Outer Banks Everyday Magic: Landing the Perfect Catch

The Outer Banks Everyday Magic series has become one of my favorite blog features. I was excited when we started it because I knew we’d discover some awesome stories, but  I continue to be amazed by how much the OBX touches people’s lives.

I have the lucky position of getting to read and format every story that we get, and I can honestly say that I get goosebumps when I read how much passion people feel for their time on the Outer Banks.

Time on the OBX is waaay more than just a vacation; it’s a new adventure, time to reconnect with loved ones, a time to disconnect from everyday life, a time to bond with nature, it’s life-long memories, and this week we get to hear from Kristen who explains that the OBX is also one of the best spots to reel in the “perfect catch.”

Thanks for sharing Kristen. Enjoy…I bet you get goosebumps.

Most OBX lovers know the Outer Banks is famous for world-class fishing. Offshore, inshore, surf fishing, sound fishing.  Marlin, tuna, dolphin, stripers, red drum. It’s a fisherman’s oasis – and it’s where I landed the perfect catch.

I’ll start from the beginning.

I grew up coming to the Outer Banks (“Nags Head” as we all called it when I was young). Every summer my family rented a cottage from family friends – The Lilly Pad on Archdale. Those were some of the best days of my life.

My sister, my cousin, mom, aunt and our super cool teenage babysitter – headed to “Nags Head” for a fun-filled week of boogie boarding, shell collecting, trips to the Surfslide (I was terrified of those water slides), the Ghost Ship (does anyone remember this?!), bumper boats, crab leg dinners, early morning walks to The Donut Shop (oh how I miss those Tarheels) and nights on the deck singing Patsy Cline’s, “Walkin’ After Midnight.”

It wasn’t long before those innocent weeks on Archdale turned into weeks without a babysitter, my cousin and I cruisin’ behind the wheel (only after I begged my mom to give me the keys – I WAS 16 after all), and hot summer nights hanging out at Foosball Palace. (Again, does anyone remember that hole in the wall on the beach?!)

Then it was “Beach Week,” with a group of 10 high school friends – all under one roof for one wild week of post-high school “celebrations.”

These were the days. (As Van Morrison so wisely sang.)  Or so I thought.

Fast forward eight or so years. I once again found myself frequenting the Outer Banks. This time, I was a recent college graduate (go Hoos!) with no career in sight. So, with a close high school friend (and my love of the Outer Banks still solid), we road tripped it to the OBX pretty much every other weekend during the summer of 2000.

At first these weekend jaunts were just quick carefree getaways – a little dancing and a lot of sun bathing. But after a few trips, the question arose, “Why don’t we just move here?”  Without a solid career path for me in VA, I agreed that a move to the OBX would be the perfect “in between” option. I mean, it would only be for a year or two – and then I would come back to reality, move back to VA and find a “real” career path.

That’s when fate reeled me in.

It was the last night of one of our whirlwind weekends. We were headed back to our hotel – another crazy weekend spent at the OBX. Time to say goodbye and plan our next adventure. And that’s when I landed the catch of my life.

I met the man who would become my husband that night. (And, yes, one of the reasons behind the title of my story. He fishes for a living.)

It wasn’t long before my brief stint on the Outer Banks turned into 12 years of a life I never imagined living.

Sure, I grew up going fishing with my dad – on lakes, ponds, etc. –  but now I was really in the mix.  Hanging with the “big boys.” Charter boats, billfish tournaments and “fish” talk. I quickly became “in tune” with all things related to charter fishing and the fishing lifestyle on the Outer Banks. Tight lines. Rigging baits. Sea witches. And SUPER early mornings. And I loved it. I was proud to call myself “the girl” of a charter boat fisherman.

And now? The catch of my life has brought me more joy than I could ever have imagined – even back during my carefree days on Archdale. We have two guppies of our own, Luke (5 years) and Anna (7 months), and I’m proud to say while one has already reeled in plenty of fish on his own, the other has already held a fishing pole. (And yes, we’re already counting the days until the 2012 Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament!)

So there is my story of the “everyday magic” I found on the Outer Banks. After all, there aren’t many things more magical than going down to the marina to watch your daddy’s boat come in. Especially with a 500 lb. marlin in the cockpit.

Tight lines!

Tight lines indeed! Such a great story. A lifetime of Outer Banks memories.

I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.