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    • Sep 27, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      East Coast Storm Update. – Fred Pickhardt

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      East Coast Storm Update.

      Widespread coastal flooding

       
      		 
      		 
      		 
       

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      An intense extratropical storm low off the Mid-Atlantic coast continues to drift slowly north at about 5 knots. Winds of 40 to 55 knots are producing significant wave heights of 4-9 meters within about 180 nm west and 240 NM north of the center.

         
        

      This system is expected to become semi-stationary just off the NJ coast then gradually weaken and drift northwest to near NYC by early Monday.

      Large areas of the Mid-Atlantic coast from Cape Hatteras to southern New England are being affected by strong winds and major coastal flooding.

         

      NOAA Ocean Prediction Center

      NOAA High Seas Forecast

      NOAA Offshore Forecasts

      NOAA US Coastal Waters Forecasts

      Ocean Weather Services

      Forensic Marine Weather Expert

       

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    • Sep 27, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      Why AI Has Trouble Predicting the Fury of Hurricane Intensity – Loose Cannon

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      Why AI Has Trouble Predicting the Fury of Hurricane Intensity

      Tropical Storm Polo Accelerated to Category 5 in 24 Hours

       
      		 
      		 
      		 
       

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      Hurricane Irma rapidly intensified before hitting the Caribbean and Florida in 2017, but intensity is still hard to forecast. (NASA photo)

      The author is an associate professor of Atmospheric Science at Indiana University. This story was first published on September 23, 2026 in The Conversation news outlet and is reprinted here with permission.

      By CHANH KIEU

      Artificial intelligence has revolutionized weather forecasting in just a few years, with global AI weather models now able to produce forecasts that rival some of the world’s best physics-based prediction systems.

      This remarkable progress has been driven by three factors: massive amounts of weather data, advances in AI models and unprecedented computational power. While most of the current discussion on improving AI for weather focuses on the models or new hardware, the data is crucial.

      At the global scale, AI has benefited from decades of climate and weather records covering the entire Earth. These datasets contain millions of examples of how atmospheric conditions evolve with time, allowing AI models to learn patterns in a way that would have been impossible a decade ago.

      But when you zoom in from the global scale to the regional scale, forecasts start to be much more challenging for AI.

      That difference matters for forecasting hurricane intensity.

      The world has seen many hurricanes rapidly intensify in recent years, strengthening from relatively weak storms into destructive monsters in a matter of hours. Hurricane Polo did it off Mexico’s Pacific coast as it rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm earlier this week, to a powerful Category 5 hurricane in 24 hours. Polo quickly became one of the strongest Pacific storms in decades, with winds reaching 180 mph.

      When rapid intensification surprises forecasters—as Hurricane Michael did in 2018 when it grew into a destructive Category 5 hurricane right before hitting Tyndall Air Force Base and Mexico Beach, Florida, in 2018—communities can be left with too little time to evacuate and prepare.

      Struggling With Detail

      Unlike global weather forecasts, hurricane intensity forecasts are often considered a regional forecasting problem. Regional forecasts are often concerned with extreme events, such as heavy rainfall, squall lines, severe thunderstorms or hurricanes.

      These extreme events often develop rapidly or move quickly over short periods of time. Capturing such behavior in AI models requires data in much greater detail than current global datasets can typically provide.

      Share

      When scientists train AI models to predict hurricane intensity, they usually rely on two sources of data.

      The first is observations, which include measurements of rainfall, near-surface temperature, wind speed and other weather variables collected from weather stations, radars, buoys and satellites. Such direct observations can be detailed, but they are often limited to near-coastal regions and unevenly distributed, while many of the most important stages of hurricane development occur over the open ocean where direct observations are sparse.

      Modern satellites can help fill some of these gaps in the open ocean, but they can help estimate only part of the rainfall, surface winds or cloud-top temperatures due to limits in satellite coverage. In particular, they cannot simultaneously scan a complete three-dimensional structure of every hurricane around the globe. At present, even the best observational systems provide only a partial view of hurricanes at any point in time.

