Posts filed under ‘Places’
Hatteras Island Puppy Drum Bite
The Outer Banks Angler, local media outlet on Hatteras Island, video taped the huge Puppy Drum Blitz we had last week near Cape Hatteras. The video has eleven minutes of great surf fishing.
In this fantastic video, you are so close to the action you might get hit with a wave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jVcuTupwrU
This is what surf fishing is all about. Wish I had been there!!
End of an Era – Sunset on Beach Road
The End of An Era – Sun Sets on Winks Store.
Last week the Outer Banks lost another landmark – Not to a storm, flood or fire. No it was Mother Time. After 57 years, Miles Davis closed the family grocery store for the last time. Mile’s parents opened the store as the Virginia Dare Hardware in 1953. But over time as more visitors needed beach and food supplies, they expanded to sell just about everything you needed to enjoy your vacation.
For many years, Winks and Anderson’s store were the only markets on the beach. Miles always had a smile and time to just chat. I was probably 10 years old when I first ran into the store for a paper or lotion or maybe a hundred other things.
Thanks for the memories and camaraderie for all those years. When I stopped in, you always had time to just be you – a good friend. The Outer Banks will never be the same. Good Luck, Miles.
Re: Wishin for Spring
On January 16, the First Mate, our youngest son and myself attended the annual Saltwater Sportsman National Fishing seminar in New Bern, North Carolina.
If you are interested in a great time, learning alot about the local waters, meet nationally and locally recognized fishing professionals, then this is the event.
Between the experts, the hosts and vendors, the day was full of fun and excitement. Not only did we receive 6 plus hours of fishing instruction, grab bag full of manuals and guides, we enjoyed an opportunity to meet the local guides and “pick their minds” to the best techniques and secret spots.
The program only deepened my “cabin fever” to get back out on the water. And Spring is just around the corner.
What an Amazing World
My job took me to the Tacoma/Seattle area this week on business.
While flying over the midwest, I took this picture. The cloud formation appeared to resemble a river at 36000 feet. Thought you would enjoy the view.
What an amazing world!!
Don’t Forget to Squeeze – You Could Make History
December 17, 2008, marked the 105th anniversary of the first flight in Kitty Hawk.
This ‘first flight” picture was taken by little John T. Daniels. The story goes that little John was given one small job to do on that cold December morning in 1903 – just squeeze the camera bulb when the plane lifts up. Of course, no one believed that huge contraption called a “flying machine” would ever fly, especially little John. So when the plane did lift off for 12 seconds and travel 120 feet on that first time under it’s own power, little John found himself so scared that he knocked over the camera stand and was last seen running home to Manteo.
When the brothers saw little John take off and the broken camera on the ground, Orville and Wilbur were very disappointed that their history making first flight would never be seen by anyone other than themselves. There would be no picture of that “First Flight”.
After several more flights that day – the last one traveling 852 feet in 59 seconds – the brothers packed up for home. They took the broken camera with them to Ohio in hopes of salvaging something. With nothing to lose, they had the photo plate developed and rest is history. Little John did in fact squeeze that bulb on that historic day.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk is a place that should not be missed. On your next visit, you must stop by and see where history was made. You will truly be amazed.
Place Your Bet
My travels this past week took me to Las Vegas. What a great town: crowds, lights and excitement. It was just one big party scene between the casinos, mammoth buildings, and organized chaos.
After work hours, I had an opportunity to walk on the “strip”. One common element of this town was water. There were water falls, water foundations, and numerous water displays. And to think, this town was built in the middle of the desert. All of this water made me feels a little home sick for the smell of the ocean.
I did find some similarity of Las Vegas and fishing in my home town. Both rely on luck: whether it is the lucky numbers, right cards or maybe just a lucky pull of the one-arm bandit or picking the correct fishing location, time and tides of the day or the right lure and presentation. It seems life in Las Vegas and fishing relies on luck.
This weekend I hope to use some of that Las Vegas luck during my fishing excursions. Not sure I will find those three cherry sets or triple bars again anytime soon, but I will find the serenity in my little piece of paradise. You can bet on that!!
