I was down there at the Western Regional access in Emerald Isle and noticed a lot of beach patrol vehicles mobilizing to a spot just down the beach from us. Then I noticed the fire truck towing the wave runner and saw them launch and begin searching for Crandall’s body. Later I asked one of the beach patrol members if they found him. The officer said yes and shook his head and said it didn’t look good.

After this it kind of set a solemn mood on the beach. It seemed fewer people were in the water. Anytime someone drowns it is a tragic event. But when someone drowns trying to save another person, it feels even more tragic to me. Because you know we have just lost a true hero. Someone willing to risk their life to save another’s that they likely didn’t even know.

My prayers and condolences go out to Jeremy’s family and friends. I’m sure it hurts to lose someone that must have been a great father, wonderful son, and heroic friend.  

Hopefully this tragic event will remind visitors to Emerald Isle that no matter how inviting the water looks, it can become a deadly place in an instant. Please be safe out there.

www.beaufortseaport.com

For Immediate Release

May 23, 2010

Ready A-A-Aarrgh Not!

BEAUFORT, NC – Never ever duplicated, the Beaufort Pirate Invasion is scheduled for August 13 and 14, 2010.

For the 2010 Beaufort Pirate Invasion, the oldest North Carolina seaport is authentically transformed while reliving the actual invasion of its Colonial past. It becomes 1747, and the streets bustle with activity as news spreads of Spanish privateers stealing command of supply ships in Beaufort Harbor. Beaufort and its people can expect to be targeted next!

At the Beaufort Historic Site in the center of downtown, an authentic Pirate Encampment is active on Friday evening and all day Saturday with Brethren of the Coast and a fascinating variety of wenches. Shrimp baskets, hot dogs and grog are served here Friday night to anyone with the coin of the realm starting at 5:00 PM

Saturday (August14), beginning at 1:00 PM, the Beaufort Pyrate Invasion occurs!

It begins with the Pirates Procession along the downtown waterfront to Pollock Street where, in 1747, the town militia met the long boat of Spanish pirate invaders set on pillaging the town. Around 1:30 PM, cannons will be firing on the town, muskets on land will be countering, and the melee will begin!

History records that nearly 100 local farmers and townsfolk joined the small band of militiamen in defense of the town. The result was victory over the invading pirates! It is said that some of the pirates were buried in the Old Burying Grounds where they remain today.

Following the Invasion, there will be a public trial and other occurrences appropriate for a 1747 Pirate Invasion. The day concludes with a celebration of the town’s victory at the Beaufort Historic Site starting at 5:00 PM. Barbecue and grog is available for purchase, and everyone celebrates like pirates!

Summon your crew for August 13-14 in Beaufort. It’s great excitement and fun for all. No disappointments, Matey!

The Beaufort Pirate Invasion is an annual event of the Beaufort Business Association. Tickets to food events will be available at the Beaufort Historic Site. For more information, call 252-728-3988. For a taste of things to come, visit www.beaufortpirateinvasion.com. Accommodations and complete information are on the web site.

My tomatoes seem to be doing fine though, despite the conditions. I’m growing everything organically, no chemicals period.

As you can see, I already have tomatoes on some of my vines. It’s been a lot of fun raising these plants all from seed. I just hope they continue to thrive and produce some nice ingredients for hot salsa.

My green onions and yellow onions seem to be doing fairly well too. When I thinned them out, the ones I pulled out were very aromatic and made my fingers smell like onions for hours.

These green Chiles started out as peppers a friend at work gave me over the winter. I ate a couple and liked them so much I saved some of the seeds which have now grown into nice young pepper plants. I hope to pick some really hot peppers soon.

My first batch of tomatillos died. This second round is looking much better.

It was a glorious day to be at the beach and with good company it’s just that much better. We are on the verge of getting that summer heat that Iv’e missed for so long.

A week ago, I wouldn’t think of going swimming. The water was still in the mid to lower sixties. This weekend I would guess it’s approaching seventy degrees. I swam around for a couple minutes and it wasn’t too bad.

In another couple weeks, once Memorial Day hits, this place will turn into a real paradise. I suspect there will be many sunny, hot weekends at the beach, and I can’t wait.

