Catch Of The Day
Blue Crabs Are A Family Affair Along the Outer Banks

As the sun peeks up over the horizon to usher in a new day along the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, hardworking crabbers have been up for hours baiting their crab pots and preparing for the day's work. Steadily, they guide their boats through the same waters that have provided a livelihood for their fathers and grandfathers since Native Americans introduced them to the fare more than four centuries ago.

For years, tourists have traveled to the area to take advantage of the fresh seafood that North Carolina has to offer. One of the most popular and abundant types of seafood in the state is blue crab. In fact, the state harvests about 30 million pounds annually.,Despite the availability of fresh, locally-caught blue crab, many vendors are relying on seafood sourced outside North Carolina, and sometimes even outside the country. This is a detriment to fishing families that have called the Outer Banks home for generations. Fortunately, the tides could be turning for local fishermen.


Outer Banks Catch is a nonprofit organization that helps local fishermen by promoting the seafood industry in northeastern counties. They encourage residents and visitors to purchase only local seafood. The organization is composed of commercial fishermen, restaurant owners and other people who are interested in preserving and reviving the local seafood industry. Look for the Outer Banks Catch logo at seafood markets, restaurants and grocery stores. That lets you know you are receiving quality blue crab found in the waters of North Carolina. It also lets you know you are putting money back into the pockets of local fishermen and their families.


Outer Banks Catch aims to serve as a knowledgeable guide to educate people on when blue crab and other seafood is available throughout the year, how to recognize if it is fresh and how to cook it. Speaking of cooking, there are a variety of easy and delectable dishes to whip up while you’re enjoying your time along the Outer Banks. The easiest way to enjoy them is steamed over a boil of seafood seasoning and your favorite beer. You can also add the crabmeat to appetizers like stuffed mushrooms, or make a hot crab dip for your next party. Blue crab meat also makes delicious crab cakes your whole family will enjoy.


To find retailers and restaurants that support fishermen throughout the Outer Banks, go to OuterBanksCatch.com. You can also learn more about the state's seafood industry at NC-Seafood.org.

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Shopping
Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin

Stop by Nags Head's Ben Franklin at Mile Post 10 on the Bypass where you will find everything you need for the beach! From Clothing, T-shirts and Swimwear to Boards, Chairs, Umbrellas and Tackle. You'll find it all…and of course, we have the best selection of Souvenirs anywhere on the Outer Banks. Enjoy your vacation! Independently owned by a member of one of the Outer Banks’ oldest families, the Ben Franklin store is stocked with just about everything a visitor would need to go to the beach.

 

Ben Franklin stores were once part of a five-and-dime retail empire, with about 2,500 locations across the country in its heyday. As decades passed and the times and customers began to change, many closed their doors, leading to fewer than 150 of these nostalgic shops. Nags Head Ben Franklin, however, has withstood the test of time and adapted to the needs of its customers to provide a memorable shopping experience on the Outer Banks.

 

Debbie Terry Tolson, manager of the Ben Franklin location in Nags Head, recalls working with former owner Tommie Daniels. Daniels’ father, Moncie Daniels, started the business in downtown Manteo in the early 1900s. The Daniels family has been a longstanding fixture in the Outer Banks business community—Moncie even sold gas to the Wright brothers in 1903.

 

Tommie, with an excellent business mind, saw the opportunity the new Bypass presented and, in 1977, he opened the Nags Head location of Ben Franklin. He was one of the first businesses on the Bypass,” Tolson says.In addition to a new location, the Ben Franklin store saw a new group of customers.

 

“People would come from all around because Tommie had a little bit of everything—it was more like a five and 10 then,” Tolson explains. “As he went to the beach, he began to get more tourists, so he started catering more and more to visitors.”

 

Today, the 21,000-square-foot souvenir shop quickly catches the attention of anyone driving by thanks to the ocean-themed mural that decorates the façade of the building, painted by local artist Rob Snyder. This Ben Franklin location has become the must-stop shop for both first-time visitors to the area and generations of families who escape to the Outer Banks annually.

 

Tolson credits the great prices and friendly customer service to the success of the location, which keeps families returning.“People come in all the time and tell me, ‘my grandmother or my grandfather used to bring me here and now I’m bringing my children,’” she shares. “One of my favorite parts about working here is seeing the people come back year after year.”