Carolina Salt July 2016 by Will Ashby

FREE! TAKE ONE! JULY / AUGUST 2016

your life on the Crystal Coast

GetReady for the PirateInvasion COMING TO BEAUFORT AUGUST 12–13 LOOK INSIDE FOR FUN & FREE

BEAUFORT PIRATES

Invasion Events

THINGS TO DO ON THE CRYSTAL COAST MID–JULY THROUGH MID–AUGUST page 8

LOOK INSIDE FOR

Local Interest & Wildlife Fun

HOME OF THE CRYSTAL COAST STEAM POT!

THE LARGEST GLUTEN-FREE MENU ON THE CRYSTAL COAST! 23 ITEMS!

Got sports?

WE DO! WITH 8 FLAT SCREEN TVs COVERING ALL MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS IN THE BOAT BAR!

WEDNESDAYS

10% Off

SteamPots! FRIDAYS Randy’s Famous Angus

Prime Rib

TRY ONE! Watermelon, Mango or Pineapple Mojito

Live music on the weekends!

7/16 4EVER ALL • 7/23 BACK SEAT ROMEO • 8/6 RICK HUFF • 8/12 HANK BARBEE

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK SPORTS ON FLAT SCREEN IN THE BOAT BAR

FOR WEEKLY & WEEKEND SPECIALS! GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS, GREAT TIMES!

NEXT TO EL’S DRIVE-IN • ARENDELL STREET • MOREHEAD CITY

snapperz steam bar.com

252-240-1313 Lunch, Dinner & Kids Menu All Day!

GI BILL® ELIGIBLE

LIFT YOUR RESUME TO THE TOP. SCIENTIFIC DIVING Start as a beginner and graduate as an internationally recognized Master Scientific Diver eligible to work at universities and government dive programs.

Go pro! Love your job! Travel! 414 Orange Street • Beaufort

252.SCUBA.OK 252.728.2265 discoverydiving.com

Dive Master • SCUBA Instructor • Master SCUBA Diver Trainer • More WE HAVE PROGRAMS BEGINNING EVERY 2 OR 3 WEEKS. CALL TODAY!

GI BILL® ELIGIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY DIVING Start as a beginner and graduate as an Public Safety Diver eligible to work in Fire/ EMS, Police Departments and Dive Teams.

Call Discovery Diving today!

252.728.2265

CLASSIC MONOGRAMMED APPAREL, TOTES & MORE! New lines of jewelry including custom monogrammed jewelry .

CREATIVE, ADORABLE AND FUN FASHION, ACCESSORIES & GIFTS!

BAMBOO/SPANDEX TUNIC DRESSES AND TOPS THAT FLOW EFFORTLESSLY.

UNIQUE & FABULOUS STATEMENT JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES WITH HEART.

WE PROVIDE MONOGRAMMING ON ALL OF OUR CLASSIC APPARREL... Plus totes, jewelry and your personal item as well! Located in the K&V Plaza Next to Flipperz ★ 311 Mangrove Drive , Emerald Isle ★ 252.354.7775

Newly remodeled and carrying several new product lines. Come check us out!

JEWELRY • MONOGRAMMING & EMBROIDERY • HOMEMADE FUDGE • CULINARY NOVELTIES HANDBAGS, TOTES & PURSES • APPAREL & ACCESSORIES • MUCH MORE!

M I D - J U LY TO M I D - AU G U ST 2 0 1 6

Inside This Issue T H E C RYS TA L C OAS T L I F E S T Y L E

F E AT U R E S 11 Growing Great Tomatoes in NC

It can be challenging, but proper planting and choosing the right variety is your first step to success.

14 Ask the Aquarium: Soft-Shells

GET READY FOR THE BEAUFORT PIRATE INVASION!

15 OWLS: Not So Cuckoo!

FREE! TAKE ONE! JULY / AUGUST 2016

your life on the Crystal Coast

July&August 2016

ON THIS MONTH’S COVER GetReady for the PirateInvasion COMING TO BEAUFORT AUGUST 12-13 LOOK INSIDE FOR FUN & FREE

BEAUFORT PIRATES

Invasion Events

THINGS TO DO ON THE CRYSTAL COAST MID–JULY THROUGH MID–AUGUST page 8

LOOK INSIDE FOR

Local Interest & Wildlife Fun

Are soft-shell crabs, like the ones from the popular summer sandwich, a particular kind of crab?

It’s one of our favorite events of the year, the Beaufort Pirate Invasion. Get your “Aarrrrgh!” on the weekend of August 12–13, as buccaneers invade the peaceful town of Beaufort.

These birds commonly lay their eggs in another bird’s nest, leaving strangers to do all the hard work for them.

16 Get Ready for the Pirate Invasion!

Pirates are more popular than ever, and they’re invading Beaufort the weekend of August 12 and 13, 2016.

18 Pirate Invasion Events

The Pirate Invasion Signature Events are up on page 18. Tickets are available now on their website at beaufortpirateinvasion.com.

LOCAL INTEREST 11 GROWING TOMATOES in North Carolina is difficult, but not impossible!

15 NOT SO CUCKOO! We’re cuckoo about these beautiful and interesting birds.

14 SOFT-SHELL CRABS are in season. Are they a special kind or crab or not?

Things To Do...................................... 8 Community Wetlands Project............. 19 Historic Beaufort Road Race............. 20 Beaufort Summer Party..................... 21 Living History Workshops................... 21 Summer History Day Camp................ 21 Hooked Up Fishing........................... 23 Diving Our Coast in July.................... 24 Tides................................................ 25

21 EVENTS AT BHA

this summer ahead on page 21. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 5

PUBLISHER: Will

Ashby

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Chevy

Kaylor

CONTRIBU TING WRITERS Caroline Lamb, Sidney Hunter, Lindsay Parker, Joey Madia, Lee Moore, Capt. Jeff Cronk, Linda Bergman–Althouse, Sherry White and Michael Stanley. E D I T O R IA L S & A D V E RT I S I N G Please contact the publisher at will@crystalcoastoutdoors.com or 252-723-7628 for ad rates and editorial ideas. Ad and editorial deadline for the Mid-August to Mid-September issue is July 16, 2016. Email letters to the editor, photos, community listings and articles to will@crystalcoastoutdoors.com. Next issue will publish August 7, 2016.

From the Publisher Thank you for picking up Carolina Salt magazine, published to depict your life here on the Crystal Coast. All articles are written by locals. We cover a wide range of topics including local history, outdoor sports, wildlife, special events and more. Every month we look to you, our readers, to keep our magazine fresh. If you have a story to tell, an event to promote, an interesting local photograph or just some good times stories to share, send them our way. Participation is welcomed and appreciated. Reader contributions are the founding principle of the magazine. We want to be a local resource for you, our readers. If you like what you see, tell people about it—especially our advertisers. For questions, concerns and more information about Carolina Salt, send e-mail to will@carolinasalt.com or call 252-723-7628. For up-todate info, be sure to look us up on Facebook!

We Depend On Our Readers! Call 252-723-7628 if you’re interested in submitting an article or photo. Our local content is what keeps our magazine fresh and relevant.

