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| Video report by Rob Alderman, The Outer Banks Angler Click Here |
Fisheries News
 Jimmy Ruhle is an advocate for the commercial fishing industry Commercial fisherman and Wanchese resident Jimmy Ruhle navigated the seas of Washington politics during Capitol Hill Ocean Week. Ruhle talked with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief Jane Lubchenco, met with legislative aides in 20 congressional offices, attended the Ocean Week Symposium, and served-up sea scallops at the annual NOAA fish fry at the Commerce Department. “The message I delivered was that the survival of the commercial fishing industry is on the line. Whether our country will remain a seafood producing nation is uncertain,” said Ruhle, a third-generation fisherman. ....Read more Enthusiasm is high for creating brand identity for local seafood Enthusiasm for creating a brand identity for Dare County seafood ran high at a public meeting at the Fessenden Center in Buxton last week. The June 2 meeting drew more than 20 individuals who brought the perspectives of seafood wholesalers and harvesters, restaurants, consumers, marketing consultants, and government agencies together to discuss a local seafood promotion program. ....Read more Effort to promote Dare seafood begins to take shape A grassroots initiative to promote Dare County seafood began to take shape at the Chicamacomico Banks Fire Station in Rodanthe last week. Jamie Reibel, vice-chairman of the Dare County Commission for Working Watermen and a Manteo charter-boat captain, arranged the public meeting after the watermen’s commission expressed strong interest last month in developing a county seafood promotion program. ....Read more UPDATE….Game fish status for drum and spotted sea trout hasn’t gone anywhere but the fight isn’t over yet Commercial fishermen say the game fish designation bill introduced in the state legislature this spring is the first shot over the bow fired in an aggressive campaign waged by some recreational fishing groups. “This issue is now front-and-center in North Carolina, and even if the legislature doesn’t pass this particular bill, the groups supporting game fish status are laying the groundwork for stepped-up efforts in the next two years,” said Sean McKeon, president of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, a commercial fishing trade organization. ....Read more North Carolina commercial seafood landings are up for 2008 while recreational finfish landings decline North Carolina commercial seafood landings rose by 13 percent in 2008, bolstered by the best hard blue crab harvest since 2003. The increase ends a previous five-year decline for the state’s seafood industry. Meanwhile, the number of recreational finfish caught dropped about 18 percent to 12 million while the number of recreational fishing trips remained roughly the same at 7 million, according to North Carolina Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey estimates. ....Read more Stimulus money may help restore oyster habitat Watermen and other workers in eastern North Carolina could see some federal economic stimulus funds headed their way if the federal government approves an oyster habitat restoration grant proposal submitted by the North Carolina Coastal Federation. ....Read more  Hatteras Jack tackle shop will sponsor an inshore tournament, geared to sound fishing To raise awareness and generate tourism, and to get more visitors dropping lines on the soundside where beach closures are scarce, Ryan White has launched the First Annual Hatteras Jack’s Tri-Villages Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament, scheduled for Aug. 1-2. ....Read more It’s summertime, and the crabbing is easy – and fun Crabs will eat anything that comes their way, including fish, shrimp, oysters, clams, worms, and even other crabs. Fortunately, to the delight of children and parents who pursue them, they are relatively easy to catch, and there are several locations around Hatteras and Ocracoke islands to catch them. ....Read more Surf Fishing: Strategies for summer angling Mention surf fishing to any angler on Hatteras or Ocracoke, and the "prime times" of spring and fall will immediately enter the discussion. Those are the times when schools of large fish are migrating up or down the coast, with speckled trout, jumbo red drum, striped bass, and bluefish leading the lineup of fish. But there’s also the summer season in the surf. They may not all be giants, but good numbers of fish are available for the summer angler. Most of the fish are fairly easy to catch and, although the rigs, tackle, and techniques may be somewhat different than those used at other times of the year, it’s worth the time to wet a line in the summertime surf. ....Read more The great Gulf Stream kayak fishing adventure – not your average fish story On Sunday, May 31, Rob Alderman led a party of 14 on a kayak fishing trip. And if you know anything about Rob, you know that this is not going to be your average fishing story. The party headed to the Gulf Stream in two charter boats with four photographers and/or videographers, anglers, and even a contingent of Hooter girls. This story of catching fish in the Gulf Stream from a kayak is one you will not want to miss.