Andrew Wyatt serves as CEO for the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, a trade association battling the Defenders of Wildlife in a federal rule making at US Fish & Wildlife Service that could turn over 1 million American citizens into potential felons and negatively impact $1.4 billion in safe, legal trade; costing thousands of American jobs nationwide. He has lived on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for 25 years.

By DAMON TATEM PIER FISHING was good Thursday along the northern beaches but slower on Hatteras Island. Some bluefish, small speckled trout and a few scattered spot were landed throughout the day on Avalon pier.

By DAMON TATUMDAMON TATEM BEACH, PIER AND BRIDGE FISHING Corolla to Coquina Beach Look for pier fishing to be super along the northern beaches of Dare County as fall conditions arrive. Nice-sized spot, some weighing as much as a pound, should be abundant.

By DAMON TATUMDAMON TATEM BEACH, PIER AND BRIDGE FISHING Corolla to Coquina Beach Surf fishing should get into high gear this week as inshore water temperatures drop along the Dare coast. Quite a few nice, big spot should be taken from deeper sloughs along the beach.

By DAMON TATUMDAMON TATEM BEACH, PIER AND BRIDGE FISHING Corolla to Coquina Beach Lots of mixed-sized spot, including some weighing considerably more than half a pound, should keep pier anglers busy along the northern beaches this week if winds are from a northerly direction.