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on location: south � dave bodle

A ccording to a U.S. Fish andWildlife Service report, the 2006National Survey of Fishing, Hunt-

ing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation,there are nearly 30 million anglers morethan 16 years of age in the United States.The creative tour operator will find nu-merous ways to tap into this market andSouth Carolina is just the place to begin. Although South Carolina ranks 26th

in population, it is No. 8 in anglerspending and in the top five states innon-resident fishing destinationsranked by retail sales. Both saltwaterand freshwater anglers have discovered

an abundance of fishing opportunitiesin the Palmetto State.South Carolina is blessed with

bountiful fishing from the mountainsto the coast and beyond. The best place to begin is the websites of theSouth Carolina Association of Tourism Regions (scatr.com). If there’s fishing in the region (and there most likely willbe), these local organizations will haveall the information. Years ago my grandson and I were

gathering background for a story in a series titled “On the Road with Dylanand Pop-Pop.” One of our stops was in

the Capital City & Lake Murray Country region. This area is home tosome major fishing tournaments, in-cluding a stop on the televised BassMasters Elite Series. The good folks at the tourism office

arranged for us to do a morning of fishing. Already four days on the road, I did not cherish the idea of getting a 9-year-old out of bed at 5:30 a.m. to beat the dock by 6:30. We arrived on timeand were at our fishing spot on LakeMurray at 7:00. By 8:30 we had ourlimit and were unable to get the bait outof the water quick enough! We both

Consider fishingas a hook on your

next group offering inSouth Carolina

South Carolina’s Santee Cooper Country, home to Lakes Marion and Moultrie, holds a number of fishing records.

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had a great time and still cherish some wonderful memories.Off I-95 is the Santee Cooper

Country region, home to Lakes Marionand Moultrie. Due to its easy access andnatural abundance this area is a hot bedof fishing opportunities. A quick lookon its website gives a complete listing of

United States Coast Guard-approvedguides. You’ll see where they are locatedand the type of fish you can expect tocatch with them. Other than fishing license, sunscreen and a cooler ofdrinks and snacks, your guide will supply everything you’ll need. However,be ready for some action because theSantee Cooper Country lakes hold anumber of fishing records. With 30 million people fishing, you

might just be able to fill a tour that includes, lodging, fishing and meals.

Although most lake guides accommo-date only four to six passengers on aboat, multiple guides can be used to accommodate a larger group. A more realistic option is adding

fishing to any South Carolina itinerary.Shopping or a museum tour might notbe for everyone. A morning of fishingjust might attract a few extra passengers.Of course, a fishing component is a perfect addition to any multi-genera-tional tour.Closer to the Atlantic Ocean,

numerous fishing opportunities can befound in all coastal tourism regions. TheLowcountry & Resort Islands, HistoricCharleston region and the MyrtleBeach Area & Grand Strand provideeverything from rivers and marshes tosurf, pier and deep-sea adventures. On Hilton Head Island the 70-foot

Captain Hook party fishing boat specializes in group outings of morethan 20 passengers. Most group hotelscan make all the arrangements. TheHoliday Inn will even provide a cook-

ONLINE EXCLUSIVEFor travel ideas in South

Carolina’s Thoroughbred Country

tourism region, log on to http://leisure-

grouptravel.com/?p=24407.

on location: south �

28 August 2011 LeisureGroupTravel.com

South Carolina’s Atlantic coast offers a variety of group fishing options.

Fishing charters are not the only vesselssailing from one South Carolina port. A

ruling by state legislators now allows localcounties to approve gaming vessels to sailfrom their deep-water ports to internationalwaters. The Myrtle Beach area has the onlytwo such gaming ships.

The Big M Casino is a 186’ vessel withslots, blackjack, roulette, craps and Let ItRide and 3-card Poker. A buffet is included

in the cost of every cruise. The cruises de-part twice a day, Tuesday through Sunday.

With a passenger capacity of 600 the237’ SunCruz Casino ship is a casino thatjust happens to be on a ship. There are 320slots, every imaginable table game, and apoker room featuring Texas Hold ‘Em anda sports betting lounge. A buffet with everycruise and entertainment in season adds tothe experience. SunCruz sails twice daily

Tuesday through Sunday andevenings only on Monday.

SunCruz Casino welcomesgroups and recently introduced a$60 Value Fun Book for groups of10 or more. Tiered pricing is hon-ored and a complete group packageis available.

Both ships are located just min-utes from North Myrtle Beach at theLittle River, SC fishing village.

Ample coach parking is available at eachdock. Both casinos offer transportationfrom most area hotels.

The hour sail into international watersprovides a relaxing time to enjoy the scenicbeauty along the Intracoastal Waterway andbuffet. The three hours of gaming startswhen the slots are turned on and the livedealer table games begin. —Dave Bodle

Myrtle Beach Offshore Gaming

SunCruz passengers enjoy gaming,

entertainment and buffet dining.

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LeisureGroupTravel.com August 2011 29

ing demonstration with your catch ontheir outdoor deck. The Charleston region offers

offshore fishing in the Atlantic. BothMatt Galvin of Coastal Yacht Chartersand Captain Rich Harris and wifeTheresa of Reel Deal Charters arehappy to work with groups. In the Myrtle Beach area from

Georgetown to Murrells Inlet to LittleRiver, there’s something for everyone’sfishing interest. The easiest option toarrange might just be pier fishing.Most likely there’s a pier close to where

you’re staying and it has the equipmentyou need. A South Carolina fishing license is not required on private fish-ing piers.In Murrells Inlet, the Inlet Sports

Lodge offers a variety of fishing packages for small to mid-size groups. Standard fishing packages and a newfly-fishing package await the seriousrecreational fisherman. The luxuriouslodge includes fish preparation stationsto clean and package your catch forshipping. Outdoor grills are available,or simply leave the cooking to the staff.

Captain Dick’s in Murrells Inletand Little River Fishing Charters offer a variety of options. Half-daycharters, gulf stream excursions and anovernight fishing trip provide a menuthat can be tailored to your time andbudget.Regardless of where you drop a line,

there is likely a South Carolina statepark (southcarolinaparks.com) nearby.They’re perfect for a “catch and cook”addition to your itinerary. Imagineturning your catch over to an executivechef, allowing him to prep your dinnerwhile you return to your hotel for somemuch-needed rest. Converge at a statepark pavilion that evening for a cook-ing demonstration and dinner. A wonderful dinner, followed by

roasted marshmallows and an abun-dance of fish stories, makes for a greatending to a South Carolina fishing ex-cursion. LGT

Hickory Knob State Resort Park rests alongside Strom Thurmond Reservoir on the Savannah River.

Obtain South Carolina

visitor guides

and itineraries –

and contact group-

friendly suppliers

directly – at

leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-infoTry trout fishing on the Middle Saluda River at Jones Gap State Park.

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Kristi Driver, Group Travel Managerkdriver@nccommerce.com919.733.7413

north carolinavisitnc.com

From outdoor recreation and unique

lodgingtoartsandcultureandmorethan

100wineries, thecharmingsmall towns

and vibrant urban locations of North

Carolinaoffersomethingforeveryone.