I am not exactly sure how I first heard about Jake Griffin. You would think that because I grew up on the Outer Banks that this Manteo girl had heard about this Wancheser via the traditional method of “so and so who knows a so and so and so forth” In this particular case, I think ran across a post on Instagram or something and it was an instant feeling of “this guy knows how to fish”.  I reached out to Jake Griffin and he had no clue who I was. I explained I was a...

An Hour With an Oyster Farmer You know you are in the south when your local oyster farmer invites you to sit on his back porch and enjoy a conversation about oysters and the coastal lifestyle. It was a beautiful and sunny afternoon in Wilmington, NC in December when James Hargrove of Middle Sound Mariculture said I could stop by and chat with him about his business and his love of oysters. You know that feeling you get when you start a conversation with someone who is passionate about their work? The sense that they could...

Growing up, I lived in the small town of Manteo, NC.  My family had been deeply rooted in the coastal areas of North Carolina.  Manteo was home to me but, my dad was from Stumpy Point and my Mom was from Sea Level.  Seafood, saltwater and fishing were part of our lives.  People came together over seafood, took it to each others houses, prepared it if there was a funeral, a Holiday, etc.  It was part of our life.  Knowing what fresh seafood was, was taken for granted as there were no other types of seafood. ...