Friday, March 30, 2007

NC Boat Ramps in Short Supply

The results of an official survey by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission were released this week but the results are far from surprising to fishermen - the state concluded that there aren't enough public boat ramps. The WRC's "Boating Access Survey" was conducted from October through December of 2006 and was based on the responses of 3,783 North Carolina residents, with particular attention paid to coastal counties. One out of three respondents in coastal counties said they have lost access to a boat ramp in the last five years and 7 out of 10 respondents also said they would like to see more public boat ramps. Participants in the boating access survey also cited crowding, limited parking and lack of public restrooms as top concerns about existing ramps. In a similarly timed announcement, the WRC also announced their renewed interest in building a boat ramp at Cedar Point near the NC 58 bridge over Bogue Sound. We're hopeful that the state will make a serious commitment to public water access in 2007 and hope to see significant improvements with the new funds from the saltwater fishing licenses. More on the boating access study is available from the International Boat Industry's website.

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Monday, March 26, 2007

Quota Cuts for Mackerel Proposed by SAMFC

Last week members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) met in Hatteras and proposed reducing the harvest quotas for both king and spanish mackerel. Under Amendment 18 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan, coastwide total allowable catches for king and spanish mackerel would be reduced from 10 million to 7.1 million pounds for king mackerel and from 7.04 to 6.7 million pounds for spanish mackerel. In addition, if the quotas are met the commercial fisheries would close for the remainder of the season. The limits managed by the SAMFC cover the entire southeast coast of the US include both a commercial fishing quota and a recreational fishing allocation. This is especially important in light of the recent restrictions to the commercial snapper-grouper fishery and the increased pressure those changes could have on mackerel populations. More on the markerel proposal is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel.

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Major Changes Proposed to NC Fisheries Agencies

A series of sweeping changes to the way that NC handles environmental and fisheries management was proposed in Raleigh last week. Under Senate Bill 679, the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) and other existing environmental management commissions would be abolished and a new umbrella commission created to oversee all environmental policies. Patterned after the Utilities Commission, the new commission would no longer consist of volunteers, but instead would be comprised of full-time, paid commissioners. The Bill 679 would consolidate the MFC, the Coastal Resources Commission, the existing Environmental Management Commission, the Mining Commission, the Sedimentation Control Commission, the Soil and Water Commission, and several other commissions that fall under the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Only the Wildlife Resource Commission would remain independent. Another bill, Senate Bill 1389 filed on Wednesday by Harry Brown, R-6th District, would also bring change to the MFC, adding three seats representing the charter-boat/headboat fishing industry. And last but not least, another bill, Senate Bill 815, would increase the number of seats on the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture. Three new seats would be designated for members of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, the North Carolina Watermen United, and the Coastal Conservation Association. More on the avalache of proposals is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Rutgers Scientists Testing Acoustic Striped Bass Tracking System

Scientists at Rutgers University have been testing a simple but effective way to track and study the movement of striped bass along the east coast - acoustic tracking. In order to better understand migratory patterns, scientists began tagging striped bass off the New Jersey coast. To date 87 recreationally caught stripers have been tagged with new internal acoustic transmitters. Each of these transmitters emits a different series of tones which are then picked up by underwater listening stations strategically positioned near inlets. Unlike expensive satellite tracking systems that cost roughly $4,000 each plus $1,500 satellite usage fees, the acoustic devices cost just $315 per unit. For about two years, each striper's movements by the inlets can be recorded into a database and downloaded for later review. As technology improves, Rutgers scientists plan to place more hydrophones at the entrances of additional inlets, and eventually expand their study to include bluefish, sturgeon and summer flounder. More on the striped bass study is available from Shallow Water Anger; more on the research is available from www.StriperTracker.org.

