Top 2006 News Stories for Emerald Isle, NC

Bogue Inlet Pier is Back Up for Sale

In April the announcement was made that the 15-acre area around and including the Bogue Inlet Pier itself were up for sale. That meant this pier, one of the two last remaining piers on the island, would be closed and demolished to make room for more real estate. You can imagine this outraged many people!

The Town of Emerald Isle made an agreement with the selling company to purchase the pier and clean up the water quality surrounding it with a $3 million grant from NC's Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

The owner's of the pier, the Stanley family, terminated their contract with the selling company which also automatically terminated the Town's contract. The Stanleys say there are other options they are looking at. The Town tried to buy the pier directly from the family, but the two parties could not come to an agreement. They then stated that they plan on making similar offers to other buyers in hopes of obtaining the pier and keeping it open.

The Town of Emerald Isle and NC Aquariums are partnering in efforts to seize the pier from buyers who may tear it down. There is an online petition the public can sign at www.saveourpier.com. Join the pier supporters, share your personal stories and memories of fishing there, and demonstrate your care and concern in this matter by adding your name to the long list of 11,000 petitioners.

FEMA gives money to rebuild sand lost to Hurricane Ophelia

FEMA gave the Town of Emerald Isle $5.9 million in February to replace sand that was lost to Hurricane Ophelia that hit during September of 2005. Previous nourishment projects kept the beachfront from being severely damaged. The town was grateful for not being hit from other hurricanes after Ophelia had weakened the area.

The new sand will be dredged from US Army Corp of Engineers Offshore Dredged Materials Disposal site off of Atlantic Beach. The sand will be placed a span of 2 miles along the beach and return it to pre-Ophelia state. The work began in November and will probably continue through March 2007.

Bluefin Tuna caught in Archer's Creek

One news story that surprised everyone dealt with the surprising catch of a Bluefin Tuna in Archer's Creek. The 77" fish typical of only the Gulf Stream, some 60 miles offshore, was brought aboard a 16' Carolina Skiff boat the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Two men were on land when they spotted the fish swimming around the creek. Then they hopped in their boat and went to investigate. While casting to the large fish, they foul-hooked it and yanked it in. Keep in mind the fish was in only about 3 feet of water which didn't allow it to zip away like it would have in the Gulf Stream. Once the fish was near the boat, they gaffed it, thinking it was a yellowfin tuna. They took the fish to the dock where lots of spectators were gathered and taking pictures. The fish was taken to Island Harbor Marina where the Marine Fishery officers were waiting.

The bluefin tuna was confiscated because the men had a tuna permit for their other boat, not the 16'skiff they were on that day. The two are facing fines, but the officers say they will not be harsh.