…WITH SLIDE SHOW ....Read more Outer Banks Angling: Social networking MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter can be heard or seen just about everywhere nowadays. Your favorite TV show or news program is twittering. Famous movie stars, rockers, bands, teenagers, grandparents, and every demographic imaginable are telling the world what they are up to. Shoot! Even The Island Free Press and The Outer Banks Angler have recently jumped on board Facebook. In the 21st century, social networking is almost a must for everyone, and I am left wondering what we did before this cyber boom for keeping up with people. ....Read more Virginia angler takes top prize money in Hatteras Village Offshore Open…WITH SLIDE SHOW Everette Daniel of Lynchburg, Va., took home the top prize money in the 15th annual Hatteras Village Offshore Open Tournament, which ran from Wednesday, May 13, through Saturday, May 16, and is the first event in the Governor’s Cup series of tournaments. Daniel brought a 581.5-pound blue marlin to the dock on the tournament’s third day. The total earnings for the boat, Fishing Partner, was $45,611. ....Read more Inshore fishing: An alternative that’s family friendly and a lot of bang for the buck Offshore charter fishing has been a recreational fixture on Hatteras Island for decades, thanks in no small part to the island’s proximity to the Gulf Stream and the variety of reputable charter fishing businesses that call Hatteras home. But for beginners, families, and fishermen who just want to change things a bit, inshore fishing is an attractive alternative to the standard Gulf Stream venture. ....Read more Team Daiwa wins Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament Team Daiwa won the Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament with 49 fish and 353 points. The team was boosted to the top with member Chris Mercer’s catch of a 51 1/2 –inch red drum on the first day of fishing. That fish also won Mercer the award for the largest fish caught by a male. ....Read more Outer Banks Angling: The April fishing report Wow. What a month April was. Up and down air temps, up and down water temps, and just flat out day-to-day dramatic changes in weather. Yep. Welcome to spring on the Outer Banks—Mother Nature’s menopause. The inconsistent weather and constant beach closures made judging the surf fishing very difficult. The water had hard times maintaining the optimal 60- to 70-degree range most of the month. However, if we did get few nice days, then we would see blow toads, sea mullet and bluefish. None of the species ever seemed to have a major run, but there were some nice days of catching for each. ....Read more Surf Fishing: Bluefish can’t be beat At first glance they appear to be more green than blue with a sleek, streamlined body and a strong, deeply forked tail. They are fast swimmers. Their sharp teeth will instantly make mincemeat of a helpless baitfish or a carelessly placed finger. Some folks love them, others hate them. But I’ve never met a bluefish I didn’t like. They are a splendid fish to catch in the surf, from piers and boats and their determined fight is often spiced with strong runs and acrobatic jumps. ....Read more Outer Banks Angling: Hunting the big bluefin tuna Imagine taking a fishing rod and lure to Highway 12 and casting it as a small vehicle goes by and then hooking that vehicle's bumper. That is how it feels to hook a bluefin tuna. This species of tuna can weigh upwards of 500 pounds, but, on average, you will see them in 100- to 300-pound class. ....Read more Outer Banks Angling: Looking ahead to spring and catching fish…WITH VIDEO Rob Alderman of the “Outer Banks Angler” cable show and the Hatteras Island Fishing Militia Web site (http://www.fishmilitia.com) begins a new column for The Island Free Press on fishing on the Outer Banks. You can read Rob’s column and see his video report each week – and sometimes more often. This column looks forward to spring – warmer waters, warmer air temperatures, and catching fish again. ....Read more A guide to searching for the fish in the surf Looking for fish involves more than seeing. It's smelling, sensing, thinking, and simply being aware. Maximizing all of your opportunities can turn a fair day on the water into an outstanding fishing experience. ....Read more A guide to natural baits for surf fishing Some species of fish commonly caught from the surf, piers, or small boats along the Outer Banks will frequently prefer artificial lures, but most cannot resist the offer of a fresh, natural, or live bait. Why settle for an imitation when you can have the real thing? There are many types of locally popular natural baits, and this column details a few of the most popular that are used during the summer and early fall. ....Read more Three rod-and-reel combinations will cover most surf fishing situations Like a golfer with an assortment of clubs in his bag, an experienced surfcaster may choose to carry a full-blown arsenal of fishing outfits, each designed to do a specific job. He wants to be prepared for any fish, surf condition, or weather that might come his way. But is all that gear really necessary? I don’t think so. More is not always better, and I’ve found three rod-and-reel combinations that can cover most of the fishing situations a beach angler is likely to encounter. ....Read more |
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