Fishing
Stripers still running strong; raffle for custom rod

Our friends Dolly and TJ in Rodanthe report that no one is catching anything on the beaches and boats are having to go out more than two miles to find stripers. Dolly thinks that's a long way to go for stripers!

Jim Focht is raffling off a custom-made rod (value $700) to raise money for his son, Peter, who has Multiple Sclerosis. The raffle will be held at the Rodanthe Community Center (just south of Mac's on the sound side) on February 25 at 3 p.m. Jim is well known for his rods – Michael Moye, co-creator of Fox's Married with Children, has one. Raffle tickets are $1 each and may be purchased by calling Jim at 252 987-9967 or Hatteras Jack at 252 987-2428. Additional donations will be gratefully accepted.

The Hatteras Harbor Marina reports that gray trout and "monster red drum" (48 to 52 inches) were caught from one of their boats during the first week of February. They also report a few yellowfin tuna caught offshore.

Read the Hatteras Harbor Marina report

Joe Malat reports that during the week of February 2-9, boaters caught many large stripers (35 to 45 lbs.) and some bluefish. He also says that surf fishing was slow but some speckled trout were caught near the jetties in Buxton.

Read Joe Malat's fishing report