Rodanthe Pier Hosts Youth Tournament
35 enter in three age groups

by Rick Kinnaird

The Rodanthe Pier hosted the 3rd Annual Youth Fishing Tournament on May 27th from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The sun was shining all day, everyone won a prize and Food Lion provided a big cake and drinks for a party afterwards.

Michael (last names were not recorded) won the overall competition by catching the largest fish - an 80 oz. black tip shark. He won a bike and a 10' rod and reel. He also won an 8' rod and reel in the 9 to 12 year-old category.

In the 4 to 8 year-old category, Kaleb caught a 36 oz. fish and won a rod, reel and tackle box.

In the 13 to 16 year-old category, Drew caught a 7 oz. fish and won a NASCAR-autographed 1/25 scale commemorative car in a display box.

Other contestants won rod and reel combos, Spiderman and Scooby Doo memorabilia and restaurant coupons.

TJ at the pier says the tournament was so successful they'll definitely do it again next year.

Rodanthe Update
5/18/06 - Our friends in Rodanthe, Dolly and TJ, report a lot of sea mullets (kingfish) being caught. A southwest wind has been blowing that has slowed things down a bit over the last few days, however. A few blues, croakers and even cod have also been caught this month.

When the wind changes and the water isn't so cloudy, TJ says the blues will return in larger numbers. In a few weeks, he also expects to see more Cobia and King Mackerel as well as both speckled and gray trout.

Fishermen should expect to catch mullet, spot and croakers throughout the summer. Mullet, by the way, is a great-eating white fish according to TJ.