National Hunting and Fishing Day is Sept. 26

National Hunting and Fishing Day is Sept. 26, and special events are planned across both Carolinas in celebration.

A few require a fee, but with good benefits. Among these is a chance for youngsters to fish in ponds at the McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery near Hoffman from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sponsored by the Richmond County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, for $20 participants will receive a rod/reel combo, cap, T-shirt, duck call and membership in DU’s Greenwings club, including a one-year subscription to Jakes Magazine. Information: Michael Cauley, 910-992-7113.

However, most events are open to the public and admission is free, including a Wildlife Expo set 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville at Lake Rim. At 1 p.m. the N.C. Wildlife Federation will hold a drawing among those attending for a state lifetime sportsman license, which covers both hunting and fishing. Information: thomas.carpenter@ncwildlife.org or (910) 858-5003.

Also free is an event at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Center is located in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard. Information: lee.sherrill@ncwildlife.org or 828-877-4423.

Activities vary at each venue, but most include archery, air rifle shooting, fishing and fly casting. Observer News Services

Briefly

▪  Chris Fraley of Mount Holly and Dennis Leonard of Harrisburg teamed Saturday night to win an NC-CATS fishing tournament at Lake Norman. Their two-fish limit of catfish weighed 70.11 pounds. Ken Tucker of Lincolnton and Patrick Ciucevich of Harrisburg tied for biggest single fish at 35.71 pounds with Leonard and Fraley.

▪  The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has re-designated 157 acres of the Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land from all weapons to archery/guns free/restricted firearms zone. The move was undertaken because the acreage’s proximity to two public schools.

Catches of the week

▪  A 52-pound wahoo off Hatteras Village by Laurence Oliver of Charlotte.

▪  A limit of 10 wahoo off Ocean Isle/Little River by a party fishing with skipper Wendell Barnett. The largest fish weighed 50 pounds.

▪  A 38-pound grouper off Hatteras by Andy Fuqua of Leesburg, N.C.

▪  A 50-inch red drum in Pamlico Sound near Hatteras by local angler Brian Taylor.

▪  A 46-inch red drum near Hatteras by local fisherman Rom Whitaker IV.

▪  A white marlin boated and released off Hatteras by Carla Wells of Wilson.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:58 AM with the headline "National Hunting and Fishing Day is Sept. 26."