Hatteras Summer 2011 All Set

Just a quick note: Spoke with Dan today and he relayed that they (Dan, Dina, Emma, Jake) have rented their house in Hatteras Village for first week of August 2011. They are on same street as last year. The Field's have changed residence, now closer to Teach's and only two blocks from the Os. So good to go; we're all set.

To commemorate the "lock-in," here's a picture of the crew from last summer--all tanned and relaxed and loose and easy. Cheers!

Wire Rig for Catching Wahoo. Photos for Jon. Example Courtesy of Peter Wann

By Jim Field

This summer Peter Wann (photo at left on the Sea Ya Bea off Hatteras) loaned me a wahoo rig from his tackle box so that I could reverse-engineer (i.e., copy) it. Sad to say, but up to this point in time (5 years deep sea fishing), I couldn't claim knowledge of how to build a genuine wire rig, and thus didn't have one onboard for routine use in catching wahoo--unquestionably my favorite pelagic fish to eat. So while on vacation, I spent an afternoon preparing four rigs for the Sea Ya Bea, one of which was immediately--and successfully--deployed in landing a wahoo on a trip with Dan. Note to readers: mission accomplished!

Peter has mated on a number of charter boats out of Hatteras Village, and he knows his stuff; accordingly, his rig is "tried and true" and should be treated with the appropriate respect due gear known to work and get the job done. As the photos below demonstrate, the rig is simple yet elegant--100% functionality with no frills attached. Jon: hope it brings you good luck too, my friend.

Materials:
- #7 forged steel J hook (may prefer stainless)
- #9 or #10 wire, 30-50 foot section (depends upon desired length of leader)
- lead egg weight of choice
- bally rigging wire or spring
- skirt of choice (black/red for wahoo typically preferred)

Steps: (refer to photos below)
(1) pass bitter end of wire through eye of hook and double back
(2) make haywire twist approximately 2-3 inches in length, as determined by desired span between eye of hook and wire rigging post for passing through bally's beak
(3) slide egg weight onto other end of wire and down over haywire twist to point of desired distance from hook's eye
(4) make 3-4 tight circular twists with wire
(5) position wire to point "north" relative to J hook
(6) clip off wire end to create rigging post of desired length
(7) slide rigging spring down other end of wire, tapered cone pointing away from hook
(8) or attach rigging wire through eye of egg weight with twist
(9) slide skirt down wire in correct trolling direction
(10) make haywire twist in bitter end of leader








Steve Wann (Peter's dad) with 20 pound wahoo caught on photographed rig, last week of July 2010, on the Sea Ya Bea, inside the Rockpile, Hatteras

Dan with wahoo caught on copied rig made by Jim, first week of August 2010, on the Sea Ya Bea, southwest of Rockpile, Hatteras

Day Trip to Ocracoke Island: Just Another Day in Summer Paradise. No Running Aground This Year

By Jim Field

One highlight of our summer stay in Hatteras Village was a day trip we took to Ocracoke Island, which is the next barrier island south of Hatteras Island and only accessible by ferry or personal watercraft. Our destination was Ocracoke Village, the only gathering of humans on this 16-mile ribbon of land, the remaining real estate preserved by the National Park Service as deserted beach and, on the Pamlico Sound side, pristine wet lands. Ocracoke Village, in turn, is located on the southern-most point of land, and organized around a circular harbor called Silver Lake, which offers a beautiful, protected oasis from wind and seas (see photo at left). It is this piece of geography that Blackbeard was known to inhabit.

Approaching Ocracoke from the ocean, one must navigate a rather lengthy, curvy, meandering, channel of extreme beauty, the juxtaposition of sky, white beach, and blue water being exquisite. The seaward shoal and shifting sands make things tricky for the occasional visitor. Once a good way up the channel, and approaching the breakwater, the signage can be especially tricky. Last summer, coming to Ocracoke for the first time--with Fran Jr., Christine, Meghan, and Jack Okoniewski--we put the bow of the Sea Ya Bea into the mud, requiring us to enter waist deep water and push her free, get back onboard and back her down our track, and follow the directions of an irate but ultimately helpful harbormaster. This year I recognized and followed the transitional markers and we entered the breakwater into Silver Lake without a problem. We tied up at the city peer and prepared ourselves for the short walk to lunch on the waterfront at the Jolly Roger (where we ate last year).