PUBLISHED BY CRYSTAL COAST OUTDOORS PUBLICATIONS P.O. Box 572, Morehead City, NC 28557 | 252-723-7628

Join us for breakfast daily starting at 7am 7802 EMERALD DRIVE • EMERALD ISLE • 252.354.6592 • VILLAGEMARKETOFEI.COM

OUTFITTING SALTWATER ANGLERS & BOATERS FOR OVER 15 YEARS! Our knowledgeable staff can assist you with all your fishing and boating needs. AUTHORIZED DEALER

THINGS TO DO

JULY 19–21, 26–28

Summer History Day Camp [ 9 AM–NOON ] The Beaufort Historical Association’s summer camp gives students the opportunity to tour and learn about each of the buildings and the gardens on the Beaufort Historic Site. Campers will participate in colonial activities to learn about life in early America. The three-day Summer History Day Camp is for children ages 8-11. To register call 252-728-5225 or visit beauforthistoricsite.org.

knowledge of the horses makes for an exciting and enlightening glimpse into the relationships, behavior and survival of these wild animals. Participants will learn how to determine an appropriate position and distance for watching that doesn’t affect the horses’ natural behaviors. Space is limited and reservations are required. The only charge is the ferry fee: $16 for adults and $9 for children 11 and under. For more information call 252-728-2250, ext. 3001.

JULY 10–16

JULY 9

[ 6:30 PM ] The 2016 SwanFest Concert Series offers live music starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Pavilion at Olde Town Square in Swansboro. These free outdoor concerts will be held each Sunday evening throughout the summer.

BHA Summer Party

JULY & AUGUST

The Beaufort Historical Association invites you to come to the Summer Party featuring a specialty cocktail by Doug Brady along with an open bar, live music and great food! View over 100 silent and live auction items and start bidding today at beauforthistoricsite.org! At 100 Turner Street, Beaufort. For more information call 252-728-5225.

Harrika’s Summer Live Music Come see what’s happening in the Biergarten at Harrika’s, 911 Cedar Point Boulevard, Highway 24, Cedar Point. Thursday trivia and beer releases from 6–10 p.m. and live music on the weekends from 7:30–10:30 p.m. For more information visit drinkcoastal.com or call 252-354-7911. 7/9....................................................Hank Barbee 7/15.................................................... Leigh Glass 7/16...................................... The Joe Baes Project 7/22............................. Open Mic & Obscure Beers 7/23..............................Will Baker Hosts Open Mic 7/29.......................................................Open Mic 7/30............................. Blues, Chews & Brews Fest with Wicked Weed 8/5...................................................... Wild Honey 8/6....... Pig n’ Pint Night with Born Again Heathens 8/12............................................ Justin Castellano 8/13..................................................Hank Barbee

✪ SwanFest

JULY 12, 26 | AUGUST 9

[ 7–8:30 PM ] The Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a free summer concert series from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend on the beautiful Morehead City waterfront at Jaycee Park, 807 Shepard Street. For more information on the concert series call 252726-5083.

JULY 9

A tour led by Cape Lookout National Seashore Wildlife Biologist Sue Stuska, whose intimate

JULY 10, 17, 24, 31 | AUGUST 7

✪ Morehead City Summer Concerts

✪ Great 4th Boat Race

Horse Sense and Survival Trip

Seven days of toothy times spotlight the mysterious and misunderstood world of sharks. Enjoy shark-themed programs, feedings, activities and crafts. For details call 252-247-4003 or visit ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores.

JULY 9, 16, 23, 30 | AUGUST 6

JULY 9 [ 9–10 AM ] A free traditionally rigged sailing craft rally to celebrate the historic voyages that carried the news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the Outer Banks. Boat registration required for participation. The fleet of boats will be in Taylor’s Creek between 9 and 10 a.m. at 315 Front Street, Beaufort. For more information call 252-728-7317.

Shark Week at the Aquarium

7/10.................................................Spare Change 7/17.................................................Seaside Band 7/24.........................................................Aqoostix 7/31.......................................................Jon Shain 8/7....................................................Naked Knees

7/9..................................4EverAll (Acoustic, Rock) 7/16..............Donald Thompson Band (Blues, R&B) 7/23.........OBX Philharmonic (Variety, Classic Rock) 7/30..........East Coast Rhythm & Blues Band (R&B) 8/6........................ Big Drink (Variety, Classic Rock)

JULY 9, 30

✪ =FREE

M I D – J U LY T O M I D – AU G U S T

Carteret Arts Honors Bob Malone The Carteret Arts Honors recognizes a person who has significantly contributed to the arts in Carteret County and for the community. The show will be held at the Carteret Community Theatre on Saturday July 9 and all proceeds with be given to the theatre’s building fund. The money will allow the theatre to make renovations and repairs providing the community with an excellent performing arts center. Tickets are available at Dee Gee’s or the door. For more information please call Kathryn Walker at 252-732-5738.

Beach Run Series Dust off your running shoes and join in for one of the most popular Parks & Rec events of the season. Open to all ages and experience levels. Run the 1 Mile, 5k or 10K. For more information call 252808-3301.

JULY 13

✪ Oyster Reef Construction Volunteer Event [ 10 AM ] Come help us repair the coast one bag at a time! The North Carolina Coastal Federation, in partnership with Sound to Sea at Trinity Center, invites volunteers to help build an oyster reef that will protect the shoreline from erosion and will create habitat for hundreds of marine creatures including oysters, which help filter and clean the water. With the help of the federation staff, volunteers will use several hundred bags of recycled oyster shells to build the new reef. Volunteers will meet at Trinity Center (618 Salter Path Road in Pine Knoll Shores) at 10 a.m. and park by the Point of Arrival before going to the shoreline. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing that will get wet and dirty. Closed-toe shoes are required. Participants should also bring work gloves and a towel.

LOCALLY OWNED FULL-SERVICE SALON

Open Monday to Saturday

NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS!

We Offer Quality & Professional Service - 30 Years of Experience -

Call for An Appointment

Veranda Square Shopping Center | 252.354.8900 | 7901 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle 8 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

✪ =FREE

M I D – J U LY T O M I D – AU G U S T

Sandwich fixings, snacks, water, sunscreen and bug spray will be provided. Registration is required. Visit nccoast.org/events to sign up or call 252-393-8185 for more information.

JULY 13

Explore Rachel Carson Reserve Come explore the Rachel Carson Reserve, a North Carolina Estuarine Research Reserve site named for the prominent biologist and author of Silent Spring and The Sea Around Us. This protected area is set aside for research and is home to many diverse coastal habitats. Get up close and personal with some of the plants and animals of the site. A guided hike led by Associate Museum Curator Benjamin Wunderly will take you through the different habitats found on Town Marsh and Bird Shoal. Not suitable for children under 12. Fee is $20. Advance registration is required. For more information call 252-728-7317.

JULY 13, 20, 27

13th Annual Storytelling Festival [ 10 AM | 2 PM ] We are so pleased to offer you the line-up for our 13th Annual Storytelling Festival. We will again have performances on three Wednesday mornings in July at 10 a.m. at the Crystal Coast Civic Center and four afternoon shows at 2 p.m. at the Bethlehem Methodist Church at the corner of Bogue Loop Road and Route 24 in Bogue. For more information call 252-247-4660. July 13: Jess Willis from Florence, SC A storyteller at heart, she loves to tell anything from Folk and Fractured Fairy Tales to Family Stories and Personal Foibles. She believes no matter our age, we all need stories.

July 20: Bright Star Touring Theater from Asheville, NC The theater company has earned a national reputation for performances that play to a young audience’s intelligence and meet national standards of learning.

July 27: Claire Ramsey from Oxford, NC

Her wish as a storyteller is to bring her audience to a place where they remember their first stories, pictures filling their minds and hearts. Stories With Claire specializes in folk tales from around the world for story lovers of all ages.

THINGS TO DO

JULY 14–17, 21–24

Carteret Community Theatre: ‘Hands On A Hardbody’ [ 8 PM | 2 PM ] Ten contestants. Four days. One truck. For 10 hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they’ll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In the hilarious, hard-fought contest that is Hands On A Hardbody, only one winner can drive away with the American Dream. For tickets call 252-497-8919. For more information visit carteretcommunitytheatre.com.

