Monday, July 31, 2006

New Rules May Require Circle Hooks and Create Billfish Limit

Circle hooks have been around for a long time and few will argue that their use doesn't significantly improve survival rates for catch and release fishing. Now it seems that the National Marine Fisheries Service may require all anglers in Atlantic billfish tournaments to use circle hooks instead of J-hooks. The NMFS new Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, which if approved would go into effect January 1st, is intended to aide struggling white marlin populations. White marlin mortality is reduced by two-thirds with the use of circle hooks. A limit for the number of billfish that are landed on the east coast was also included in the management plan. While the vast majority of billfish are released, the new rule would impose a 250-fish limit on combined recreational landings of white marlin and blue marlin for the year. This number is significantly higher than the number of marlin landed for the previous few years but could pose problems in the future for billfish tournaments late in the year like the Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament. Comments on the proposed changes may be sent to FinalHMSFMP@noaa.gov until August 14th. More on the new rules is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Sunday, July 30, 2006

Jellyfish Invade Southern NC Beaches

Jellyfish have always been occasional visitors to North Carolina's coast but increasing numbers of the pests over the past few weeks have become a hazard to southern NC beach goers. Sea Nettles and other jellyfish have stung so many people in the Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach area that the New Hanover County Health Department issued an alert on Friday. In fact, over 75 people were treated between Monday and Thursday of last week and one swimmer was treated for a suspected Portuguese man-of-war sting. Red flags now dot the beaches in Carolina Beach warning swimmers of the threat. Experts have offered numerous possible reasons for the record numbers of jellyfish ranging from salinity and temperature to tropical weather patterns. More on the jellyfish invasion is available from the Wilmington Star; sting information and treatment tips are available from eMedicineHealth.com.

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Thursday, July 27, 2006

Outer Banks Access Update; South Point Reopens

Piping Plover; Link to OBX Access Updates

Outer Banks surf fishermen enjoy the privilege of driving their offroad vehicles directly to their favorite fishing holes, but experienced anglers know that the ever-shifting protected areas for endangered shorebirds can throw a wrench in even the best plans. South Point on Ocracoke Island in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore had been closed to offroad vehicles and pedestrians for the past few weeks in order to protect several endangered piping plover nests that had been discovered in the dunes. Surf fishermen will now again have access to South Point as the last of the piper chicks is gone. Shoreline access from Cape Point to Salt Pond Road and Ramp 45 will reopen on Friday. Jerry Allegood with the News & Observer has compiled an impressive and comprehensive list of Outer Banks access updates and closures.

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Wednesday, July 26, 2006

New Hwy 70 Bypass in Carteret County Gaining Momentum

Fishermen from Raleigh and other central NC areas who rely on Highway 70 to reach Morehead City, Emerald Isle, and other Crystal Coast destinations have a lot to look forward to. Last week Carteret County commissioners voted to back the NC DOT's new Northern Carteret County bypass route for US Highway 70. A study will look at a route that originates in Beaufort and continues through the northern portion of the county and connects to Hwy 70 at the Havelock bypass. This is the second proposed location for the bypass, a previous proposal in 1999 was rejected due to the numbers of homes impacted. The new route travels primarily through large tracts of timber land and disrupts only a few homes. With the formal approval of Carteret County, the project is quickly gaining momentum. The NC DOT has ranked the Northern Carteret County bypass #2 on the 2007 Transportation Improvement Plan. In addition to connecting fishermen to the coast, the bypass is also critical to cargo transportation to and from the state port at Morehead City. The DOT views the bypass as an integral part of the development of the 135 mile Hwy 70 corridor into the Super 70 Coridoor connecting Raleigh to the coast. More on the bypass is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Monday, July 24, 2006

Grisly Reminder on Why Not to Ride in the Bow

A Wilmington man is lucky to be alive after a boating accident last week cost him his leg and nearly his life. Bryan Todd was stowing an anchor rope in a bow compartment with his 23 foot boat underway when the vessel struck an approaching wake and Todd was thrown over the bow. Todd's leg was severed at the knee when he passed under the propeller and he received numerous facial cuts requiring 58 stitches. Although his leg was not recovered, Todd is recovering and listed in good condition. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission and the Coast Guard both strongly advise boaters to stay out of the bow area when underway, this unfortunate accident should remind all boaters that it only takes a small series of minor events to cost you your life. Even if you never plan on getting a captain's license, taking the time to learn some of the license material in addition to the USCG safety requirements, could save your life or your passenger's. More on the accident is available from the Wilmington Star; USCG Captain's License Exam online quizzes are available from boatsafe.com.

