The blue Corian fish tiles, with the owners’ names, messages and sometimes dates engraved with white letters, are embedded in the pier deck planks and stretch from the entry ramps all the way to the end of the 1,000-foot long pier.

Conducted by the N.C. Aquarium Society, the Own-A-Plank campaign was wildly popular and successful by all accounts.

In its 26th year, the society runs the gift shops at all three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier. It also raises money for special projects and needs at each state-owned and operated facility.

For those of you who missed out on the first Own-A-plank campaign, another similar program is now under way at Jennette’s Pier.

The Angler’s Club will allow folks to show their love for the pier and leave a lasting tribute, according to the society’s Development Director Jay Barnes.

“Join us in supporting Jennette’s Pier through our Angler’s Club campaign,” he said. “Your tax deductable contribution of five hundred dollars will support the pier and help us create innovative new exhibits and programs.

“And, you’ll get to choose your own fish inscription that will be read by millions of pier visitors for years to come,” Barnes said. “The Angler’s Club is a perfect way to remember a loved one, honor a friend, or make a statement for all to see.”

With your contribution, you can select the wording of your personalized fish tile, he said. These 14-inch Corian fish are different than the original blue fish tiles—these are red in color and will be positioned under the two shade pavilions out on the pier.

Limited in number, they are hand cut, polished, and engraved with the names of your choice, then permanently embedded into deck boards, Barnes added. You can list the names of your children, grandchildren, your business, or even create a memorial to a loved one.

You can visit us here to purchase your fish, or you can call the society toll-free at 800-832-FISH (3474), ext. 2, to speak to a representative about your order.

Best of all, you can take pride in knowing that your contribution is being managed by the NC Aquarium Society, the Pier’s non-profit support group.

For each of the last several years, the Aquarium Society has earned a coveted four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s leading non-profit watch group.

With its theme, “Keeping the Outer Banks Clean and Green,” the inaugural Earth Fair OBX will provide attendees with education, activities and entertainment throughout the afternoon.

“Events will include a recycled clothing fashion show put on by local students, guest speakers, games and crafts,” said Lydia Courtright, event organizer and pier educator.

One of the crafts will include tie-dying T-shirts that sport a cool Earth Day OBX logo, which was designed by a local artist, she added.

Many area organizations and businesses will be on exhibit to showcase what they are doing to educate, protect and promote sustainability and the environment, Courtright said.

The event is free to the public. For more information, call 252-255-1501, ext. 207.

Although the fishing was slow and no one caught a red drum, the weather was great and everyone had a super time.

The top prize went to Bryan Major of Richmond, Va. He landed the only legal-sized speckled trout of the morning, a 14–inch beauty.

“I’m surprised a fourteen inch fish took the whole thing,” he said.

Major said he nearly missed the tournament along with his yearly trip to the Outer Banks for Thanksgiving due to an operation he had Oct. 11.

A sergeant for the King William County Sheriff’s Office, he’s currently on short-term disability because he lost the bottom part of his left leg to cancer, but he and his brother Rob seemed to have a great time and they loved the sunny weather.

“He paid for me to come out and be in the tournament today,” Major said. “He pays and I win.”

With not much else happening with the game fish, the judges were creative in deciding who would win trophies in the all important exemplary category, according to Tournament Director Daryl Law.

“We were able to give the kids trophies for catches including a crab, a skate and a shark,” he said. “Fortunately, all of these animals were released alive and unharmed.”

Nearly everyone who recorded a catch walked away with a trophy and everyone who came to the awards ceremony left with a goodie bag stuffed with a hat, Gotcha lure and some tackle courtesy of Sea Striker.

The money collected from the $15 registration fee went back into the education department for future events, Law added.

“We hope to have an even bigger and better showing next year,” he said.

For those who registered early for the event, they were able to take advantage of a coupon book at Tanger Outlets during the holiday weekend.

Some of the parents fishing in the event took advantage of the Marine Camp offered by the education department at the same time Saturday morning.

At one point, these children could be seen on the pier pulling a phytoplankton net and learning how to read the clarity of the water, said Education Coordinator Christin Brown.

The additional game fish winners were: Matthew McKenna, 8–inch sand perch; Shane McKenna, 5.5-inch croaker; Chris Nein, 7.2–inch gray trout and Sam Jones, 11– inch black drum.

All total, there were seven members of the McKenna family of Southern Shores in the tournament. Nein hails from Chesapeake, Va. and Jones is from Williamsburg, Va.

In the exemplary category, Ben Rollason of Kill Devil Hills caught the largest of three skates measured – a whopping 34.5-inch long skate, which won a trophy.

Rollason, a season pass holder, has certainly put his time in at the pier so far this year.

Brendan Leadem of St. Augustine, Fla. also made the most of his catch, a 34-inch spiny dogfish, which also won a trophy.

The blow toads were also biting Saturday morning and Wes Gaddy of Kill Devil Hills and Major tied for first as they each scored a 9.5–inch fish.

Last but certainly not least, Aidan Shea-Roop of Winchester, Va. was awarded a trophy for his 2-inch crab.

Thanks to Ace Hardware in Nags Head, who donated a handful of wooden yard sticks to the pier, anglers could easily check the length of the speckled trout and other fish before throwing them back or scoring them.

Jennette’s Pier would also like to thank the Nags Head Surf Fishing Club and its head judge Ronnie Scott of Nags Head who also made their measuring sticks available for the tournament.