What’s on the line? Grouper in North Carolina
Gag and red grouper are the most important for North Carolina commercial and recreational fishermen, writes columnist Robert Michelson.
Nature Notes
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What’s On the Line: Cobia
Ling, sergeant fish, lemonfish, crab eater — otherwise known as cobia, this fish grows large in N.C. waters, with the state and world record weighing more than 116 pounds caught here.
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On The Line: False Albacore
One of the best places to fish for the tuna-like false albacore is off the coast of Cape Lookout says columnist Robert Michelson.
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Sand Tiger Sharks Call NC Shipwrecks Home
Researchers and divers are drawn to the sand tiger sharks that inhabit the shipwrecks off the N.C. coast, a species that are often surrounded by a wide variety of fish.
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What’s On the Line? Triggerfish
One of the strangest looking and trickiest to catch saltwater fish in North Carolina waters is the triggerfish. These animals swim by moving their top fin and bottom fins. Flapping them in the “breeze,” they are able to hover in one position. They can also lock themselves in a reef crevice for protection by erecting these […]
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What’s On the Line? Know Your Flounder
What kind of flounder is that? Robert Michelson shares tips on how to distinguish between summer, southern and Gulf flounder.
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Know What’s On the Line: Sheepshead
Vertically striped and toothy, sheepshead are a distinctive looking fish, but anglers should know it from other species to avoid a possible fine.
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Death of a Royal Tern
Peter Vankevich, co-publisher of the Ocracoke Observer, recounts finding a deceased royal tern at Springer’s Point and learning something unusual about the banded bird through the Bird Banding Laboratory in Patuxent, Maryland.
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Drumroll For NC’s Official Saltwater Fish
Since 1971, the red drum has been North Carolina’s official state saltwater fish, but the popular catch for recreational fishers goes by several names.
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American Shad Restoration Efforts Continue
American shad, once an important fishery in North Carolina, declined sharply in the late 20th century, but state and federal agencies are cooperating to restore their numbers.
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Striped Bass Complex, Misunderstood Fish
NC’s large population of striped bass are anadromous fish, but the behavior of their cousins in other waters varies in numerous ways, as columnist Robert Michelson explains.
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Striped Bass Face Pollution, Overfishing
In the first of two parts, columnist Robert Michelson writes about the history of striped bass in the United States and the perils the fish has faced over time.
