Pullin Pots on the High Seas in Carolina

Man against nature in the unpredictable waters along our coast, and a visit with the chef at Spring Island for some treasured blue crab recipes.

Craig Reaves, Owner of Sea Eagle Market in Beaufort, S.C., stands on the bow of his boat, tossing crab pots into the ocean during treacherous conditions.

The life of a waterman is rugged and often treacherous, but there are moments when these waterways, rivers, and marshlands rise up and steal your soul.

High winds, with sustained speeds of 40 to 57 mph, made for dangerous conditions off the coast of Beaufort at 5 a.m. early last April. Craig Reaves hardly noticed as he fired up the diesel engine on his battered 21-foot aluminum boat. He and his brother, Cameron, are now a couple hours into their workday, both seasoned watermen who’ve been on these waters since the day they were born.

Craig hustles about the open vessel, checking the engines and the gear. At last, he pulls in the lines that secure the craft to the weather-worn pier on St. Helena Island and eases out of the slip.