Tag Archives: Oregon Inlet
Late ‘Wicked Tuna’ captain’s family, friends request support for jetty project instead of flowers
Following the recent loss of two local fishermen around the dangerous Oregon Inlet, grassroots efforts are underway to revitalize the controversial jetty project that the federal government shut down over two decades ago. “In lieu of flowers, the family requests your support in establishing a jetty project for Oregon Inlet,” states the online obituary for Charles “Charlie” Marshall Griffin, also known as “Grif.” The 62-year-old, famed boat captain from Nags Head appeared on “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks,” a National Geographic reality TV series. Chad Dunn, 36, of Wanchese, remains missing after being onboard during the same voyage, and the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for him the evening of March 5. Both Griffin and Dunn were well-respected watermen who had crossed the inlet countless times, their peers told state legislators as they shared frustration with the lack of dredging due to permitting red tape at a meeting in Manteo last Wednesday. more, >>click to read<< 08:47
After the death of 2 fishermen, Outer Banks watermen call for dredging in notoriously rough waters
Ten Outer Banks watermen passionately spoke against the red tape surrounding permits for Oregon Inlet dredging that they say has a human cost. They were among about 80 attendees at a state commission meeting held Wednesday afternoon at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island in Manteo. “All this red tape and all that permits cost us two of my dearest friends’ lives Sunday night,” longtime local fisherman Michael Merritt stated, choking up. He and several other speakers during public comment referenced the recent death of Capt. Charlie “Griff” Griffin of “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks” fame and the assumed death of Chad Dunn, who is missing from the same tragic voyage that ended in what is widely assumed as a boating accident near the treacherous Oregon Inlet. Merritt said he and “all us have…lost two dear friends, and not because they were amateurs — they were well adept and knew how to do it.” more, >>click to read<< 08:38
U.S. Coast Guard suspends search for missing boater off Oregon Inlet
The Coast Guard says they have suspended the search for a missing boater off of Oregon Inlet on North Carolina’s Outer. The Coast Guard found 65-year-old Captain Charlie Griffin of Wanchese dead after a boat heading to the Outer Banks was reported as overdue on Sunday. 36-year-old Chad Dunn remained missing Tuesday night when the Coast Guard suspended the search. more, >>click to read<< 06:11
Capt. Charlie Griffin, ‘Wicked Tuna’ star, dies in boating accident on the Outer Banks; passenger missing
Capt. Charlie “Griff” Griffin of “Wicked Tuna” fame died on the Outer Banks after his boat went missing Sunday night near Oregon Inlet. A person with him remained missing Monday evening, Around 11:35 p.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard received a report of two overdue boaters transiting in a recreational vessel from Virginia Beach to Wanchese, where the boat was going for repairs, a Coast Guard spokesperson said by phone. The last communication with those on the boat had been about 6:15 p.m. Sunday. The Coast Guard and local first responders were searching the oceanfront between Nags Head and Rodanthe by water and ATV on the beach when the boat was found south of Oregon Inlet about 70 yards off shore in the break, the spokesperson said. more, >>click to read<< 17:32
Jetties Needed at Oregon Inlet
Congressman Greg Murphy is lending his voice to reviving pursuit of twin jetties to prevent sand clogging the inlet’s navigation channel. The inlet, the only opening from sound to ocean between Virginia and Hatteras, has been badly shoaled from recent storms, making it hazardous for fishing vessels and charter boats to navigate. The authorized depth of the navigation channel is 14 feet, although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has had difficulty maintaining the channel to that specification. With the new Basnight Bridge having multiple high spans, there is now flexibility to re-mark the navigational channel to follow best water, but shoaling persists. >click to read< 08:22
Efforts begin to remove grounded vessel off Oregon Inlet
