Thursday, November 30, 2006

North Carolina Watermen United Seeks License Exemption

North Carolina Watermen United, a commercial fishing trade organization, is seeking an exemption from the saltwater recreational fishing license requirement that goes into effect January 1st. In a resolution submitted to the NC Marine Fisheries Commission they argue that many charter boats are already licensed through commercial fishing vessel registration and therefore are already subject to the state's data collection needs. In addition to the additional revenue the new saltwater license will generate for conservation projects, the state is also leveraging the license to develop more accurate catch estimates. Preston Pate, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, disagrees with NCWU. "They're trying to mix two separate license requirements that are established for different reasons. The vessel owners hold commercial licenses because they sometimes fish to sell their catch. But when they fish recreationally, they should be subject to the recreational license requirements", Pate said. More on NC Watermen United's exemption is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

CCA NC Launches voterVOICE Initiative

The North Carolina Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA NC) has launched a new initiative to help citizens share their opinions with their state representatives, voterVOICE. With the CCA's voterVOICE service you will be alerted to an active political issue via a voterVOICE email, shown a short summary of the issue and a letter stating CCA's position. If you want to add or change anything in the letter you can, but otherwise you just click send and that letter will be sent from YOU to YOUR respective representatives. We are excited to see new technologies making it easier than ever to participate in the democratic process and highly recommend you sign up for CCA's voterVOICE. For our readers who aren't familiar with the CCA, more is available from their national website and from CCA North Carolina.

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Saturday, November 25, 2006

2006 NC Bluefin Tuna Season Shaping Up

Last year's bluefin tuna season was nothing anyone in North Carolina wants to repeat. Limited catches and rough seas resulted in a year bluefin tuna fishermen are ready to forget and the 2006 season may be just what the doctor ordered. Fishermen look for three main factors when the season approaches: large schools of bait fish, cooler water temperatures and calm weather. The 2006 bluefin season is shaping up to have all three. This is an important fish economically for North Carolina, and not just for the $19 a pound commercial fishermen are expected to get on the Japanese sushi markets. Hundreds of boat owners bring their vessels south for the bluefin tuna season and each invests a hefty sum in coastal businesses. Another weak tuna season could reduce the number of boats that winter in NC. We're optimistic about this year and hope to have an opportunity to hook into one of these deep sea monsters ourselves. More on the 2006 bluefin tuna season is available from the Jacksonville Daily News; more on NC bluefin and the Japanese market is available in one of our stories from last year.

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Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's to too much turkey, to NFL football on a Thursday, and to the inventors of the couch and recliner.

Travel safe and give others on the road just a few extra feet, the North Carolina Highway Patrol always says that there are more traffic fatalities this long weekend that any other time per year. Every fisherman already knows this, but a little patience is never a bad thing.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

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Sunday, November 19, 2006

NC WRC Launches Boating Access Survey

The North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has been watching the decline of water access as carefully as most boaters and this week they've announced a new survey to gather resident's thoughts before determining a final course of action. The survey, which ends on December 15th, includes five components: an online survey accessible at www.ncwildlife.org, 3,500 mailers to boaters, 20 survey boxes located at kiosk stands throughout eastern North Carolina, 600 questionnaires to be completed via telephone interviews, and interviews to be conducted at 15 boat launch sites over the next three weekends. Data from the survey will help the Commission identify the best locations for future boating access areas. Through its boating access area program, the WRC's Division of Engineering Services currently manages 202 boating access areas that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We hope to see that number climb once the WRC is able to review the survey data. Take a few minutes and fill out the WRC's online survey, your input is important to the future of boating in NC.

