[gentle orcestral fanfare] - NICE SPANISH MACKEREL.

- I'M GONNA LEAN OVER HERE.

I'M JUST GONNA-- - OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT, YOU READY TO BRING HIM IN?

- YEP.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

SLING HIM OVER.

- HE'S PULLIN'-- - SLING HIM OVER.

- WHOO!

- THERE YOU GO.

- I ABOUT GOT YOU WITH THAT ONE.

- OH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- WHOO!

- [ANNOUNCER] THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER] WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA MAGAZINE.

NCWILDLIFE.ORG/WINC.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER] AND BY EZ BAIT & TACKLE, FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND ADVICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

[light instrumental music] ♪ - HELLO, WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM IS GONNA TAKE US DOWN FISHING ON THE PIER, JUST AS MUCH FUN NOW AS IT WAS WHEN I WAS A KID, JOE.

- ABSOLUTELY, I THINK EVERYBODY THAT'S-- FISHES IN SALT WATER TODAY WILL SAY--MOST OF THEM WILL SAY THEY STARTED ON THE END OF A FISHING PIER.

AND NORTH CAROLINA HAS HAD FISHING PIERS FOR YEARS, AND THEY'RE UP AND DOWN THE COAST.

AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT CATCHING SPANISH MACKEREL, BLUEFISH OFF AN END OF A PIER IN MAY, WHEN THAT TIME COMES WHEN THESE SPANISH ARE--SHOW UP.

AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO FISH IT, AND WE JUST HAD A GOOD DAY AND MET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE.

- AND THE FISHING CART THAT YOU TAKE WITH-- YOU GOT TO TAKE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU OWN WHEN YOU GO.

- MOST PEOPLE THAT DO IT ON A REGULAR BASIS DO HAVE CARTS, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN GEAR TIME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CARRY 'CAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT OUT AT ONE TIME.

YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU: COOLER, TACKLE, RODS, EXTRA RODS.

AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN GEAR TIME.

- AND VENISON PARMESAN IN THE KITCHEN WITH DONNA.

- IF YOU LIKE-- IF YOU'RE DEER HUNTING OR YOU LIKE DEER-- VENISON MEAT--STAY TUNED.

IT'S A REALLY TASTY RECIPE FROM HER TODAY.

- WE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

THIS IS GONNA TAKE ME BACK TO MY DAYS WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PIER FISHING TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- TARA, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER TO TOPSAIL ISLAND HERE AT THE JOLLY ROGER PIER, TO GO FISHING WITH ME TODAY.

- I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DAY, 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE FISHED OFF OF A PIER.

AND I'M--I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THESE SPANISH THEY'RE CATCHING.

- WELL, THEY'VE REALLY BEEN CATCHING SOME NICE SPANISH ON PLUGS, BLUEFISH.

IT'S JUST A GREAT WAY TO GET STARTED IN SALTWATER FISHING.

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MY EARLIEST MEMORIES OF SALTWATER FISHING WERE FISHING FROM THE PIER.

- YEAH, MINE TOO.

- WELL, MAYBE WE'LL GO OUT HERE TODAY AND CATCH SOME FISH.

THERE'S NOTHING--THE GREAT THING ABOUT SPANISH MACKEREL IS, THEY'RE SO MUCH FUN TO CATCH, BUT THEY'RE JUST FABULOUS EATING.

SO LET'S GO SEE IF WE CAN GET US ONE.

- THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

LET'S GO.

- WELL, TARA, WE'RE OUT HERE AT THE END OF THE PIER, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE WE'VE BEEN CATCHING MOST OF THE SPANISH AND THE BLUES, AND THERE BEEN SOME REALLY NICE SPANISH AROUND.

AND WE'RE AT LOW TIDE RIGHT NOW, AND--BUT IT'S STARTING TO COME UP.

SO HOPEFULLY, THINGS WILL START HAPPENING HERE FOR US PRETTY QUICK.

- HOPE SO.

MAYBE WE CAN GET A GOOD LITTLE MIXED BAG.

- YEAH.

