Fishing Club

Wildlife Enforcement Officer Tyler Brown was the speaker for the November 4 Fishing Club meeting. Tyler attempted to clear up some of the conflicting information concerning striped bass and flounder regulations and to differentiate between inland waters, joint waters and coastal waters. There is some confusion concerning legal sized striped bass (22- to 27-inch) in coastal waters which would not be legal in inland and joint waters. The season for striped bass is October 1 to May 1. Since these fish can be kept legally if caught in the Neuse River, it may be a problem importing them into inland waters such as Northwest Creek, Spring Creek, Broad Creek and the Harbour. Only two striped bass per angler per day may be kept in any of the waters. Flounder regulations are somewhat simpler in that those caught in the ocean and coastal waters have to be 15 inches long to be legal and 14 inches long in joint and inland waters. The bag limits are eight fish per angler per day in all waters, but the importing problem still may exist.
Riverkeeper Larry Baldwin talked a few minutes about the water-monitoring equipment that he is seeking as a result of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s ceasing to measure water quality in the Neuse River as of June 1, 2009. Baldwin is trying to raise money to purchase the equipment and to fund the necessary training to properly measure river quality. This topic will be discussed in more detail at the December meeting.
BBBS of Southeastern NC is planning a fundraiser at Applebee’s restaurant in New Bern on Saturday, December 5, from 7 to 10 am. The theme is “Breakfast with Santa.” Fishing Club member Joey Freeman will be Santa and other members will work as servers. Tickets are $7 for flapjacks and sausage.
ESPN’s George Poveromo is bringing his Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series to New Bern on Saturday, January 16, at the New Bern Convention Center from 9 am to 4 pm.
The next meeting is at the Community Center on Wednesday, December 2, at 7 pm. Everyone is invited to attend. Check out the website pages. suddenlink.net/fhfc. Wayne Massetti won the 50-50 raffle.
    Bob Bruggeworth