Catch of the Day

Lessons from a chef who loves to fish

HALF A DOZEN years ago, we hosted some South Carolina chefs in the Southern Living Test Kitchen, and the first one I met was Adam Kirby, who lived in Pawleys Island, where my family has vacationed since I was a kid. He's a broad-shouldered guy with a salt-and-pepper beard and a big laugh, and it didn't take long for the conversation to turn from food to fishing. When he's not behind the stove at one of his excellent restaurants, Bistro 217 and Rustic Table, he's usually in his boat on the Waccamaw River, chasing after whatever is in season. He said he loved to take people with him-especially kids and told me to give him a call the next time I came to Pawleys Island, so (twist my arm) I did.