- TAKE IT WITH US.

- SOME BLUES AND SOME SPANISH, AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN CATCHING FISH THAT ARE GOOD TO EAT TOO, SO-- - LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

- WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THE-- GET THIS FISH BITE GOING.

- THROW THIS THING ON OUT THERE.

- THERE YOU GO.

- WATCH YOUR ROD THERE.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOU OUT.

- KEEP YOUR ROD TIP-- IT LOOKS LIKE A BLUEFISH, TARA.

- IT DOES.

- OKAY.

UH-OH.

WE GOT A PROBLEM.

- NO, NOT YET.

WE'RE OKAY RIGHT NOW.

- NO, NO, NO, NO, THE PROBLEM IS THIS.

- I GOT THE-- THERE WE GO; IT'S CLEAR.

- IT'S CLEAR?

IT'S CLEAR.

- THAT'S PIER FISHING.

- OKAY, GO AHEAD.

YEAH.

- BRING HIM ON UP?

- YEAH, REEL HIM ON UP.

JUST SLING HIM OVER WHEN HE GETS UP TO A CERTAIN HEIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO.

- BRINGING HIM BACK WITH ME.

THERE WE GO.

- OKAY, I'LL GET HIM LOOSE, TARA.

- ALL RIGHT.

- WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LITTLE BLUEFISH, FIRST FISH OF THE DAY.

- GOOD LITTLE GUY.

- YEP.

- I'M GONNA LOOSEN THAT DRAG.

- THEY MIX IN WITH THE SPANISH, AND BLUES ARE FEEDING ON THE SAME BAITS, SO...

ANYWAY, WE'LL PUT HIM BACK.

- ALL RIGHT, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

HE'S A PRETTY LITTLE THING.

- YEP.

GOOD JOB.

- THANKS, DEAN.

APPRECIATE IT.

- GET OUT THERE AND GET ANOTHER ONE.

- ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S TWO OUT THERE.

- OKAY, TARA, I THINK THAT'S A BLUEFISH.

- I SEE HIM.

- THERE'S A BUNCH OF THEM IN THE WATER.

LOOK AT THEM.

- I KNOW.

- WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND GET IN THERE AND-- - I KNOW; I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD PROBABLY THROW MINE BACK OUT.

I'M WAITING FOR YOU TO GET THIS ONE.

- WELL...

THEY'RE NOT AS GOOD EATING AS A SPANISH, BUT THEY'RE FUN TO CATCH.

OKAY, HEADS-UP.

- RIGHT.

I'M GONNA MOVE BACK HERE.

THERE WE GO.

THAT'S A NICE-SIZE ONE.

- WELL, THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO BREAK THE ICE, I GUESS.

- I KNOW.

- A GOOD-SIZE BLUE.

WE'LL--MAYBE WHATEVER HE WAS CHASING, SOME SPANISH WILL SHOW UP.

- I HOPE SO.

- WE'LL PUT HIM BACK AND LET HIM GROW UP.

- SOUNDS GOOD.

HOPEFULLY CATCH A FEW MORE.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY.

- GOT ANOTHER ONE, DEAN.

- YEP, THERE'S A LITTLE-- ANOTHER LITTLE BLUEFISH.

- SET MY EQUIPMENT DOWN.

WAIT FOR YOU TO BRING IT IN.

- OKAY.

- HE'S A FUN LITTLE GUY.

- YEP.

- OOH, THERE WE GO.

NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

HE'S GOT SOME PRETTY COLOR ON HIM.

HE'S ABOUT TO GET HOOKED TWICE.

- HE'S GOT--HE HAD BOTH HOOKS IN HIM.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WANT TO LET GO.

- GOT IT.

- HE'S NOT TOO MUCH WORSE FOR THE WEAR.

- THERE WE GO.

THAT'S RIGHT.

- OKAY, THERE YOU GO.

- LET'S GO DO THAT AGAIN.

- THROW A COUPLE MORE DOWN THERE TOO.

- ALL RIGHT.

- GOT SOME MORE FISH COMING.

