size limit on spadefish and first-time limits of any type on tripletail. The new regulations for both species went into effect this spring. South Carolina was the last state in the tripletail’s range to implement bag and size limits on the species.
CCA SC partners with S.C. DNR on habitat enhancement and artificial reef projects to boost the marine environment along the coast.
“We are working on more habitat projects up and down the coast – from oyster recycling and re-nourishment to recently securing a 68-foot tug to be deployed later this year off the coast of Charleston to add to the 10 artificial reefs we have established over the last 10 years,” said Smith.
Some of those projects are close to home for the Waccamaw Chapter, with oyster reef builds scheduled for July 20 in Murrells Inlet and August 1 in Winyah Bay.
As Hawley mentioned, the banquet is chock full of fun for area anglers and conservationists who have a vested interest in the future of South Carolina’s marine resources.
The banquet begins at 6 p.m. on June 13, starting with a social hour during which attendees can enjoy drinks, bid on silent-auction items and enter raffles.
Dinner, catered by Bagel Café, is next before the night is capped by a live auction, which will feature various hunting and fishing trips among other items.
Tickets are $75 for individuals, $100 for couples and include a year’s membership to CCA. Sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Hawley at 843-455-0371.