JULY 14, 21, 28 | AUGUST 4, 11

✪ EmeraldFest Concert Series Free outdoor concerts will be held each Thursday evening throughout the summer! At Western Ocean Regional Access in Emerald Isle. 7/14.........................................................4EverAll 7/21........................................... Scearce & Ketner 7/28.................................................... Wild Honey 8/4.............................................. Backseat Romeo 8/11....................................................... Big Drink

J U LY 15–16

NEWPORT PRO RODEO at the Newport Flea Mall. Doors open at 6 p.m. and show begins at 8 p.m. Advance tickets on sale now. For more information call 252-223-4019.

JULY 15, AUGUST 5

✪ Alive at Five Outdoor Concerts [ 5–8 PM ] Free concerts take place at the Jaycee Park on the Morehead City Waterfront. For information call 252-808-0440 or visit downtownmoreheadcity.com. 7/15.................................................Spare Change 8/5............................................Mikele Buck Band

JULY 15–16

Newport Flea Mall Pro Rodeo [ 6 PM ] Come out and enjoy Champion vs. Champion, Bareback/Saddle Broncs, Calf Roping, Cowgirls Breakaway Roping, Wild Bull Riding and much, much more. Gates open at 6 p.m. and show begins at 8 p.m. Advance adult tickets are $13 ($15 at the gate), children 6 to 12 are $8 and children 5 and under are free. At 196 Carl Garner Road in Newport. For more information call 252223-4019.

Designated Driver Taxi

D ATES IN J U LY

HANDS ON A HARDBODY at Carteret Community Theatre has matinée and evening showings. For tickets call 252-497-8919 or visit carteretcommunitytheatre.com.

D.D.

Taxi Services

Outstanding service, friend

ly drivers.

NEED A RIDE? CALL US! 252-393-6015

THINGS TO DO

✪ =FREE

M I D – J U LY T O M I D – AU G U S T

JULY 16

37th Annual Historic Beaufort Road Race [ 8 AM ] Hundreds of runners will run through the historical downtown of Beaufort to benefit Crystal Coast charities. The divisions include: 10K Run, 5K Run, 1 Mile Run, 10K & 5K Wheelchair, 5K Baby Jogger (all children must be safety strapped in and pushed by individual over age of 18), 5K & 1 Mile Timed Walk and Masters. The race course has been certified as accurate by USA Track and Field. Sponsored by The Beaufort Ole Towne Rotary Club. All races start on Front Street between the Maritime Museum and Orange Street. For more information, call 252-728-4583, ext. 137 or visit beaufortroadrace.com.

DATE S I N J ULY A N D A U G U S T

✪ LIVING HISTORY SERIES at the Beaufort Historic Site offers a glimpse into the past, including a Depression Bead Demonstration on August 6. For information call 252-728-5225.

JULY AND AUGUST

✪ Living History Series The popular Living History series will again be offered by the Beaufort Historic Site this summer. These hands-on workshops and demonstrations illustrate the traditional arts, crafts and necessary skills of early Beaufort residents. Programs are held in the Beaufort Historical Association’s Welcome Center, located at 130 Turner Street. There is a wide range of workshops available to both students and adults, highlighting a variety of crafts and techniques. For more information call 252-7285225. 7/16...................... Musical Instruments of the Past 7/23.................................. Sea Salt Demonstration 8/4..................................... Quilting Demonstration 8/6........................ Depression Bead Demonstration

JULY 27, AUGUST 10

Coastal Cruises

J U LY 3 0

✪ SURFRIDER Fundraiser at 8102 Emerald Drive. Tons of raffle items, new tees and other gear. Drink specials and live music onstage inside and outside. For information call 910-459-9158.

[ 10 AM ] The coastal waters and marshes of central North Carolina are magical places. Here, where the rivers meet the sea, we come to nourish our youthful spirit by fishing, sailing, swimming and sometimes, just relaxing. Come get a closer look at and learn about these magnificent places and why they are so special. The North Carolina Coastal Federation cruise aboard the Lady Swan meanders through the estuaries in and around the White Oak River and Bogue Sound. If conditions are favorable we may also pull a seine net and scratch for clams,

Nautical Collection E X C L U S I V E LY D E S I G N E D B Y

VERANDA SQUARE | EMERALD ISLE | CHURCHWELLS.COM

1 0 | C A R O L I N A 1-800-846-1961 S A L T | J U LY / |A252-354-7166 UGUST 2016

so wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet and muddy. Participants will meet at the Hammocks Beach State Park Visitor Center in Swansboro at 10 a.m. Program fees are $20 for Coastal Federation members and $25 for nonmembers. All ages are welcome, though the program is geared toward adults and older children. Registration is required and is nonrefundable. Please visit nccoast.org/ events to register. For more information call 252 393-8185.

JULY 30–31

✪ 16th Annual Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic The 2016 Buddy Longboard Classic will be held at Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach. Free for all. Join us Friday night for surf movies on the beach and the Annual Beach Party Saturday Night with Monjah from 7–10 p.m. Diamond Limousine will offer a shuttle from the Circle to the party Saturday night. Contest registration available online at buddypelletier.com.

JULY 30

CedarFest 2016 [ 9 AM–4 PM ] Join us for our annual CedarFest! Crafts, music, food and fun at the Octagon House, 301 Masonic Avenue, Cedar Point. The admission fee at the gate is a non-perishable food item for the Food Pantry, but monetary donations will be accepted as well. Live entertainment provided by Wild Honey and the CSA Band.

JULY 30

✪ 2nd Annual Surfrider Fundraiser Last year was a lot of fun! We will have tons of raffle items including a new surfboard, T-shirts, hats, artwork, gift baskets...the list goes on. We also will have our new surfrider tees, tanks and other Surfrider gear available for purchase. Drink specials will be on tap with the purchase of your Surfrider Kleen Kanteen—these cups are slick looking! Signal Fire from Wilmington will be playing on the outside stage from 7–10 p.m. Zin Pirate is playing on the inside stage from 10–2 p.m. It’s going to be epic! At 8102 Emerald Drive, Emerald Isle. For more information call 910-459-9158. S

M I C HA E L S TA N L E Y

SOUTHERN GARDENER

Each letter represents a disease that variety is resistant to. Choosing disease-resistant plants will increase your chances of success. V.................... Verticillium Wilt F.................... Fusarium Wilt FF.................. Fusarium races 1 & 2 FFF................ Fusarium races 1, 2, & 3 N................... Nematodes T.................... Tobacco Mosaic Virus A.................... Alternaria Stem Canker St ................. Stemphylum Gray Leaf Spot TSWV............. Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Next you will want to decide whether to choose determinate or indeterminate varieties. Determinate plants produce most of their fruit at one time and usually don’t grow quite as tall. Indeterminate varieties grow larger and produce over a longer period of time. Cherry tomatoes are the easiest and most productive to grow. Heirloom varieties usually have the best flavor but lack disease resistance. There are several diseases that can affect tomatoes. A lot of them—including early blight, late blight and bacterial speck—are preventable by It may not be the easiest project, but it can be rewarding. using products such as chlorothalonil, mancozeb, neem oil or copper soap. rowing tomatoes in Eastern North Carolina can be challenging. There are Most wilt diseases live in the soil and cannot many diseases that threaten the success of gathering vine-ripe tomatoes be cured. Avoid planting tomatoes in a garden in the summer garden. Planting tomatoes properly and choosing disease where these have been a problem before. You may resistant varieties is the first step to successfully growing tomatoes. To consider growing your tomatoes in containers start off, you want to plant your tomatoes in well-drained soil amended if you have had problems with wilt in the past. with plenty of compost, especially if you have sandy soil. Plant your tomatoes where they Tomato spotted wilt virus is another disease will get at least eight hours of sunlight and try to avoid wetting the leaves when watering. there is no treatment for. When these viruses are Space them about 3 feet apart to allow for good air circulation. Tomatoes will need detected remove the plants immediately. support, so be sure to cage or stake tomatoes after planting. Fertilize with 5-10-10 and You will also want to watch for stink bugs avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. Using liquid fertilizer is good right after planting or for a and tomato hornworms. Stink bugs can be quick boost, but they often contain too much nitrogen. Applying too much nitrogen will treated with products containing permethrin of result in a lot of green growth but little fruit. Adding landplaster or lime at planting will bifenthrin. Hornworms can be controlled using help prevent blossom-end rot. There are also liquid calcium sprays available to help stop spinosad or dipel. blossom-end rot. Growing a nice crop of tomatoes in your When choosing tomato varieties to grow, there are several things to consider. First, garden is possible but you must be proactive choose varieties that have as much disease resistance as possible and grow several different when it comes to disease control and the rewards varieties. You will see a series of letters on the plant tag when purchasing tomato plants. will be well worth your time. S