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Thursday, July 20, 2006

Chris-Craft Moving to North Carolina

Five years ago it looked like the end of the line for the Chris-Craft company but after filing for bankruptcy, they were rescued by British-Italian financier Stephen Julius. Chris-Craft announced this week that they will move their yacht division from Sarasota, Florida to North Carolina later this year. Kings Mountain in Cleveland County will be home to a massive new manufacturing plant for both Chris-Craft and Indian Motorcyles which Julius also purchased. Over 800 jobs will be created and more than $47 million dollars is expected to be spent on construction related expenses in the county. Governor Easley says the state will provide incentives worth up to about 7.5 million dollars if job creation goals are met. Chris-Craft has a long and storied history with over a 130 years building boats. We are excited to welcome them to NC and look forward to seeing their new boats on the water. More on the Chris-Craft move is available from the Triangle Business Journal.

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Wednesday, July 19, 2006

No More Parties on North Carolina Ferries

After a little controversy, the NC DOT announced this week that North Carolina's ferries would be used exclusively for hauling vehicles and not for entertaining. That decision comes after $31,000 of state tax money was used to entertain 200 people on board a ferry right before the tall ships event along the Crystal Coast. The ferry was removed from duty for 5 days just before the tall ships event for a fresh coat of paint and replaced with a smaller ferry which resulted in longer waits. The party for state officials and distinguished guests included a seafood buffet and a steel drum band. While many have criticized the decision, some officials have defended it as a way to display the beauty of eastern North Carolina to potential investors. Edgecombe County Commissioner Calvin Anderson was apparently able to close a deal with a Florida based company that will result in $3 million dollar plant and 69 new jobs over the next 3 years. More on the floating party is available from the Wilmington Star. Complete ferry schedules are available in our coastal Carolina travel section.

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Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Boating Speed Limits for the NC Coast?

Image of Capt. Stacy IV; link to article

It's been two years since the federal government began discussions about imposing speed limits near state ports to protect endangered whales, but the National Marine Fisheries Service's new proposed rule has stirred more emotions than any previous speed limit talk. The new proposed rule would include a 10 knot speed limit on vessels 65 feet long or greater in certain locations along the Atlantic seaboard at certain times of the year in order to protect endangered right whales. For North Carolina, the protected areas would be 30 nautical mile semi-circles around the ports at Morehead City and Wilmington from November 1st to April 30th. These discussions are especially troubling to charter boat captains. Many of the larger charter boats like Atlantic Beach's 83-foot-long Capt. Stacy IV and Morehead's 95-foot Carolina Princess would see travel times offshore increase by at least 2 hours. Although everyone would support the idea of protecting the extremely endangered right whale, whale and ship collisions off North Carolina's coast are virtually unheard of. One local charter captain sums it up nicely, "I've never had one to come up close, within 100 yards when we're at speed. Nobody has ever hit one off this coast because I would have heard about it." More on the proposed speed limits is available from the New Bern Sun Journal. Comments on the proposed rule may be sent to shipstrike.comments@noaa.gov.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Ocracoke's Coast Guard Station May Become Seasonal

The Coast Guard has been looking for ways to reduce costs on the Outer Banks and it appears that the already down-sized Ocracoke Station may soon only operate during summer months. Overall Outer Banks operations and personnel were moved in 2005 from Buxton to Group Fort Macon but stations were kept at Ocracoke, Oregon Inlet, and Hatteras Inlet. While the summer months have tens of thousands of visitors, during the winter months the station is responsible primarily for the roughly 700 residents. In addition to extremely slow days during the off-season, crews have also been put into a difficult circumstances with a trailer for a command center and crews were even boarded in a RV for several months. While crews are now residing in temporary rentals throughout the island, the water-locked station is the Siberia of Coast Guard assignments. The Ocracoke station has an important role protecting vessels in the Pamlico Sound and surrounding areas and we hope that funding can be found to keep the station fully operational. More on the station's future is available from the Virginian-Pilot.

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NC Ferry System's Summer Schedule Delayed

Vacationers and fishermen alike will have to wait a little longer when trying to take a ferry from the mainland to the Outer Banks as the NC Ferry Division announced today that the expanded summer ferry schedule will be delayed until at least July 25th. The expanded summer schedule was supposed to start this week but two of the state's sound-class boats, the Hyde and the Silver Lake, are still in dry dock receiving repairs. Large amounts of asbestos were found in the insulation of the Hyde and the Silver Lake had to have it's bearing box replaced. At over 12 million dollars each, sound-class ferries are in short supply and other ferries aren't designed to meet the challenges presented by North Carolina's large and dynamic sounds. While repairs to both vessels are expected to be complete by July 25th, officials explained that the new launch date could be extended if problems are discovered. Unfortunately given the age of the two, the Hyde was built in the 1970's and the Silver Lake in 1965, problems during sea trials are common and the summer schedule could be delayed again. More on the delay is available from the Washington Daily News; complete NC ferry system schedules are listed in our coastal travel information section.