        A satellite image with a cross section of a hurricane.  
      Scientists used satellite data to map aspects of Hurricane Matthew’s intensity as it gained strength on its way toward the Florida Panhandle in 2016. NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

      The second source of training data comes from weather model simulations, which combine atmospheric conditions and knowledge of physics to provide the most complete three-dimensional picture of the atmosphere at high resolution.

      However, this simulated data is not perfect either, because all computer models contain approximations and uncertainties arising from incomplete knowledge of the Earth’s atmosphere. As such, there are always fine-scale processes that model simulations cannot capture.

      So, we simply don’t have a good full, three-dimensional dataset to train an AI model for hurricane intensity prediction at present.

      Chaos Challenge

      But data is not the only issue for AI hurricane prediction.

      Suppose in the future scientists could measure the entirety of a storm, measured every second, for thousands of storms around the world. That still might not allow AI to predict hurricane intensity perfectly. The reason: chaos. Tiny differences in the initial state of a hurricane can quickly grow over time.

      My recent research with colleagues suggests that hurricanes may contain some element of chaos that can prevent AI models from accurately predicting hurricane intensity at long forecast times.

      Once embedded in a favorable environment, a tropical storm can intensify toward a maximum possible strength. Scientists call this upper limit the potential intensity. It is determined primarily by the surrounding environment. For example, warm ocean water can fuel a hurricane’s intensity, or wind shear can slow down a hurricane’s development. If the ocean temperature rises, the potential intensity of a hurricane increases, too.

      Any small disturbances will also cause the hurricane intensity to fluctuate. The warmer the ocean surface, the more fluctuations.

       A chart shows the disagreement among models about hurricane intensity 
      Computer simulations show how forecasting a hurricane’s intensity becomes more uncertain the further out the forecast is. Hurricane intensity is measured as the maximum wind at the height of 33 feet (10 meters). The images show how much two hurricanes can differ in their physical appearance, even when they have the same Category 5 intensity. Chanh Kieu

      Recent studies have proposed that these fluctuations are not purely random but occur within what is known as a chaotic attractor—a set of possible storm states within which the hurricane can evolve unpredictably. Although the existence of such a chaotic intensity attractor has not yet been fully established, it presents a fundamental dilemma for training AI models to predict hurricane intensity.

      On one hand, scientists want AI models to make the most accurate predictions possible. Thus, during training the goal is to minimize the difference between the forecast and what actually happens until an AI model achieves the smallest possible error.

      On the other hand, we also want the AI model to capture the hurricane’s intrinsic chaos. But if an AI model can capture this chaos, then its error cannot be reduced indefinitely. So, an AI model trained to minimize forecast error may learn the most likely evolution of a hurricane while smoothing out unpredictable fluctuations. In this regard, these two goals compete with one another.

      With data always containing some uncertainty, the rules an AI model learns are only approximated. The accuracy of hurricane intensity forecast will therefore get worse after just a few days.

      Making Better Forecasts

      The challenge for AI models to predict hurricane intensity is not just about obtaining more data, building better neural networks or deploying faster computers. It is also about understanding hurricane behaviors and how chaos in intensity emerges.

      Both dictate whether AI models can learn what is predictable and what is unpredictable. That distinction not only puts a cap on our current hurricane intensity forecast accuracy but also determines the next generation of weather forecasting and evaluation systems, which should focus on a range of possible hurricane intensities and their probabilities instead of a single intensity number.

      LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.

         
         
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    • Sep 27, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      VOLUNTARY SWEATSHOP – Janice Anne Wheeler, Sparring With Mother Nature

       
       
         
       
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      Solstice brought monumental change; a not-so-gentle reminder of who’s in charge…

         
      STEADFAST is the white dot at the end of Washington

      Every day, in every way, we all SPAR WITH MOTHER NATURE: our health, environment, winds, rain and sunshine. Thanks for helping this publication grow. ~J

      If you have just joined our engaging little community, please read SPARS & SPARRING as an introduction to my watery world. I’m glad you climbed aboard!

       

      VOLUNTARY SWEATSHOP

      Learning a new skill can exponentially multiply respect for those who do it well

       
      		 
      		 
      		 
       

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       Listen to post · 9:35

      If you prefer, you can listen to me read the story, right up there~

      There’s always something to be done. That’s life anywhere. Some of it can be put off, and some of it can’t. When one resides on a boat, any sort of boat, I believe, this boring dash of wisdom is even more relentless. Some days, I get stubborn; Virgo-esque, you might say, (there was more on that last week) and simply decide that I’m going to accomplish one of my bullet list items, regardless. Regardless of the odds against it.