NOW, DEAN, WHEN I AM DOING THIS RETRIEVE, I KNOW I WANT TO GET MY LINE TO A TIGHT POINT, BUT WHAT'S THE EXACT ACTION I WANT TO DO TO GET THESE GOT-CHA PLUGS COMING BACK THROUGH THE WATER?

- WELL, TARA, WHAT I--YOU KNOW, WHAT I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO WAS TO JUST TRY TO GET COMFORTABLE, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT NATURAL TO HOLD A ROD THIS WAY.

- RIGHT.

- AND WHAT I DO IS JUST KIND OF KEEP THE PLUG MOVING ALONG WITH MY REEL.

AND THEN EVERY TIME I TWITCH THE ROD, THE PLUG GOES BACK AND FORTH.

- I SEE HOW-- - AND TO THE--TO THE BLUEFISH OR SPANISH MACKEREL, IT LOOKS LIKE A BAIT--YOU KNOW, A BAITFISH TRYING TO ESCAPE, YOU KNOW, BAITFISH.

- RIGHT.

OH.

ONE JUST SWIPED AT MINE RIGHT THERE.

- WELL... - THIS WATER'S CLEAR AND NICE.

- YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

- ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA KEEP DOING THAT.

- THERE YOU GO.

- GET BACK IN THE WATER.

- OKAY, TARA.

- I GOT ONE.

- YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD SPANISH.

GOOD SPANISH.

LITTLE PINKY.

- I LIKE IT.

LITTLE PINKY'S WORKING FOR ME.

- OKAY, WHEN YOU GET HIM OUT OF THE WATER-- - ALL RIGHT, YOU READY?

- YOU JUST HAVE TO REEL HIM ON UP AND THEN SLING HIM OVER, OKAY?

- OOH, HE'S A HEAVY--OH!

WATCH THAT PLUG.

- OH, MY.

OH, WELL.

OKAY, LET'S GO AGAIN.

- OH, MY GOSH.

- THEY'RE STILL THERE.

- I KNOW.

- THEY'RE JUST NOW STARTING TO SHOW UP LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

- DEAN, EARLIER, YOU TOLD ME WHEN I GET THE LURE TO THE PIER TO DO A LITTLE JIGGING ACTION WHERE I LET IT FALL.

AND THAT FISH THAT I CAUGHT AND LOST, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING, AND I STARTED DOING IT AGAIN AND HAD ONE PASS BY.

I HAVEN'T HOOKED HIM YET, BUT I'M HOPING THAT MIGHT BE-- - YOU KNOW, WITH SPANISH MACKEREL, I PROBABLY CATCH 50% OF THEM RIGHT HERE BY THE PIER JUST--JUST HOPPING THE PLUG BACK AND FORTH.

- RIGHT.

- YOU KNOW, RIGHT CLOSE TO THE PIER?

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, THEY HANG AROUND THE PIER EATING BAIT, AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY TO CATCH THEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO CAST FOR A LONG WAY TO DO IT EITHER.

- RIGHT.

I STILL WANT TO CAST OUT A LITTLE BIT, GET A LITTLE RUN COMING IN, AND THEN DO THE JIGGING WHEN I GET IT IN.

WHOO.

- HE WENT OVERTOP OF IT AND GOT MY LEADER.

IT'S A WONDER I DIDN'T GET CUT OFF.

I BET MY LEADER'S FRAYED GOOD.

LET'S SEE.

- DEAN, I GOT ONE.

- OKAY, TARA.

GET HIM OVER HERE.

- HERE IT COMES.

WHOO.

- ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- FINALLY.

- OKAY, TARA.

- I LOVE THE SPOTS ON THESE FISH.

- AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL?

- THEY ARE.

- THEY GOT A PRETTY FORMIDABLE SET OF TEETH ON THEM TOO.

- AND THOSE--THOSE GOT-CHA PLUGS WILL GET YOU.

LET ME THROW THAT BOY BACK IN THE WATER.

- THERE YOU GO.

- WE'LL JUST SLIDE HIM OVER THE EDGE THERE.

