By Richard Seale
Coastal Recreational Fishing License fees generate funds that are used as grants
to undertake various projects related to coastal access and resources. In 2014, $1.78
million will be distributed to 14 projects along the North Carolina coast. The grant
awards go to people projects such as access ramps for boats; rest room facilities;
fish projects, such as studying flounder mortality and striped bass maturation and
fecundity; and habitat projects, such as oyster sheU collections, aquatic vegetation
studies and improvement. The project that is in Carteret County will be a people
project to get rest rooms for the Radio Island beach access site, which is a fishing
spot on the east side of Radio Island.
There are some other 2014 fishing-related license changes that will impact folks
in Carteret County. For those of you who in the past have purchased the Rec
reational Commercial Gear License, which is the license required to legally set
five crab pots and use various types of fishing set nets, the fee for that license has
increased from $35 to $43.75. If you are not a North Carolina legal resident, the fee
for this license has gone from $250 to $312.50. The fee for the under-dock oyster
culture permit remains free to NC legal residents. The Standard Commercial Fish
ing License fee has gone from $200 to $250. The Retired Standard Commercial
Fishing License has gone from $100 to $125. A full copy of all fee changes can be
obtained from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), via website
(http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/coastal-joint-inland-waters) or in person at 3441
Arendell Street in Morehead City.
The winter temperature lows in the teens and low 20s certainly have impacted
inshore fishing. Our cold-blooded scale and fin neighbors do not eat much when
the water temperatures drop into the low 40s and mid-30s. Of course, finding a
warm and relatively calm day to go fishing has not been easy this winter. The late
January sleet-and-snow storm made just walking near the water a fairly dangerous
thing to do. Along our bulkhead I found ice spots that could easily have caused me
to lose my balance and fall into the sound or canal. For the Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday of the storm, I used a walking stick just to go get the mail. Thursday’s
walking conditions were more slippery than Tuesday’s, due to the overnight freez
ing conditions. Slush turned to ice and the snow surface became hard, which made
the surface quite slippery. I did not go out on the dock, for sure!
According to DMF field surveys, the cold temperatures in January have resulted
in significant spotted sea trout cold stunning. Cold stunning occurs when the water
temperature drops below certain levels; the biology of the spotted sea trout cannot
cope and the fish either dies or almost dies. The largest threat is that many cold-
stunned fish are unable to spawn and the sea trout population drops dramatically.
The North Carolina Spotted Sea Trout Fishery Management Plan provides that field
surveys be conducted. If certain levels of cold stunning are found, the sea trout
open season is closed until after spawning. The sea trout season was closed by proc
lamation on Wednesday, February 5, and will remain closed until June 15. What
the specific survey results were and what constitutes cold stunning of sufficient
severity to close the sea trout fishery were not shown. Since one of the few winter
recreational inshore fish worth fishing for is the spotted sea trout, this closure takes
a good bit out of winter fishing adventure's. Let’s hope the DMF has its science right
and that the closure will indeed reap better harvest benefits in terms of better fish
ing in the longer term.
The best fishing is being enjoyed by the Red-breasted Mergansers plying the
shoals in Bogue Sound. I have been carefully watching them with my scope. They
seem to harvest a small pin fish at least 40% of their dives. The gulls view this suc
cess as a source of food and harass the mergansers relentlessly.
PKA NEWS
By Amy Cox
In the spirit of spring, PKA members will begin to clean and spruce up our parks
and common areas—Brock Basin, Davis Landing, Kings Corner, Ocean Park and
Ramsey Park—spearheaded by Shannon Smylie. In addition to email notifications,
we will set out notices at each location in advance with dates and times.
We are dedicating Thursday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at Brock Basin and
Thursday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at Ocean Park to come out of winter hi
bernation and clean up for spring. Typical jobs during these park work events are
basic cleanup, removal of twigs/winter debris, survey of areas for repair/restoration,
checking facilities for working order and checking signage. It’s a great way to meet
new people, enjoy spontaneous laughter and smiles and partake of oxygen therapy
provided by our green canopy. Come on out and we can find a way to use you--
many hands lighten any load. Watch for reminders in the coming weeks.
Ocean Park is our highest usage area and receives special attention during six
months of the year by a dedicated cadre of volunteers who take a week of duty at
the premier Pine Knoll Shores common area. Duties include raising and lowering
the flags each day, generally checking on things, sweeping/blowing walk areas and
replacing garbage bags—and you get to see some more of your neighbors and meet
their guests in the process. Volunteer now by contacting Shannon Smylie at (303)
719-1343; the duty roster begins in mid-April and goes through September.
March is also the last call for volunteers and self-nominations for any of the
upcoming vacancies on the Pine Knoll Association Board of Directors. The nomi
nating committee needs names by mid-March so it can include the nominees’ bios
in the mailing that goes out to all association members for the June annual meet
ing and election. So volunteer as you can, watch out for notices and emails about
cleanup events and think green. Carry spring forward and plant a tree next month
for Arbor Day in April.
Senior Games Registration
Registration is open for the Carteret County Senior Games. The registration
fee is $20; register by March 17 and save $5. The final deadline for registra
tion is Friday, March 28, at 4:30 p.m. Visit the Carteret County Parks and
Recreation website for more information and a registration form at ccpr.
recdesk.com/recdeskportal/ (click on “Senior Games” on the left; side of the
page) or call them at 808-3301.
Vision and Mission Statement
Our vision is to provide a quality environment in which our
citizens are safe and secure, where individual talents flourish,
and everyone enjoys the natural resources of our area.
It is the mission of the town of Pine Knoll Shores to provide
concerted and friendly means of promoting health, safety and
social well-being; develop and implement plans for the contin
uous improvement of the town; and encourage the participation
of residents in service to the town and community.
12 The Shoreline L Marph 2014