Santa to try his luck

 By Daryl Law, Jennette’s Pier – 

Caption: Santa Claus plans to visit Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head on Saturday, Dec. 15. (Daryl Law photo / courtesy Jennette’s Pier).

Getting tired of the dogfish days of December already?

Yes, it’s true; anglers at Jennette’s Pier are catching little more than skates and spiny dogfish since water temperature in the low 50s has driven off the puppy drum and trout.

But not to worry.  Plenty of fun activities and classes are offered all month long at the state-owned and operated facility.

One of the best things on tap this holiday season happens Saturday, Dec. 15, when the big guy from the North Pole will be on hand to wet a line in “Fishing with Santa” at 9 a.m., according to Education Coordinator Christin Brown.

“We hope to get people in the holiday spirit during this class,” she said.

First, learn how to rig up for bottom fishing and then hit the pier to try your luck. Santa plans on joining the class for fishing and photos. The education staff will round out the two-hour program with holiday crafts in the classroom. Online registration is available now at jennettespier.net.

Every Tuesday this month, fishing instructor Chris Crockett offers “Catch it, Clean it, Cook it.” This unique class takes students through each phase of producing a fried-fish lunch. Crockett demonstrates how to catch a fish, clean it, fillet it and cook it in the pier’s modern stainless steel kitchen.

The pier’s most popular class, “Family Fishing,” is scheduled Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. in December. Learn the basics of bottom fishing, then bait up and try your hand at reeling in a catch. On Thursdays at 10 a.m., the education department offers a creative “Marine Crafts” class.

Once cold winter weather sets in for good, seasoned anglers may get lucky if stripers make their way down from Virginia waters. Jennette’s extends 1,000 feet into the ocean, and many speculate that stripers or rockfish can be caught during their winter migration.

For more information, or to register for classes online, visit jennettespier.net, or call 252-255-1501.