These early summer days are really the best. You can get down to the beach before too many other visitors know its warm enough. Plus I like the idea of getting a head start on my tan.

Emerald Isle beaches are absolutely splendid this time of year, and will only become more inviting as the mercury rises.

If you haven’t made it out yet this year, it’s prime time at the moment. We’ll see you out there.

And boy was I glad I did. After the brutal winter we had, it’s so refreshing to have summer bearing down on us rapidly.

I started out just drinking coffee at the pier in Emerald Isle shortly after sunrise. It quickly became obvious that today would be an excellent day to be at the beach or on the water searching for fish. After a couple cups of coffee I decided to go fishing.

I started out in the marsh behind my house looking for finger mullet to use for bait. Last week they were everywhere. However today there were none in my area. So I headed to one of my favorite spots, the point in Emerald Isle.

This place used to hold a lot of fish at pretty much any time of year. But since they fixed the inlet much of it has filled in with sand. Either way it is a good place to wet a line and work on the tan.

From Cedar Point it can be quite a paddle if the conditions are not wokring in your favor. Today I left on a falling tide and little wind. So the tide carried me right to the point.

Once I arrived I netted some bait with my trusty cast net. I also netted some mullet that were too large.

Every few minutes a school of large mullet would come by and hang out with me for a while. I also had the occasional vacationer stop by to see what I was catching.

The action was slow when I first arrived. Likely because the tide had gone slack, and I usually have the best luck here on a falling tide. I had all the right fishing tackle; I used live bait, shrimp, and every variety of lure.

Then as the tide came in a few feet, so did the fish. I started catching chopper blues like crazy. I finally had to stop fishing and catch plenty of bait, then go back to fishing to make the most of the bite.

I got into several runs of blues this size. They ranged anywhere from 15 to 18 inches. Using my ugly stick rod and Penn reel, they never stood a chance. All fish were released unharmed to swim and fight another day.

Now it’s time for a shower because I smell like fish and time to hit an Emerald Isle restaurant for dinner and/or check out the night life.

Came across a buoy that looks a bit out of place.

The north wind and outgoing tide carried me and the kayak effortlessly to the point on Emerald Isle. While I went by the Coast Guard station it appeared as though they were setting up for a little cookout. And what a perfect place they have for a cookout, and what nice weather we all shared.

I threw some different curly tailed grubs and wasn’t getting any action. So i headed over to an island that has a little pool usually filled with some baits. But the way the wind was blowing I guess it just emptied that pool out. Last time I was here it was full of mud minnows and such. But last time I didn’t have a cast net, and of course when i have it there’s no bait to be found.

Luckily I always bring some dead natural baits with me, whether they be shrimp, or frozen finger mullet. Saturday I brought finger mullet. So I pitched one of them out and in a couple minutes I saw the end of my rod do that familiar “tap, tap, tap.” I knew then that i had something, and was going to get the skunk off me.

As i reeled the fish in I noticed it was a puffer fish. I unhooked him, and thought about keeping it , because I’ve never eaten them, and have always heard they are the real chicken of the sea. But i figured I would need 5 or 6 of them to feed myself, so I let him go.

After re-baiting and catching another puffer, I started keeping them. I ended up with 7 of them at about 12 inches. After finding a video online on how to clean them, and cooking them up, I tell you, I will never throw them away again.

Ugly little things, but dang if they aren’t tasty little devils.

I left Cedar Point at about 11am. The tide was coming in and the wind was blowing out of the south at about 5mph. So I had to fight against both of them. However, it was not so bad because it just felt good to be out kayaking.

It took me about an hour to reach my destination. The closer I got to the inlet and Emerald Isle the clearer the water was getting. By the time I arrived at the island across from the coast guard station I estimate there was probably 10 feet or so of visibility in the water.

This spot has been productive in colder times of the year so I figured there may be some fish hanging around there. I baited up some cut mullet, and dropped it in. I also was using some Berkley Gulp jerk shad. Sadly neither of the two were producing any bites.

