T.J. Maxx Coming to the Outer Banks

Posted on December 9, 2009

The Outer Banks Sentinel announced that T.J. Maxx is heading for the OBX.

Here’s an excerpt from the article: “National retailer TJ Maxx has applied for and received permits needed to remodel 26,000 square feet of the building that until recently housed the Food Lion store next to Staples in Nags Head.

Nags Head Building Inspector Ronnie Ballance said that the contractor who is to do the work said that they expect the construction to be finished in approximately five months.

Food Lion holds the lease on the building and the contract does not expire for 18 months, however, the grocery chain is expected to agree to terminate so that TJ Maxx can move forward with its plans.”

Outer Banks Ranks Number 1 in Marlin Fishing

Posted on December 9, 2009

Every year people travel to foreign countries to hunt for trophy fish such as marlin. Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama are just a few popular countries that are traveled to frequently for big-game fishing, but amazing fishing is much closer to home.

Recently, Marlin Magazine put together a top ten list of the best sport fishing destination in the US. The Outer Banks received the number one slot.

Here is the excerpt that was written about the Outer Banks in the magazine…..

1. Hatteras and the Outer Banks:

From the local boat builders who revolutionized the look of sport-fishing boats to the many bait-and-tackle innovations spawned along this idyllic stretch of water, you simply cannot overlook the influence of North Carolina on the sport of big-game fishing. The first Atlantic blue marlin caught in the United States was landed off Hatteras in 1938, and this area continues to make headlines every year. In 2008, Trey Irvine landed a new state-record 1,228.5-pound blue marlin to win the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament.

Fishing is a way of life in this part of the country, and visitors can choose from a long list of great charter boats to run out in search of billfish. The first blues of the year typically show up around May, and the bite lasts throughout the summer. White marlin also flock to this area, and when they start snapping, crews can catch upward of 20 fish in a day. The sailfish bite picked up tremendously the past couple of seasons, and the tuna, dolphin and Wahoo round out a typical day plying the Gulf Stream waters or the deepwater canyons. Some of the sport’s largest and most festive billfish tournaments call this region home for good reason. For those looking to book a charter, you’ll find 29 offshore boats running out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (www.oregon-inlet.com; 800-272-5199). You’ll also find charters available at Oden’s Dock (www.odensdock.com; 888-544-8115), Hatteras Landing Marina (www.hatteraslanding.com; 800-551-8478) and Pirate’s Cove Marina (www.fishpiratescove.com; 800-367-4728). For more local info, visit www.hatterasmarlinclub.com.

Plan your Outer Banks fishing excursion today. Plenty of vacation homes available.

Know Your Park: Dolphins Along the Outer Banks

Posted on December 9, 2009

Know Your Park: Dolphins Along the Outer Banks - Presentations to be held at Rodanthe and Ocracoke

The National Park Service Outer Banks Group Know Your Park citizen science program series continues this week with presentations from Jessica Weiss from the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research.

There are two presentations scheduled; 7 p.m. Friday, December 11 at the Ocracoke Community Center and 7 p.m. Saturday, December 12 at the Rodanthe Community Building. Each program is free and will last approximately 1 hour.

Weiss will speak about the importance of dolphins to the Outer Banks environment and the significance of the Outer Banks dolphins to the development of conservation strategies along the U.S. Atlantic coast.

A marine mammal researcher, Weiss has over 9 years of experience in the field of marine mammal monitoring and behavioral ecology. She is a co-founder of the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of bottlenose dolphins in the Outer Banks.

As the Scientific Advisor, she leads a long-term monitoring study of bottlenose dolphins in the northern Outer Banks.

The Know Your Park citizen science program series is designed to further connect the Outer Banks communities and residents with the rich natural world and cultural heritage of their neighboring National Park sites; Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. “These presentations offer park visitors as well as local residents an opportunity to learn more about, and better enjoy, the coastal environment and their National Parks” stated Mike Murray, Superintendent, Outer Banks Group.

One other Know Your Park program is currently scheduled for this season.

Joseph Hoyt from the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary will speak about recent maritime archaeology work off the Outer Banks coast including an exploration of the HMT Bedfordshire and other World War I and II vessels on January 20, 7 p.m., at the Fessenden Center in Buxton, NC.