      You may be intuitive enough to realize these rodeos are not infrequent. I could say, “This is not my first rodeo,” but that just makes me look defiant and once again annoyed that a skill I thought would take just a bit of practice to perfect is rather (or vastly) more complicated to cultivate. Years of practice at this stubborn method has astonishingly not quelled my need to go through this oft-discouraging process. (A giant organic garden in the high desert of Colorado? How hard could it be?…). It was really hard.

      My Colorado farmhouse—left half acre: chicken coop, greenhouse, raised beds. After years, the heirlooms loved it & 600# of butternut squash can’t be wrong…but yes, it tookyears.

      Many humans I know and like possess these mule-like qualities, and I have yet to figure out why boat tasks seem so much harder than all the other things I have attempted. I may not have the know-how, tools, equipment, location, disposition or climate to accomplish said task, but I dive head-long into the endeavor. In every instance everything takes longer than anticipated. While that may be for an assortment of reasons, it’s often because SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE comes first. Last week, it was the sweat running into my eyes regardless of sun cover and portable fan.

      Therefore, I’m calling this particular rodeo installment a Voluntary Sweatshop, an oxymoron, to be sure, and no offense is intended to anyone, anywhere, as always. My task appeared ordinarily surmountable. Every sailboat in the world has one or two and they’re not particularly interesting or exciting, simply utilitarian canvas and classically matching the style and decor of the vessel. As is often the case, STEADFAST’s are larger than most, and more complicated. Nevertheless, dive I do, but not before purchasing a demo, if you will, the Main sail cover, from the well-known sewer of all things boat, Chesapeake Sailmakers in Annapolis, Maryland. When that creator inquired, I confided that I wanted to achieve a portion of his skill and so had decided to create the Mizzen sail cover on my own. I can remember him gazing down at me and nodding his head, a cross between, “Oh yeah?” and utter amazement. My still-freshly-and-inexplicably-confidant self muttered, “I got this.”

         
      The first step, cutting 8M into what I needed.

      Years ago now I purchased a Sailrite (brand) sewing machine which is wonderful and wholly inadequate for doing anything that has any bulk whatsoever while weighing a dense, substantial and hard-to manage sixty-five pounds. Portable? Sort of, if I can get my quads under it. STEADFAST’s Mizzen Mast boom is just over sixteen feet long with an average circumference of three. There is exactly nowhere on this vessel that I could possibly lay out the original raw cloth, five feet by twenty-four(8M). So. Outside we went. Heat index 103F/39+C. Humidity 85%+. The instructional video to sew a slightly smaller version of this sail cover is one hour and twenty-two minutes. Now, of course, even as a natural grayish-blonde, I knew that was edited. I didn’t know the project would turn yours truly into an impatient little grease spot. And I don’t even think I’m impatient.

      Notice that once more the word “Feasible” appears in the background, It is the first word I see, most days. In this case “Rookie” also slipped into the image…

      On the first day, watched the video, cut fabric with hot knife, organized myself and was ready to git ‘er done! Honestly, the basics are not difficult, double hems around the edges and ends, zippered front side, I added reinforcement with Textilene open mesh plastic to reduce chafing and increase strength. Good thing, too, because this is the only one of these I am EVER going to sew **.

      On the second day, I watched video sixteen more times(at least) and I bestowed the term voluntary sweatshop. If I complained, it would have been quickly pointed out to me that I had, indeed, volunteered for this particular larger-than-me task. The six covered zippers that allow the lazy-jack lines through are stupidly complicated, in this chef’s opinion. At one point I donned the cover to test the longest zipper, appearing for all intents and purposes like Sesame Street character Snuffleupagus. I decided not to capture that moment for perpetuity.

      NOT terribly interesting truly; stick around for wry humor and self-deprication.

