How about some Surf Fishing?

Dad or Grandpa helps pack up the car and rustle the kids into the back seat. He drives all the way down to Surf City, then hauls everything up stairs. They're barely done when Mom asks if they'll take the kids out swimming. After chasing the kids around, he tiredly brings them back inside for meals, showers and eventually that night, bed.

The good thing is that the kids will sleep in - at least longer than Dad or Gramps will. But what can Dad or Gramps do with those early morning hours of peacefulness?

How about fishing the surf? He can catch small sharks, jacks and other ocean delights while he sits back and enjoys the peacefulness of the morning. Yet, unlike deep sea fishing, with surf fishing he can reel them in and join the family when they get stirring and ready to do something.

He can rent equipment for the week and get a license at East Coast Sports in downtown Surf City. Click on East Coast Sports or click here for more places to buy or rent fishing gear on Topsail Island.

Fresh Shrimp on the Grille

One of the great things about coming down to Topsail Island and Surf City is the fresh shrimp. In the picture above you can see one of the local shrimp boats fishing the waters by the drop off for some fabulous Carolina shrimp.

How about cooking your own fresh shrimp? I mean fresh - right off the boat. There is a seafood market located in the parking lot of the Crab Pot and it has what they are catching. Shrimp, flounder, sometimes shark, and more. Click here for a picture of the Fresh Seafood Market.

If you're not good with preparing fresh fish, try this. Get some shrimp and skewers. Boil the shrimp until white. Rinse and place on the skewers - kabob style - with sliced green peppers and some quartered onions. Braise with butter and put on the grill. Take off the grill when they have grill marks and enjoy with a "sundowner"

Fishin' on the Vonda Kay

Shelley, one of our guests this fall sends in this report from the Vonda Kay (pictured above), one of the fishing boats taking vacations out deep sea fishing from one of our local docks:

The captain and crew of the Vonda Kay were great--even on our half-day excursion they stayed out an extra hour looking for fish. We hit pretty well in the first few hours but then things dropped off because Hurricane Hanna had scattered the schools.

But we got enough for a good black sea-bass dinner for seven people!

Saw a school of dolphins, the crew netted a "cannonball" jellyfish for us all to touch (the only jellyfish that is safe to touch), and my son caught the first red snapper the captain had ever caught around here. Unfortunately, it was about 14 inches too small...

Sounds like Shelly had a great time. To contact the Vonda Kay for your fishing excursion, call them at 910-545-FISH (3474) or check them out on my Things to Do page at Beach4rent.org

Thanks Shelley for sharing your trip with us.