We published a story during August about red drum fishing at Ocracoke. Writer Mike Marsh described an “Owen Lupton” rig the featured angler, guide Charles Brown, used for drum fishing. We also published a photo of two Lupton rigs with two hooks (one an “octopus” and one an “octopus-circle” hook). Yes, octopus hooks can be circle hooks and recommended for catching drum.Marsh wrote Brown pegs his 3-ounce barrel weight midway between a 12-inch leader and his hooks, using a modified version of the Lupton rig (with a circle or octopus hook), which effectively creates a 6-inch leader — within the parameters of a Lupton rig.
The idea behind using a short leader and special hooks is to prevent deep, internal hooks of drum, which might harm them.
But some N.C. anglers took exception because they said (a) Brown’s rig wasn’t a Lupton rig (Lupton now uses a 3-inch leader); (b) the story promoted hooks that may gut hook fish; and (c) the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries now requires circle hooks.
It turns out all those statements are wrong. But some people like to jump to conclusions, kind of like saying a twin-engine Cessna can’t be an airplane because most people fly jets.
Lee Paramore, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries drum specialist, said the Marine Fisheries Commission has a draft rule that will go to public hearings and make it illegal from July 1-Sept. 30 in Pamlico Sound (excluding Albemarle Sound Management Area north from Core Sound south) between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to use any hook larger than 4/0 — unless the hook is a circle hook.
The draft rule defines a circle hook as an offset hook with its point pointed perpendicular toward the shank and the barb must be compressed or removed. And a fixed sinker, not less than 2 ounces in weight, also must be used and secured not more than 6 inches from where the hook is attached.
So Charlie Brown’s rigs are currently legal, and all he’ll have to do is crimp his barbs and they’ll still be legal (if this rule passes), which it hasn’t yet (the earliest it could go into effect would be 2009). But he won’t be able to use octopus circle hooks (which he can until the rule is passed). Either way, Brown still will be committed to not harming old red drum — with circle hooks.
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A lot of gun owners got excited when the Supreme Court interpreted the Second Amendment to mean U.S. citizens had the right to own and keep handguns in their homes for protection.
In their elation at achieving a court victory, did excited observers notice the 5-4 vote? And the vote didn’t break down entirely along ideological lines, as many in the media spun the outcome. Conservative justices Scalia, Roberts, Alito, Kennedy and Thomas banded together while Ginsberg, Breyer, Souter and Stevens dissented. Gerald Ford picked Stevens and George Bush Sr. appointed Souter. Later, Bill Clinton appointed Breyer and Ginsberg.
If a president with anti-gun leanings is able to gain the White House this November, that president likely will have the chance to appoint one or more Supreme Court justices.
With a one-vote pro-Second Amendment margin in 2008 and a future potentially liberal court, the D.C. decision will be revisited.
Sportsmen should think about that during November at the polls.
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