- THERE YOU GO.

- DROP HIM.

- GOOD JOB.

- DONE.

- THERE YOU GO.

- THANKS, DEAN.

- GET YOU ANOTHER ONE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

- THANK YOU.

- THERE YOU GO.

- THANKS.

DEAN, YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE.

- YEP.

- I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND BRING MY LINE IN.

- A LITTLE BLUEFISH.

- I'LL LEAVE THIS SITTING HERE.

DO YOU SEE MY ROD HERE?

ARE YOU GONNA-- - YEAH, I GOT YOU.

- OKAY.

YOU READY?

- YEP.

- THERE WE GO.

THERE'S FISH COMING UP BESIDE YOU.

- YEP.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF THEY'VE NEVER FISHED FOR BLUEFISH BEFORE, YOU GOT TO BE AWARE, THEY REALLY GOT A NICE SET OF TEETH.

- THEY ARE A TOOTHY LITTLE CRITTER.

- MATTER OF FACT, THE BIG ONES THEY CALL CHOPPERS.

- RIGHT.

- BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT AS A ROD AND REEL WHEN YOU'RE FISHING FOR BLUEFISH, A GOOD SET OF NEEDLE-NOSE PLIERS WILL SAVE YOUR FINGERS.

OKAY, GO ON BACK.

- LET'S GO.

- LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T GET SOME MORE.

YOU KNOW, TARA, IT'S ABOUT MIDDAY NOW, AND THE TIDE IS--WILL BE FULL IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, AND YOU KNOW, THE FISH ARE STARTING TO BITE NOW.

WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME BLUES, AND SOME SPANISH ARE STARTING TO SHOW UP.

- RIGHT.

- WE GOT HERE EARLY THIS MORNING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE-- YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING A EARLY MORNING BITE, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS MORNING.

BUT--SO USUALLY, I THINK, A LOT OF TIMES, THESE FISH ARE MORE IMPACTED BY THE TIDE, YOU KNOW, THE MOON, THE SOLUNAR TABLES, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

BUT EARLY AND LATE IS GOOD TOO, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST-- IT'S SOMETHING-- YOU JUST GOT TO BE THERE 'CAUSE-- - RIGHT.

- YOU KNOW, BUT ANYWAY, I THINK AS THE TIDE GETS MORE FULL, WE'LL DO BETTER, CATCH MORE FISH.

THERE YOU GO.

- ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET THIS ONE IN.

- OH, THAT'S A NICE SPANISH, YEAH.

NICE SPANISH MACKEREL.

- I'M GONNA LEAN OVER HERE.

I'M JUST GONNA-- - OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT, YOU READY TO BRING HIM IN?

- YEP.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

SLING HIM OVER.

- HE'S PULLIN'-- - SLING HIM OVER.

- WHOO!

- THERE YOU GO.

- I ABOUT GOT YOU WITH THAT ONE.

- OH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- WHOO!

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE GOT ANOTHER KEEPER FOR THE COOLER.

- GOOD JOB, TARA.

- I KNOW.

THANK YOU.

- NICE FISH.

- THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE THAT AND GET IT OUT OF YOUR WAY.

- ALL RIGHT.

GOOD JOB.

- WE GOT FISH BEING CAUGHT EVERYWHERE BEHIND US HERE.

- ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.

GET BACK IN THERE AND GET YOU ONE.

- ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, DEAN.

YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE, DEAN, JUST WHEN I WAS GONNA THROW MINE BACK IN.

- I THINK I GOT HIM FOUL-HOOKED.

- LOOKS LIKE A NICE ONE, THOUGH.

- I THINK I GOT HIM FOUL-HOOKED.

WATCH OUT AROUND THERE.

- THESE PIER PILINGS CAN CAUSE US SOME TROUBLE.

- YEP.

- THERE WE GO.

THAT'S A NICE FISH.

- YEP.

- KEEPER.

- YEAH, HE'S A KEEPER.

- I GOT YOU.

- THAT ONE'S A GOOD EATING SIZE THERE.