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Sunday, July 09, 2006

Emerald Isle's Last Fishing Pier Denied State Funding

Hurricanes and real estate development have left only the Bogue Inlet Pier on Emerald Isle, and while its future is still uncertain, the town has been doing everything they can to save their last fishing pier. Requests were made for state funding so the town could purchase the fishing pier either outright, or have the NC Division of Aquariums purchase the pier, but an appropriation for funding was not in this year's state budget. Earlier versions of the budget included funding for both the Bogue Inlet Pier and Jeanette's Pier, but neither were included in the final budget. Jeanette's Pier still hopes for a bright future, but Emerald Isle's last pier's future is a little more uncertain. Town officials have submitted an application for a Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant and are continuing negotiations with a potential new property owner to keep the fishing pier. More on the search for funding is available in a great article from the Jacksonville Daily News and be sure to sign the petition if you haven't already.

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Saturday, July 08, 2006

All Commercial Boats Must Now Carry Alcohol Testing Kits

In 1998 the US Congress passed a law that mandated the Coast Guard establish procedures to ensure that alcohol testing is conducted no later than two hours after a serious marine accident. Since many boats are often farther than two hours away from Coast Guard assistance, all commercial boats, including charter boats, are now required to carry alcohol testing kits. Although this law went into effect June 20th, many captains are only now learning of its existence. Commercial fishermen may choose between a number of testing options, from inexpensive swabs to high-tech breathalyzers, but most are expected to split the cost of the swabs kits with other captains. More on the new regulations is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Friday, July 07, 2006

Sewage Spill Continues Wilmington's July Tradition

Photo courtesy of wwaytv3.com - Link goes to article

Last year's July 1st sewage spill in Wilmington dumped 3 million gallons of sewage into Hewletts Creek, last week 2.4 million gallons spilled into the Cape Fear River. It took over three days of what had to be hard (and disturbing) work for workers to put a sleeve over the ruptured sewage pipe and stop the flow of untreated waste into the Cape Fear River. Over 5 million gallons were spilled after a Progress Energy contractor drilled through a pipe near the state port but most was able to be stopped before reaching the river. Officials are hopeful that the high volume of water that flows through the river will help dilute the spill and minimize problems. Fishing and swimming in the immediate area should continue to be avoided, coliform bacteria levels were still 30 times the level accepted for swimmers. More on the spill is available from wwaytv3.com.

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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

NC Oyster Hatchery Program Up and Running

Carteret Community College's newly remodeled aquaculture facility has been greatly anticipated and it appears that their first batch of oysters is doing extremely well. The first batch of three week old baby oysters were delivered to a nursery area run by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries earlier this week. Carteret Community College's hatchery is part of the larger NC Oyster Hatchery Program, which is managed by the North Carolina Aquariums. Oyster cultivation is an interesting process. Male and female oysters are gathered from the wild and put into large tanks where the water temperature is manipulated to encourage them to reproduce. The resulting larval oysters are fed a diet of algae for roughly two weeks, at which point they develop a foot and are moved to outdoor tanks filled with recycled oyster shells. The baby oysters use their new feet to attach to the shells and begin to grow. We are very excited about their efforts and hope to see NC oysters making a comeback soon. Don't forget you can also do your part and enjoy growing your own oysters beneath your dock by joining the NC Under Dock Oyster Culture Program. More on the Carteret Community College hatchery is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel.

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Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Search Ends for Missing Surf Fisherman off Oregon Inlet

Vance Lowery of Catawba, NC was surf fishing with his family near Oregon Inlet late last week when he disappeared beneath the waves. Apparently the family was finishing their day when Lowery waded in chest deep to wash off some sand. Family members then saw him suddenly fall flat and disappear beneath the water. The victim's family saw no struggle and said that there were no rip tides or rough water at the time. Coast Guard vessels, park rangers and private boaters had been scouring nearby waters until today when the search was called off. Private and commercial boats have been asked to keep a lookout for the body. More on the search is available from the Hickory Record. Our hearts go out to the Lowery family.

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Saturday, July 01, 2006

NC DMF Releases Annual Fisheries Report Card

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries released its annual stock status report for the state's fisheries today highlighted by a strong striped mullet recovery. Striped mullet stocks have be upgraded from recovering to viable. Of the 40 different species listed in the report, 18 fall into the viable and recovering categories, 8 are listed as concerned, 7 as overfished, and 7 as unknown. In addition to the upgrade for striped mullet, weakfish were also moved from overfished to concerned. More on the report is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel; the full report is available from the NC DMF.

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