Long Bay Artificial Reef Association

2008 Wrap-up

January 11, 2009 

Hi Folks,

The year 2008 presented some unexpected circumstances for our program and some staff members, forcing cancellation of the “Club Challenge”.   The year did end on a good note with the placement of approximately 3.8 million pounds of material on three sites.

We were able to enhance AR 445 Dale McDowell Reef, AR-455 Dale Ward/US Open Reef and AR-420 McGlammery Reef.  The main goal was to enhance AR-445 and AR-455 utilizing AR-420 as a bad weather backup.  We had a very short window that the NCDMF vessel West Bay was available to us and despite weather that was less than cooperative the job was completed prior to fall fishing.

The West Bay loads of assorted concrete pipe and manhole sections averaged 160 tons per trip.

There were five loads placed on AR-445 and AR-455 and two loads to AR-420.

 Old Castle/NC Products Inc from their production plants in Raleigh and Fayetteville, NC donated the assorted concrete pipe.  We obtained the manhole boxes when a loyal supporter spotted them at an abandon housing development project and was instrumental in helping us obtain them.

As always our cost was for the transportation of the material to the state port in Wilmington, NC.  A big thanks to Jim Francisconi of NCDMF Reef Group and Captain Robert Kittrell and crew of the West Bay for they’re hard work deploying the material in some rough conditions.

The major association event of the year was the retirement of the only President we have ever had Dale McDowell.  Dale has moved to Tarpon Springs Florida to be closer to family in that area.  We will miss Dale’s leadership and reef knowledge gained over the last 24 years.  Drop Dale a line or give him a call thanking him for developing the best Artificial Reef Association in the state of North Carolina.  He will appreciate it.

Dale left us in good hands.  Andy Fisher whom most of you know has become the second President of the association.  Andy lives in Oak Island and has been fishing this area and supporting LBARA for over twenty years.  Andy has been President of the Charlotte Offshore Sport Fishing Club several times and was instrumental in helping built the loyal support the association receives from the Charlotte area.  We look forward to the future and Andy’s leadership.

We know 2009 will be very challenging. The state of the economy and budget cuts in the state of NC and especially the NCDMF makes us realize we must be very creative in continuing our work.  With your continued support we will succeed.

Dale McDowell                                                                                  Andy Fisher

660 Anclote Dr.                                                                                 124 West Island Dr

Tarpon Springs, Fla. 34689                                                               Oak Island, NC  28465

 727 935-5723                                                                            910 278-4137

dalemcdowell60@yahoo..com                                                       agitatorfisher@bellsouth.net