Covering all Angles
Southwest Florida is known for many things including beautiful year round weather and world class boating and fishing. As an avid fisherman, I am always looking for that perfect location or magic cast that gives my lure the best opportunity for success. But sometimes, just enjoying the scenery gives you an un-expected result.
This past weekend we traveled to Punta Gorda, Florida. During our trip, we found time to explore a local nature area. Ponce de Leon Park is located on the east bank of the Charlotte Harbor and is arguably one of the premier fishing destinations in all of Florida. With plenty of free time, we took a leisurely stroll along the sandy beach and the many elevated walkways that wind their way through the thick mangroves growing into the water’s edge. The trees and the root system provide an excellent shelter for many of the fish and birds that call this place in paradise their home.
Some people think they might be smarter than a 5th grader, but we found a blue heron that just might be a little smarter. A great Blue Heron had claimed his stake on the beach between the water and a fisherman’s cast net. I guess if the Blue Heron is unsuccessful at fishing himself, he could always just steal a meal from somewhere else. By covering all the angles, he might just be the smartest bird on the beach.
Tight Schedules
It’s been a little busy around our family over the past several weeks. Between working and dodging the honey-do list, I have had little time to mess around on the water. Thought you would a least enjoy several fall pictures from the Outer Banks.
Fishing at first light
I got up early this morning before dawn to hopefully catch a sea trout for dinner. As you can see the morning was beautiful. The sun was rising over the horizon with trout rolling in the surf.
The equipment was there,
but so was the porpoises.
Thought for the day – Enjoy every day, you never know when you will run into a “porpoise”.
Rocking & Rolling with Kyle
We began our weekend with anticipatory trepidation. We were scheduled to fish the Gulf Stream for big fish on Sunday. Hurricane Kyle was looming just off the Carolina coast and our off shore trip would originate in Ocean City, Maryland. Would we go on our annual off shore trip or not? The forecast was for waves up to 15 to 24 feet with winds of 15 to 20 knots. Not good. But at 0500 Sunday morning, with Kyle just north of Atlantic City, four buddies and I boarded the Marli, a 58 foot Custom Carolina yacht out of the Sunset Marina with Captain Brian and first mate Buck. It was dark, real dark. The clouds and ground fog shielded us even from any stars or city lights. Sun up would not rise until seven – more than an hour and half of flying across the huge swells at 20 miles per hour using only radar. The only lights were from the dimly lit cabin. Not a comforting feeling but we had a very competent crew.
We traveled east over 40 miles before we wet the lines the first time. Swells were alternating between 12 and 14 feet. When we were in the trough, the waves appeared to be as tall as a two story home. But at least when in boat sunk in the trough the 20 knot winds were somewhat blocked.
Two false albacores were quickly decked. With the monkey off our back, we then proceeded to deck a 117 pound Blue Fin tuna. It took four anglers over an hour to deck that fish. No we were not weaklings, we alternated reeling in the Blue Fins, because Blue fins just happen to be the toughest fish to land. Within the next hour and half, we caught and released two more 100 pound plus Blue fin tunas. By eleven o’clock and in spite of Hurricane Kyle, we were on our way to a good day.
We then focused on the dolphins, no not Porpoises boys and girls. Dolphin is a game fish also referred as Mahi Mahi. To find the dolphins, we traveled another 15 miles east into the warm gulf waters – into the throws of Hurricane Kyle. The weather was relentless – swells continued to rise well above 12 to 14 feet, but the winds had died down fewer than 10 knots. We found four lobster buoys in 75 degree waters, and there we found the fish. It took us two hours to fill the box.
At 1430, we were wore out – was it the great fishing day or did we meet our match with Kyle. Truly, of all my years on the water, this day was the toughest on the water. The trip home wasn’t as eventful as the trip out, but more rewarding. With the decreasing swells at our stern, we cruised at 35 mph toward the dock.
If one statement could describe the day, our captain said, “Everyday he is on the water is treated as a tournament”. Good for us because between fighting the weather conditions and our fantastic catch, we really did come home as winners.
NCsaltaire 
