Post & Voice 2014 Hunting & Fishing Guide

Hunting& Fishing2014

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The Pender-Topsail

Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice September 4, 2014

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By Jefferson WeaverContributing Writer

Blackfish have almost as many names as they have teeth.

A prehistoric predator, blackfish are also known as bowfin, mud bass, swamp trout, beaver fish, chopique, and grindle. The latter name was given to the homely, ill-tempered critter in colonial times, after a well-to-do Vir-ginia gentleman developed an inexplicable passion for blackfish, and his slightly embarrassed friends tried to make the fish more socially acceptable.

Whatever the angler calls a blackfish (amiacalva) they readily take a hook, make for a challenging fight, and according to some folks, are actually quite tasty.

The state record for bow-fin tends to stand for years, since most anglers consider them trash fish, and never bother to take the toothy varmint to a certified weigh station. Currently, the re-cord belongs to Gregory Demery Sr., who caught a 17-plus pound blackfish on Black River in 1997. Larger fish have been caught in Lake Waccamaw and the ad-jacent river, as well as in the Black, but since those fish were never weighed, they became fish stories instead of state records.

Blackfish, according the fossil record, once swam with the dinosaurs, and

haven’t really changed since that time. They have a big appetite, and are efficient users of everything they consume—and blackfish will eat nearly anything they find.

Bream, bass, catfish, crap-pie, minnows, ducklings, goslings, baby muskrats and nutria, snakes, small turtles, frogs, even mice can be taken by a hungry black-fish. Bowfin can survive out of water for brief periods, and can even propel them-selves on their dorsal fins, although not with the effi-ciency of invasive species like snakeheads.

Blackfish are often caught by young anglers, especially those working cane poles or light spinners close to shore. Bowfin regularly huntweed-beds and other dense struc-

ture used as fish nurseries, and as such, find themselves tempted by a spinner, min-now or juicy worm.

Unlike other predator fish like bass, they don’t have the same good manners of other members of the upper rungs of the foodchain.

A blackfish that’s hunting frogs and fingerlings has no problem hunting, attacking and eating a bass or catfish, given the right chance. Some biologists estimate that half the game fish kills which are attributed to snapping turtles are actually bitten by bowfin. If you’re interested, check the shape of a turtle’s mouth, versus that of a blackfish. The turtle’s tri-angle “beak” is designed for gripping and tearing, and the turtle will continue to eat until he’s full. The bow-

fin will casually take a semi-oval shaped killing bite out of a crappie and move on.

If you catch a blackfish, don’t just kill it and throw it away. The meat is, accord-ing to some devotees, firm and somewhat off-white, but tasty. Fish markets once kept large live tanks of blackfish at the request of customers, and the fish were fattened up and kept for weeks at a time — if they didn’t get sold first.

Blackfish do need to be cleaned and cooled immedi-ately, or kept in a live-well until the end of the day (without other fish, obvi-ously). Unlike many popular species, icing down a whole bowfin isn’t enough to keep the flesh firm and fresh until it’s time to head for the hill and go home.

Another precaution about blackfish is their infamous teeth. They have a strong bite, and sharp teeth—a lot of them. Incidents of even two or three pounders biting through an unwary angler’s thumbnail have been docu-mented. Blackfish can crush a turtle’s skull, so a human finger is no real challenge for a ten-pound terror.

Those teeth, and the ac-companying armored jaws, make bowfin a challeng-ing fish to hook. They usu-ally manage to set the hook themselves, while making a slashing surprise attack on the bait or lure. A heavy leader is encouraged if you are intentionally targeting bowfin.

Bowfin are also popular targets for bowfishermen, since the big fish aren’t un-duly concerned by shallow water, and often work the surface of any waterway at night as well as during the day. As with their second cousins, the garfish, use ex-tra sharp fishing heads with good penetration capability, and never grab a grindle by the lip.

If you clean him while he’s fresh, and take proper care of the meat, bowfin can be as tasty as any other fresh-water fish. Observe mercury warnings wherever you fish, however, since predator spe-cies can have a toxic buildup of mercury absorbed from their prey.

Toothy troublemaker tempts, tests anglers

Photo contributed

A bowfin in an aquarium. The bowfin is known by a number of names, including black-fish, grindle, mud bass, beaver fish, swamp trout and cypress bass.