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Friday, March 16, 2007

Tagging Program Searches for Source of Big NC Dolphin

In many ways dolphin, a.k.a. mahi mahi, are the perfect bluewater gamefish. On top of being one of the most beautiful and colorful fish in the sea, dolphin are incredible fighters and go airborne at a moment's notice. Best of all they are also one of the most delicious gamefish around. A lot of pressure has been put on dolphin populations and despite their prolific reproduction, marine scientists have been trying to keep a close eye on them to make sure they remain a viable food source for anglers and billfish alike. Don Hammond, who retired last year from his job as a SC Division of Marine Fisheries biologist, has made it his personal mission to establish the finest dolphin tagging program anywhere. A few years back, Florida scientists managed to tag 57 dolphin - Hammond's group has tagged over 6,100 dolphin off the North and South Carolina coasts to date. Hammond is now looking for the secret to NC's disproportionately larger dolphin as compared to other southern states. Although dolphin are known to migrate north and south from the Carolinas to Florida, Floridian fishermen rarely catch big bulls. Hammond's theory is that a second, previously undiscovered migratory route exists between NC and the Bahamas. Last week he and the Beaufort, NC crew of the Makara with Capt. Tom McMurray spent the week fishing out of Highborne Cay in the southeastern Bahamas and were able to tag and release 24 dolphin to start the study. Hammond's group offers rewards for anglers to return their tags. Dolphin are tagged with either a 6 inch yellow or orange "spaghetti tag"; yellow tags offer a tagging study t-shirt for the return of information and orange tags offer a t-shirt and a $20 reward. More on the tagging program is available from the Myrtle Beach Sun News and be sure to check out Hammond's program, dolphintagging.com to learn how you can contribute to this great research.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Navy Sonar Tests Again Questioned After Beachings

The Navy has been pushing the development of a new sonar testing facility off the Carolina coast for a few years, despite intense public objections, criticism from NOAA and outrage from the NC DENR. Now it appears that after the beaching of a beaked whale and three harbor porpoises on March 7th near Kill Devil Hills, Navy sonar testing is again a culprit. While they won't disclose the exact date, the Navy admitted yesterday that they had been conducting sonar tests off Virginia Beach a few days earlier. In 2005, 36 whales beached near Oregon Inlet shortly after sonar tests, and while there were some shady changes to the official report, the final report neither confirmed nor denied the sonar testing as the cause. Similar beaching have also occurred in the Bahamas and Hawaii after sonar tests. Ultimately all NC fishermen should be concerned about the Navy's proposed high-intensity sonar testing range off Morehead City, who knows what impact 190 decibels will have on some of the nation's most productive fishing waters. More on the recent beachings is available from the News & Observer and be sure to let your state representatives know how much the idea of an experimental sonar training range just off our coast concerns you.

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Saturday, March 10, 2007

Coast Guard Rescues Fisherman Near Hatteras Inlet

The Coast Guard rescued a commercial fisherman after his boat capsized in the Pamlico Sound Friday morning near Hatteras Inlet. The Hatteras Inlet Coast Guard Station received a distress call at about 8AM and were able to use their VHF direction finding equipment to refine their search area. They launched two search and rescue boats and by 8:30 a helicopter and C-130 airplane were launched from Elizabeth City. The unfortunate fisherman was found at 10AM standing on a sandbar waving an orange life jacket. Since the water was too shallow for the rescue boats the fisherman was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital for hypothermia treatment. North Carolina fishermen are lucky to have such a well-trained and dedicated group - each year they save many boaters and fishermen from the dangers of the Atlantic. One other important item to note - the fisherman was saved in part due to his VHF. While cell phones are convenient, every boater needs a VHF as well. More on the rescue is available from WTKR NewsChannel 3.

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Friday, March 09, 2007

Site-Wide Updates

As promised, the first round of updates are in place. Our fishing reports have undergone an overhaul. We've cleaned out many of the reports that weren't working or updating often enough and added some new ones visitors have pointed out. We've also added a new category, inshore fishing reports. Please drop us a line if there are any you'd like to see added we may have missed - we love visitor input and appreciate everyone's help as we try to add value to our readers. Other updates include adding several new articles that we found interesting and adding several new captains to our directory of NC fishing charters. Keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks, we're up and rolling at full speed for the 2007 fishing season and have some big plans in the works.