I THINK I'LL PUT HIM ON THE ICE.

- I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

- OKAY, LET'S GO-- LET'S GO GET ANOTHER ONE.

- OKAY, I'M GOING.

- YOU CATCH--YOU GET-- GET OUT THERE AND GET ONE WHILE I GO PUT HIM IN THE COOLER, OKAY?

- OKAY.

DEAN, I NOTICED WE'VE CHANGED COLORS QUITE A FEW TIMES WITH THESE PLUGS.

WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE COLOR CHANGE?

- WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.

THESE FISH--SOMETIMES DIFFERENT COLORS TURN THEM ON.

IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHATEVER KIND OF BAIT THEY'RE EATING.

WHITE NORMALLY IS THE BEST IN CLEAR WATER.

CHROME LOOKS REALLY GOOD TO SPANISH MACKEREL.

THE REASON I PUT THE PINK PLUG ON YOURS IS, A FRIEND OF MINE HAS HAD--CAUGHT A COUPLE SPANISH ON PINK PLUGS.

AND SO IT'S JUST--YOU KNOW, YOU JUST--DIFFERENT DAYS, THEY'RE HITTING DIFFERENT COLORS, AND SOMETIMES IT'S CHARTREUSE.

SOMETIMES IT'S WHITE.

SOMETIMES IT'S CHROME.

WE--I'VE GOT THEM ALL.

- DEAN, I THOUGHT YOU PUT PINK ON MY LINE 'CAUSE I WAS A GIRL.

- WELL, YOU DON'T FISH LIKE A GIRL.

- WELL, THANK YOU.

LET ME GET OUT OF THE WAY.

- LOOK, THERE'S ONE FOLLOWING HIM.

OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT, BRING IT IN, DEAN.

- THAT LITTLE PINKY FINALLY PAID OFF.

- THERE WE GO.

I KNOW.

- OH, WELL.

- FOR YOU.

PINKY'S BEEN PAYING OFF FOR ME.

HERE, I GOT YOUR ROD.

- PRETTY FISH.

- HE'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

- I'D CALL THAT A GOOD EATING FISH.

- YOU TAKE HIM TO THE COOLER.

I'M GONNA PUT THIS ROD BACK IN THE WATER.

- OKAY, THANK YOU.

- ALL RIGHT.

- JOE, IT WAS A GOOD DAY OF FISHING--SOME ON, SOME OFF.

- IT WAS; WE ACTUALLY GOT THERE REAL EARLY THAT MORNING, BECAUSE THE DAY BEFORE, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A REALLY GOOD BITE ON THE SPANISH MACKEREL AND CAUGHT SOME NICE FISH TOO.

BUT THE DAY WE WERE THERE, IT TURNED OUT THE MORNING WAS SLOW.

WE STAYED WITH IT.

THE TIDE STARTED COMING IN AFTER LUNCH, AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN THE FISHING PICKED UP.

AND WE CAUGHT SOME FISH AND ENDED UP HAVING A GOOD DAY.

A LOT OF FUN.

THAT DAY, WE WERE FISHING OFF THE JOLLY ROGER PIER, WHICH IS ON TOPSAIL ISLAND, BUT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE'VE GOT OVER 20 PIERS STRETCHED UP FROM THE UPPER NORTHERN BEACHES AT NAG'S HEAD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BELOW WILMINGTON.

SO, YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF ACCESS, PLENTY OF-- IF YOU WANT TO GO TRY IT, JUST A LOT OF FUN, AND YOU CATCH A VARIETY OF FISH.

- AND CATCHING FISH IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

LET'S FIND OUT SOME INFORMATION HERE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

♪ ♪ - DEAN, YOU REALLY MADE ME WORK FOR THE FISH TODAY, BUT I HAD A GREAT TIME.

- WELL, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND WE FINALLY DID CATCH SOME FISH ON PINKY.

- EXACTLY.

- BUT THAT PINK GOT-CHA PLUG'S BEEN A HOT LURE THIS SPRING, AND THE BLUEFISH AND THE SPANISH MACKEREL HAVE BEEN HITTING IT.