      I’m so pleased you’ve read this far! Late afternoon on the sixth day (yes, sixth, remember that 82-minute video…) my landlord strode around the corner into our little waterside world. I was bent over two abused sawhorses and a piece of splintering plywood, facing both her entrance point and my sewing machine, fabrics spread out from hell to breakfast, scraps and tools everywhere, sweat dripping, hair a frightening frizz, feeling too old, tired and thirsty to be trying to get one more row of stitches to line up with all the other freakin’ rows of stitches on what felt like miles of canvas. I don’t think either of us could have been more surprised.

      “You have a sewing machine. On your boat,” she said by way of greeting. Caught off guard, I nodded. As always, she was cool, calm, groomed, dressed meticulously and self-assured. Distressingly so, in this case. She is the impressive, somewhat unexpected Chair of the Board of Directors for Richardson Maritime Museum where STEADFAST is docked; with her administration we are allowed generous access to a roomy bulkhead slip and the adjoining portion of ground which we utilize for work and play, some days more than others. To my increasing dismay with a dash of amusement, I looked past my workspace to realize this was one of those maxxed-out days—there was boat gear everywhere.

      After a quick conversation where I tried awkwardly to look a little less wet, tame my curls and cover my discomfiture with what had instantly (but not previously) struck me as a completely unconventional activity, she continued on her way to a far more traditional home. FFS, I said to myself, trying to decide if I should be embarrassed or proud or just laugh at the stark differences between strong women at the same address. I laughed. Surprise can be such a reset, can’t it? We can’t take any of these things too seriously.

      My voluntary sweatshop days are over with the fast-moving, early-season, bone-chilling Nor’Easter/Tropical Storm combo just offshore in the Western North Atlantic. (Pictured at the top of your emails). A forty-degree temp drop had me digging for my Smartwool socks, and I’m wearing them as I type this to you in your vast assortment of latitudes and climates.

      Whatever will eventually happen is (nearly) always worth the wait, that cooler air is delightful, but it does seem to be an all-or-nothing world, doesn’t it?

      Until next week, enjoy your corner of it! ~J

      *I wrote about Deadrise-style FEASIBLE last year; a captivating, traditional, neglected little Watermen work boat, waiting to be saved. She most certainly has a story.

      FEASIBLE
      		 

      FEASIBLE

       
      ·
      		 
      October 12, 2025
      Read full story

      ** As always when I learn a new skill, my respect grows for those who do it well. Raise a toast to seamstresses and other masters of keeping us clothed, protected and looking good.

      Watch for the final edition of the very popular

      PenPal Series Opposite Latitudes, Parallel Attitudes !

         

      Think my work is share-worthy? Please hit the round arrow icon, a coveted Re-stack. Or maybe you have a stitcher (sewer seems weird) in your midst? Have they ever taken their task outside? I’d guess not. Life of a liveaboard!

      There is no box around this floating crewmember. Nor you fine readers, I imagine.

      Rock on!

       

      I so appreciate your support of my work. Saving a piece of maritime history is far more complicated than I ever imagined!

         

       

       
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      © 2026 Janice Anne Wheeler
      HOME IS WHERE WE DROP THE ANCHOR., Annapolis, Maryland, USA
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    • Sep 26, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      Is That Sailor Rock? Turn It Up! – Loose Cannon

      Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with

         
       
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      Is That Sailor Rock? Turn It Up!

      ‘Resourceful Sailor’ Lists the His Top Ten Songs, and More

       
      		 
      		 
      		 
       

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      The author writes the “Resourceful Sailor” series of articles on the Small Craft Advisor Substack, which first published this article on September 20, 2026. Small Craft Advisor by Josh Colvin is Loose Cannon’s bestest Substack friend, having sent more readers our way than any other single source.

      By JOSHUA WHEELER

      A professor of mine in college would say that there wasn’t music that sucked, only music we didn’t like. With that, I present a list of my top sailor songs. I would be amazed if anyone had the same list as I. Equally so, if anyone liked every song. I don’t present myself as an authority or this as a definitive list. Rather, I’ve decided to take a risk and share my personal list to inspire the reader to wonder about theirs.