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Thursday, March 08, 2007

Boat Manufacturer Millennium Marine to Open in Edenton

Boat manufacturer Millennium Marine has announced that they will open a facility in Edenton, NC, creating 38 jobs and investing $1.5 million during the next three years. Although known for their commercial boats, Millenium Marine is currently expanding their recreational line built with the same hulls as their proven commercial counterparts. Their Miramichi 31 (shown) is an interesting example of their strategy - while it doesn't have the prettiest lines, it does look like a well designed and sturdy fishing boat that would be well suited to fish Gulf Stream waters. The new jobs created will average 17% above the local county wage standard and will also include benefits. As an incentive for the new manufacturing facility Millennium Marine will also receive a $75,000 One North Carolina Fund grant. More on the announced facility is available from expansionmanagement.com.

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Majority of Restaurant Fish Species Mislabeled

As more and more scrutiny is placed on what kinds of fish restaurants are serving their patrons, evidence is increasingly pointing to deception in the supply chain. That red snapper or grouper from your favorite restaurant may in fact just be an Asian catfish with a big price tag. A UNC Chapel Hill research project tested red snapper samples from restaurants and distributors in eight states in 2004, results from DNA tests showed that more than 75 percent of the samples were not red snapper. While this problem is far more likely away from coastal communities, even Florida isn't without its share. DNA testing by the Florida Attorney General's Office in late last year showed 17 out of 24 samples of fish sold as grouper in Tampa restaurants were species like Asian catfish, emperor fish, or sweetlips. Species substitution is considered fraud under the federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act, and given the growing concern, expect to hear more about restaurants and distributors mislabeling fish species soon. More on the fish labeling controversy is available from the Outer Banks Sentinel.

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Saturday, March 03, 2007

Fees for Commercial Docks & Piers May Increase

The NC Waterfront Access Study Committee began steps this week to ask the General Assembly to change the fee schedule for easements for such things as commercial docks and piers. Committee members expressed their frustration that the state wasn't seeing fees in line with the fair market value of the public trust waters taken. Committee member Mac Currin, chairman of the NC Marine Fisheries Commission, stated, "I feel like the state is being underpaid for the use of public trust waters." Although the state doesn't require an easement for docks with less than 10 slips, easements are required for docks with more than 10 slips or those used to generate revenue. These easements are granted for 50 years and the holder has an automatic right to renew for an additional 50 years. "The state gets a one-time - and in my opinion inadequate - fee for the use in perpetuity," Currin said. Officials also expressed frustration that easement rights are also sold with private slips for as much as $180,000 with no impact on the state's easement revenues. Revenues generated by the proposed fees are tentatively planned to improve water access. More on the dock fee changes is available from the New Bern Sun Journal.

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Friday, March 02, 2007

Outer Banks Threatened by Rising Sea Levels

Bruce Babbitt, a former secretary of the interior during the Clinton administration and former Governor of Arizona, met with officials in Raleigh this week to discuss the state's ongoing plans for global climate change. Babbitt predicted North Carolina would be one of the states most affected by rising sea levels from global warming, along with Florida and Louisiana, and could see the disintegration of the Outer Banks within the century. An international panel has projected that sea levels could rise from about 7 inches to 2 feet in the next century and few parts of the country are as threatened as NC's Outer Banks - every inch of sea level rise just exposes more of the Outer Banks to hurricane storm surge. Babbitt was also impressed that North Carolina's legislature had established a panel to grapple with the topic of climate change, but that our head start over other states wasn't saying much. The meeting also discussed the state's plans for fresh drinking water supplies in light of the fact that NC is the 6th fastest growing state. NC's population is expected to jump 50% to 12 million by 2030. More on Babbitt's visit is available from the News and Observer; more on rising sea levels in NC is available from NOAA.

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