September 4, 2014 Hunting & Fishing 2014 • Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

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By Jefferson WeaverContributing Writer

Although the practice is consid-ered controversial in some quar-ters, electrofishing or “shocking” is becoming more popular in South-eastern North Carolina.

Small generators—antique tele-phone boxes are the most popular—are outfitted with long electrical leads that are lowered to the bottom of a creek, lake or river. A special device license is required. Only hand-cranked electrofishers of 300 volts or less may be used in North Carolina.

The angler spins the genera-tor, and uses a dip net to scoop the stunned fish from the water. Only shocked catfish may be kept—other species must be allowed to regain consciousness and swim away. The method has been used by biologists for years for fish counts and other research.

Electrofishing critics have com-plained at every public hearing held by the Wildlife Resources commis-sion for the last ten years, since electrofishers became legal tools in North Carolina. They claim the method cleans out all catfish in a body of wa-

ter, while proponents of the method say they only take larger fish.

J.D. Blackburn of Lake Wacca-maw and his stepsons Ashton and Kolton recently tried their hand at electrofishing, and the boys are hooked. Lewis Sellers and Brad Ed-wards loaned the family some elec-trofishers, and they went to work on finding some big flathead cats.

“When the electricity hits a fish, he’s stunned and floats to the top,” Blackburn said. “Then you scoop it with a net.”

Blackburn said electro-fishing was something the family hadn’t tried, but likely will hit it again. The entire family enjoys spending time in the outdoors, and he espe-cially tries to encourage Ashton and Kolton in their outdoor pursuits.

“I like to expose the boys to all dif-ferent kinds of activities on the wa-ter or in the woods,” he said. “Teach-ing them how to be good sportsmen is something I believe they will val-ue in the years to come.”

For more information about elec-trofishing, go to ncwildlife.org.

Photo contributed

Ashton and Kolton recently tried electro-fishing with stepfather JD Blackburn at Black River.

Method comes as a ‘shock’ to catfish

Cranking for cats


The N.C. Wildlife Re-sources Commission has scheduled two free deer hunting seminars in Sep-tember at the Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh. The seminars complement each other, but attendees have the option of registering for one or both seminars.

“Deer Hunting 101,” Sept. 9 from 6−9 p.m., will provide basic instruction for novice

hunters. Participants will gain practical knowledge, with topics including scout-ing techniques, equipment needs, and deer behavior and habitat.

“Deer Processing, From Field to Freezer,” Sept. 11 from 6−9 p.m., will cover field dressing, processing techniques and taxidermy, as well as different ways to cook and serve venison.

For more information or

to register, contact Casey Williams at [email protected] or call 919-707-0202.

“Deer season is around the corner, with archery segments opening across the state on Sept. 13,” said Williams. “These seminars have been well-received in the past couple of years and they tend to fill up fast on a first-come, first served ba-sis.”

The seminars will be led by qualified instructors from the Cape Fear River Branch of Quality Deer Manage-ment Association (QDMA), which is a non-profit wild-life conservation organiza-tion dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and the hunting heritage.

The Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Educa-tion is located on the first

floor of the Wildlife Com-mission’s headquarters at 1751 Varsity Drive on N.C. State University’s Centen-nial Campus in Raleigh. It is one of four learning centers operated across the state by the Wildlife Com-mission, and features inter-active exhibits highlighting Piedmont wildlife species and habitats. Learn more at www.ncwildlife.org/learn-ing.

N.C. Wildlife has free deer hunting seminars in September

The N.C. Wildlife Resourc-es Commission’s Home From The Hunt™ safety campaign is reminding hunters to be just as cautious with tree stands prior to deer season as they should while hunt-ing.

“As hunters begin to set up tree stands as part of their preparation, safety is still rule number one,” said Travis Casper, coordi-nator of the Commission’s Hunter Education Program. “Whether you are scouting a location, trimming shooting lanes and putting up a tree stand, even on a trial basis, use the same precautions you would during hunting season.”

Casper recommended us-ing a lineman-style belt in addition to a full-body har-ness when first putting a tree stand in place. This mini-mizes the chance of falls and potential injury, he said.

“Always select a healthy,

straight tree for placement,” he said. “Let someone know where you are or take some-one along during pre-season

work.” Other tree stand safety

recommendations:· Never carry anything as

you climb — use a haul line to raise and lower equip-ment.

· Maintain three points

of contact when climbing.· Follow manufacturer in-

structions. · Don’t exceed manufac-

turer’s maximum height set-tings.

