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.
Nature Notes
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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.
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Bottlenose Could Be NC’s Marine Mammal
While bottlenose dolphin stocks in N.C. appear stable and healthy, columnist David Laist notes the perils humans pose and a state bill to name them the state marine mammal that was introduced a year ago and appeared destined to pass.
