By Boat:

• Yellowfin tuna catches continue to be outstanding. Limits of fish have been the norm.
• Quite a few blackfin have been in the mix.
• A wahoo or king mackerel is still a possibility.
• Billfish are becoming more scarce.
• Along the coast, red drum, bluefish, speckled trout and a possible rockfish will highlight catches. There have been a few good runs of Spanish mackerel.

Pier & Surf:

• Catches have been decent, with action provided by croaker, small black drum, sea mullet, bluefish, speckled trout, puppy drum and small striper.

Sound:

• Puppy drum, speckled trout and good numbers of small rockfish have been available.

Big City Wine Warehouse
Native Vine Tasting Room
252-491-5311

This weekend will be the 4th Annual Holiday Tasting Fest.  This event has moved to the Point Harbor location this year.  Come by between 12-5 on Saturday or Sunday and taste approximately 15 wines that will match up well with the upcoming Holiday meals and festivities……all for ONLY $10!!  Please call for reservations to 252-491-5311 or just come on by.  On Friday night there will also be a reserve tasting at 6:30 pm for $15. 

On Friday, November 20th, Craig Baker will be back to lead a tasting of  Holiday wines as well.

On Friday, November 27th, there will be a reserve tasting of wines from the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2009!!

Now taking reservations for tastings at the end of December, which are looking like this:

Sat. December 26th 5pm Grand Reserve Tasting $35

Tues. December 29th 6:30 pm Grand Reserve Tasting $35

New Year’s Eve 6pm Ultimate Grand Reserve Tasting w/ Heavy Hors d’ouerves $60 pp

New Year’s Eve 8:30pm Super-Ultimate Grand Reserve Tasting w/ Heavy Hors d’ouerves $75 pp

The Know Your Park citizen science series for the North Carolina coast begins its third season with a discussion of Raleigh After Roanoke.

The National Park Service Outer Banks Group sponsors the series, which begins the new season Monday at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Visitor Center near Manteo. The president of the board of directors of the First Colony Foundation, Phil Evans, will speak.

Phil Evans’ presentation will compare maps to show Roanoke Island’s geography and terrain have changed. In addition, foundation archaeologists will update the audience on upcoming field excavations.

The foundation is conducting research with the goal of locating habitation areas of England’s first and second New World settlements sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1580s.

The Outer Banks tennis Association will be hosting the 2009 Outer Banks Pro/Am Invitational Doubles Tournament October 31 – November 1.

The Tournament will be hosted by Kilmarlic Health & Racquet Club.  16 tennis professionals will be traveling from different locations all over the East Eoast to compete for the $2600 prize money. 

No charge for spectators . If spectators wish to share in the appetizers and beverages, there will be a $15 charge. 

There will be a $60 charge for amateur participants. 

Light appetizers and beverages will be served.

Friday
6 pm-Pro/Am tournament

Saturday
9 am-round one matches
10:30 am round two matches
Noon-round three matches
1:30 pm round four matches
3 pm round five matches
4:30 pm-final round for the day

Sunday
10 am- Finals and presentation of the prize money

Dare County is planning a new 11-acre park in Kitty Hawk. 

A county posting is seeking architectural and engineering services for the park which is planned for a parcel of land across from the town Fire Department on Kitty Hawk Road. 

As planned, the park will be adjacent to Kitty Hawk Woods and consist of:

• 1,800 foot walking trail with markers and benches
• Dog park
• Picnic area
• Skate park
• Play ground
• Double tennis court
• Basketball court

This would be a great addition to the area.  Applications will be opened October 30^th in Manteo.

