Jim Baugh Outdoors will be filming a special program “Wrecks
of Hatteras” filmed out of the Graveyard of the Mid Atlantic, Hatteras North
Carolina. We will be fishing and diving on various wrecks from both WW1 &
WW2 and we will be featuring popular dive captain JT Barker and crew.
JBOTV will be using multiple underwater cameras to document
this diving and fishing event and we will also produce a cooking segment with
some of our catches off the wrecks. This show will be a part of our 2016 series
and later posted on the JBOTV YouTube Channel. Also look for reports in August,
Sept, and Oct on Jimbaughoutdoorsblogspot and on social media
as well.
Weather and visibility permitting, here are some of the
wrecks we aim to target.
Proteus
Tarpon
Dixi Arrow
Keshena
Abrams
The Catch!
Accommodations and lodging by the Villas of Hatteras Landing
JBOTV set up our cameras for a three night time lapse of the Perseid Meteor Shower and were able to catch a few on film. One really big meteor shot right in clear view of our cameras, great stuff! This film was shot on the Eastern Shore August 11, 12 and 13.
Jim Baugh Otudoors hooked up with Captain Jack Norman to
complete our two part flounder show. Leaving out of Wachapreague our crew also
consisted of Bret and Jack's nephew Hayden who already is a master shark
catcher.
Clear skies and fair sea conditions made for a beautiful
trip out of the inlet and our first stop was the offshore reef called Parramore.
This is one of the artificial reefs that is constructed by the Virginia Artificial
Reef Program and has provided massive habitat for marine life and excellent
places for the sporting angler to navigate to.
Parramore Reef
Prince of Peace
The Parramore is made up of many structures including
military vehicles, subway cars as well as the 85 foot 24 foot beam trawler the
Prince of Peace. This wreck has a relief of about 20 feet off the bottom.
Prince of Peace Sinking
Subway cars sunk as a part of the reef program
We were fishing with Jack's favorite flounder baits and it
was not long before we hooked up. The bite was not as fast or as often as we
were hoping for so Captain Jack headed another 10 miles offshore to the SS
Monroe for some exciting wreck fishing.
Sea Bass off the Parramore Reef
Next Stop the SS Monroe
SS Monroe launched 1902
SS Monroe Postcard early 1900's
The history of this wreck dates back to 1914 when the SS
Monroe foundered.Off the coast of
Wachapreague in heavy fog the northbound SS Monroe collided head on with the
steamship SS Nantucket. The Monroe sank quickly in under 15 minutes, 41 souls
were lost.
Member of the crew SS Monroe during inquiry
An inquiry after the accident found both captains at fault. After
the sinking, the mast of the Monroe protruded from the bottom depths of 80 feet
and was visible above the water. This was a navigation hazard and later the
ship was demolition underwater leaving the stern the highest part with a relief
above bottom of nearly 25 to 30 feet.
JBOTV Underwater Cameras Dive Into The SS Monroe
Here you can see the hatch our camera descended through capturing the deck beneath holding fish
This was a wreck that I for sure wanted to film so we got
out one of our JBOTV underwater troll pro cameras and rigged it with a heavy
weight and 100 feet of line. Once cameras running and overboard it soon came to
rest on the top deck of the Monroe approximately 60 feet under our boat.
The wreck sits in 80 feet of water.
Sheepshead
Within a minute, luckily we repositioned the camera line and our underwater
troll pro found it’s way through an open hatch and proceeded to sink down into
the deck underneath. This gave us some incredible video and pictures of what
has rarely been seen for over 100 years. We also found that fish just love
living inside this wreck.
Inside the SS Monroe
JBOTV Toll Pro Camera ascending from the SS Monroe
Fishing The Monroe
After pulling off a flounder and also a sea bass off the Monroe it was time to try some spade fishing off a couple other wrecks closer to
shore. Luck was not with us on the spadefish however a quick stop by buoy 10
did provide some interesting results.
On The Way In
Dolphin
Chum Bag
We happen to come across lots of small fish
and a stray dolphin that did not want to be caught. After quite a few cast it
was pushing the end of the day and we headed back in.
Great day on the water and a good time was had by all. Look
for our video feature with Captain Jack and Captain Meriwether Payne coming up
in our 2016 season. We will also post segments online on our YouTube Channel.
