Rick Sanders, Chase Smithwick and Rockey Burgess enjoy a fun opportunity and photo with an alligator during a recent fishing, fellowship and friendly competition outing at Santee Cooper. Austin James of Easley harvested this 11-foot, 2-inch alligator, weighing in at 735 pounds, which just happened to be at the dock when the local group of fishermen came in. The fearless three couldn’t resist the unexpected front-row seat with one of the largest creatures inhabiting South Carolina’s waterways.
Annual Santee Men’s Fishing Trip Marks 10 Years of Fellowship and Tradition
What started a decade ago as a fishing trip among a few friends has grown into an annual tradition bringing together dozens of men from the Upstate for a weekend of fishing, fellowship and a little friendly competition on South Carolina’s Santee Cooper Lakes.
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the annual Santee Men’s Trip, with a record 57 men making the journey to the Lowcountry. The group included friends, fathers and sons, business owners, community leaders and elected officials, including the mayors of West Pelzer, Pelzer and Williamston. But once everyone arrived at the lake, titles took a back seat to fishing rods, tall tales and time spent together.
“The trip has increased every year, and this year we had 57 guys,” said organizer Rick Sanders. “It’s really become something we look forward to every year.”
And the fishing certainly gave the group something to talk about. Fishing guide John Mercer coordinated 13 guides for the group, which hauled in just under 1,500 pounds of catfish — the best total catch in the trip’s 10-year history. Black’s Camp hosted the group and even prepared some of the day’s catch for the fishermen.
As if nearly three-quarters of a ton of catfish were not enough, Saturday brought another Santee-sized story. Austin James of Easley harvested an 11-foot, 2-inch alligator weighing 735 pounds, giving the group an unexpected front-row seat to one of the largest creatures inhabiting South Carolina’s waterways.
For those familiar with Santee, big fish and big stories are part of the territory. Lakes Marion and Moultrie have been part of South Carolina’s landscape for more than eight decades. The Santee Cooper project was constructed between 1939 and 1942 as an ambitious effort to bring hydroelectric power and economic opportunity to rural South Carolina. At the time, it was the largest earth-moving project in U.S. history. Today, the two lakes comprise roughly 160,000 acres and form South Carolina’s largest freshwater resource.
The lakes were built for power and navigation, but generations of South Carolinians have since made them a place for something else: recreation, family traditions and friendships.
That is ultimately what has kept the Santee Men’s Trip growing for 10 straight years. For Williamston Fire Chief, David Huff, who enjoyed his 7th straight year, the weekend was also a reminder that community is often built in places far removed from council chambers, city halls and the State House. “Public service may be what some of us do, but community is who we are,” Chief Huff said. “For one weekend, nobody really cares what title is beside your name. You’re somebody’s dad, somebody’s son, somebody’s friend, and hopefully somebody who can catch a fish. Ten years from now, we probably won’t remember every fish we caught, but we’ll remember the people who were in the boat with us.”
That spirit was particularly evident with the mayors of West Pelzer, Pelzer and Williamston all participating, three neighboring communities represented together more than 100 miles from home.
The trip has changed considerably since its first year. The group has grown, more boats and guides have been added, and this year’s catch set a new benchmark. But the reason for making the trip remains much the same. It is a chance to get away for a few days, enjoy one of South Carolina’s greatest natural resources and strengthen friendships across generations.
After 10 years, 57 fishermen, nearly 1,500 pounds of catfish and one 735-pound alligator, the annual Santee trip has developed a history of its own. And if the first decade is any indication, there are plenty more fish, and probably a few more tall tales, still to come.
Austin James of Easley harvested this 11-foot, 2-inch alligator, weighing in at 735 pounds, which just happened to be at the dock when the local group of fishermen came in.
