After springtime delays due to both inclement weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, repairs at the Avon Fishing Pier are finally underway, in the hopes that the pier can reopen to visitors in June. “We’re working on it now,” said pier operator, Joe Thompson. “The work was delayed this spring due to COVOID-19 in terms of [...] Fishing |  Full Article

During its monthly board meeting Thursday, The Big Rock Board of Directors voted unanimously to proceed with the 62nd Annual Big Rock Tournament and the 23rd Annual KWLA Lady Angler Tournament. The tournaments will begin as scheduled with the KWLA Lady Angler Tournament on June 6 and the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament competition June 8 -13. [...] Fishing |  Full Article

North Carolina’s seafood industry is marked to receive nearly $5.5 million in assistance to help offset losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced Thursday that $300 million in fisheries assistance funding would be provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, to states, tribes and territories [...] Fishing |  Full Article

It has been announced that visitors can return to the Outer Banks beginning May 16, and I know many are anxious to get here so they can get in on some phenomenal fishing that has been transpiring during the COVID-19 closure. There are a lot of businesses that are preparing to welcome the visiting public [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Reprinted and edited from Tradewinds Magazine, 2020, B. Garrity-Blake. Photo courtesy of Susan West. Susan and Rob West live deep in Buxton Woods, where deer wander through the thicket and sedge, frogs sing from a freshwater pond and – if the wind is right – one can hear the crashing of waves from Cape Hatteras [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Fifteen lucky fishermen won $100 each in a recent N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Multi-Species Tagging Program yearly drawing. The tagging program randomly selected tag numbers from more than 645 fish tags that were turned in by fishermen in 2019. Three tag numbers were selected from each of the five species that are tagged by [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Stir-crazy residents were treated to a new outlet for outdoor activity while maintaining social distance guidelines last week when the Rodanthe Fishing Pier opened to the public on Saturday, April 25, for the 2020 season. Folks who remember the post-Dorian damage will also notice some changes at the pier, thanks to the recent addition of [...] Fishing |  Full Article

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet by webinar starting at 9 a.m. May 14. The public may listen to the meeting by phone or listen and view presentations in real-time by joining online. Directions for calling in by phone or joining the webinar online, including information on system requirements and testing, will be forthcoming [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Renewal packets for fiscal year 2021 commercial and for-hire fishing licenses and permits are in the mail, and the Division of Marine Fisheries is asking fishermen to complete and return the applications without delay. Division offices are currently closed to the public, and the division is only facilitating license purchases and renewals through mail or [...] Fishing |  Full Article