GROWING GREAT TOMATOES IN NC

Exclusively at Family Furniture

BDI HIGH-PERFORMANCE OFFICE & ENTERTAINMENT FURNITURE

BDI furniture merges innovative engineering and original design to seamlessly integrate technology into the home and office. Whether you’re considering media or office furniture, you can be sure that we have solutions that perform as well as they look. FAMILYFURNITURENC.COM

448 CEDAR POINT BOULEVARD

252.764.9659 | JOIN US ON FACEBOOK.

PirateInvasionEvents on page 18

® M&M’S PEANUT BUTTER IE MONSTER COOK AT

BLIZZARD TRE ®

® r cookies, M&M’S , choco A monstrous combination of peanut butte ous vanilla soft serve. -fam world chunks, peanut butter topping, and

8307 EMERALD DRIVE • EMERALD ISLE

252.354.9024

*At participating locations. Limit 1 per person. Only 1 is flipped in the drive-thru & on multiple orders. Must be claimed at time of purchase.

1 2 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Check Our Our Garden Art Poles!

Something for Everyone!

VISIT OUR

HUGE SHOWROOM! WE SPECIALIZE IN

EVERYTHING COASTAL! Home Décor • Bedding Bathroom & Kitchen Accessories Pictures & Flags • Gifts Paint-Your-Own Buoys

LARGEST SELECTION OF GUY HARVEY T-SHIRTS ON THE EAST COAST! —Mon–Sat 10–5 • Sun 11–5—

1075 Cedar Point Boulevard 252.393.7200

Bring s e friends and hang t with us in r Backyard Bar о the weekends! FULL BAR & LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY NIGHTS

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Wed-Mon 7AM-9PM (Open ’til 10PM Fri & Sat) • Tue 5PM-9PM 8302 Emerald Drive • Emerald Isle • 252.354.5277 • TheTradingPostEI.com

A S K T H E AQ UA R I U M

N C A Q UA R I U M S . C O M / P I N E - K N O L L - S H O R E S

FAQ

Q. My friend ordered a soft-shell crab sandwich at a restaurant recently. It was served on a bun with the whole crab intact—legs and all. Is a soft-shell crab a particular type of crab?

“Soft-shell” usually refers to a blue crab that has shed its old shell and hasn’t had time for its new shell to harden. During this stage, the crab is very soft. After removing internal organs, the entire crab can be cooked and eaten—soft shell, legs and all. Crabs must shed their shells to grow. This is also known as molting. When a crab gets too big for its current shell, a split forms along the back where the body turns under to become the tail. The split widens and the crab slowly backs out of its old shell, bringing with it all its appendages – legs, pincers, eyestalks—everything. The crab is very soft and vulnerable at this stage and is considered a “soft shell.” Young crabs grow quickly and must shed every few weeks. Just before molting the crab stops eating. While waiting two to four days for its new shell to harden, the crab stays hidden and continues to fast. As crabs age, shedding slows to every few months. Old or very large crabs may shed no more than once a year. Two to three years is considered the average life span for blue crabs. The older the crab, the more difficult the molt. As a rule, soft-shell crab season runs spring through early fall, depending on location. Soft-shells can be legally harvested only after reaching a certain size. The larger the crab, the more expensive. Crab farms and recreational and commercial fishermen harvest and market these delicacies. Blue crabs are a popular seafood at any growth stage in North Carolina and are common in all North Carolina coastal waters. According to fisheries statistics, more than 30 million pounds were harvested commercially in 2011 with a dockside value of $21 million. Like North Carolina, most states have regulations governing both recreational and commercial crab fisheries in order to manage the resource. Discover more fascinating facts about North Carolina’s aquatic environments and inhabitants by visiting the aquariums on Roanoke Island, at Fort Fisher and at Pine Knoll Shores or Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. S

This hard shell blue crab will molt many times during its lifespan. On average, female blue crabs molt 18 to 20 times, males approximately 21 to 23 times.

about the

AQ UA R I U M Information provided by the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The state operates three public aquariums; one in Pine Knoll Shores, another at Fort Fisher and a third on Roanoke Island, as well as Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head. The facilities are administered by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and are designed to inspire appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments. —F O R M O R E I N F O —

For more information, call 1-800-832-FISH or visit ncaquariums.com.

1 4 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

L I N DA B E R G M A N – A LT H O U S E

O U T E R BA N K S W I L D L I F E S H E LT E R

ABOUT O.W.L.S. Take a tour of the facility at 100 Wildlife Way, Newport. To volunteer, call 252-240-1200. If your organization would like to learn more about wildlife, the O.W.L.S. non-releasable education animals jump at the chance!

NOT SO CUCKOO! These birds commonly lay their eggs in another bird’s nest, leaving all the hard work for total strangers.

ellow-billed cuckoos aren’t really that cuckoo! That statement is quite evident when we find that a momma cuckoo has chosen another bird species’ nest to lay an egg or two. In this bizarre way, cuckoos are propagating, but another set of parents will do the hard work raising an “odd bird” that is sometimes much larger than their own nestlings. Recently, a yellow-billed cuckoo fledgling that appeared to be cat or hawk attacked was admitted to the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter in Newport. The more-interesting-thansad part of this story is the fact that when the Good Samaritan rescuer found the cuckoo, it was still on its feet on the ground and was being fed by mom and dad robins. The only explanation is that the young cuckoo had hatched in a robin’s nest. Upon examination at the shelter, a large, gaping hole was found in his neck area. Other than that, he was alert, healthy, still eating well and—after ensuring the injured area was cleaned and remained clean—the wound managed to close and heal itself within a

week. Of course, we at the shelter focused on doing everything we could to make sure the YBC remained healthy, but we have to thank the robin parents for what they did to get him to the hardy condition he was in before the attack, which helped him survive something so traumatic. Our YBC is doing very well, eating so many mealworms it’s difficult to keep count and his vocal chattering roll is quite a pleasant addition to the bird sounds in the nursery. Yellow-billed cuckoo infants will grow into fairly large, long and slim birds. Right now his slightly down-curved bill is almost as long as his head, and is all black. It will turn mostly yellow as he matures. When fully feathered, he will have a very long tail, dark in color on top, but black with white oval spots underneath. Cuckoo wings appear pointed and swept back in flight as they fly in a straight path using sharp wing beats with only a slight pause between them. Yellow-billed cuckoos are warm brown above and whitish below. Their charcoal gray face sports yellow eye-rings as an adult. In flight, the outer part of their wings will flash brownish red. Their coloring allows them to sit well hidden in woodlands that offer gaps and clearings as they wait for prey such as caterpillars (their fave), cicadas, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, katydids and other flying insects to come into view. YBCs will wreak havoc on webworm (tent caterpillar) infestations. In one sitting, a yellow-billed cuckoo can put away 100 webworms. So in that way, they are environmental partners who keep insect numbers down and save trees! They may also feast on small lizards, frogs, eggs of other birds and berries such as elderberries, black berries and small fruits. During winter, with the absence of insect prey, fruit and seeds become a larger part of their diet. They are slow, methodical hunters who hang out in treetops that line water sources. Yellow-billed cuckoos are easy to hear, if you know their CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 1 5

