Trotlines and Dip Nets
Summer in the Outer Banks to me means sun, surf and picking crabs. After doing the beach scene, one of the most popular family activities, is the act of catching your own crab dinner. It combines some skill and a lot of luck. And crabbing just happens to be the easiest seafood to target on the Outer Banks.
The best way to catch crabs is with a trot and bait line and a net. You attach a chicken or fish part to a thin cotton string, find a place adjacent to the water, heave that bait out (don’t forget to hold the string line) and wait for the tug. You grab a hand dip net, retrieve your bait slowly and with some patience and stealth, you are off to a great meal.
The fist mate and I use a more aggressive method – commercial crab pots. For the last three months, we have been setting our pots in the Currituck Sound. The sound is a ten minute boat ride from our house. We have five pots and collected well over three bushels this year.
This week we introduced our son to the art of crabbing using pots. Seems we just gave him another reason to visit. As if he needs another reason to visit paradise.
Mission – Almost Accomplished
What a great day!! My Dad, youngest son and I took off this afternoon for a day fishing.
Everything cooperated except the fish. The weather was atypical at best. Mild temperatures and cloudy in mid August is not what you expect on the Outer Banks.
We tried three different baits – shrimp, worms, and cut menhaden. Only success came with three small croakers. We fished both the Daniels and Pirates Cove bridges.
Even though we were unable to accomplish the main goal of our journey to fill the “box”, we filled our day with each other’s company. No amount of success can replace that.
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!!
Rip Currents – Friend or Foe
Rip currents are a familar sight on the Outer Banks. They injure many swimmers each season.
A rip current is an outward flowing river of water which had piled up on to the beach. We find more rips occur during north east and east winds.
Although, they may be hazardous for the bather, they work wonders for the surf fisherman.
I have found the best spots on the beach for fishing are where the water flow now parallel to the beach begins it perpendictular exit off shore. This is where bait gets tumbled in the wash – dazed and exhausted. Weary predators are eagerly waiting for that easy meal.
My hope is that their preference is my bait.
Welcome Back
Finally got some time to get back to the Carolinasaltaire blog. Many things have occurred here is beautiful Carolina but will not bore you with them now.
Glad to be back!!
Florida in February
We traveled to the west coast of Florida this week for our annual trek to the sun shine state. On Saturday we spent most of the day on Gasparilla Island. This secluded area is on the northwest corner of the Charlotte Harbor and borders the Myakka River to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Access is gained by either car or boat. The road leading to the island is lined with mangroves and lush wooded tracks. Some older homes can be found marked with the history of storms and neglect. Fishermen know this place well. In spite of the toll bridge and skinny two lane road, the traffic was smooth. 
Gasparilla Island boasts many exclusive homes and famous residents. There is a small business district with a few but quaint shops and restaurants. Several beautiful parks and multiple walkways outline the town. But this area is most famous for its seclusion and proximity to outstanding beach access and fishing. At the southern tip of the island, there is a lighthouse and museum that describes the long maritime history of the area.
The beach had been widened by over 150 yards over the past year. The shore line now extends to the deep Boca Grande channel. This channel is known for its world class Tarpon fishing. One hundred pound tarpon are the standard. Fishing Charters coming out of the Charlotte Harbor are motoring just yards from the surf. Water can be twenty feet just off the beach. Swimming is prohibited because of the swift tidal currents.
Dozens of fishermen lined the west shoreline. Many caught mullet and saltwater catfish, but one lucky angler found a hole and his cooler was full of pompano. These giant fish schooled in the channel adjacent to the beach within casting distance. It seemed that each cast brought the fight to his light tackle rig.
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.
Carolina Christmas on the Water
Parades are fun for everyone, but a Christmas Boat Parade is one for the ages. The First Mate and I had the opportunity to participate in the community boat club parade last weekend. We ordered 12 volt lights for the boat, strung them on and waited for parade day.
We woke up to a cold and windy day. By late afternoon the skies cleared, the winds died down and the bright full moon rose in the east.
We headed out with 36 boats from the two neighborhood communities. Words nor pictures can describe the feeeling of being out on the water with thousands of multi-colored lights blinking in each direction. The parade proceeded on a pre-marked course, close to the crowd filled docks. Spectators cheered as the boats passed by.
After the parade, we enjoyed picnic of soups, stews, and chili. And of course steamed oysters. Two large kettle fires were there to keep us warm, but all we needed was the camaraderie between mariners.
Nothing could be finer
The first mate and I began our day trying to decide – fishing for rockfish on the boat in the sound or sea trout in the surf. With the winds blowing a little stiff out of the west, we decided not to fight nature and try and enjoy the calmness of the ocean.
We loaded the truck and headed for Coquina Beach, just north of Oregon Inlet. With the waves less than one foot and a slight breeze on a low tide, I knew we were just going to catch some sun. As the day grew long and unsuccessful, we moved up the beach to Southern Shores. There we settled in to one of my favorite spots just before high tide.
Wading my way through the sloughs and ever increasing rip current, I found the edge of a large hole. These “holes” are created when incoming tides rush onto the beach, churn against the shore and find a weak spot to escape back out to sea.
In these holes, aggressive fish wait to ambush other’s struggle to their attempt to secure a safe spot from the violent surf.
I tried several different lures and casting methods and with each cast. I felt the line pull unlike that of the current. With a lot of luck and fairly good skill, we had a four pound Sea Trout for our dinner and a 26 inch puppy drum (or “Redfish for our Southern neighbors) for later.
Finally, on a perfect day in the Outer Banks, we found ourselves catching.
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!!
NCsaltaire 
