The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a series of meetings this month to get public input on updating the state’s master plan for artificial reefs.

The public is invited to attend the meetings and speak on subjects, such as best management practices and allowable gears, reef locations as well as reef monitoring, evaluation and marking.

The division is considering revisions to the plan that include prohibiting the use of some commercial fishing gears within a specified distance of artificial reefs.

Changes to the plan require approval of the division director. Upon receiving approval, the division will proceed through the Marine Fisheries Commission with any needed rulemaking activities.

Comments will be taken in conjunction with the commission’s regional advisory committee meetings set for:

·         Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Inland Regional Advisory Committee
McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, N.C.
Contact: Randy Gregory at (252) 808-8078 or (800) 682-2632 or the Marine Fisheries Commission’s office at (252) 808-8022

·         Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Central Regional Advisory Committee
Duke Marine Laboratory Auditorium, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, N.C.
Contact: Mike Marshall (252) 808-8077 or (800) 682-2632 or Marine Fisheries Commission’s office at (252) 808-8022

·         Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northeast Regional Advisory Committee
Roanoke Island Festival Park, 1 Festival Park, Manteo, N.C.
Contact: Sara Winslow at (252) 264-3911 or MFC Office at (252) 808-8022

For more information, contact Craig Hardy, division chief of Resource Enhancement, at (800) 682-2632 or (252) 808-8046 or Craig.Hardy@ncmail.net.

It is with sadness that I pass on the news that well known Maryland Fishing/Outdoor writer and author Keith Walters passed away this past Wednesday a day before his 78th birthday. I have a special place in my heart for Keith because he helped me get started in my writing and photography back in the early 90′s. He and Sam Blate (who also recently passed away) got me involved with the Mason Dixon Outdoor Writers Association. I was in my twenties and always the youngest guy at the conferences, but they always were nice to me and shared advise, tips and tricks. Keith used to let me come over to his house where in his basement he had a wonderful collection of old fishing tackle that he could go on about for hours about the history and is where he and his wife Carole wrote and illustrated many of the fishing books he wrote. He wrote books like:
Catching Striped Bass and Chesapeake Stripers

Keith also has written the outdoor column in our local paper here in Easton, the Star Democrat, for many years and I looked forward to reading his column with local information. He wrote the column in what I would characterize as old style, talking about the local people here by name and telling what was going on around the fishing and hunting world. He will be missed.

Brandon