GetReady for the PirateInvasion August 12-13 Events on Page 18

1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

B Y JOEY M A DIA

irates are more popular than ever. Video games, television, films, bestselling books—the Brethren of the Seas have a tight grip on our collective imagination. But amid the popularity, there is also misunderstanding and exaggeration when it comes to who the captains and crews of the Golden Age of Piracy were, how they behaved and why they did what they did. Setting the record straight—and having fun in the process—is just part of the mission of the Beaufort Pirate Invasion. Beaufort is one of the “best little towns in America” according to a growing number of travel websites, magazines and public forums. Its waterfront boasts quaint shops, excellent restaurants and an always changing array of sailboats, fishing trawlers and yachts and the locals truly do exude the legendary Southern Charm. Another appealing aspect of Beaufort is its love for all things pirate. Although details are scarce, Spanish privateers (merchantmen bearing letters of marque from their king allowing them to attack English shipping), made off with several ships from Beaufort Harbor on June 4, 1747. Emboldened by the lack of resistance (Beaufort boasted only 13 militiamen at the time), they returned on August 26, 1747, taking over the town. They were soon repulsed by a re-enforced militia and a determined group of townsfolk and never returned. This local triumph—which embodies the larger heart and resourcefulness of North Carolina’s early inhabitants—is celebrated through an elaborate re-creation during the annual two-day Beaufort Pirate Invasion (August 12 and 13 this year), which brings 30,000-plus attendees to Carteret County, making for a large contribution to the local economy. Synonymous with the Invasion is Captain Horatio Sinbad (his legal name), who is a commissioned privateer with an official letter of marque from a former North Carolina governor and President Reagan. After spending time as a sailor in the West Indies when he was sixteen (where he got the nickname Sinbad), and having already built a ship called the Meka (which sank in a storm) in the mid 1960s while an engineer at General Motors, he built a 54-foot, 18ton brigantine named the Meka II in his backyard in Detroit, Michigan—a labor of love that took 10,000 hours to complete. When asked why he did it, Sinbad says, “I wanted the whole experience: building

the Meka II was a connection to the past—a time when you had to earn your place. It’s very personal. Along the journey you find like minds with the same passions.” Appropriately, “Meka” means “stout, loyal companion” in the Hopi language and has similar meaning in languages around the world, including Russian. Although he’s logged over 60,000 miles on the open seas, from various points along the East Coast and in Canada, the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, winning races and participating in many tall ship and reenactment events, for the past 40 years Sinbad has called Beaufort home, making his living as a draftsman, boat builder, restaurant owner, charter boat captain, commercial boat operator, sailing school operator, re-enactor, novelist, filmmaker and merchant of all things pirate. In 1972 he took a carpentry job on a boat in Spooner’s Creek near Pine Knoll Shores and fell in love with the area. A year later he was invited to participate in a commemoration of the Spanish attack on Beaufort. “150 people attended,” he recalls. “The next year it was 500. The Invasion was an hour-long event following the Old Homes tour. It’s grown steadily from there.” The teamwork and coordination it takes to navigate a ship on the open water is the perfect metaphor for the effort that goes into putting on the Invasion each year. It’s a combination of year-long planning (nearly a dozen committees meet every month) and a lot of passion—for the Carolina coast, for the event itself and for keeping alive the local history of the Golden Age pirates. Graham Jones, who coordinates transportation and lodging for the Invasion and is also frequently seen at pirate events as the historical figure William Dampier, says “one of my reasons for moving to Beaufort was to become involved in the Invasion, which I had attended a few years before. North Carolina is rich in Pyrate [sic] history but Beaufort is the only N.C. port to actually ‘celebrate’ that history.” Jo Cannon, co-founder of the Beaufortbased Cannon Crew, wants to “honor the historical aspect of what happened on the Carolina coast. Pirates were prerevolutionaries; they wanted freedom and equality.” This is something rarely seen in Hollywood interpretations, but there is abundant scholarship to support it. One of the key people responsible for making the Invasion happen each year for the past decade is event coordinator Sondra

Reed. After coordinating an event that featured 13 tall ships from around the world, she “fell in love with the pirate festivals. The historical knowledge of the participants is impressive and I enjoy the educational aspect of the crews working with kids and their attention to accurate portrayal of costuming and cooking. They make the fantasy real.” Reed is also motivated by the year-long excitement of the families who attend. “I receive hundreds of emails a year from them.” Although coordinating such a complex event has its share of challenges, Reed says, “I enjoy bringing it to life. It’s like opening night of a play—that’s when all the work and effort pays off, watching these close knit pirate crews and our committee members pulling together. That’s why I say at the end of every year, ‘I will do it again.’” Carl Cannon, co-founder of the Cannon Crew and popular portrayer of the legendary Blackbeard (who spent a great deal of the last year of his life in Carolina waters, including his wrecking of the Queen Anne’s Revenge in Beaufort Inlet), oversees the Living History encampment, which features historically accurate apparel and items and demonstrations of skills like sword fighting and rope and net-making. Echoing Reed, he says “the primary mission is to educate and as well as entertain.” Celebrating local maritime traditions is important to him, having grown up in Beaufort, where he made his career as a commercial fisherman. The BPI also benefits the community through fundraising. Last year, they chose the Carteret County Domestic Violence (CCDV) Program as a partner, presenting them with a $1,000 donation. Says Glenda Riggs, Executive Director of the CCDV, “We are deeply grateful to the Beaufort Pirate Invasion. We provide a Safe House, 24 hour crisis lines, court and mental health advocacy and other services to victims of abuse and their children in Carteret County and could not do so without the support of others such as the Beaufort Pirate Invasion.” Looking out over the sunset from the deck of the Meka II toward the end of another beautiful Beaufort day, Sinbad said, “My father, who was quiet but philosophical, told me, ‘You’ll be known for what you do, not what you say you’ll do.’” The BPI’s committee members and many participants and volunteers are a living testament to what wonderful things can come from a philosophy such as that. S

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 1 7

PirateEvents The Beaufort Pirate Invasion is free to the public. For more information or to purchase tickets for our Signature events, visit beaufortpirateinvasion.com. For information regarding activities at the North Carolina Maritime Museum visit ncmaritimemuseum. org. You can also visit our Facebook page to keep up with the daily activities of our pirate community at facebook.com/pages/BeaufortPirate-Invasion

AUGUST 12

The Buccaneer Revue: BBQ Dinner and Pirate Talent Revue [ 5:30–8:30 PM ] Arrrr! Captain Sinbad’s favorite meal with all the fixings. Join the Captain and Beaufort’s most wanted pirates for a feast you are sure to enjoy. Then relax and let the pirates entertain you with a dazzling display of swashbuckling showmanship & debauchery! Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m., revue begins at 7. At the Main State Tent. Tickets are $22 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under. Includes dinner, beverage, dessert and the show. Tickets available online at beaufortpirateinvasion.com.