      My sailor-song list stems mostly from my younger years, long before boats were even on my RADAR, therefore, I came to realize while debating this list (with myself), boat bias wasn’t why I liked most of these songs. It was because they were catchy, popular, and accessible to an audience beyond sailors. They play literally or metaphorically on a long-standing historical and communal nautical mystique and psyche that even a landlubber with little boating experience could recognize and appreciate.

      Share

      I consider these sailor songs, not sailing songs. They have some personal meaning or experience tied to them. Since my relationship to music was more prominent earlier in life, my list centers on that era and is genre-specific, which coincided with my rock-and-roll lifestyle.

      Without further ado:

      1. The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald (Gordon Lightfoot): A haunting dirge accompanying highly descriptive verse of a heart-wrenching event.

      When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin’
“Fellas, it’s too rough to feed ya”
At 7 p.m., a main hatchway caved in, he said
“Fellas, it’s been good to know ya”
      1. Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills, and Nash): Yacht rock? Absolutely. This song very much came to mind when I saw the constellation on my way to the South Seas on Sampaguita, a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. “Nineteen feet of waterline, nicely making way.”
      2. Home at Last (Steely Dan): At the time, the Odyssey reference (“I remain tied to the mast.”) was lost on me, but the imagery wasn’t. For a young, budding drummer of the 80s, this track demonstrates the legendary Purdie Shuffle by drummer Bernard Purdie. Smooth.
      3. Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) (Looking Glass): Descriptive harbor bar imagery, sailor mystique, beauty and double-meaning to highlight one’s yearning for something one can’t (or shouldn’t) have.
      4. Beyond the Sea (Bobby Darin) The driving, prevalent drum track of Don Lamond is legendary and has stood the test of time. The two bombastic drum fills setting up the ensemble sections are textbook examples for a young drummer to “make the band want to play!”
      5. Sail On (Commodores): For one, the group’s name. It is a sappy song to start, but when it finally kicks into the bridge, it releases the tension like lines from the dock. “Good times never felt so good.” And what about those bongo rolls??!
           
        (Photo by Joshua Wheeler)
      6. Sail Away (David Gray): More sap, more metaphor, more mystique. This crooner captures a vibe of desire and yearning accessible to everyone. Keep It simple, stupid. No rocket or boat science, just very catchy.
      7. Sailor’s Tale (King Crimson): What? Who? Why? An instrumental off the album, Islands, this band redefined what a rock band could be to me as a young musician.
      8. I’m On a Boat (The Lonely Island): Let’s not take ourselves too seriously. This song is hilarious on many different fronts if you let it be. Poking fun at classes, stereotypes, race, language, and perceptions. I suppose you either love it or you hate it. (You might pass on listening to this if you are sensitive to salty language.)
      9. Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Iron Maiden): A bold and ambitious endeavor by an influential 80’s metal band, celebrating the prose of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The classic Maiden gallop, Bruce Dickinson’s operatic-esque vocals of Cook and the Nelson-era inspired lyrics, remind us that the Age of Sail was not so romantic.

      YouTube playlist of my favorite sailor songs
      On Spotify: The Resourceful Sailor – My Favorite Sailor Songs

      Honorable Mentions

      1. The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle (Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle): I watched reruns of this show while eating after-school snacks before I had ever been on a boat or an island.
      2. The Irish Rover (Traditional): This is as close to an old-timey sea shanty as I get.
      3. Into the Mystic (Van Morrison): A crooner that somehow gets away with inserting five synth fog horns in one song. (The fifth is on the final note.)
      4. Tahitian Moon (Porno for Pyros): Sailing and boating themes were rare in 90s alternative rock.
      5. Cool Change (Little River Band): This direct message requires no imagination. If you know, you know.
      6. Firefly Main Title (Sonny Rhodes): For those who can imagine what sailing could mean in a far distant future.

      Boats and music are very personal things. Remember, keep your listening prudent and safe, and turn it up.

      Is that Sailor rock? “Turn it up!”

      Loose Cannon Adds

      1. Privateer (Mark Knoffler): This upbeat folk-rock ditty about an late 18th century British privateer, whose ship “is small but she can sting,” captures the sense of freedom and adventure that come with being young and standing on the deck of your own boat as she thunders over the ocean.
      2. If I Had a Boat (Lyle Lovett): This whimsical country-folk number, in which a cowboy dreams of going to sea with his pony, is about escaping from the strictures of adult life. It contains the great lines:
        The mystery masked man was smart.
He got himself a Tonto
’Cause Tonto did the dirty work for free.
But Tonto he was smarter
And one day said, “Kemo Sabe, 
Well, kiss my ass. I bought a boat.
I’m going out to sea.

      LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.

       

       

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    • Sep 26, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments 36.741,-76.34499999

      Find Your Fall in Camden County, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center


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      Set in beautiful Camden Count, NC, the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center provides free dockage for cruisers' on the Dismal Swamp AICW Alternate Route

      The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, a Salty Southeast Cruisers Net sponsor,  is a great place to visit any time. 

       
       

       
      There’s something special about fall in Camden County. 🍂 Whether you’re ready to wander quiet trails, explore local history, or simply refresh near the water, autumn is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy the season.
       
      Check out our latest blog for fun fall ideas & inside tips to enjoying fall in Camden County!
       
       
      See you soon!
       
       
       

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      		 Sarah Hill, TMP
      Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

      Chairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority

      2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976

      252-771-8333 | shill@camdencountync.gov
      www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com

      www.VisitCamdenCountync.com

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    • Sep 26, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments 33.3735,-79.28859999

      South Carolina Shellfish Harvest Season Opens October 1C – SCDNR


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      South Carolina Shellfish Harvest Season Opens October 1

      marsh

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

      CHARLESTON, S.C. – The 2026-2027 season for recreational harvest of shellfish (clams and oysters) in South Carolina’s coastal waters will open one-half hour before official sunrise on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The recreational shellfish season will remain open through May 15, 2027, unless conditions warrant extending or shortening the season.

      In the event of a hurricane, major rain event or pollution spill, shellfish beds may be temporarily closed by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES, formerly SCDHEC). Harvesters should check with SCDES to verify whether any closures are in effect. Closure information is available by calling 1-800-285-1618 or through an interactive map on the SCDES website. SCDES will also use these resources and local newspapers throughout the year to announce temporary closures resulting from unusual rain events or spills.

      Recreational harvesting is permitted on all Public Shellfish Grounds and State Shellfish Grounds within areas of open or approved water quality, as noted on shellfish maps. Twenty Public and seven State Shellfish Grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering. An additional 58 State Shellfish Grounds are managed for both recreational and commercial harvest.

      Recreational harvesters should obtain updated Public or State Shellfish Ground maps at the beginning of each season, as areas open to harvest may change from year to year. Maps of designated harvest areas may be downloaded from the SCDNR website or accessed through the Recreational Map Web Application. Printed maps may also be obtained by calling (843) 953-9854 or writing to the Shellfish Management Section, Attn: Andy Hollis, SCDNR, PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422-2559. When requesting maps, please specify the general area where you wish to harvest. Maps for the 2026-27 season will be available prior to the season opening on October 1, 2026.

      Recreational harvesters must have a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, available from SCDNR, at many fishing supply stores and online. The recreational limit is two U.S. bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams per day, limited to two calendar days per seven-day period. One U.S. bushel is equal to eight gallons. There is a maximum possession limit of three personal limits per boat or vehicle. Clams must be at least one inch thick.

      Additional rules and restrictions may be found in the SCDNR Rules and Regulations, available where licenses are purchased or online.

      Commercial Shellfish Harvest

      Commercial harvest of shellfish requires a commercial saltwater license, mandatory harvester training, and other licenses and permits depending on where the harvest will occur. Call the Marine Permitting Office at 843-953-9301 (Option 4) for additional information on commercial harvesting requirements.

      Shellfish Season Best Practices

      • All harvesters are encouraged to “cull in place” by breaking off and leaving dead shell and smaller oysters on the shoreline, where they will continue to grow and provide habitat for other oysters. Only harvest clusters or singles of larger oysters.
      • If you enjoy eating oysters, remember to recycle your shells! Check online or call (843) 953-9397 to find locations near you where shell can be dropped off for recycling.
      • Please note that recycled shell placed in any SCDNR receptacle becomes South Carolina state property and is illegal to take. All shell collected by SCDNR is used to restore shellfish grounds in coastal South Carolina.