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Thursday, November 16, 2006

Navy Once Again Grilled About Sonar Range

Last year when the Navy first presented their plan to build a sonar testing range off the NC coast about 150 opponents showed up at a public hearing to voice their concerns. One year later another public hearing in Morehead City earlier this week drew a smaller crowd but concerns remained the same. Most feel the Navy has yet to provide any real evidence that the extensive, high-intensity sonar testing won't have a negative impact on marine life. From the beaching of numerous species of whales, to questions about impacts on commercial fisheries, trouble has followed the Navy's sonar use for several years. This week's meeting in Morehead City included strong concerns from a Carteret County Commissioner and specific concerns about sea bass and several species of grouper. More on the Navy's recent meeting is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Snapper-Grouper Quota Lawsuit Gains Political Allies

Last week we reported on the lawsuit to stop the new quotas for black sea bass, snowy grouper, and other offshore reef fish. This week State Senator Marc Basnight and US Representative Walter Jones voiced their support for the litigation filed by the commercial fishermen. Both have contacted Governor Easley and urged the state to join in on the lawsuit, filed October 20th by the North Carolina Fisheries Association, a New Bern-based commercial fishing trade group. The new snapper-grouper regulations place stricter limits on the harvest of black sea bass, vermilion snapper and snowy grouper that many commercial fishermen believe to be too strict and too favorable for recreational fishermen. More on the political backing for the lawsuit is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Monday, November 06, 2006

Dr. Bogus Pier Fishing Seminar on Wednesday

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will host a pier fishing seminar featuring the renowned Dr. Bogus on Wednesday at 1PM. Pier fishermen who want to refine their skills and would-be-anglers who are looking for a few pointers are sure to benefit from the in-depth seminar on pier fishing techniques. Dr. Bogus, whose real name is Dr. Richard Ehrenkaufer, quit his day job as a chemist to pursue his love of angling, and adopted the "Dr. Bogus" name from Bogue Sound. In addition to being a regular contributor to the News & Observer with his outstanding fishing articles, Dr. Bogus also host a regular Monday morning talkshow on WTKF 107.3 FM, at 7:30AM. The seminar, part of the NC Aquarium's continuing series of sportfishing seminars, is free with paid admission. For more information about Dr. Bogus' presentation, contact Aquarium Educator Cindy Anderson at (252) 247-4003, ext. 288.

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Sunday, November 05, 2006

We first reported on Wilson native Billy Ray Lucas' record setting 116.5 pound cobia back in June when he shattered the old North Carolina record. Now the IGFA has affirmed his catch and declared it a world record and the biggest cobia ever caught. Although he landed the cobia on 50lb test, the world record was set at the 80lb test class since his line overtested. Lucas caught the giant cobia off Oregon Inlet on June 11th and has achieved a bit of fame from his catch. He has received several tackle endorsements and a few sponsorship offers. He is now setting his sites on the world record for striped bass. More on the IGFA certification is available from the Wilson Daily Times.

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Saturday, November 04, 2006

Bogue Inlet Pier Back Up for Sale

Although the town of Emerald Isle has been fighting the good fight, the deal with the developer has fallen through and the pier is back on the market. The deal was contingent upon the town receiving a $3 million NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant and the developers, Mid-Atlantic Real Estate, finalizing their purchase from the Stanley family of Emerald Isle. The contract between the Stanley family and Mid-Atlantic was terminated and as a result, Emerald Isle's deal is also void. Town officials are still optimistic about being able to secure the pier and surrounding 3.8 acres for public use and we hope they can secure the funding they need to save the Bogue Inlet Pier. More on the Bogue Inlet Pier deal is available from the Jacksonville Daily News.

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Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Cape Hatteras Angler's Club Surf Fishing Tournament Starts Today

The Cape Hatteras Angler's Club is set to kick off its 49th annual Invitation Surf Fishing Tournament & Bob Bernard Open Individual Tournament today with final registration and position drawings. The open individual tournament continues to grow every year and the historic invitational tournament continues to be one of the most exclusive. 120 teams of six members each are invited every year to participate, if one of the teams is unable to fish a team from the waiting list is allowed entry. There are currently over 50 teams on the waiting list so if you'd like to fish the tournament this decade we suggest you go ahead and sign up. Teams in the invitational tournament fish designated zones in a morning session and an afternoon session on both Thursday and Friday. The Bob Bernard Open Individual Tournament is set for Saturday and is open to anyone with a rod. More on the surf fishing tournaments is available from the Cape Hatteras Angler's Club website.

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