The boat's passenger list and landing party that day included:

- Diane, Ollie, Andrew, and Captain Jim Field
- Dina, Emma, Jake, Dan, and Fran Sr. Okoniewski, and
- Steve and Dylan Ebner

Lunch was as expected: lots of chatter, lots of food, hot air beneath fans, and looking out at a million dollar view of birds, boats, and harbor activity. On the way back to the boat, we stopped in at a few shops (e.g., bird decoys) and indulged in ice cream. By the time we cast lines from the pier, a stiff Southeast wind had arisen. The passage out to Ocracoke Inlet threw increasing spray on the bow, eventually forcing everyone back aft. The Inlet channel by this time was in a tempest, throwing considerable spray on cabin windows, the current requiring careful maneuvering to maintain the buoy line. The transit back to Hatteras Inlet was bumpy, causing a few folks (e.g., Diane) some discomfort, although everyone managed to "keep it together" until embraced by the calmer waters inside Hatteras Inlet.

Overall, we had a great day and adventure--for many, visiting Ocracoke Island for the first time. Next year, the plan is to visit Portsmouth Island, next in the chain of barrier islands south of Ocracoke.

Come aboard next year if you can. Can't wait!

Captain Jim (aka Dad) and Ollie at the helm


Dina and Diane chatting on the transit over, enjoying the calm seas


Fran Sr. and Emma kicking back, talking hair


Steve takes in the sun and watches the water


Surveying the inlet from the tuna tower, left to right, Dan, Jake, Andrew, Dylan


Motoring up the channel and approaching breakwater into Silver Lake


Passing abeam of Ocracoke Lighthouse


Through the breakwater, maneuvering in Silver Lake toward pier


Ferry terminal and peer, passed to port with our slip just to right


The Sea Ya Bea tied up at the community pier with Ocracoke Lighthouse in background


Dan strikes a pose and gets ready for walk into town and lunch


Speaking of lunch, here's the spot: Jolly Roger's on Silver Lake


The food is served and the group digs in, with Dan singing a pirate song

Diane listens while "working" on her meal


View from the table: pelicans on the pilings--love these majestic birds!


And to the left, a newly-arrived shrimper offloads its catch


Headed back to Hatteras, Dan in cockpit taking in last view of Silver Lake


Manning the tower for return transit--Andrew and Dylan

Ocracoke Island Lighthouse--Basic History and Facts to Know

By Jim Field
This summer, while on vacation in Hatteras Village, the Fields, Ebners, and Okoniewskis took a day trip to Ocracoke Island on the Sea Ya Bea. The next blog posting will cover this outing. This morning I thought it appropriate, thematically and as a preface of sorts, to put together a short profile of Ocracoke's lighthouse, given its special history and prominence in the visual landscape of surf, sand, and sky that constitute this island barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound.

I found the content below on www.carolinalights.com. I've also supplemented the narrative with information from other lighthouse-oriented sources.

Quick Facts
- The existing Ocracoke Lighthouse was built in 1823
- It's the oldest North Carolina lighthouse still in continuous service
- It's the second oldest lighthouse in the U.S. in continuous service, Boston Light on Little Brewster Island was the first lighthouse built in the United States in 1716
- It be believed that an Indian village once existed at the site of the lighthouse
- It cost $11,359 to build

History
Ocracoke Island is a sixteen (16) mile long barrier island, located off North Carolina’s Outer Banks, made famous by Blackbeard the Pirate, who used Ocracoke Island as a hideout. In 1715, an act was passed to establish Ocracoke Island as a port to help improve trade and navigation around the coast. By 1730, more people began arriving on the Island, and with this increase in population, colonists decided they needed a lighthouse to help vessels maneuver the inlet.

There was debate about building the proposed lighthouse on Ocracoke Island itself, or on nearby Shell Castle Island, which at the time was located in Ocracoke Inlet. In the late 1700s, the North Carolina General Assembly passed an act to build Ocracoke Lighthouse, although construction was delayed when, in 1790, the federal government took control of all navigational aids away from state governments. Eventually, in 1798, Shell Castle Island Lighthouse was built, notably by the same man who constructed the first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

Shell Island Castle Lighthouse
Built: 1798
Type: Pyramid-shaped wooden tower covered with shingles, on a stone foundation.
Height: 64 feet
Status: Destroyed 1818
Lens: One large lamp with four wicks
History: Shell Castle Island lighthouse was made useless by shifting sandbars and channels, but it remained in operation until destroyed by lightning in August 1818. It was replaced by a lightship for a few years until Ocracoke Lighthouse was built in 1823. The builder of this lighthouse was Henry Dearborn, who also built the first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

By the 1820s, Ocracoke Island had become a major shipping port. It was logical to once again consider putting a lighthouse on the island. Two acres near Silver Lake Harbor were purchased from Jacob Gaskill for $50. The lighthouse was approved for construction in 1822 and was built and lit by 1823. The new lighthouse only cost $11,359 to build, including a three-room keeper’s quarters.