As with any piece of equipment, tree stands need inspection before use. Re-place rusted bolts, frayed straps or, if needed, buy a new tree stand.

Leaving a tree stand up from one season to the next has some inherent problems that outweigh any conve-nience. When a tree stand is exposed to the elements due to long-term placement, it may have damaged straps, ropes and attachment cords — any of which potentially may lead to breakage and failure.

For more information on hunting seasons, Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permits and the Hunter Education Program, go to www.ncwild-life.org or call 919-707-0031.

Tree stand safety important before the hunt

N.C. Wildlife photo

A lineman-style belt is essential to maintaining safety in a treestand.


750 Guns in Stock

Anglers have even more reason to despise an aggressive invasive spe-cies that will soon make its debut in southeastern North Carolina.

Northern Snakeheads—a fish some-times mistaken for the native bowfin, or blackfish—are native to Asia. The fish have the ability to survive for long periods of time without water, and with their voracious appetites, eat everything from small amphibians and reptiles to bass, catfish and even (oc-casionally) very small mammals.

Several have been caught in North Carolina since 2007, with most of the reported catches in the Lake Wylie area.

Now the fish can make native spe-cies sick, too.

A virus that can cause disease in largemouth bass has now been identi-fied in other- wise apparently healthy northern snakeheads taken from two Potomac River tributaries in Virginia, the U.S. Geological Survey announced recently.

This is the first time that the illness, known as largemouth bass virus, has been reported in northern snakeheads. The virus has been found in bass, sunfish, and other fish species, but largemouth bass are the only species known to develop disease from it.

Largemouth bass virus is a Ranavi-rus, a group of viruses that are known to cause lethal diseases in amphibians and are associated with significant population declines.

Snakeheads are found in the Mary-land and Virginia parts of the Chesa-peake Bay watershed, in Florida, North Carolina and New England. Efforts to eradicate or control the spread of this invasive fish have been unsuccessful so far, and scientists predict that the northern snakehead

is likely to increase its range. Little is known about pathogens in

northern snakeheads that inhabit U.S. waters. This study, done in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, is a preliminary survey of introduced pathogens from northern snakeheads living in Vir-ginia waters.

“The long-term and population-level effects of largemouth bass virus on bass inhabiting these rivers are unknown,” said Iwanowicz.

The disease makes some large-mouth bass unable to submerge, causing them to float on the surface of the water. There are no other obvi-ous symptoms directly resulting from this virus.

Large-scale fish kills have occurred in some infected largemouth bass populations, while others appear to be healthy. It is not known how the virus is transmitted or how disease is acti-vated. Genetic and other differences in the virus; environmental stress from pollution, high water temperatures, and co-infections; in addition to host- related factors contribute to the out-come for infected largemouth bass.

The origin of largemouth bass vi-rus is uncertain. The first report of it in the U.S. was in 1991 in Florida. It has since been reported throughout the eastern, southern, and Midwest-ern U.S. In 2001, most Virginia waters tested with no or very low infection rates, but by August 2011, the virus was found in all sixteen bodies of wa-ter tested statewide and major rivers except the tidal James River.

If anglers suspect they have caught a snakehead, they are asked to keep it, freeze it or place it on ice, and report the capture to the Wildlife Resources Commission at (919) 707-0220.

Snakeheads an invasive species in North Carolina

Photo contributed

A photo of the front of a Northern Snakehead showing the teeth of the fish.


It’s time to go wild

Clean and fine-tune your weapons, break out the camouflage, count your shells and get ready to head for the field.

Whether it’s for an afternoon dove shoot with family and friends, pursuing a trophy buck on a crisp autumn morning, calling in a colorful wood duck, or matching wits with a coyote or bobcat in the increasingly popular sport of predator hunt-ing, now’s the time to get ready for opening day for your favorite quarry. To the right is a brief list of dates and target species, but be sure to pick up the latest copy of the N.C. Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Digest at your favorite hunting and fishing dealer, or go online to www.ncwildlife.org for all the details.

-- Jefferson Weaver

September marks the beginning of hunting season


Whitetail DeerPender County is part of is part of the Eastern Deer Season district. Bowhunting Sept. 13 - Oct. 3 Muzzleloader Oct. 4 - Oct. 17Gun Oct. 18 - Jan. 1 Limit: Six per season, all of which may be antlerless. No more than four antlered deer may be taken. Check the regulations digest for more specific details.

