These predators hunt for food on the sea floor using their hog-like snouts to make meals of mollusks and crustaceans, but their sex lives are far more unusual than that of most farm animals.
Analysis: Why NC imposed new limits on spot, croaker
Recreational bag limits and commercial season closures for spot and Atlantic croaker announced earlier this spring were prompted by “moderate” concern about stocks, but state biologists say both species remain abundant.
Spawning season underway for NC’s migratory fish
It’s that time of year, when North Carolina’s migratory fish species — river herring, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon and American eel — are making their annual trips upriver to spawn.
Kingfish Not Always Known By Royal Titles
Sea mullet, whiting, roundhead, hard head, hake — the three species of kingfish in North Carolina waters are known by numerous names, not all befitting a king.
What’s on the Line: Bluefish of North Carolina
Bluefish are lightning fast with a protruding, powerful jaw full of sharp, serrated teeth known to blitz, or aggressively feed in a group, on baitfish like menhaden, anchovies and Atlantic silversides.
Get to the Bottom With Crustaceans, Shellfish
So many different crustaceans and shellfish can be found in North Carolina waters, but some species, including bay scallops and some lobsters, are lower in abundance.
NC’s Crustaceans, Shellfish Make A Big Splash
They might be relatively small — even jumbo shrimp — but shellfish and crustaceans are valuable fisheries in North Carolina, worth millions of dollars each year.
What’s on the Line? NC Black Sea Bass
Underwater photographer and columnist Robert Michelson illustrates the habits and management of “the relatively unknown ocean bass called the black sea bass.”
Deeper Dive into the World of NC’s Sea Jellies
Underwater photographer Robert Michelson continues in the second of a two-part series to explore the world of sea jellies and their relatives in North Carolina waters.
Strange Beauty: Jellyfish of the NC Coast
Robert Michelson explains in the first of a two-part series why jellyfish are “some of the coolest looking creatures that live in North Carolina’s waters.”
Fish Study Finds Stock Estimates May Be Off
A new study finds that, for several species of oceanic sport fish, individual fish that are caught, released and caught again are more likely to be reeled in again than anticipated.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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… [Read More]