The lighthouse structure stands 65 feet tall, and rises 75 feet above sea level. It was made of brick and plaster. At its base, the walls are five feet thick. It was originally equipped with a 3rd-order Fresnel lens, which was replaced with a 4th-order lens in 1854. The current lighting apparatus has 8,000 candlepower and can be seen from fourteen miles out to sea. In 1946, Ocracoke Lighthouse was automated and its keeper since 1926, “Cap’n” Joe Burrus, ended his time-in-service. He was a keeper for 45 years and also served at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and on Diamond Shoals Lightship.

In 1989, some minor repairs were made and painting was done. For safety reasons, the old wooden steps have been replaced with metal ones. The four windows from the lighthouse were removed an almost destroyed, but have since been restored by the Ocracoke Preservation Society. The U.S. Coast Guard owns and oversees the lighthouse, since it's a navigational aid, but the National Park Service maintains the lighthouse, grounds and keeper’s quarters.

Trip to the Rockpile and Back: A Half Day of Good Fishing. Another Species Caught

By Jim Field

During our Hatteras vacation, on Saturday, August 7 to be exact, the last day of Dan's vacation in Hatteras, Dan and I headed out for a morning of fishing, the requirement being that we make it back to the dock (i.e., our families) by noon. We met at the boat at 6:00 am, and made the decision that Andrew should stay in bed, and not accompany us, because the seas were likely to be rough. The Diamond Shoals buoy was reporting (realtime) 4 foot seas at 4 seconds apart, which does not suggest an easy day. Conversely, the forecast for the day was far rosier, promising 2-4 foot waves 11 seconds apart--a walk in the park. Given this discordance, we chose the careful route to not expose Andrew to the real possibility of a difficult half day. (Alas, for Andrew, many more fishing days ahead for this young man.)

After throwing off the ropes and transiting to Hatteras Inlet, we encountered huge incoming swells, one of which brought most of the Sea Ya Bea out of the water. Along with other charter boats navigating the channel, we reduced speed in order to more easily accommodate the large, closely-grouped swells. Upon clearing the channel buoys, we set course for a point SW of the Rockpile, 20 miles distant, and set engine RPMs to make roughly 19 knots SOG. Notably--and fortunately--Dan went below into the cabin to better secure things and found that 3 pound lead weights had been jettisoned from their container when we "caught air," and were rolling around freely--like miniature loose cannons--to wreak havoc on the woodwork. Caught in time, we found no damage done.

The conditions got better as the morning progressed: the skies going from dark gray to patches of blue sky, the seas flattening out. Winds diminished to 10-15 knots. We shut down near the Rockpile and deployed our baits. Over the course of a few hours--on what turned out to be a relatively slow bite for everyone else--we caught a "very nice" wahoo, had another wahoo bite off perhaps 5 yards beyond the transom, 2 sizable mahi-mahis, and released a barracuda--the first one landed on the Sea Ya Bea (add it to the list). Dan and I were both surprised by the barracuda's canine-like teeth--sizable individual choppers spaced apart from one another.

Reluctantly, we curtailed fishing operations in the middle of a beautiful day in waters with all the right conditions: dark blue color, 82-85 degree temperature, with bait being marked all over the place. In fact, we had come across a weed line that went on for as long as we could see from the tuna tower, which we could have followed and surely harvested mahi all afternoon long. That said, we secured fishing operations and moored around 1:00 pm, with Dan hurrying home to wife and kids, thus successfully pulling off a memorable day of fishing combined with family time on their last full day in the Village. Pretty sweet.


Dan and the wahoo: great photo on a memorable day, with fantastic eating to follow


Profile of a beautiful and menacing barracuda

The teeth on these beasts (not our photo)

Andrew in the Surf at Hatteras. What a Way to Spend the Day!

By Jim Field

Well, we're back from summer vacation--three weeks--at Hatteras and catching up at work and home life and getting ready for another school year; and thinking back to time at the beach; and looking forward already to next year when we can do it again. The Hatteras water quality--clear and warm--and surf action--great waves over sand bar--are outstanding and boarding is a favorite thing to do for the kids (Dan included). Here are some photos Diane took of Andrew at play, taken with her Blackberry while standing knee-deep in the water. Pretty cool.

Sand, Sea, and Sky. A Photographic Chronicle of a Day at the Beach

By Jim Field

Sitting on the beach, I was struck by a trio of colors: brown beach, green water, and blue sky, appearing to the eye in that order, as if stacked one on top of the other, from closest to furthest away. I wanted to photograph the pallet to preserve it in my memory, should I ever want to describe the scenes in writing. Aren't they beautiful?

Rainbow at Sea. Just A Piece of One. Always a Beautiful, Unexpected Sight

By Jim Field

Around dinner time tonight a rainbow appeared on the horizon outside our windows. Today we saw the weather change multiple times at sea, starting with clouds in the early morning, then clearing for most of the day, then returning back to gray and white clouds around sunset. The photos fail to capture the intensity of the colors, looking washed out, when to the eye the red and green hues were vivid.