Black BearNov. 10 - Jan. 1One per season, with possession of one. Bears under 50 pounds may not be taken.

Wild TurkeyApril 11 - May 9, 2015Youth Season: April 4-10One per day, with possession of two. Only bearded (male) turkeys may be harvested. Information on special Games Lands hunts may be found in the regulations digest.

Feral HogFeral hogs may be hunted at any time, by any legal method, with no bag limit or possession. New rules affecting hunting of hogs at night using artificial lights are also being implemented. Hogs may be trapped under a free permit.

Squirrels (Gray or red only) Oct. 13 - Feb. 28Daily limit is eight. No season or possession limits.Fox Squirrels Oct. 13 - Dec. 31.Daily limit of one, possession of two, and season limit of 10.

Raccoon, Opossum, & Bobcat

Oct. 13 - Feb. 28No limit on bobcat and opossum.

For raccoons, the daily limit is three, with no season or possession limit.

RabbitNov. 22 - Feb. 28 Hunting and box

trapping. Daily limit of five. No possession or

season limit.

QuailNov. 22 - Feb. 28Daily limit of six,

with a possession of 12. No season

limit.

Coyote, Striped Skunk, Armadillo, Nutria & BeaverNo closed season or bag limits.

Beaver may only be taken if permission has been granted

by the landowner. Beaver may be hunted with firearms or bow

and arrow.

Mourning Doves Sept. 1 - Oct. 11, Nov. 27- Jan. 15 Daily limit 15, possession of 45.Resident Canada Geese Sept. 1-30 statewide. Daily limit 15, possession 45. Ducks, Mergansers, Coots Some waterfowl seasons were still pending at press time.Rail, Gallinule, Moorhen Sept. 8-Oct. 11, Oct. 27 - Dec. 1Woodcock Dec. 18 - Jan. 31 Snipe Nov. 14 - Feb. 28

Check the Regulations Digest or go to www.ncwildlife.org for more details.

SMALL GAME SPECIES

PREDATOR & VARMINT SPECIES WATERFOWL & GAMEBIRDS

TRAPPING SEASONS

BIG GAME SPECIES

Trapping season for coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, possums, weasels, otters, muskrats, mink, and other furbearers--Dec. 1 - Feb. 28. Nutria and armadillo may be trapped year-round. Landowners having documented beaver damage may use any legal hunting or trapping method to harvest beavers, and may allow others to harvest beavers if they are licensed and follow all state trapping laws. Foxes may not be hunted or trapped in Pender County.


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Dove hunting season opened in North Carolina Sept. 1. Shooting hours are half-hour before sunrise to sunset for the entire season. The 2014-15 season for mourning and white-winged dove is Sept. 1 – Oct. 11 and Nov. 27 – Jan. 15. Daily bag limit is 15 and posses-sion limit is 45.

“Opening day is a Monday, not a traditional Satur-day,” said Kate Pipkin, Wildlife Commission rules bi-ologist. “Although many hunters prefer the season to open the Saturday prior to Labor Day, federal guide-lines do not allow states to open migratory game bird seasons prior to Sept. 1. Rather than wait until Sept. 6, which is the first Saturday after Labor Day, the Wildlife Commission went with the earliest possible date allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”

The Commission’s Home From The Hunt™ cam-paign encourages hunters to be safe and responsible in the field, with the following recommendations:

· When hunting in a group, adhere to established zones of fire.

· Never shoot at low-flying birds and alert others when a bird is too low for a safe shot.

· Take time prior to hunting to walk the field and inspect the area for bait.

· Never place decoys on utility lines, which is tres-passing and risks electrical shock.

· Don’t combine game bags, which is a hunting regulations violation.

All hunters must follow applicable licensing re-quirements and hunting regulations. It is an indi-vidual hunter’s responsibility to know the area being hunted. Don’t hunt over baited fields. According to state regulations, the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure for migratory game can con-stitute a baited area. Because birds often return to a feeding area even after the food source is exhausted, hunting within 10 days after complete disappearance of feed from a baited area is illegal.

For more information on hunting seasons, Hunt-ing Heritage Apprentice Permits and the Hunter Ed-ucation Program, go to www.ncwildlife.org/hunting.

Dove season underwayacross North Carolina

N.C. Wildlife photo

Post & Voice 2014 Hunting & Fishing Guide

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