I unfortunately had to pass on an offshore fishing trip the other day and I sure hated to miss out on the day at sea. By all accounts, it looked like the Sharp family of Manteo hooked up big time on Capt. Barry Sawyer’s Waste Knot sport fishing charter boat.

From the photos and online chatter, sounds like tuna was the catch of the day. Lisa Sharp said her husband Kenny and son Dylan benefited from the expert anglers on board.

“Some moments are meant for remembering forever – this truly was one of them!” she said. “It was a gorgeous, perfect day in the Gulfstream and we were accompanied by true legends and long-time friends aboard the Waste Knot.

“Capt. Barry Sawyer, you never cease to amaze us,” Sharp continued. “And to Patrick [Byrd] huge love for helping my boy catch a tuna or three for the first time ever!

“Loved every minute of it, boys! Thank you,” she said. “What an epic, unforgettable day.”

Now I really feel bad for missing the boat.

No License Required

Celebrate your Independence Day Thursday, July 4 by wetting a line. All across the Tar Heel state, the requirement to hold a valid fishing license will be waived for the day.

Get out and try your luck and bring someone who normally doesn’t go fishing. Be sure to abide by all the rules, however, as quite a few species have length requirements and bag limits.

All of these rules can be found online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/recreational-fishing-size-and-bag-limits. Most of the tackle shops can help with this too so be sure to know before you go. Take flounder, for example. It must be 15 inches long and you can only keep four a day.

Fines for this are steep, plus you’ll miss out on fishing while you’re being ticketed, not to mention the embarrassment associated with it all. So pack a tape measure or grab a ruler before you go.

Sweepfires for All

I recently picked up two nice Sweepfire spinning reels for $50 and had 12-pound test line put on them at one of the ocean piers. I first learned about these inexpensive Daiwa reels when my wife bought me not just one but two small Sweepfire reels for $25 two decades ago or so.

Apparently, she drove past one of the tackle shops and read it on the marquee: 2 Reels $25. The bargain shopper that she is, Wanda bit on the deal – hook, line and sinker. I think perhaps another fellow female bargain hunter put that sign up.

Anyway, now there’s quite few these guys hanging around the garage and shed in different states of repair or disrepair. They certainly don’t last forever but they’re great for a couple of seasons anyway.

These newer larger ones are good looking and seem to work just fine. Heck, even my buddy from a different fishing team complimented me on mine.

The other one went to my 13-year-old son, Austin, who successfully made it through middle school with all As and Bs and didn’t go to office once – that I know of anyway.

I bought it just an hour after the promotion ceremony so we could go out and have some Fishin’ Fun.

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.

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