cape hatteras Archives ⋆ Page 30 of 127 ⋆ Hatteras Island Fishing Report

February 28, 2014

They say in Hatteras if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change. We have had days of sunglasses and flip flops that have changed to woolen sweaters and snow boots in the space of a day! While we have not gone through the frigid blast that our friends up north have dealt with, we have had an unusually cold winter. I don’t know why I am surprised though, the trees around here told us it would be a cold winter way back in the fall. I can remember my Great Uncle Curt telling us that you can tell a cold winter is coming by the amount of berries the local Holly and Yaupon trees produce. And this year I noticed early that they both were putting on show of bright red berries!

Local Holly Tree

We can’t complain though. The puppy drum fishing has been exciting. The snow was a novelty for us. And we have enjoyed sunny and warm days to get out and stretch our legs in between the cold ones. I even got the twins out for a stroll on a few really nice days!

I think I can speak for all of us and say we are looking forward to Spring. And it is on its way on Hatteras Island. My daffodils are starting to emerge from the soil, my apple tree has tiny buds, and one day this week a fat, sassy robin landed on my porch railing and peeked in my window. I assume he was admiring himself in his reflection in the glass, but I would like to think he was there to tell me that warm days are just around the corner. People are thinking Spring too. The National Park Service has announced that Frisco Campground is opening back up on April 18, beach houses are being booked by visitors planning their beach getaways, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau has its Visitor’s Guide available online now, and Frisco Rod and Gun has been busy getting Spring and Summer things in to get you on the beaches and in the boats! Spring is headed this way, are you?

Natalie Perry Kavanagh
February 11, 2014

Drum Fishing on Snowy Cape Hatteras Beach

It is snowing at Cape Hatteras for the fourth time this winter. It is the second “big” snow we have gotten and we really can’t believe it! It’s not supposed to snow this much here! It is still coming down and I have 4 to 5 inches on my porch already. This snow event is more user friendly because it is not as icy as last time. Islanders are out and about enjoying the snow. The fishing is even good. My friend Eliza Stowe Powell posted this photograph of her husband and her dad fishing for puppy drum. They had a good catch despite the weather!

Hatteras Beach in the Snow

Dolphin Realty’s staff went for a snowy beach walk this morning across the dune from the Hatteras Cabanas and got this pretty photo at the beginning of the snowfall.

Snow in the Maritime Woods in Frisco

I am home with the baby boys today, so no playing in the snow for me. However the view of the winter woods around my home is lovely!

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the Snow

Many of you have been helped by Kristie Brown when you stop in the Frisco Rod and Gun. She got to have a very snowy day off today and snapped this shot of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse standing tall in the snowstorm. A rare but pretty sight!

Everyone stay safe and keeps warm in the snow today. Enjoy playing outside and have a bowl of snow cream before it is gone!

Thanks to Kristie Brown, Nancy Scarborough at Dolphin Realty, and Eliza Stowe Powell for the photos!

Natalie Perry Kavanagh
January 27, 2014

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Duck-One of our family’s favorites!

Now that regular duck season is over we have a freezer full of ducks to eat! One of my Mom’s (Susie Perry) favorite recipes is Bacon Wrapped Grilled Duck. My husband, who is the head cook in our house, got it from her and grills it up perfect! The photo is from our dinner last night.

This is a good recipe for Brant Goose, Black Duck, Pintail, Redhead, or Widgeon. All ducks and geese we hunt here on the Pamlico Sound. We use the duck breast meat for this. You need cream cheese, bacon, salt and pepper.

Butterfly the breast meat. Put pats of cream cheese inside the butterflied breast you made and close back up. Try to keep the cream cheese tucked inside. Wrap the whole breast with the bacon. Salt and Pepper to taste. Grill to the temperature you like your meat. I like mine more done, but my husband likes his more rare. We have found that grilling it on a low heat and not too fast works best. About 7 to 10 minutes a side. If you grill it too hot the cream cheese all melts out before the duck is done! The bacon should be crispy and the cream cheese melted inside when it makes it to your plate. This is a delicious way to cook duck, even my picky five year old son loves it!

Natalie Perry Kavanagh
January 24, 2014

Sam Green’s Brant Decoy

One of the duck hunter’s best weapons is not his gun, but his decoys. Whether you need a handful of ducks tossed out in front of you or a large spread, a good hunter knows how important these tools are to his success. To the ducks flying overhead your spot needs to look attractive and the right decoys can do that for you. We carry a large selection of working decoys during duck season, G & H Decoys are one of our favorite brands, but stock is getting a little low now that the season is winding down. If you need some working decoys, though, give us a call and we will see what we can do.

Hunters have been using decoys for ages. Up until the 20th century when mass production and plastics came into use, the working decoys were hand made by the hunters. They were all wood or cork and some were wood with canvas stretched over a metal frame. All were made to use as tools. These working decoys have gone through a transformation in recent years from a useful item to a collector’s gem. The late 1800’s and early 1900’s styles are especially in demand. One of the best resources we have found on the history of the decoy for our region is Kroghie Andresen’s book Gunnin’ Birds. This is a big book full of wonderful historic photographs, detailed descriptions of the decoys, history of the carvers, and photographs of the historic decoys he has studied over the years. This is a great gift for any duck hunter or collector!

Gunnin’ Birds by Kroghie Andresen

A local gentleman, Sam Green, noticed the interest in the classic look of the Outer Banks style decoys several years ago and began making reproductions of the style in his Frisco home. His decoys have carved wooden heads with canvas stretched over metal frames that were so popular around our islands. He started with just a few decoys and as their popularity grew he added many new designs of ducks, geese, and even a swan to his catalog. We carry several of his decoys in our shop and can order others as people request them. Check out the selection we have for you to choose from online. We love talking to people in the shop who see them and have to have one!

We hope everyone enjoys the last couple of days of hunting for the year and I’m sure there are more then a few guys and girls out there who are already counting the days until duck season starts again!

Natalie Perry Kavanagh
January 16, 2014

Redhead hunting on the Pamlico.

I have missed writing for you this week, but I was down and out with some dreadful germ. I am finally feeling better! One of the worst things about being sick in January is that you miss going duck hunting. And on Hatteras Island, January is all about duck hunting on the Pamlico Sound. It is cold. It is wet. It is hard work. But, my family would not miss it for the world!

I am very lucky that I have a father who would take me along hunting and fishing when I was growing up. I have been able to sit beside him in the duck blind for hours watching the sky. I know the thrill of seeing a flock of ducks approaching. I have felt the remorse of missing a duck by a mile. And I have enjoyed the pride when I have made my shot.

The Pamlico Sound brings us some of the best duck hunting opportunities in the country. The people here have been hunting for generations out of stake blinds and curtain box blinds for redheads, pintails, gadwalls, widgeon, brant and more. The methods have not changed too much over the years. The blinds look very like they did fifty years ago. We now have boats that go faster and gear that keeps you warmer, but essentially the experience is what our grandfathers had.

If you are down this way during the winter months you can hunt with guides out of Hatteras village. Ken Dempsey and Richard Baran are experienced guides who will get you where you need to be. Don’t forget to come by Frisco Rod and Gun for all the gear you need for a great hunt! We are open and happy to help you with guns, ammo, accessories, warm clothing and your hunting license.

Natalie Perry Kavanagh

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