NCsaltaire

One an Incredible Week

October 21, 2013 at 8:50 am Leave a comment

This week I had an opportunity to help introduce some of our Nation’s finest “Wounded Warriors” to the Outer Banks. On Saturday, ten members of the Ft Bragg team arrived with a big fanfare. Their week included a full diet of angling fun.

As usual, the October weather on the Outer Banks was extremely unpredictable. Rain and wind curtailed many of the original plans but as the week went on, things begun to fall into place.

Sound and surf fishing trips on Tuesday and Wednesday gave the team a true picture of what it is like to land some monster puppy drum and speckled trout. A celebration dinner was held in their honor on Tuesday evening.

My turn came on Thursday. Our agenda included a visit the NC aquarium and Jennette’s Pier for lunch and pier fishing.

Our day began with a request to slightly modify our plans; they wanted to see the Wright Brothers Memorial. All week, they have been passing by this impressive monument. But the “closed signs” continued to enhance that disappointment. Now Thursday morning, the television news broadcast hat all parks were finally opened so without hesitation we made plans to visit this historic site. Once on site, I saw the fascination on the face of each member at the “wright brothers” accomplishment.

The aquarium tour went well but the anticipation was not there; the excitement was at the final stop – pier fishing.

We arrived around noon to a prepared lunch and explanation of the basics of pier fishing. But excitement turned to some boredom, when the fish failed to cooperate for almost an hour.

Well, at approximately 1300 hours, things began to change. Suddenly I witnessed one fish come over the rail, then another and then another.  Without warning, these amateur turned seasoned anglers were catching huge spot, two fish at a time on their bottom rigs. I spent most of my time re-baiting hooks and removing fish.

Most people would think that this was a great opportunity for these “warriors” to experience angling on the outer banks. But I have to regress – because this helped me understand these soldiers in a way I could have never imagined.

So as I move on, my thoughts will continue to reminisce on this great time.

Until next time, Tightlines. Capt. Tony

Entry filed under: Home, Places. Tags: cape hatteras, duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, nags head, outer banks, salt water fishing, surf fishing.