AUGUST 13

Yo, Ho, Ho, and a Bottle O’ Run: Pre-Grog 1M/5K Jog or Walk [ 7 AM ] At the sound of the cannon fire, Pirates will cheer you on as you run, walk, or swagger down the scenic Beaufort waterfront! Prizes for the race winners as well as for the best pirate costumes (individuals and crews). Strollers and four-legged friends are welcome. Pre-register online at beaufortpirateinvasion.com or on site. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and race begins at 8. At the corner of Turner and Front Streets. Cost is $25 per participant or $85 for crew of 4. Free T-shirt for each person registered by July 15.

AUGUST 13

Peg Leg Pirate Pooch Costume Contest [ 10:30 AM ] Hosted by Beaufort Pet Provisions. Don’t deny your pets an opportunity to join in on the pirate fun. Held at Beaufort Pet Provisions at 129 Turner Street, this event is one of the favorites amongst pet lovers. Enter your pooch for this fun event with real peg leg pirates. Beaufort Mayor Richard Stanley will be on hand to judge the contest. Win prizes and help raise money to help local pet rescue organizations. Register your pooch early for $10. For more information call 252-838-9286.

AUGUST 12, 13

Children’s Costume Contest We love our wee pirates, as one day they grow into big pirates. It is so much fun to dress up and get in touch with our inner pirate characters. The costume contest is judged by pirates themselves for first, second and third-place winners. Contest Friday at 1 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

Parlay on the Waterfront [ 7–10 PM ] Celebrate the end of the Invasion and Beaufort’s return to peace and prosperity with an evening of live music, grog and good cheer! On the waterfront at The Dockhouse Restaurant. Admission is free! Grog is available for purchase. S 1 8 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

Community lends a hand in final phase of wetlands project

B Y DA N I E L L E H E R M A N

he North Carolina Coastal Federation – with the help of the Cape Carteret community – recently completed the last phase of its restorationproject to convert two failing stormwater retention ponds into functioning wetlands that will help reduce the amount of polluted stormwaterrunoff from entering Deer Creek and Bogue Sound. On June 5, volunteers helped plant some of the 18,050 shrubs and grass that are now growing in the restored wetlands in front of Cape Carteret Baptist and Cape Carteret Presbyterian churches. These plants will soak up pollutants from stormwater before it flows into the creek and sound. Working together, the federation, churches, Town of Cape Carteret and community members turned what were environmentally unhealthy ponds off N.C. 24 into what will soon be sustainable, aesthetically pleasing wetlands that serve as reminders of what can happen when many organizations collaborate to improve their community. Kris Bass Engineering designed the project, and Backwater Environmental, Inc. of Pittsboro, N.C., constructed it. Thomas Simpson Construction provided assistance, as did the West Carteret Water Corporation. Before and during construction, the groups working on the project aimed to disturb as little wildlife as possible, and a team from Habitats Environmental Services, LLC collected and relocated wildlife, including 95 turtles, 27 frogs, six eels and three Amphiuma. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores also assisted, removing and relocating more than 300fish as water levels started to decrease. As functioning wetlands, these two ponds will remain mostly dry, except after heavy rains, and will now filter stormwater runoff to improve water quality in Deer Creek, a tidal creek that is impaired does not meet the state water quality requirements for shellfishing. The project was funded by the federation through approval from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Prior to the start of the project, untreated stormwater runoff from about 50 acres of land, including the shopping centers across the street and from the highway collected in the ponds and made its way into the creek. The upper pond, which is farther from Deer Creek and in front of the Baptist Church, stopped retaining water and was overtaken by weeds, while the lower pond, on the Presbyterian Church’s property, succumbed to invasive aquatic plants. The upper pond flowed into the lower through a culvert in between the two ponds. The upper pond is now an infiltration wetland and works like a cross between a rain garden and a stormwater wetland. It has an improved storage capacity for water and contains diverse native plants. After a land survey showed the bottom of the lower pond displayed similar elevations to the adjacent salt marsh, it was restored as a tidal salt marsh. With the help of some construction adjustments, tidal water from Deer Creek now flows into the lower pond. The salt water environment will prevent the invasive plant species from returning. Erosion controls were also put into place during construction to decrease the amount of sediment running into Deer Creek. Already, the planted vegetation in the wetlands is growing, and wildlife will soon return to the infiltration pond, while fiddler crabs, birds and maybe even oysters will start thriving in the salt marsh. The vegetation should be full grown in two to three years, and Cape Carteret residents and visitors alike will have lush and sustainable wetlands as the gateway to their community. For more information about the project, visit nccoast.org or contact the federation at 252-393-8185 or nccf@nccoast.org. S J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 1 9

Lazzara’s

PIZZA & SUBS

6 $ 95 21 $ 05 16 $ 99 12 $ 99 18 $ 99 12 $ 25 9 $ 99 6 $ 99 24

Small Cheese Pizza $ 25 • TAKEOUT EXPRESS •

• TRIPLE DECKER •

3 Small Pizzas With One Topping • FREE TOPPING •

Buy A Lg. 18" 1-Topping & Get A Free Topping! • HOME ALONE •

Small 14" 2-Topping & 2-Liter Soda • PIZZA & CHEESY BREAD •

Medium 16" 2-Topping & Cheesy Bread • STROMBOLI-CALZONE DEAL •

2 Stromboli or Calzone from Menu Choices • ITALIAN DEAL •

Large 12" Italian Sub & 20-Oz. Drink • IN-HOUSE QUICKIE •

2 Pepperoni Slices & 20-Oz. Drink • THE GODFATHER •

24" 2-Topping Pizza & FREE 2-Liter Soda

Chicken & Steak toppings may have additional charge. One coupon per customer. Offers available for a limited time. Prices & coupons subject to change.

WE DELIVER!

True Italian … Real Pizza!

9104-C COAST GUARD ROAD EMERALD ISLE • 252.354.1211 WWW.LAZZARAPIZZA.COM

37 Years and Still Running: Historic Beaufort Road Race

he Beaufort Ole Towne Rotary Club is hosting the 37th Annual Historic Beaufort Road Race, set to take place July 16, in the coastal town of Beaufort. This year’s race has runners and walkers of all levels, baby joggers and wheelchair athletes taking to the streets of Beaufort to have fun, get some exercise and raise money for good causes. Organized by the Beaufort Ole Towne Rotary Club, the race continues to grow in popularity. The Rotary Club uses proceeds from the race to fund college scholarships for Carteret County high school students. This year’s volunteer race director is Rotary Club member Bedford Smith, and the race is organized by volunteers from the Rotary Club and the community. “This race has become a landmark in the state and has continued strong for all these years,” Mr. Smith said. “Based on early responses, we are very excited about this year’s race.” Mr. Smith noted the 10k, 5k and 1 miles courses are all TAC certified. The starting line and finishing line for all events is in front of First Citizens Banks on Front Street. “Early registration is vital if we are going to be able to process the results in a timely manner,” Mr. Smith said. “We have restructured our entry fees in hopes people will register early. This will save money and allow time to correctly enter the data prior to the start of the race.» Mr. Smith noted that runners and walkers must register at least 45 minutes before the race to be eligible for awards. He added that in years past about half the runners registered on race morning, and that puts an enormous amount of pressure on the volunteers and those entering the information into the electronic timers. Participants can run the 10K, 5K or one mile, or walk the 5K or one mile. There is a wheelchair division in the 10K and 5K races, and a baby jogger 5K run category. The one-mile run and walk begins at 7:30 a.m. The 5k baby joggers and 10k and 5k wheelchair racers take off at 7:55 a.m. The 10K and 5K runs begin at 8 a.m. The Sea Dog one-mile walk for people and their dogs begins at 7:35 a.m. and it is an untimed walk with all dogs taking part receiving a doggy bag of goodies. T-shirts are not included in the Sea Dog entry fee. Those registering before July 14 will pay $25 for individuals and $56 for families. Those registering between July 15 and race day morning will pay $31, with the family rate going to $71. The Sea Dog walk registration is $16 on the day of the event. Active duty military receive $10 off race fees, excluding the Sea Dog Walk. Registration can be completed online or individuals can print the entry form and mail it in. Registration includes one entry into one event and one t-shirt. Family fees cover two adults and all children under the age of 18 living in the same household and one T-shirt per entrant up to six. Additional T-shirts are $9. Those who pre-register can pick up packets on Friday, July 15, from 4-6 p.m. at the Beaufort First Citizens Bank on Front Street or register. Race day packet pickup and registration will be from 6:307:30 a.m. at First Citizens Bank. Timing chips are embedded in the bibs. Online entry forms are available by visiting www.runtheeast. com. S

