By Richard Seale
More Regulations—This Time Black Drum
In 2013 the black drum proved to be one of the fish caught regularly in surf
casting off our Pine Knoll Shores beaches, particularly near the remnants of
the Iron Steamer pier. The Atlantic States Fishery Commission required North
Carolina to have a written Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for black drum by
January 1. The recreational FMP regulations have been effective since that date
and include a “slot” size limit going from 14 inches to 25 inches, with one fish per
day allowed to be above 25 inches. A daily per person creel limit is 10 fish. More
things to remember as we fish!
By the end of December, water temperatures had dropped to the lower 50s.
Our Bogue Sound and close-to-ocean-shore cold-blooded fish friends are slip
ping into their slow motion lifestyles. The early January “deep freeze” dropped
water temperatures into the 40s. At this level, going for speckled trout in the
marshes or up the creeks means adapting to very slow stop-and-go retrievals of
suspending baits such as M17 MirrOlures.
Night fishing for striped bass (rock fish) around inshore structures, such as
bridge pilings, can be productive. Carefully-hooked back- (don’t hit the spine) or
lip-hooked live mud minnows on long leaders and minimal weights can produce
rock fish in the 15" to 25" range. The trick is to let the rig down very slowly next
to the pilings. Hook sizing is a compromise decision in that the mud minnows
are not very large, so much above a 1/0 hook gets “big.” A stout hook is needed
to fight a big rock. Another decision is when to set the hook. When the fish first
bites, the bait will be forward in its mouth. With a single and relatively small
hook, trying to set the hook might pull it out of the fish’s mouth. Another bait
that is a rock favorite is an eight-to-twelve-inch eel. Eel rigs are very effective in
ocean fishing for rock fish. Live eels are hard to come by, but soft plastic eels are
effective for both trolling and casting. The big rock fish that show up in our near
shore ocean waters are migrants from New England, so they are accustomed to
colder waters. These visiting rock fish are aggressive feeders and are not nearly as
impacted as speckled trout are by cold waters.
Important reminder: hypothermia due to cold water immersion is a real
threat to human survival at these water temperatures. Being extra careful when
boating—be it fishing, duck hunting or joy riding—can save your life.
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PKA NEWS
By Gail Halada
Reach Out and Touch Someone!
Three years ago I was surprised when someone I knew in Pine Knoll Shores
called and asked me to consider running for office as a PKA Director. At that time
I had lived in Pine Knoll Shores for eight years and volunteered with the Pine Knoll
Shores Womens Club, but my other volunteer work was outside of Pine Knoll
Shores.
I decided to say “Yes” because I felt I needed to get more involved in Pine Knoll
Shores. I felt challenged and excited. Exploring new territory can stimulate the
brain and produce new energy—just what I needed.
At the PKA annual meeting in June, I was elected and met the other directors,
all of us serving a three-year term at different intervals. At our first meeting, each
director was to select an area of interest on which to focus. I decided to write PKA
articles for The Shoreline and attend the Board of Commissioners’ monthly meet
ings to report back to the directors any new information that affected PKA. I am
also secretary, so I feel I have satisfied my commitment and made a contribution.
All the directors share the responsibility for overseeing our large homeown
ers’ association (710 members). It is truly amazing and I must compliment all the
directors for their dedication and commitment to PKA—what a wonderful group
of people to work with, who truly give their time and talents to making the PKA
community a grand place to live.
We meet on the second Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at town hall. Our
meetings are structured and we closely follow an agenda. Please feel free to attend
and observe a meeting.
If you are wondering why I am talking about this, it is because my three-year
term is up in June. I am hoping that all the PKA readers of this issue of The Shore
line will consider volunteering to run for election to the position of director for
PKA. Bill Steenland is conducting a search to fill the openings. If I have encouraged
just one person after reading this article, I will feel blessed. Please call Bill Steen
land at 240-1145. If you wish to ask me any more questions, my home number is
222-3940.Thank you so much for your consideration.
Vision and Mission statement
Our vision is to provide a quality environment in
which our citizens are safe and secure, where individ
ual talents flourish, and everyone enjoys the natural re
sources of our area.
It is the mission of the town of Pine Knoll Shores
to provide concerted and friendly means of promot
ing health, safety and social well-being; develop and
implement plans for the continuous improvement of
the town; and encourage the participation of residents
in service to the town and community.
12 The Shoreline I February 2014