Fish Hooks, Jellyfish and Sharks, Oh My!

The coastal resort South Carolina city of Myrtle Beach may hold 12,359,674 square miles of eastern water, but is it enough space to share between fishermen, jellyfish, sharks and wave hopping swimmers?

Following the break of dawn can be one for the photographer. However, when the camera turns away from the physical beach action much can be overlooked.

Pride kept the fishermen glazed in shady smiles as swimmers stood patiently, waiting for their turn to test the waters. But then came the gutsy swimmers, nothing would stop them from enjoying their morning in the sunshine. Who can blame them since their earnings paid for the trip. The same could be said of the beach fishermen.

Two swimmers took to the deep side of the ocean where the cast usually made water contact. The photo was snapped, as seen above, during one fisherman's quest that could have ended up the human catch of the day.

Moving down the coastal area I also noted an old man in swim trunks who had just traveled down the beach struggling with his beach chair. After setting the chair into the sand he walked to the closest location he could reach. Moments later a fisherman arrived. The old man didn't make it to the first wave, turned back and stood by the fisherman. The fisherman continued his sport, regardless of who had their feet in the water first. That is when we contacted authorities in further researching the balance of rights between swimmers and fishermen.

Coastal requirements of Myrtle Beach fishermen goes as such. As long as a fisherman has the saltwater fishing license ($10 a day for resident / $35 non-resident) and meets fishing requirements they can fish all day long, unless requested by authorities to move due a climb in swimming population. And unfortunately, one or two swimmers does not qualify as "populated" swimming.

Two swimmers, in three days times, were injured - hook, line and sinker.

The hooks had to be clipped in order to be removed from their feet. Some swimmers blame the fishermen, even for attracting the triple jellyfish shocks.

Jellyfish happened to be in season with three jellyfish stings within four days time. Jellyfish are not hunters, they only capture when their snack happens to be in stinger lengths. So, one cannot blame fish bait lost from a hook that may be a jellyfish treat nor the smaller fish, a salty dish for jellyfish, that nibble on bait waste.

However, bait that detaches from hooks can attract larger fish such as sharks. There had been one shark sighting during two days time at Myrtle by a jet ski instructor and noted sting rays in the area waters with no sign of true danger. Before, during and after the break of dawn there were also a lack of dolphins which usually chase sharks out to sea.

So, what was the true swimming risk during the entire week at Myrtle Beach?

Even though jellyfish deemed a heightened risk factor when it came to the mighty sting (that only lasts a short amount of time), we'd have to go with the a swimmer's risk due to the sport of fishing.

Why? Because stings can be easily mastered by medical assistance and some vinegar. Jellyfish stings do not stop swimmers from diving in the next day. Hooks removed from skin usually should not be in water the next day due to the threat of infection. Plus, the obvious. A hook in the eye could change the "view" of the world.

Self-Source