Fishing the Rock Challenge

The 2018 Rock Challenge was held on March 27. This event is a friendly competition between the Lower Neuse Anglers (LNA) Club in Oriental, the Eastern Salt Water Fishing Club (ESWFC) in New Bern, and the Fairfield Harbour Fishing Club (FHFC).

A total of 48 anglers in 17 boats participated on a very chilly spring day. Overall, 49 striped bass were caught. The largest fish was caught by ESWFC. It was 28 inches long and caught on a “Rattlin’-Trap” in Goose Creek. The Most Striped Bass Caught by One Team Award went to ESWFC for a catch of 13. ESWFC completed the sweep with the Most Striped Bass Caught by One Club Award with a total catch of 32. The post-event lunch was catered by Harbour Pointe Golf Club at the recently renovated Cart Barn. Visitors docked their boats at the Shoreline Marina during the post-event lunch.

LNA fielded six anglers in two boats. They caught six striped bass. FHFC fielded 22 anglers in eight boats. The total catch was 11. The largest FHFC catch was by Bill Pendleton and Jim Johnson at It was 22 inches long.

Fairfield Harbour resident Anthony Ng was a guest speaker at a “post-game” seminar for FHFC members that was focused on being more effective striped bass fishermen. Later that afternoon, Art Thinguldstad and his brother put Anthony’s techniques to work and picked up a 26.5-inch striped bass in the Inner Harbour.