      Cheyenne Twilley

      Chief of Education, Outreach, and Information

      South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

      TwilleyC@dnr.sc.gov

      260 D. Epting Lane, West Columbia, SC 29172

      		 

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    • Sep 26, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      East Coast Storm moving slowly Northward – Fred Pickhardt

      Fred Pickhardt’s Substack is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell Fred Pickhardt’s Substack that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won’t be charged unless they enable payments.

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      East Coast Storm moving slowly Northward

      First Significant Nor-Easter this Fall

       
      		 
      		 
      		 
       

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      A 995 storm low off the US Middle-Atlantic coast is moving slowly northward producing 40-50 knot winds and seas 5-9 meters (16-30 feet) within 240 nm northwest of the center.

         

      Gale warnings and Storm watches are in effect for offshore and coastal waters along the Mid-Atlantic coast along with coastal flood warnings for New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

      NOAA Ocean Prediction Center

      NOAA High Seas Forecast

      NOAA Offshore Forecasts

      NOAA US Coastal Waters Forecasts

      Ocean Weather Services

      Forensic Marine Weather Expert

       

       

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    • Sep 25, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments

      Cruisers’ Net Weekly Newsletter – September 25, 2026

      Cruisers’ Net Newsletter for this week has just been emailed via Constant Contact.
       
      If you want to view the newsletter but are not signed up to receive them automatically, you can view it at https://conta.cc/4xW1Oxa or see it below.
       
      To automatically receive our emailed Fri Weekly Newsletter and Wed Fuel Report, click:

       


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    • Sep 25, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments 33.3735,-79.28859999

      Atlantic Active, But Nothing Near SC – SCDNR


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    • Sep 23, 2026by:   Curtis Hoff No Comments 26.7217,-81.69389999

      Expected Closure of W.P. Franklin and Ortona Locks for Major Maintenance – 1/4-3/1 2027, W P Franklin Lock, FL


       View In Chartview

      The W P Franklin Lock is the westernmost lock on the Okeechobee Waterway. Our thanks to Specialist Jeffrey Prater for this notice.

      Notice to Navigation: 2026-015 – Expected Closure of W.P. Franklin and Ortona Locks for Major Maintenance

      Notice to Navigation: 2026-015 – Expected Closure of W.P. Franklin and Ortona Locks for Major Maintenance

      US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT

      LOCAL NUMBER: 2026-015

      WATERWAY:  Caloosahatchee River, Okeechobee Waterway

      EFFECTIVE: 4 January 2027

      ATTN: CESAJ-OD-SN
      PO Box 4970
      JACKSONVILLE, FL 32232-0019

      POC: Kriss Zeller, Chief of Navigation (772) 380-6928

      www.saj.usace.army.mil/NTN

      REFERENCE:

      1. 33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters
      2. Notice to Navigation

      Attention all concerned boaters!

      The W.P. Franklin Lock will be closed to all traffic for dewatering and major maintenance from January 4, 2027 to March 1, 2027. No passage through W.P. Franklin Lock will be available during this critical scheduled maintenance. The Ortona Lock will be open to local traffic only from January 4, 2027 to March 1 2027.

      The Ortona Lock will be closed to all traffic for dewatering and major maintenance from March 1, 2027 to April 30, 2027. No passage through the Ortona Lock will be available during this critical scheduled maintenance. The W.P. Franklin Lock will be open to local traffic only from March 1, 2027 to April 30, 2027.

      For the current Lake Okeechobee water levels, please see:  https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml

      1. For up-to-date Lock information, contact the shift operator 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:

                      St. Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148

                      Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858 or 863-662-9424

                      Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533

                      Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846

                      W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam 863-662-9908

                      Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421 or 863-662-0298 (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

      Thank you! Jeff

      Jeffrey D Prater
      Public Affairs Specialist
      Corporate Communications Office
      U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
      South Florida Office

      4400 PGA Blvd.

      Suite 501

      Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

      Cell: 561-801-5734

      jeffrey.d.prater@usace.army.mil

      Twitter @JaxStrong

      Jacksonville District Facebook:

      https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict

       

      Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers Net Bridge Directory Listing For Franklin Lock

      Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Franklin Lock

       

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