By Richard Seale '*='1^^$*
By the time you receive this Shoreline, the season for hand harvest of oysters
will be closed. The official date is March 31. Hopefully, by that time water
temperatures will have moderated so that clams will migrate closer to the surface
where they can be gathered in place of oysters. Gathering clams in the mid-winter
is a really deep subject, meaning clams dig down in the sand column to stay
further away from the freezing water temperatures. This means it is a lot more
work to rake them up. Recreational clamming has a one-inch thickness limit and
a creel limit of 100 clams per person per day, or 200 clams per vessel per day. You
also need to be aware of “closed waters” due to pollution concerns. The Division
of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has maps to show you this on their website. For Pine
Knoll Shores, the sound waters between the canal outlets into the sound and out
100 yards, including 100 yards east and west of the mouths, are “closed waters.”
We all are aware that the first few days of March presented us with temperatures
that climbed to 70 degrees and crashed to the twenties, all within a few hours. I
certainly hope this winter weather roller coaster ends this month. Under the hope
it does, it is time to consider what fish can be caught and kept. As I reported last
month, speckled trout harvest has been closed until June 15 due to winter cold
stunning.
Sea mullet, also known as northern kingfish or whiting, should have shown up
in the turning basin in March or at latest, early April. These are very good eating
fish. They are bottom feeders with pretty small mouths and are best caught with
bottom rigs, smallish hooks and baits of squid, Gulp bloodworms or shrimp. They
are fun to catch since they are a pretty good fighting fish as well as good tasting.
Also moving into our surf and sound waters will be northern puffers, or
blowfish. These are also known as sea squab (sea pigeons). The meat in their tail
and on their back is firm white meat and mild in taste with a pleasingly firm
texture, much like that of the sea mullet. They are seldom larger than a foot in
length. Cleaning them is not easy. Their skin is tough and like coarse sandpaper. I
try to slit the belly open and work my fingers around the sides and over the back
but under the skin. I then can use one hand to pull the skin in one direction while
the other hand pulls the body in the other direction. This usually pulls the skin
clear of the body between the back of the head and the tail. I then cut the head
and the tail free, making it easy to finish eviscerating the body. The backbone
can be left in since it is easier to remove after the meat is cooked. The rib bones
can be cut off where the back meat gets thick. You actually can wear your skin
off cleaning a bunch of puffers, so wearing a tough rubber glove is a good idea.
Somehow the reputation of these fish has gotten caught up in the deadly Japanese
fiigu puffer concern. Our northern puffers are not of any such concern. Catch
some and enjoy them. They are a passing treat.
At this time, both of these fish are free of size or creel limits. Both can be
caught in pretty large numbers and, fortunately, both freeze nicely. Freezing them
individually but tightly wrapped in cling wrap and then put up in a good zip lock
bag with the air carefully squeezed out of it as you finish zipping works well. You
can open the zip lock bag and remove however many fish you want to serve and
leave the rest frozen for later use. If you plan on freezing them for months, it is
best to freeze them in milk. Of course, you then have to defrost all the fish in the
bag when you wish to serve them.
It really feels good starting to have some concerns about fishing; maybe this
crazy winter might actually end! Remember the rock season is in. The size limit is
more than 18” none in possession between 22” and 27”, and only one can be over
27”. The daily creel limit remains two.
Book Sale Benefits Library
By Sue Warren
Friends of the Bogue Banks Library will host a gently used book sale on Saturday,
April 5, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church at 201 E. Fort
Macon Road in Atlantic Beach, with a special preview sale for Friends members on
Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
Most books will sell for $1 or less, with 2013-14 editions going for $5. Paperbacks
as well as children’s books and puzzles will be available. Proceeds from the sale will
benefit the library by funding new book purchases and supporting community
programs sponsored by the library.
The Bogue Banks Public Library serves residents of Atlantic Beach, Emerald
Isle and Pine Knoll Shores and is supported by Friends of the Library yearly
membership fees. Membership applications are available at our used book sales,
as well as at the library. Yearly memberships are $15 for a family and $10 for an
individual.
PKA NEWS
By Gail Halada
The old saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” is playing on my mind. I do
hope the azaleas are showing off their colors in April in competition with all of
Mother Nature’s floral surprises. Our PKA neighborhood is fortunate to have a vari
ety of natural trees and bushes, plus flowers of all colors. In April we celebrate all of
life, as spring has sprung and put a jump into our steps. Just look at aU the events on
the calendar: Palm Sunday is on April 13; April 15 is the first day of Passover; Good
Friday is on April 18; our Easter egg hunt is just before Easter, which falls on April
20; and Earth Day is on April 22.
April is also a good time to reread your PKA homeowners covenant to refresh
your memory. Here is one example which might be forgotten: Article V, section 4,
states: “No sign or billboard of any kind shaU be erected or allowed on any lot other
than one ‘For Sale’ or ‘For Rent,’ not larger than three square feet. ‘For Sale’ or ‘For
Rent’ signs must be free standing and not attached to a dwelling or a tree. Small
signs, not exceeding three square feet, displaying the owner’s name or the property
name are also permitted.”
I wish each of you a very special Passover or happy Easter. Take time out to smell
the flowers.
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
continuous improvement of the town; and encourage the
participation of residents in service to the town and community.
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