Calling themselves “Wofford College’s finest appetites,” a trio of English professors and a photographer cover seven upstate fish camps for the summer 2009 issue of Sandlapper, The Magazine of South Carolina.

In “Batter up,” John Lane and Deno Trakas write about their penchant for fried food. With fellow Wofford professor Mike Curtis and Presbyterian College professor Dean Thompson lending their opinions, they explore several in the area. The Flounder in Spartanburg, The Lighthouse in Spartanburg and Pacolet, Lake Bowen Fish Camp in Lake Bowen, Colonial Fish Camp in Gaffney, Wagon Wheel in Cowpens, Tall Tales in Mayo and Roebuck Fish Camp in Roebuck are included in the article. The quintet makes observations about eating from aluminum trays, the surprise of fried pickles, and what it takes to be “a regular.”

“We were not regulars, and almost everywhere we went, someone would say, ‘You’re not from around here, are you?’ ” Trakas and Lane write. “At the Colonial Fish Camp, they spotted us when we dipped our hush puppies in the 52-percent whipped spread and then sprinkled them with the cinnamon that was intended for the sweet potatoes. Another time it was Dean’s bowtie. But in most places Mark, taking pictures of slaw and perch and waitresses, was the giveaway.” The seven-page article, which is sponsored in part by James R. Snell Jr., Esq., and in Memory of Arthur W. Toney Sr., includes color photos of fish camp owners, workers, and food by Mark Olencki, Wofford College’s staff photographer.

Sandlapper is a quarterly magazine about South Carolina’s people, places, history and culture. Locally it’s available at Barnes & Noble in Spartanburg, Carolina Foothills Artisan Center in Chesnee, and The Frame House & Gallery in Inman.

More than a dozen topics are presented in the summer issue. They includes features about baseball great Bobby Richardson, who played for the New York Yankees, the lingering presence of the past on Edisto Island, and Columbia engineer Carter Bays’ nationally known collection of antique American sewing machines. Rock Hill writer Susan Doyle researches earthquakes of the past and explores the likelihood of future quakes; Associate Editor Dan Harmon reports on how two Camden lawyers are dedicating their lives to uncovering little-known facts about the American Revolution. Also covered: USC Salkehatchie, fun ways to learn history along the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, the 60th anniversary of the James F. Byrnes scholarship program, the mammoth restoration of St. Peter’s Church in Columbia and Gullah recipes from Hilton Head Island.

Sandlapper (www.sandlapper.org) is published by Sandlapper Society Inc., a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization. Back issues can be viewed online at www.knowitall.org, via a partnership the society has with SCETV.

For more information, call 803-359-9954, fax 803-359-0629, email april@sandlapper.org, visit www.sandlapper.org, or write Sandlapper Society Inc., P.O. Box 1108, Lexington, SC 29071. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.