BUT IT WAS A GOOD DAY.

WE CAUGHT SOME NICE SPANISH MACKEREL AND SOME BLUEFISH.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT FISHING OFF THE PIER FOR THESE FISH, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE KIND OF A LIGHTWEIGHT ROD.

I LIKE GRAPHITE BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT IT HAS TO HAVE SOME BACKBONE TO IT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO KIND OF HOIST THE FISH UP OVER THE EDGE.

SO THE--YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

YOU GOT TO HAVE--IT'S GOT TO BE KIND OF IN BETWEEN, A MEDIUM-ACTION ROD.

THESE ARE--I LIKE SHIMANO REELS, AND THIS IS, LIKE, A 4000 SAHARA.

IT'S A HIGH-SPEED REEL.

IT'S A SIX-TO-ONE GEAR RATIO.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL FISHING FOR SPANISH MACKEREL AND BLUEFISH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE MAKING THAT PLUG GO BACK AND FORTH, IT LOOKS LIKE AN ESCAPING FISH, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK NEAR AS HARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITH A--YOU KNOW, WITH A HIGH-SPEED REEL.

- RIGHT.

- THIS IS 8-POUND TEST.

IT'S DIAMOND ILLUSION LINE.

IT'S--IT'S PRETTY--IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF STRETCH IN IT.

SO IT'S GOOD WHEN THAT FISH HITS THE LURE, IT KIND OF SETS THE HOOK ON HIM.

- GOOD.

- AND I USE 30-POUND FLUOROCARBON OR MONOFILAMENT LEADER.

- AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS.

- ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN PEOPLE OUT HERE TIE A GOT-CHA PLUG DIRECTLY TO THEIR LINE, AND, WELL, THEY DON'T KEEP THEM LONG.

AND YOU SAW TODAY, WHY, I GOT CUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES.

EVEN ON 30- OR 40-POUND TEST, YOU'LL LOSE PLUGS, BUT YOU DO CATCH MORE FISH THAT WAY.

THE CART, YOU KNOW, IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF PIER FISHING, IF YOU'RE CARRYING SEVERAL RODS.

YOU WANT A COOLER FOR YOUR DRINKS, YOUR REFRESHMENT, AND A PLACE TO KEEP YOUR FISH.

A PIER CART'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND YOU KNOW HOW WE WERE HOISTING THOSE FISH OVER?

WE REALLY DIDN'T CATCH ANY BIG ONES.

IF WE CATCH A BIG FISH, A NET-- A DROP NET IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAN DROP DOWN AND REEL THE FISH OVER AND THEN PULL THE NET UP AND LIFT IT UP TO THE PIER.

NOW, WE USE THESE A LOT FOR SPECKLED TROUT AND FOR SPANISH MACKEREL BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAVE SOFT MOUTHS AND THEY'LL PULL OFF THE HOOK.

- A HEAVY FISH YOU'LL LOSE.

- BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

AND I LOVE PIER FISHING.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

WE BOTH GOT STARTED INTO SALTWATER FISHING FISHING OFF PIERS.

GIVES A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ACCESSIBILITY TO SALTWATER FISHING, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING OLD, AND I STILL--I STILL-- LIKE A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY OUT HERE, I LOVE TO COME FISHING ON A PIER.

- IT'S KIND OF RENEWED MY JUST WHOLE INTEREST IN FISHING OFF THE PIER.

I'M GONNA BE BACK DOING IT.

- WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A TEAM THING TOO.

EVERYBODY'S PULLING FOR EACH OTHER.

- THAT WAS NICE.

- YEAH, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

WELL, LISTEN, THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

- I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I HOPE TO DO IT AGAIN.

- YEAH, YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER AND DO IT AGAIN SOON.

- ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD.

- AS YOU CAN SEE, PIER FISHING IS STILL A LOT OF FUN HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND IF YOU WANT MORE INFO, CALL THE NUMBER YOU SEE RIGHT HERE ON YOUR SCREEN.

NOW, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH ANOTHER GREAT RECIPE.