Collaborative efforts have begun to remove a fishing vessel that was grounded off of Oregon Inlet on the night of February 29. The crew of the 72-foot scallop boat were safely removed by an air crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City the following morning, and until the vessel is towed away, it still remains stranded about 50 yards near the shoreline, and roughly a half mile south of ORV Ramp 4 on Bodie Island. more, >click to read< 19:08
Pledge to dredge will likely keep Oregon Inlet open in North Carolina
Dare County commissioners agreed Thursday to dedicate $1 million to pay the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the inlet. The move all but assures for the first time that the inlet remains open, said Dare County Commissioner Beverly Boswell. “We’ll have a dredge here when it’s needed,” she said after the vote. Oregon Inlet proponent and boat captain Harry Schiffman and others have pleaded with the county to pay for dredging for more than 20 years. Read the rest here 08:46
VIDEO: Dredging the Oregon Inlet
The U.S. army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, started recently dredging operations at the Oregon Inlet in order to remove the shoaling that has been obstructing the federal channel passage for commercial fishing vessels. First on the site was cast dredge Merritt that opened the federal channel at the navigation span of the Bonner Bridge to a controlling depth of 8 feet so the hopper dredge Currituck can work to open the channel to as great a depth as possible up to its authorized depth of 14 feet. Watch the video here 15:04
Oregon Inlet restrictions eased, re-opening channel for commercial/charter boats
Boats with drafts of up to 5 feet can now use the Oregon Inlet channel, opening the passage to most charter fishing boats just as the Easter weekend gets under way. A temporary emergency order is still in affect for boats needing more than 5 feet of water. They are not permitted within 100 yards of the Bonner Bridge. The Oregon Inlet Guides Association said in a statement that the Coast Guard’s decision to ease restrictions came after receiving feedback from local captains and additional surveying. Read the rest here 19:55
Lawmakers scramble to reopen Oregon Inlet
State House and Senate lawmakers are scrambling this week for funds and fixes to reopen Oregon Inlet and dredge other inlets and ports. While House lawmakers are poised to allow Dare County to raise its local sales tax to pay for dredging, Senate lawmakers are working on a fix on the state’s side. Dredges are on their way to the inlet for a one-time federally funded fix, but Sen. Bill Cook, R-Beaufort,,, Read the rest here 12:05
“Wicked Tuna: North Vs. South” Show up in the air, The Question Is, Will increased bluefin tuna quota benefit local fishermen — or not?
A new management rule that went into effect Jan. 1 effectively gives twice the general quota for bluefin over previous years for North Carolina through March 31. Although the quota change might lessen some of the longstanding regional conflict over bluefin that fanned last year’s “Wicked Tuna: North Vs. South” reality TV show, it still does nothing to change the overall share of the pie. Read the rest here 15:48
Crisis Without End: Key moments in the Oregon Inlet saga
It seemed like déjà vu all over again when the Dare Board of Commissioners voted on Jan. 5 to authorize matching funds for “immediate” dredging of Oregon Inlet — the latest chapter in a crisis that has dragged on not for years, but for decades. Observers and activists alike confess astonishment at how long the crisis has continued — and frustration at how little has been done to effectively address it. Read the rest here 14:15
County authorizes tourism grant of $300,000 to dredge Oregon Inlet
Dare County commissioners voted Monday morning to authorize providing local money for dredging Oregon Inlet. The Dare County Tourism Board approved a grant of $300,000 last month to help secure matching state funds to contract with the Army Dare County Tourism Board for a dredge to clear out the latest shoaling blocking the channel under and just east of the navigation span of the Bonner Bridge. Read the rest here 21:33
Commercial fishing boat runs aground in Oregon Inlet
A commercial fishing trawler from Wanchese ran aground Monday morning just east of the Bonner Bridge in Oregon Inlet. Pictures from eyewitnesses show the F/V Fine Tuna was hard aground and side too the Bodie Island shoal, which juts out into Oregon Inlet, sometime before 10 a.m. Read the rest here 09:16
Clogged Oregon Inlet keeps charter boats docked
HATTERAS ISLAND, N.C. — Boat owners are concerned that the start of charter fishing season may leave them high and dry because the Oregon Inlet is clogged with sand. newsobserver.com Read more here 17:13
