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.

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.

The price was just higher than proflowers however, I think it was well worth it. When I placed the order the helpful woman on the phone told me they would make them beautiful. She definitely wasn’t lying. The dozen roses looked amazing and came in a nice vase. The way they were arranged really made them look like so much more than they were.

If you are ever in need of some flowers for any kind of occasion in the Emerald Isle area, give Petal Pushers a try. I’m sure you will not be disappointed. The service I received, though over the phone was second to none and the product was amazing.

In the future i will be using them to send more flowers. I think I made some other men look bad by choosing Petal Pushers. Best of all, I was supporting a local business, not one that is located far away. It’s important to keep our local economy in mind while shopping for goods and services.

So in closing I’d just like to say thank you to Petal Pushers, the roses were amazing, and I will definitely be doing business with you guys again.

The hunt will be performed by two Emerald Isle Police officers during their off time. The town has ordinances that prohibit deer hunting of any kind, and they remain in effect. There’s also ordinances prohibiting the discharge of a firearm in the city limits, and this has not changed.

If you’ve ever drivien down Coast Guard Road at night or near dusk, I’m sure you’ve noticed a large amount of deer in the area. The hunt will take place in Emerald Isle Woods Park. It will occur during hours that the park is closed. Either in the very early morning hours or evening hours just before dusk.

Once harvested, the deer are going to be processed and donated to needy families in the Carteret County area. Personally I think this is a novel idea, and should have been looked into several years ago.

It is estimated that the large deer population has caused around 12 motor vehicle accidents each year for the past several years. Residents have also complained about the deer damaging flowers, plants, and lawns. The estimated deer population of about 150 deer is nearing the point that it is unhealthy for these animals. When deer become overcrowded, diseases spread, and food/water become scarce.

This deer hunt is a trial run for the town. I’m not aware of them doing anything like this before. If it goes well, it is likely they will use this method again in the future to prevent overpopulation.

While some citizens have voiced concern regarding publicly safety, the Town Manager Frank Rush, has assured everyone that this will be done in a safe manner. Personally I think they should have allowed the residents in the Coast Guard Road neighborhoods to take deer with bow and arrow from their decks during this time of year. There’s not many visitors, and they could put a deer quota in place, say 60 deer allowed to be harvested. This would ensure a good thinning of the population. How many deer can two hunters really get in one small area? My guess is they get about 10 at the maximum.

So if you’re in need of a good laugh as much as I am, come on out for a great time at one of my favorite Emerald Isle night spots. It’s sure to be a good time full of good laughs and great people. If you have never been to Ballyhoo’s man you’re missing out on one of the best night spots on the entire Crystal Coast. Trust me, I’ve lived here for quite some time, and have been a resident fixture at just about every bar, restaurant, and club at one time or another.

This is a non-smoking event, so bring a jacket if you think you’ll need to step outside for a smoke. I know I’ll be going out a couple times here and there. If you’re upset about having to go outside to smoke at a night club, join the club and let your legislators know how you feel. Inform Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, Representative Joe Hackney, and Governor Bev Perdue how much you dislike the idea of them stepping on not only your personal liberties, but the rights of the small business owners they claim to defend.

Other than that I hope to see you out there for a great night.  And to get a brief introduction of some of the comics you’ll be seeing visit the Justice League of Comedy’s website.

Of course the first time I tried to try them out was Labor Day weekend. Needless to say Chowdaheads was packed. Not even a parking spot available for me. A couple weeks ago I was down at the beach and it wasn’t lunch time or dinner time, it was in between those, so I figured I would be able to get in there.

All I can really say is WOW! I’m glad I made it to Chowdaheads. It’s one of my favorite Emerald Isle Restaurants now. My parents were right as usual. The fish tacos were off the chain. The service was outstanding. They make their own chips that are really good as well. Another bonus is the fact they even have Tobasco sauce!

I made it back about a week later for another round of tacos and took them to go so I could eat at the beach. They were just as good as the first time. This time I even sprung for desert a multi layer fudge/caramel cake. My only disappointment was the good looking gal my dad told me about wasn’t there either time I visited.

So if you find yourself in Emerald Isle and your stomach starts growling, be sure to check out Chowdaheads for lunch or dinner. Beware though, in the off-season many local restaurants operate on a limited schedule. I give this restaurant two thumbs up.

At any rate my sister landed a nice trout that I thought my readers may like to see. I think it was like a 15 incher or more.

I’m not so sure her fiance had the same luck, but I’m sure he landed something as well as he’s a very skilled fisherman. Hopefully this post will inspire you to get out and catch some fish too. I know as I type this the anticipation of me hooking a nice one is building. We have to take advantage of the summer fishing opportunities here in Emerald isle because they’ll soon be gone. Best of luck to you should you decide to give it a go.

The fish are here and they’re waiting for you to come and get them.

I live very close to the beach and pier. I also visit both of them frequently, and though I enjoy a beer or two down there without overdoing it, its painfully obvious that the lack of law enforcement on the beach is becoming a problem. Though the town has a beach patrol person cruising the beach, and the police occasionally ride by in their vehicle, they don’t seem to ever nip potential problems in the bud.

Granted I don’t think they should be harassing folks that are simply enjoying themselves and not presenting a problem. But when they ride by and see several young people with a mountain of beer cans next to them, it would serve the community well to ask them to clean up the trash, then check identification to ensure none of them are underage drinkers. While I’m at the beach enjoying myself my first concern is those around me, and my friends and I remain respectful and well-behaved. We do not let beer cans pile up, we don’t become loud and obnoxious either.

Mr. Stanley has the right to sell beer to his patrons, he also has the right to charge folks who are not fishing for the use of his parking lot. Is he responsible for those patrons’ safety and actions while they’re on his property….I think so. Is he responsible for those that pay to use his lot, then drag 6 cases of beer to the beach, become a nuisance, then return to his business to start problems? I think not. Those folks should never make it back to the Bogue Inlet Pier parking lot. They should be intercepted by TOWN law enforcement while acting like fools on the TOWN’s property, the beach.

Personally, i think the lack, or poor response by the Emerald Isle police department can be blamed on Town Manager Frank Rush, and Bill Hargett the Chief of Police. I think this has a lot to do with Mike’s decision to not assist the town with their fireworks this year. Which is ridiculous, they still have the responsibility to protect the town’s visitors, as well as it’s business owners.