TODAY IT'S ABOUT VENISON PARMESAN.

♪ ♪ - HI, TODAY WE'RE MAKING VENISON PARMESAN IN THE KITCHEN.

THIS IS A GREAT DISH, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN MAKE AHEAD OF TIME AND FREEZE AND JUST HAVE HANDY, OR YOU CAN MAKE A WHOLE BIG PAN OF IT, FREEZE PART OF IT, AND ENJOY THE OTHER PART RIGHT THEN.

SO WE HAVE OUR VENISON THAT'S ALREADY SLICED INTO MEDALLIONS.

AND I'VE ALREADY POUNDED MINE OUT.

SO WE POUNDED IT OUT TO BE ABOUT 1/4 OF AN INCH THICK, SO YOU WANT THEM TO BE NICE AND THIN.

SO THEY'RE READY TO GO.

I'M GONNA USE SOME PORK BREADER TO COAT MINE, AND THESE ARE GONNA-- IT'S GONNA ADD THIS GREAT FLAVOR WITH ALL THESE SEASONINGS IN IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR SALT, YOUR PEPPER, AND ALL OF YOUR OTHER INGREDIENTS.

IT'S ALREADY IN HERE FOR YOU.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR MEDALLIONS HERE, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA COAT THIS WITH OUR BREADER.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO USE MY WAX PAPER FOR EASY CLEANUP, AND IT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY TOO.

SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE OUR OIL IS WARM, AND IT IS.

IT'S READY TO GO.

AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR OIL IS WARM ENOUGH TO GET A GOOD SEAR AND ALSO NOT TO ABSORB.

SO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE, 'CAUSE IF IT'S TOO HOT, IT'LL BURN THE OUTSIDE AND NOT COOK THE INSIDE.

AND IF IT'S NOT WARM ENOUGH, THEN IT WILL--ALL THE VENISON WILL ABSORB THE OIL, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE IN THERE SO THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND BROWN.

AND IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO BROWN THESE.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO COOK THEM THOROUGHLY.

YOU JUST WANT TO GET THE NICE CRUST ON THE OUTSIDE.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A LITTLE SAUCE TO GO WITH THIS AS WELL.

SO WE'LL FINISH DOING OUR-- WE'LL JUST DO THREE.

I THINK THAT'S ALL MY PAN CAN HANDLE.

AND YOU MAY HAVE TO DO IT INTO STAGES, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY FILETS OR MEDALLIONS YOU'RE DOING, HOW MANY SERVINGS YOU WANT TO MAKE.

SO MY PHILOSOPHY IS, WHILE I HAVE IT OUT, LET'S JUST MAKE A WHOLE BUNCH.

AND THEN I DON'T HAVE TO DIRTY MY KITCHEN AGAIN.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE THAT TO THE SIDE, BRING OUR BAKING DISH OVER HERE.

AND THEN WHILE THAT IS BROWNING, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE OUR SAUCE.

NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN SPAGHETTI SAUCE OR PASTA SAUCE, AND THAT IS GREAT.

I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

I LIKE TO TAKE A NICE GOOD JAR OF PASTA SAUCE, AND THEN I LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF FRESH INGREDIENTS TO KIND OF MAKE IT MY OWN, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH.

I JUST DON'T HAVE TIME OR THE PATIENCE FOR THAT.

SO I HAVE MY SAUCE HERE, AND YOU CAN ADD FRESH MUSHROOMS TO IT, GREEN PEPPERS, ONIONS, GARLIC, ALL KINDS OF GREAT FRESH INGREDIENTS.

YOU CAN ADD SQUASH, ZUCCHINI, TO IT IF YOU WANT.

AND THEN I ALSO LIKE TO ADD SOME FRESH PARSLEY TO MINE.

THAT KIND OF JUST GIVES IT THAT GREAT FRESH FLAVOR.

AND I JUST ADD THAT AT THE END.

SO MINE HAS BEEN COOKING AND SIMMERING.

AND THEN I JUST ADD MY FRESH PARSLEY TO IT.