Annual Summer Party at the Beaufort Historic Site

he Beaufort Historic Site is the place to be on Saturday, July 9 from 7-11 p.m. for the annual Summer Party. Started in 2009, it has quickly become a tradition and a great way to celebrate the seafaring community of Beaufort. Everyone is invited to join the party for great food, a full bar and live music. Beaufort Grocery Company will be providing the food, and a full bar is available as well. The Summer Party will also feature highenergy live music by Raleigh band Punch. The eight piece band plays everything from 70s Funk and Motown to today’s Top 40 pop hits. Complementing the fabulous food, drinks, and music will be both live and silent auctions. This year’s auction will be online at beauforthistoricsite.org. Start bidding early on over 100 items, including tickets to the Broadway show Hamilton, a sport fishing trip on a 55' Jarrett Bay and a vacation rental of a Front Street home. Bidding can be done through the Beaufort Historic Site’s website prior to the event, and electronic bidding will be available at the event via personal cell phone or on a bidding device provided at the site. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased in advance or the day of the event at the Beaufort Historic Site Welcome Center at 130 Turner Street, downtown Beaufort, or online at beauforthistoricsite.org. All proceeds from ticket sales and auction items benefit the preservation, restoration and education programs of the Beaufort Historic Site. For more information on this and other Beaufort Historical Association events, stop by the Historic Site, call 252-728-5225, or visit beauforthistoricsite.org.S

Living History Series Workshops & Demonstrations

s part of the Beaufort Historical Association’s Living History series, Marsha Harris will conduct a workshop discussing Musical Instruments of the Past July 16 at 10 a.m. in the Beaufort Site’s Welcome Center at 130 Turner Street. Caryn Wooldridge will host a Sea Salt Demonstration July 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Beaufort Site’s Welcome Center. For information on these and other Living History Programs, stop by the Beaufort Historic Site’s Welcome Center at 130 Turner Street, call 252-728-5225 or 800-575-7483, or visit www.beauforthistoricsite. org. S

Summer History Day Camp

egistration is now open for the Beaufort Historical Association’s Summer History Day Camp. Students will participate in colonial activities to learn about life in early America. Two sessions will be offered: July 19-21 and July 26-28 from 9 a.m. to noon each day for children ages 8 to 11 years of age. Participants will meet each day at the Beaufort Historical Association’s Welcome Center, located at 130 Turner Street. Reservations for this program are required with a materials fee of $40 due at the time of reservation. A limited number of scholarships are available. For more information stop by the Beaufort Historical Association Welcome Center at 130 Turner Street, call 252-728-5225, or visit www.beauforthistoricsite.org. S

BURGERS, SLIDERS AND FRIES, OH MY! Join Jackie’s On The Roll On Facebook & Instagram! FOLLOW US TO FIND US! 252.354.8111

Latin American cuisine using locally sourced seafood and seasonal produce to create a dining experience like no other.

1103 north 20th street | morehead city | 252-222-3808 | laperlarestaurantmhc.com

FA R F ROM T H E MADDENING CROWD

2 2 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

La Perla is off the beaten track, tucked away in a residential neighborhood. Our creative menu has attracted loyal customers who drive as much as an hour to eat with us.

C A P TA I N J E F F C R O N K

HOOKED UP FISHING REPORT

HOOKED UP FISHING A L O O K AT W H AT ’ S B I T I N G I N J U LY

NEARSHORE OCEAN FISHING

earshore water temperatures are holding steady between 74–78 degrees and everything is biting! May and June were very productive for Cobia, with a lot of 30 to 60-lb. fish. With the season now open through September, anglers will be able to target this prized species in state waters inside of 3 miles. These fish hang around the artificial reefs and hard bottoms so anglers jigging for flounder or fishing live bait will often be rewarded with an unexpected hook up. The Summer Flounder bite has been excellent inside of 5 miles! Capt. Mike Taylor and myself, Capt. Jeff Cronk, have been landing plenty of big summer Flounder. Anglers should focus their efforts around our artificial reefs as well as the natural live and hard bottoms within 5 miles of the beach. The absolute best method and bait for this fishery is jigging a 11⁄2 to 21⁄2-oz. bucktails tipped with a Berkley Gulp shrimp, pogie, jerkbait or Eel. I prefer a Bett’s 2-oz. Flounder Fanatic Bucktail because it has a right angle hook that allows for better hook ups and fewer snags on bottom structure. A short 1-ft. pop of the bait off the bottom, allowing the bait to descend until it bumps bottom again will produce some intense flounder strikes. If you desire something with a little more fight and speed, the large 3 to 7-lb. Spanish have begun to make their showing on all hard bottoms and artificial reefs within a few miles of the beach. I prefer a light rod/reel combo to get the most excitement out of each hook-up. My new Fenwick Penn® Battalion 7-ft. medium action inshore spinning rods are outfitted with the new 4000 Clash spinning reels and spooled up with Spiderwire’s 20-lb. Ultracast Invisibraid. These combos have been tested and proven strong! We land hundreds of Spanish and dozens of big kings each year with no issues. This nearshore action will continue through the summer. Other species around this month include Sea Bass, Grouper, Amberjack, Mahi, Barracuda and even a chance at a Sailfish! If you’re looking for the widest variety of tackle at the lowest prices along the coast, stop by Dudley’s Marina in Swansboro. They have every bait you’ll need.

INSHORE FISHING

FISH’N 4 LIFE Captain Jeff Cronk leads fishing and nature charters on the Crystal Coast. To get out on the water with him, call 910‑325‑8194. You can also visit him online at nccharterfishing.com.

Inshore water temps are hovering between 75–85 degrees with cooler water in the deep channels and hot water on the shallow flats and bays. Anglers will find plenty of bait along the ICW and creek, which are full of mullet minnows, shrimp and peanut pogies that will eventually make their way toward the open waters. This bait will gain the interest of a variety of popular fish including Flounder, Redfish, Bluefish, Trout, Black Drum, Sheepshead and more! Redfishing will be great this month. To quickly cover ground, it’s best to work topwater baits along marsh shores during the higher part of a tide. A jighead tipped with a gulp bait can be fished in almost any situation. If you’re fishing around oyster beds I would suggest switching to a spinner bait to avoid hang-ups. Another deadly method will be to rig a popping cork with a live shrimp or mullet minnow on a 1/0 to 2/0 circle hook. This is my favorite way to fish when I have young children onboard as the cork and bait do all the work! Inshore Flounder fishing has been good this June and should only get better through July as more summer Flounder come inshore. I really like fishing a Berkley Gulp shrimp or Pogie on a ¼ to 1-oz. bucktail around deep water structure like bridge and dock pylons for big flounder. If you find yourself getting a lot of bite offs on your scented baits, switch over to a live finger mullet or mud minnow fished on a Carolina rig to avoid losing costly lures. During the higher tide target sections of docks closer to the shore as fish will often ambush bait along the flooded embankments. During the falling tide fish will often stage up near the end of the piers just downcurrent of the pylons. Other species that offer plenty of fun this month are Black Drum and Sheepshead. These two species prefer shrimp and crabs. I like to use a 1/0 to 2/0 short shank, wide gap hook for the sheepshead and a 1/0 circle hook for the black drum. Both species can be found around structure including bridge and dock pylons, oyster beds, rock jetties and rock walls. S J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | 2 3

DISCOVERY DIVING

LEE MOORE

DIVING OUR COAST

I N J U LY

uly is going to see the water remain in the upper 70s and low 80s on the offshore and Sand tiger shark inshore wrecks. The Gulf Stream is over 50 miles off of the coast, but it does bring warm, blue water to the offshore wrecks. It is not uncommon to see 70, 80, and even 100 feet of visibility on the wrecks of the Crystal Coast.