But it was so nice I just enjoyed being anchored up out there soaking up the sun. In fact I got my first sunburn of 2010. A sure sign that winter is on the way out of here. I was not alone in my idea of paddling around this area in pursuit of fish. Another paddler in a canoe showed up shortly after me.

There were also plenty of power boats in the area. But I didn’t see anyone catching any fish. Perhaps the fish don’t realize it’s spring time yet? Though I’m sure they’ll be biting like crazy as the water temperature rises.

On the way home the tide had switched to outgoing and the winds picked up a bit. There was some one to two foot chop I had to deal with, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Took me just about as long to get home as it took to get to Emerald Isle.

Well NC House Representative Pat McElraft is definitely not standing up for your rights in Raleigh. She’s apparently letting the Republican party, misinformation, and possibly special interest decide what’s best for you.

As you may or may not know, Representative Earl Jones of Guilford County has introduced legislation (HB 1380) that would make medical marijuana a reality in North Carolina. There’s thousands of people suffering at this very moment in our state who feel they would benefit from medicinal marijuana. Not only do they feel that way, but so do many of their physicians.

So Representative McElraft, I ask you this: Who should make medical decisions for me, you and the other legislators, or MY DOCTOR? Do you know more about the workings of the human body than someone who spent 8 years in medical school?

I emailed her asking her position on this matter and this is what I received:

Thanks for your message, Jason.  I have studied this bill and what has happened in California since they have legalized medical marijuana.  I am against such legalization.  It is my understanding that the majority of people using the so called medical marijuana in California are not those who are ill.

Thanks,

Pat

What exactly has happened in California? People that are sick can legally and safely grow a plant that makes them feel better? So let’s say 80%, and I’d say that’s a gross overestimation, of the medical marijuana users are not ill. That still leaves a LARGE number of people reaping the benefits of being able to use medicine their doctors deem effective. And those 80% who may not be terminally ill, are they bothering anyone? Has the crime rate doubled? I think not. Let’s be real. You’ll have to give me a better argument than that.

Pat, I also find it disturbing that you have more compassion for dogs and cats than for human beings. I believe you’re a sponsor of HB 6, or Davie’s Law. Seems like you’re more concerned with humane euthanasia of animals than the compassionate treatment of Cancer, AIDS, or Hepatitis C patients.  Are you more concerned with animals or people in the upcoming legislative session?

I’d also like to point out the fact that this bill provides a conservative estimate of an additional $60 million in revenue for the state. Do you think the state is in good enough fiscal shape to just leave these funds sitting on the table when you can’t even get my income tax refund to me? I think not.

400,000 people die from cigarettes each year. Yet they’re still legal, and if I feel like smoking a plant grown with radioactive fertilizer I have the right to make that choice. Do you know of ANYONE that’s died from smoking marijuana? Yet even if my doctor tells me that it may help me battle cancer by stimulating my appetite, you’re going to tell me I can’t? And the only reason you can give me is you’re afraid people who aren’t sick might be able to get it? Uhhh what planet are you living on, exactly?

I’ve voted for you in past elections, but not the upcoming election. And I can only hope enough of your constituents feel and vote the same way.

We had reservations for 6:30 but had to push them back. Riverside was very accommodating and it seemed no be no big deal. We showed up right on time and only had a brief wait. We were seated in a nice booth and a drink order was promptly taken and brought to us.

As I looked around the place I was really digging the historic photos and fish mounted on the wall. Our first taste of Riverside was the blackened shrimp nachos. I know, it sounds weird but trust me on this one. They are absolutely scrumptious. And after eating them I wasn’t sure I would have room for my entree.

Then came our salads, which were excellent as well. They weren’t the iceburg lettuce ones that you find in so many restaurants. These were the real deal, composed of nice greens and a real treat.

At this point, I was contemplating telling them to put the rest of my dinner in a box to go, since I would have to eat it later. But I resisted and decided to go for it.

Out came my filet, and lobster tail. I was expecting the typical Red Lobster type of lobster tail. However, this thing was HUGE! My wonderful girlfriend had the softshell crabs which were delicious as well.

So in conclusion I would have to recommend Riverside in Swansboro for a fine dining experience in the Crystal Coast area. It is my new favorite restaurant in Swansboro.