Shoreline
Vol. 11, No. 10
A Shoreline Community, Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.
Oktoberfest
Grilling
See page 20
October 2016
A Promising Turtle Season in PKS
By Peggy Deneau
We have had a wonderful 2016
sea turtle season in Pine Knoll
Shores, with 13 loggerhead sea
turtle nests. It is possible, though
unlikely, we could get more. If
we do, it would most likely be a
green turtle nest, as they tend to
nest later in the season as well as
higher on the beach.
Six of our nests have hatched,
with excellent results. One of
these was a “wild nest”—one that
was unknown to us until some
one noticed hatchhngs emerg
ing from the sand and notified
us. This wild nest was not found
by our morning walkers or the
Turtle Patrol vehicle due to the
blustery winds on the beach from
mid-June through much of July.
^ Strong winds can obhterate any
▼ v r T u, signs of a crawl or a nest with
blowing sand. It was most likely
laid aroimd the same time as Nest
#1 (June 11), as it hatched three days later. We called this nest #13, because it was the
last one we knew about.
Nest #1 hatched on August 7, on the 58th day of incubation, and was excavated
on August 10 by Liribe Blackford and Lisa Park. Yolanda Lozano inventoried the
contents. In the nest were 152 shells, two unhatched eggs and five live hatchlings that
walked down the runway into the ocean—to the dehght of everyone. Emergence
success for this nest was 95.4%.
Nest #13, our wild nest, was the second one to hatch, and did so on the evening
of August 10. It was excavated on August 13 by Julie and Cameron Anderson, and
the inventory was performed by Sheryl Woodbury. In Nest #13 we found 106 shells,
five live hatchlings that immediately headed for the ocean, six pipped dead hatch
lings (hatchlings that died when partially emerged from their shells), 11 unhatched
eggs, and five pipped live hatchlings. The pipped live hatchlings were placed on the
1610 AM™'
The Pine Knoll Shores Radio Station broadcasts 24 hours a day
with weather and emergency info.
EMERGENCY - CALL 911
ECC 726-1911 • PUBLIC SAFETY 247-2474
Hatchlings walk to the ocean.—Pftoto by Cary Spencer
Pine Knoll Shores Hosts
First Ever Fishing Tournament
By Bill Steenland
Finally, after all these years, our little town by the sea will have its own fishing
tournament on Saturday, October 15 (rain date: October 22). The tournament will
be open to all Pine Knoll Shores residents, family members, property owners and
town employees. While a boat may be used, one is not required to enter the tourna
ment. Participants can fish from the surf, a pier or a kayak, too, and there are no
age limits. Grandkids, grandmas, grandpas, moms, dads and all their children are
welcome. Of course, if you are 16 or over you will need a North Carolina recre
ational fishing license.
Because this is an inshore tournament, we have limited the kinds of fish that are
eligible for weigh-in: flounder, red drum (must be between 18" and 27"), speckled
trout, gray trout, bluefish, sea mullet and sheepshead. Note that flounder will be
included in the ehgible fish only if the tournament is held on October 15. If we are
delayed by rain, flounder season will have ended before the rain date of October 22.
We will have a fun weigh-in at McNeill Park beginning at 4 p.m. We will have a
leaderboard, and there will be a trophy for the biggest fish in each category. There
will be refreshments, fish tales about the one that got away, maybe t-shirt sales and
a lot of hoopla.
The entry fee is $10 per person and will benefit the Crystal Coast Hospice
House. By the time you are reading this, you will have likely received information
on the rules as well as an entry form and other information from Town Manager
Brian Kramer. Entry forms will also be available at the public safety building and at
town hall. The entry form, along with the entry fee, must be received no later than
the day before the tournament.
Mark your calendars now and plan to join your town in its first ever fishing
tournament on October 15.
runway, where they emerged fully from their shells and walked into the ocean. This
wild nest had an emergence success of 70%.
Nest #3 was the next to hatch, and did so at 7:30 p.m. on August 12, after an incuba
tion of just 51 days. Volunteers Jan Corsello and Cary Spencer showed up early to sit
nearby Nest #2, and instead oversaw the hatch at Nest #3. There were so many specta
tors that volunteers Freddie Nelon and Sheryl Woodbury were called to help out. Nest
#3 was excavated by Judy Hassler and Freddie Nelon on August 16. Arlene Terrell
inventoried the contents. Nest #3 contained 106 shells, four unhatched eggs and one five
hatchling, which walked into the ocean. Emergence success for Nest #3 was 91%.
(Continued on page 10)
Shoreline
standard
Pre-Sort
Permit #35
h,NC 28512