Volume 13 Number 12 - December 2006

FEATURES:

	Battle of Pork Chop Hill An unexpected encounter with a Russian boar produces fear, tears, jeers, and a hunter scared enough to cry in his beer. Opening day of the bear season dawned clear and cool in the mountains of western North Carolina. ... Michael D. Porter

	Blue Gold A magnificent sportfish has saved N.C. coastal jobs during recent winters, but the future for bluefin tuna isn’t rosy. Five years ago, aboard a now-retired 54-foot Atlantic Beach-based charterboat, the Top Hook, a strapping 6-2, 200-pound angler from Raleigh settled into a stern chair for his first tussle with a tuna. ... Craig Holt

	CALO Fish Tales Anglers have enjoyed the surf fishing at Core Banks each fall and early winter for many years. Editor’s Note: Since the writing of this feature, the National Park Service has awarded mainland ferry service to South and North Core Banks to Cape Lookout Concessions (Morris Marina Kabin Kamps). Morris Marina now operates ferries from Davis ... Terry Shive

	Currituck Combo A fourth-generation guide keeps the family tradition alive by offering bear, deer, and waterfowl hunts. Like a dozen Junebugs tied to a kid’s kite string, a flock of widgeons circled an open-water blind in Currituck Sound last December. ... Craig Holt

	Curtains for Ducks An Ocracoke guide has unique blinds that mean close shots and full bags for waterfowl hunters -- if they overcome their reluctance to step inside. Leggett Lump is hardly even that. While nobody really knows where the name originated, the “lump” is a slight rise in the bottom of a couple of inches in height above the surrounding expanse of Pamlico Sound. ... Mike Marsh

	French Broad Waterwolf Western N.C.’s premier river has muskies that can make any northern angler jealous -- and they’re just waiting to be caught. A large, brown torpedo appeared under the bow of the small john boat, then sank slowly toward the stern. ... Tim Mead

	Loaded for Bear Eastern N.C. grows the biggest black bears in North America. North Carolina sportsmen have one of North America’s top big game hunting opportunities hiding right under their noses. ... Boyd Kidwell

	Mountain Man’s Monster A Haywood County hunter traveled to Union County to bag 2005’s highest-scoring whitetail. Deer hunters spend a lot of time scratching their heads, trying to figure out where exactly to hang a tree stand in the area they plan to hunt. ... Elmore K. Williams

	Where Reds Rule In winter, a special set of bays at the lower Cape Fear hold fish in shallow water. As we turned to look where Capt. Matt Wirt was pointing so excitedly, the wake created by the moving redfish was something we couldn’t miss as it spread across the slick water. ... Jerry Dilsaver



	Sure, it's December, but anglers from Cape Fear to Cape Lookout will be having as much fun as their deer-hunting counterparts are in more inland areas. Photo By Photo by John R. Ford

COLUMNS:

Backlashes
The fast track to extinction
Craig Holt

Getting in Gear
Sportsman’s tricks for Saint Nick
Dan Kibler

Head for the Mountains
Hazel Creek is a good fall break
Robert Satterwhite

High Tides and Tall Tails
Santa, baby, I need a rod and reel
Jerry Dilsaver

Livewell
Raleigh anglers win at Lake Hickory
Tony Garitta

Lunker Lines
Bass can stack up in December
David Fritts

DEPARTMENTS:

New Products

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