North Myrtle Beach, SC- The Dixie Chicken Fishing Funament donated $5,000 to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Reef-Ex Project at a ceremony held at Harbourgate Marina in North Myrtle Beach, Friday, August 20th, 2010.   The money will be used to help grow the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef, located just a few miles off the Little River shoreline, along with the other 37 artificial reefs located off the coast of SC.

Artificial reef development in South Carolina's coastal and offshore waters is managed through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (MRD). The state's Marine Artificial Reef Program, first established in 1973, is a part of the MRD's Office of Fisheries Management (OFM).

The reef sites are located in waters from 9 to 110 feet deep, ranging from inshore locations to areas as far as 35 miles offshore.

Ron McManus, co-chair of the Jim Caudle Reef Foundation said, “Thank you to the entire community for their support of the annual Dixie Chicken Fishing Funament.  With the proceeds of the tournament we are able to give back to the SCDNR Reef-Ex Project.  We generously thank SCDNR for their continued efforts to grow the Jim Caudle Reef.”

For more information on the Reef-Ex Projects in SC visit www.dnr.sc.gov.  For more information regarding the annual Dixie Chicken Fishing Funament visit www.nmbevents.com.

Attached photo caption (Left to right):  Ron McManus-Co-Chair of the Jim Caudle Reef Foundation, Bob Matore-SC Dept of National Resources and Mark Dickson- Co-Chair of the Jim Caudle Reef Foundation.

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