AND THEN I JUST LET THAT SIMMER FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

AND THESE, I THINK, ARE ALMOST ABOUT READY TO BE TURNED.

LIKE I SAID, 'CAUSE WE JUST WANT TO COOK THEM LIGHTLY ON EITHER SIDE.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD, TURN THOSE, AND ONCE YOU'VE BROWNED THEM ON EITHER SIDE-- THESE NEED TO COOK JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER-- WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR SAUCE, AND WE'LL POUR IT INTO OUR BAKING DISH AND SPREAD IT AROUND THE BOTTOM OF OUR BAKING DISH.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR VENISON, AND WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS IN THERE.

AND WE'D USE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER PAN.

WE'RE JUST GONNA PUT THOSE TWO IN THERE.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SPRINKLE THIS, OF COURSE, WITH SOME PARMESAN CHEESE 'CAUSE THAT ALWAYS MAKES EVERYTHING GOOD.

YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF PARMESAN, A LITTLE BIT OF MOZZARELLA, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU LIKE.

AND WHILE THIS IS IN THE OVEN BAKING FOR-- AT 350 FOR ABOUT 20, 25 MINUTES, GETTING ALL COOKED AND BUBBLY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND BOIL YOUR PASTA.

IF YOU WANT TO SERVE IT OVER PASTA, YOU CAN DO ANGEL HAIR.

YOU CAN DO PENNE PASTA, WHATEVER YOU HAPPEN TO LIKE.

AND I ALSO STEAMED SOME GREEN BEANS.

SO YOU CAN SEE I HAVE MY PASTA, MY VENISON, MY CHEESE, MY SAUCE, AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT MEAL.

AND I SERVED IT WITH SOME GREAT GREEN BEANS AS WELL.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE VENISON PARMESAN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- THANKS, DONNA, FOR ANOTHER GREAT RECIPE.

JOE, THAT IS A GOT-CHA; IS THAT CORRECT?

- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY-- WHAT THESE ARE CALLED, AND THIS WAS WHAT WE WERE USING THAT DAY.

THEY'RE GOT-CHA PLUGS, OR THEY GO BY JERK JIGGER TOO.

BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, AND THE GUYS AND GALS ON THE END OF THE PIER, THIS TIME OF YEAR, ARE FISHING FOR BLUEFISH AND SPANISH MACKEREL WITH THEM.

ON A PIER, YOU CAN DO A VARIETY OF FISHING.

YOU CAN DO--MOST OF IT'S PROBABLY BOTTOM-FISHING, USING CUT BAIT, SHRIMP, BLOODWORMS.

AND IT CHANGES DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR, SPRING BEING A POPULAR TIME, AND THE FALL SEASON WHEN YOU HAVE THE MIGRATIONS OF FISH COMING BACK DOWN THE BEACHES HEADING SOUTH.

BUT YOU CAN CATCH FISH YEAR-ROUND JUST ABOUT IN OUR CLIMATE, ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS.

IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, YOU'LL TEND TO FISH EARLY IN THE MORNING, LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN IT'S COOLER.

BUT THESE ARE REAL POPULAR FOR SPANISH AND BLUEFISH, AND MOST OF THE TACKLE SHOPS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA CARRY THEM.

WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A WEBSITE THAT WILL GIVE YOU A LISTING OF ALL THE PIERS AND A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ONE OF THEM.

SO DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING THE SUMMER OR VACATIONING OR JUST GOING DOWN ON A WEEKEND TO FISH, YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS WEBSITE-- GREAT INFORMATION.

GO TO IT, AND IT'LL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.

- AND IT'S STILL FUN.

- YEAH, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHERE I STARTED, ON THE END OF THE PIER WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND GOT MY FIRST TASTE OF SALTWATER FISHING AND BEEN THERE EVER SINCE.

- ALL RIGHT, FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- [ANNOUNCER] MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

- [ANNOUNCER] THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER] WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA MAGAZINE.

NCWILDLIFE.ORG/WINC.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER] AND BY EZ BAIT & TACKLE, FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND ADVICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

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