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General Information

Our boat!

Call now to book for trips aboard our 25' C-hawk with a 250 HP Yamaha outboard! More space and more comfort for everyone! Seating for 6 passengers. (Ladies bathroom in cabin).

                                                                                                                   My name is Captain Randy Saliga, and I would like to have the opportunity to serve you on a guided Striped Bass fishing trip on South Carolina's Lake Murray. I run a FAMILY ORIENTED BUSINESS, and have many satisfied, repeat customers. Most people find a day aboard my C-HAWK 25 foot boat a relaxing, pleasant experience.

My commitment to my PAYING GUESTS is to do my best to help you catch your legal limit of Striped Bass, in a professional manner, aboard a clean, safe, well maintained boat. My goal is to help my clients catch a new state record Striper every time we go out on Lake Murray, so therefore I make every effort to maintain and upgrade my fishing equipment, right down to sharpening hooks, to make sure my tackle is in good condition before we leave the dock!

My CLIENTS enjoy catching fish with my AMBASSADEUR and PENN reels, Shakespeare UGLY STIK rods, and watching my GARMIN GPS and HUMMINBIRD sonar with side scan imaging while we search Lake Murray for the hard fighting, and tasty, Striped Bass.

Location:
I work by appointment around Lake Murray. Dreher Island State Park's Tackle Shop Dock is usually the best place to meet. We can make arrangements to meet at another location when we need to.

Lake Murray, South Carolina is located approximately 10 miles west of Columbia, South Carolina, and stretches nearly 40 miles west where it again turns into the Saluda River. Lake Murray is 50,000 acres and has nearly 600 miles of shoreline.

2010 rates

Heat wave special!! $60.00 0ff all trips till the end of August. Trips are over in 6 hours to beat the afternoon heat!

Season starts in last half of March and goes through end of November. Please reserve trip at least 4 days in advance.

$460.00 flat rate 1 up to 4 people. $60.00 for a 5th person. $60.00 for a 6th person.
Base Rates are the same for 1 to 4 people. Trips last up to 7 hours.
$200.00 DEPOSIT REQUIRED to hold reservation.
Ask about active duty, veterans, and retired U. S. Military discount. Family ( i.e. Mom, Dad, and kids ) discount as well as Law enforcement, firefighter, and EMT discount also available.                                                                                                                                                                   

Commercial-corporate rates may vary; please ask for details.

Trips are generally scheduled to depart at first safe morning light and are up to 7 hours, or unless you get your legal limit first. If the charter decides to come in less than 7 hours, that is their option or unless they get their legal limit first. Catch and release at Captain's discretion.

We reserve the right to adjust rates if gas prices increase.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Please let me know 2 weeks (14 days) in advance of the trip date by TELEPHONE, e-mail is NOT acceptable, if you intend to cancel your trip. Within 2 weeks of the trip date, the deposit of $200.00 becomes non-refundable. Once you book a trip with me, I will be turning away other customers, and I may not be able to get them back, and missed trips can really hurt. If the weather is REAL bad the MORNING of the trip, than we will postpone the charter to another more convenient time. I will ONLY cancel a trip due to weather if it's a hard rain, or there are lighting storms. I WILL NOT CANCEL TRIPS DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST, LIGHT RAIN, or LIGHT WIND. IT IS MY GOAL TO GIVE YOU A MEMORABLE FISHING TRIP, NOT HAVE A MISERABLE TIME. I WON'T TAKE YOU OUT IF IN MY JUDGMENT IT'S NOT WISE, BUT REMEMBER, I DO HAVE AN ALL WEATHER BOAT.

Call 803-364-2971 for reservations.            Call 803-364-2971 for reservations.                   Call 803-364-2971 for reservations. 

  Licensed Authorized Merchant

Other Information:

What to Bring:

• FOOD
   

• DRINKS
  Beer is OK, NO hard liquor or drunkenness.
   

• ONE COOLER for boat
  50 quart or less to save foot room in boat.
   

• PROPER CLOTHING
  It is always a lot cooler on the water in the morning, rain suit if necessary, sunglasses, sunscreen (NO SPRAY SUNSCREEN!!...it's fish repellent), etc.
   

• FISHING LICENSE
  Call 1-866-714-3611 to order license by phone.
   

• BIG FISH COOLER
  Leave it in your car or truck to transfer your fish into after the trip is over.

Points to Ponder:

• I have developed methods of catching fish that are very simple and allow everybody the best chance of catching fish! My job is to bait the hooks and net the fish and your job is to watch the rods and catch fish. I have some really nice rods and reels; let us use my specialized tackle.
   
• There are no fish cleaning facilities on Lake Murray. If you want someone to clean your fish for you, call:
  Don Cordy- Lives close to Dreher Island St. Pk., cell: 803-944-0380
  Monte Dooley at Dooley’s Sport Shop in Lexington: 803-359-6084
  Call them AHEAD of time to make arrangements to get your fish filleted at a reasonable price. OR......
   
• You can look on this page and I have a nice photo spread on how to clean Striped Bass on your own.

• The limit for Striped Bass is 21 inches long before you can keep them and 5 fish per person.  In July and August you may keep 2 Stripers out of your 5 that are less than 21 inches, but the other 3 must be at least 21 inches.  The Captain’s limit is a bonus if you catch your limit early in the day.  We may CATCH AND RELEASE uninjured Striped Bass in the fall and spring.  You need to plan on keeping your catch in the summer since survivability of released Stripers is poor.  There is almost always someone who wants some fish if you are not able to keep your catch.

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Dooley's Sport Shop     Lexington, SC   803-359-6084

For The Finest In Bait & Tackle Since 1955

Hwy 378 W. ( On your way to Larry Koon Landing )

Charles Dooley                                                                                Monte Dooley

Fish Cleaning available- Call for details

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: When is the best month, week, and day to catch Striped Bass?
A: Starting in 2010 I will take customers Striped Bass fishing from the last half of March through the end of November. I change my fishing methods with the season. To try and predict the best month, week, and day is unrealistic. I can tell you the best months based on past results, at the same time numbers of fish caught can vary based on outside influences such as drastic weather, if someone crowds us or scares the fish away, and how open minded my new customers are to listen and learn the methods that have worked on my boat for years. The last half of March, April, and May have produced the most trophy sized fish. June, July, August, and September have produced the highest numbers of fish caught on a daily basis. October and November have some good days depending on the weather fronts. We no longer offer fishing charters in December, January, and February.  Striped Bass prefer water temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees. We change tactics and fishing depth with the season.

Q: Do you guarantee fish?
A: This is a SPORT fishing service. This means there is a risk that there can be a slow day if the fish are not biting. I always give my customers my best effort, and as a result, my customers catch a lot of fish, and that keeps them coming back. My business is 70% repeat, with loyal customers dating back to the early 1990’s.  

Q: How long have you been a Charter boat Captain?
A: I earned my license from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1992. I've fished Lake Murray since 1986, and I've fished and been around boats all my life.

Q: Can we catch and release our fish ?
A: Yes, but only at the Captains discretion. We don't release injured, legal size fish. In the Summer months the customers need to plan on keeping ALL their legal size fish, since Stripers are often brought up from deep water and won't live if released. The best time to catch and release Striped Bass is in the fall and spring.

If you have a question call us at (803) 364-2971!

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