News that the Pamlico Sound bay scallop fishery opens Monday, Feb. 1, spread around Hatteras Island like butter on a hot griddle. The state announced the opening Friday, Jan. 30, after analyzing results from sampling tests run in eastern Pamlico Sound late in January. The estimate of bay scallop abundance was the highest recorded in […]
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Two meteorologists from The National Weather Service in Newport came to Hatteras on Tuesday, Jan. 26, with a message for us. They want to hear from us to help them improve their coastal flooding forecasts, especially for soundside flooding. And there may be an opportunity this weekend for us to help them out. Meteorologists Brian […]
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Rob Morris, the former North Carolina editor for The Virginian-Pilot, has started a new Web site, www.outerbanksvoice.com, which will focus on news of the Outer Banks and will provide a forum for folks who live, work, own property or simply have an interest in Dare County and the northern Currituck beaches. “Our goal is to […]
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A white metal monster rolls across the broad expanse of Cape Point, following a sandy road along southern Hatteras Island. Its giant wheels sink into the wet sand as it approaches the ocean, but it does not slow down. It heads straight into the surf, wheels churning the water, and soon it is in deep […]
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Upon hearing of this latest delay during discussions with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Dare County officials expressed extreme disappointment since a Record of Decision (ROD) was expected any day with a promise that construction would begin this year. The most recent delay comes following a decision by NCDOT to alter the Preferred Alternative, […]
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It has been a relatively slow couple months of fishing on the Banks. In fact, the past four winters or so haven’t been that great for most anglers. The hardened speckled trout fishermen seemed to find entertainment, but this year, even the speckled trout have been slim pickings. The weather patterns are our worst enemy. […]
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The beach cottage Serendipity is without a doubt the second most photographed structure on Hatteras Island ? after the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. And the move of the house out of harm?s way on the oceanfront ? or in the ocean more often than not lately — has been almost as well documented as the move […]
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The Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a report yesterday that was stingingly critical of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s enforcement of fisheries regulations. NOAA is the federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. fishing laws and regulations. The report is the result of a seven-month investigation that was begun in mid-2009 […]
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Gathering the oddly shaped shellfish Crassostrea virginica, better known as the common oyster, has long been an important part of Ocracoke Island’s fishing tradition, and freshly gathered oysters one of her finest culinary delights. Ocracoke fisherman and shellfish researcher Gene Ballance explains that for his grandfather, Elisha Ballance Sr., oystering was the main source of […]
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Fishermen would see large sections of coastal waters closed to larger mesh gill nets from May 15 through Dec. 15 under a proposal developed by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. The proposed restrictions were presented in a Jan. 11 letter from Louis Daniel, state Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) chief, to Roy Crabtree, […]
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