Outer Banks Harley Davidson has some great activities coming up in the next few weeks…

October 31, 2009
Halloween- Bayside Harley-Davidson
Pumpkin Carving, Parade of Costumed Bikes, Employee Costume Contest (YOU pick the winner!) Store-wide Savings, Bikers Brew & Treats

October 31, 2009
Salty Paws Howl-o-ween Outer Banks H-D
to Benefit Coastal Humane Society. Pet Costume Contest, Parade of Pets, Door Prizes. Goodies for all ages with 2 or 4 legs. $5.00 Entry or $10 for the entire Family. 2:00pm-4:00pm

November 7, 2009
Sweets for Kindness Food Drive Bayside H-D

November 7, 2009
Vertigo Tattoo Toy Run Registration at Outer Banks H-D

November 14, 2009
Outer Banks H-D GRAND RE-Opening at Harbinger NC

November 14, 2009
Outer Banks H-D Sgt Mac Memorial Foundation Wreath Ride
Starting at Currituck Welcome Center in Moyock NC 9am-10:30am $15
Live Music, Food, 50/50, Bake Sale, Vendors, Storewide Sales, Ride Pin

November 15, 2009
Blue Knights International TOY RUN-Registration at Bayside Harley-Davidson 9:30am $10- Run Pins to first 500 riders.

December 5, 2009
Sherriff Susan’s Toy for Tots Run-For more Information call Outer Banks H-D

December 18, 2009
Customer Appreciation Christmas Party at Bayside Harley-Davidson

Outer Banks

• Winds have been limiting offshore fishing, but there are plenty of yellowfin tuna if/when you can get out.  Also available are blackfin tuna, wahoo, a few dolphin and scattered billfish.
• Wreck anglers are finding snapper, grouper, tilefish and triggerfish.
• Along the coast, big red drum offer the best chance.
• Inshore, look for speckled trout and puppy drum around deep marsh shorelines.

Pier & Surf

• Speckled trout, small striper, bluefish and puppy drum are making up most of the catches along the Outer Banks. The exception is that anglers working near the Point at Buxton can always expect the possibility of a run of big reds or bluefish.

Filming for a new sci-fi movie began at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on October 8, 2009.

Obsidian Collective, a media production start-up company began shooting its first film. The company was founded with director Ben Carland and some other friends from the town of Hendersonville.  The company’s first film will be titled “Sol.”  It will be a Sci-fi drama that will have plenty of suspense in the mix.  Here’s a quick synopsis o f plot…

 When five young men become stranded on a desolate planet with meager resources, the potential for disaster seems unavoidable — to find out their fate, you’ll have to wait until the film hits the theaters.

 Carland is very optimistic about working on the Outer Banks. “Our hope is that having the blog will pull people in throughout the entire process and get them interested in it,” Huffman says. “You can watch this feature film unfold — and because we’re a hometown operation — you might have some relation to the people in it.” Carland will be keeping a blog updated during the time that they will be filming on the Outer Banks.  You can keep up with the project and watch the film as it unfolds at the “Sol” Development Blog.

All of the Outer Banks is invited to attend the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction.  At this annual fund-raising event, the Outer Bank’s leading chefs assemble their finest offerings in an array designed to satisfy the most demanding palate, all for the benefit of mothers and babies here.

The Signature Chefs Auction pays tribute to the culinary excellence of chefs and caterers in the Outer Banks who will present their signature dishes. Basnight’s, Black Pelican, Coastal Provisions, Lucky 12, North Bank Restaurant, The Sanderling, Marsha’s Great Cakes, Ramada Plaza/Hilton, Ortegaz, The Dunes, and Ocean Boulevard are the featured chefs at this year’s event.

In addition to a fabulous meal, guests will enjoy a silent auction and a live auction.  Participating Chefs compete for prizes.  Last year’s winners were: Best Dish – Basnight’s Lone Cedar, Dish of Outer Banks – Basnight’s Lone Cedar, Most Outstanding Presentation – Life Saving Station, Best Dessert – Lifesaving Station, and Best Decorated Booth /Most Creative Theme– Good Life Gourmet.

The Signature Chefs Auction is being held at The Ramada Plaza Resort and Conference Center in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina on November 15, 2009 at 5:30pm. Proceeds from Signature Chefs Auction will benefit the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign to help reduce the rate of premature birth.           

Tickets can be purchased on the Outer Banks at all RBC Centura, and Brew Thru Outer Banks locations as well as by calling the March of Dimes at 757-361-0000. Ticket cost is $45 per person.