JOIN DISCOVERY Contact Discovery Diving at 252‑728‑2265 or visit them on Facebook to see what classes and events are coming up. You can also visit discoverydiving.com.

JOIN ECARA ECARA works to continue sinking ships to create artificial reefs here in North Carolina, but their resources are limited. To get involved with ECARA, visit carolinareef.org to check out their current project list.

OUR LOCAL SHARKS

In June, there were a couple of shark bites along Atlantic Beach. The bites were not life threatening and both occurred close to shore. Both cases appeared to be isolated incidences and the beaches remained open. Most beachgoers will shy away from the water when they hear that sharks are in the area, but most divers are the opposite. Divers eagerly go into the water because they want to see sharks. The wrecks off of the Crystal Coast are the main attraction for divers to the area. The second thing that attracts diver to the Crystal Coast are the sand tiger sharks. These docile creatures are found consistently on a number of our wrecks. When a charter wants to see sharks, the dive boats know which wrecks have a resident shark population. Wrecks that have resident sand tiger sharks are the Spar, Aeolus, Caribsea, Atlas and Papoose. While diving on the other wrecks, divers shouldn’t be surprised by the occasional sand tiger passing through. Sand tigers are identified by two nearly equal-sized dorsal fins and a mouthful of long, jagged teeth and are the only fish that gulps down air and stocks it up in its stomach. It is not uncommon to find a sand tiger laying on the bottom because they don’t have to be constantly moving like other sharks. They are grayish brown or tan on the upper part of their body and paler to white on the lower part of their body. The juveniles have dark spots from the middle of their side to their tail, which will fade as they get older. Sand tigers average 6½ to 10½ feet in length, with some reported up to 14 feet in length. Their average weight is 200 to 350 pounds. When a female gets ready to reproduce, she has 15 to 20 eggs in each of her two oviducts. During the embryonic phase, the first embryo to develop in each oviduct starts to eat the remaining eggs. This continues for a year until the two pups are born. The newborn sharks are about three feet long. These sharks had to eat their siblings inside their mother to survive. For a shark that had to be aggressive to be born, they are docile after. Sandbar sharks are another shark that can be seen on our wrecks. They are distinguishable by its very high and triangular first dorsal fin, very long pectoral fins and inter-dorsal ridge. The second dorsal fin and anal fin are close to the same height. Sandbar sharks usually have heavy-set bodies and rounded snouts that are shorter than the average shark’s snout. The sandbar sharks are constantly moving and have a tendency to make quick turns. Other sharks that can be seen on the wrecks of the Crystal Coast are bull sharks, tiger sharks, nurse sharks, dusky sharks and hammerhead sharks. If you would like to learn more about the sharks off of the Crystal Coast, take the Shark Awareness Class at Discovery Diving. Contact Discovery Diving at dive@discoverydiving.com, 252-728-2265 or like us on Facebook to see what classes, charters and events are coming up in the near future. S

Stir a little love into everything you do. fair trade coffee • local baked goods • gluten-free choices

this month’s special

TOFFEE CRUNCH LATTE

1 6 - O Z . F O R O N LY $ 3 . 5 0 ! OPEN 7 DAYS FROM 7AM-4PM | Emerald Plantation 8700 Emerald Drive | 252.354.2643

2 4 | C A R O L I N A S A L T | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

T I D E C HA RT CAPE HATTERAS TIDES JULY 7 TO AUGUST 7

Your Complete Bait &Tackle Shop

200 WET & DRY SLIPS BOAT SERVICE

OFFICIAL CITATION WEIGH STATION

NC WILDLIFE SERVICE AGENT

ETHANOLFREE GAS AT THE DOCKS!

The most complete bait & tackle marina on the East Coast. Extensive boat storage and a friendly staff make Dudley’s a one-stop shop for all your boating needs.

WWW.DUDLEYSMARINA.NET

HIGHWAY 24 EAST • SWANSBORO • 252-393-2204

Cuckoo, CONTINUED FROM PAGE distinctive call, but very hard to spot. People have referred to the yellow-billed cuckoo as a “rain crow” because they are often heard on extremely hot days when humans imagine it’s calling for rain. In courtship, the male feeds the female. Their chosen nest site is in a tree, shrub or vines and usually 4-10' above the ground, sometimes up to 20' or higher. In the east, yellow-billed cuckoos nest in oaks, beech, hawthorn and ash. The small, loosely-made platform of twigs and stems, with a thin lining of grass, pine needles, leaves and other materials constitutes the nest which is made by both male and female. Cuckoos lay 1-5 pale bluish green eggs and remember, not always in their own nest! When they do incubate their own, it will take 9-14 days and the infants will be fed by both parents. After hatching, they can fly in about 3 weeks. The yellow-billed cuckoos’ status is listed as “threatened” due to a general decline in their numbers occurring in the last few decades. The cause of decline is attributed to vast habitat loss and the rise and fall of insect outbreaks, which is their food source. As long-distance, nocturnal migrants, yellow-billed cuckoos are also vulnerable to collisions with tall buildings, cell towers, radio antennas, wind turbines and other structures. Although approximately 84% of the world’s yellow-billed cuckoos breed in the United Sates, in the western states, sightings of YBCs have become very rare. Generally shy and elusive, it can be easily overlooked, but its calls are usually loud and often provide the best evidence to their presence. The next time you are taking a walk or doing a little birdwatching in Carteret County, listen for that nearly eight second chatter of “ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kowlp-kowlp-kowlpkowlp” followed by a soft cooing, then a “kow, kow, kow.” It just might be the released yellow-billed cuckoo who spent some rehabilitation time with us at the shelter. Don’t forget to throw him an appreciative wave, while thanking him for eating those pesky insects that are more than an annoyance and definitely unwanted in your neck of the woods. S

Join Us for Breakfast! Friday-Saturday 8-11am Sunday 8am-12pm! Live Entertainment! July 8 Naked Knees July 15 Scearce & Ketner July 22 Naked Knees July 29 4Ever All August 5 Naked Knees August 12 Scearce & Ketner

SEAFOOD♥STEAKS♥SANDWICHES

311 Mangrove Drive Across from CVS in Emerald Isle

252.354.7775 • flipperz.net • facebook.com/flipperzemeraldisle Lunch & Dinner Hours Sunday–Thursday 11am–8pm • Friday–Saturday 11am–9pm

EMERALD ISLE // NORTH CAROLINA

caribsearestaurant.com

Coastal Cuisine FISH // PRIME // RAW

Patrick Hogan EXECUTIVE CHEF

Weddings & Events THE FINEST CATERING ON THE CRYSTAL COAST A ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE