Temps Drop yet Crab are Active

The whole SCK's crew is enjoying the luxury of having room to work aboard Dirt Claw'd. The engine is still surging at higher RPM's but runs beautifully at lower RPM's. I suspect we are loosing pressure at the fuel pump. Which is an expensive repair. Par for the course with this engine. However we are able to maneuver around the pots and get the job done. 

The water temperatures have dropped to the mid 70's and the crab are still active. Last time we checked pots, we had mostly big males. Yesterday, we pulled mostly females. Quite odd, but interesting.

At present, our pots are now split between the south end of the Charleston Harbor Marine at Patriot's Point and across the harbor off the Battery at the Coast Guard Station.  

FYI - You know you are dirty when you feel the need to scrub your clothes with the deck brush. Research is a dirty job but somebody has to do it! Well actually ... better these kids than me. I stay where it is clean and dry !

Video of the LowCountry Live Interview

Appearance on LowCountry Live

AnnahBelle and Sarah, as well as Kim Counts of SCDNR,  appeared on the WCIV LowCountrry Live show this morning. They all did a great job. Dave Williams, who went out to pull pots with us Monday evening, conducted the interview. And as Kim answered Dave's questions, I learned details about our research project that I had never heard before. The original research project had been a three year grant. South Carolina had not lost its funding as much as the money, i.e. the grant, just ran out. Either way, the SCK's, are happy to continue the gathering of information.

The interview will be posted as soon as we receive a copy from the station.

As has become a custom, Dave Williams continued teaching the kids about the weather and the inner workings of a television production. The kids helped create the graphics for the news, assisted in the taping of a weather segment, tested their skills (or lack of) at announcing the weather in front of the 'green screen', toured the control room,  and pretended to read copy from the news desk. And in the great tradition of home school moms, Kimberly counted this as a field trip.

After the show there was talk of the SCK's making another appearance during the holidays. This time we will do what everyone in the studio wants most of all .... cooking stone crab claws...which inherently involves the consumption thereof. All hail the dedicated folks at WCIV who are willings to eat stone crab for their ... fans.

TV Crew Rides Along

The SCK's will be making another appearance on the Lowcountry Live program on Charleston's Channel 4 WCIV - ABC.  David  (Host) and Richard (Camera and Production) climbed aboard the F/V Dirt Claw'd to get video for the upcoming show. David is an avid saltwater fisherman and took to the pitching deck with ease. Richard, however, spent a few moments in a state of equilibrium challenge. As the SCK's began the process of pulling pots, harvesting claws, and recording data, it was Richard that got right into the action. Soon enough, he was leaning over the gunwale ... not from seasickness but rather filming with one hand and pulling pots aboard with the other. It may have been Richard who enjoyed the trip more than anyone.

Stan Jones (Harbor Master) of Charleston Harbor Marina graciously allowed us to used their docks to shuffle people on and off the boat, as well as putting us onto some nice stone crab at the south end of their marina. That made it super convenient for filming!

Kimberly (also know as Mom) stayed on the dock to take some pictures of the crew while we worked. Walking along the dock afforded her the unique opportunity to hear conversations from aboard various boats moored in the marina. Boaters explaining to other boaters who the SCK's were and what they were doing. It is always amazing how many people know about the Stone Crab Kids. Some with binoculars eyeing the operation and taking note of the camera crew. Sometimes, when filthy clothes cover the laundry room floor, when we consider re-decorating in a puff mud colored pattern to match the stains, or when the house has the faint scent of day old menhaden, we can forget just how wonderful it is to be blessed with these precious children. Oh yea ... and the dog too!

SCDNR Comes Aboard.

The SCKs pulled pots with two of our friends from SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources). Kim Counts and Gered Lennon may have thought they were acting as observers, but the SCKs enjoyed putting them to work pulling pots and recording data. And of course, Kim and Gered were delighted to get involved in the action. Kim is our immediate contact with SCDNR and provides watch care over the SCKs Research Project. Gered has a load of practical knowledge because he had conducted much of the stone crab research prior to SCDNR losing its funding.


The kids loved having them aboard and we caught crab. The girls impressed Gered with their teamwork and skill. However, to Capt. Dad, they seemed sloppy due to the silly, giggly factor being ramped up by having spectators aboard.

Both girls are still a little timid about harvesting the claws. Mostly because they are concerned about harming the crab. Improper harvesting can cause injury to the crab, many times leading to death. Gered, who has harvested 'many-a-claw' helped improve their technique. Both girls harvested claws with perfect results. Kim is always interested in the SCK's data collection and methods so she grabbed a pencil and 'dove right in'.  There was a nasty rumor aboard that Kim didn't want to get muddy. So Sarah gladly brought the nasty mud to Kim along with animated explanations about how they collect data.

All in all it was a fun time on the water. The SCK's learned and they laughed as they were re-energized by and re-connected with our friends from SCDNR.