Opinion: While the Department of Interior has excluded the entire Atlantic Coast from its current drilling program — a result of decades of tireless local opposition — it is time to demand permanent legislative protection for our waters before the threat returns in the next five-year cycle.
Commentary
Why do we fish? Myriad reasons are all valid, except for one
Whatever the motivation, personal or philosophical, escapist or naturalist, there is almost no wrong answer when it comes to fishing.
Opinion: For whose benefit are barrier island horses?
Guest commentary: Invasive species pose a serious challenge for ecosystems that have not evolved alongside them, and such is the case with North Carolina’s crystal skipper and the nonnative horses allowed to roam the barrier islands that are the butterfly’s only habitat.
There’s no substitute for total tidal understanding in fishing
Any saltwater angler worth their salt will know before they go when to go, so, understanding the tides and how they affect fish behavior is a must.
What about those ‘other’ pollinators? No honey, no sting
Lepidoptera, as they are known to scientists, are familiar creatures that are not only welcome guests in many gardens, they are also essential to certain flowering species’ survival.
Guest commentary: When the water doesn’t go away
Drainage systems that rely on gravity fail when the difference in elevation that drives water from land to sea has been shrinking as sea level rises.
Fly fishing ’round here? Options abound for the well prepared
“Where do you do that ’round these parts?” The answer is almost anywhere, if you know when to get there, what to bring and how to use it. Capt. Gordon shares his tips.
Port’s Cape Fear dredge project fails taxpayers, environment
Guest commentary: Deepening the Cape Fear River will only worsen flooding around the downtown Wilmington waterfront and the North Carolina Battleship site and lead to a substantial loss of vital wetlands and floodplains.
Tabb’s Trails: Along the North Pond Wildlife Trail
Saturday, Oct. 18, turned out to be a remarkable day on the half-mile trail behind Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge’s visitor center, with rarely seen species and migratory waterfowl.
Chemours is doubling down on its toxic history: NRDC
Chemours is not a company that can be trusted to expand its operations responsibly, and it’s an example of the national PFAS pollution crisis, writes Drew Ball of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Toadstools: Friend or foe? Your best bet is to surely know
Some are beauties, some look naughty, others appear delicious and nutritious while others still will land you in hospital if eaten. Often, and to many, mushrooms are mostly mysterious.
A successful catch from a pier takes a bit of bait, know-how
Piers can be found along the state’s coast, from Avalon at Kill Devil Hills to as far south as Sunset Beach, and each one has local expertise that will separate the rookies from what we used to call “The Sharpies,” Capt. Gordon Churchill writes.
Autumn’s traditional scents, aromas are soul-deep comforts
Humans’ sense of smell is powerful, and scent-triggered memories, such as the aromas of fall foods, can take us back to our childhoods or to any special memories with just one whiff.
Opinion: Ocean Isle’s terminal groin process fully transparent
Readers are not provided full context and are left with an incomplete understanding of the facts regarding the lengthy, transparent public process behind the town’s terminal groin project, writes Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith.
Lovin’ Spoonsful: Spoon lures may be an underused asset
There are lots of ways to fish spoon lures, and they are popular worldwide, but around here, they seem to be underutilized.
Coastal habitats are North Carolina’s hidden climate engines
North Carolina’s abundant coastal wetland ecosystems are highly effective carbon storehouses, serving to slow climate change’s pace while also providing vital fish nurseries, wildlife havens and storm buffers.
