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Seagull Says: Still Smelling Smoke and Regret

The fireworks are over, but the group texts about them aren’t.

July 07, 2025

🌊 TODAY’S TIDE (Weather + Surf Report)

  • 🌞Weather

    It’s 86° with 77% humidity and the vibe is “damp regret.” We’ll start with some sun, but clouds will crash the party later—and there’s a slight chance a rogue storm will show up uninvited, like that one cousin at your cookout. Winds out of the SSW at 16 mph, so hold onto your beach hat and your patience.

    🌙 Tonight? 78°, mostly calm skies, and 87% humidity. Basically, it’s like sleeping in a warm, damp beach towel.

  • 🏄‍♂️ Surf Report
    Expect 2–3 ft waves—occasionally peaking near 4–5 ft—depending on how early you catch the tide and dodge afternoon showers. Onshore winds will jack up choppiness, so think “flotation therapy” rather than “epic barrels.” Rip currents are moderate to high—just another reason to respect the surf.

📰 HEADLINES + CHATTER

The fireworks are out, the storms are in, and someone’s definitely still finding bottle rockets in the yard.

  • 🌀 Tropical Storm Chantal Brings Rain, Rip Currents, and a Tiny Bit of Chaos
    Chantal’s creeping through North Carolina like your extended family at a beach rental. While tropical-storm force winds aren’t expected in the OBX, we’re looking at 1–3+ inches of rain, possible flash flooding, dangerous shorebreak, and an isolated tornado threat (because why not?). As of 5 a.m., she was 85 miles WSW of Wilmington and still trying to figure out where she’s headed next. Stay weather-aware and off the dunes, please.

  • 🎣 Red Snapper Season is Brief—And Now They Want Your Fish Heads
    The Red Snapper mini-season is open July 11–12, and the NC Division of Marine Fisheries wants your carcasses. (Seriously.) Donate your fish remains at select drop-off sites, fill out a catch card, and you might win a descending device—aka a weird but useful fishing prize. Charter folks: tell your cleaners the bones are spoken for.

  • 🏛️ Currituck’s Joseph S. Dey House Gets Local Historic Landmark Status
    Built around 1841 and now officially fancy, the Dey House at 2757 Caratoke Highway has been declared a local historic landmark. It’s a classic “I-house” that survived a move (maybe two), and still has its original pine shiplap under all that vinyl. Bonus: landmark status can mean a 50% tax break if you keep the house looking historic and not like an AirBnB redo.

  • 🧢 Dare County Board Chair Proposes Coastal Fisheries Coalition
    Fresh off the Shrimpgate drama, Bob Woodard wants to rally coastal counties into one big fisheries-loving team. The proposed coalition would give commercial fishing communities a louder, unified voice on legislative issues. First meeting’s expected in August—bait and switch jokes TBD.

  • 🥫 Hatteras Island Meals Gets $4,500 Grant from Food Lion Feeds
    Local nonprofit HIM (Hatteras Island Meals) received a $4,500 check from Food Lion to help fight food insecurity and support their incredible volunteer-powered work. In 2024 alone, they delivered nearly 12,000 meals and took over the Cape Hatteras Food Pantry. Moral of the story: your neighbors are awesome.

🎟️ MONDAY EVENTS

Still smelling like fireworks and fried dough? Good. Here’s what to do now that the big boom has passed:

  • 🎣 Season-Long Kayak Fishing Tournament
    Kitty Hawk Surf Co. (Multiple Locations) | 8:00 AM
    Cast your line, claim your bragging rights. Bonus: you can say “tournament” and make it sound like cardio.

  • 👻 Morning Ghost Tours
    Whalehead, Corolla | 9:00 AM
    Haunted house + daylight = spooky but socially acceptable.

  • 🎨 Rotating Art Show: Wes Snyder Photography
    Duck Town Park | 9:00 AM–4:30 PM
    Gorgeous coastal shots, minus the humidity and sunburn.

  • 🧜‍♀️ Mermaid Monday
    H2OBX Waterpark, Powells Point | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
    Mermaids, mayhem, and enough splashing to justify a second coffee.

  • 🦈 Behind the Scenes: Shark Feeding
    NC Aquarium, Manteo | 12:00 PM
    Yes, you get to watch sharks eat. No, you may not feed your ex to them.

  • 🐾 Happy Otter Hour
    NC Aquarium, Manteo | 2:00 PM
    You will leave emotionally attached to a damp furball named Finn.

  • 🦈 Behind the Scenes: Sharks (Encore)
    NC Aquarium, Manteo | 3:00 PM
    Because one shark snack session is never enough.

  • 🎪 Soundside Sunset Festival
    Soundside Market, Rodanthe | 4:00 PM
    Vendors, music, and golden hour chaos. It’s like a farmers market, but make it moody and coastal.

  • 🍻 Brew & Arts Market
    Outer Banks Brewing Station, KDH | 5:00–8:00 PM
    Craft beer meets coastal crafts. Warning: You may buy things you don’t need after your second IPA.

  • 🎤 Open Mic Night
    McGrath’s Burger Shack, Nags Head | 6:00–9:00 PM
    Singers, poets, and that one guy doing stand-up about seagulls. We love it.

  • 🌅 Sunset Festival
    Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head | 7:00 PM
    Sunset views + music = easy Monday win.

  • 🌊 Waterfront Festival
    Kitty Hawk Kites, Rodanthe | 7:00 PM
    You had us at “waterfront.”

  • 🎭 The Lost Colony Show Night
    Manteo | 8:30 PM
    History, mystery, and excellent lighting design.

  • 🎶 G. Love & Special Sauce LIVE
    Outer Banks Brewing Station, KDH | 10:00 PM
    For the millennial crowd that peaked in 1999 but still knows every word. Yes, it’s worth staying up for. Wear your best thrifted cargo shorts and prepare to feel things.

📍THE BEAK OF APPROVAL

🦞 Darrell’s Seafood Restaurant – Manteo’s OG Catch Spot

Family-run since the ’60s, Darrell’s is the kind of place where seafood hits the table faster than a seagull swoops a fry. Known for fresh-off-the-dock fish, hearty steam pots, and no-nonsense portions, it’s where locals go when they're craving real-deal OBX flavor. Skip the flash—come for the food, stay for the friendly hometown service.

📍521 S US-64, Manteo, NC

Because sometimes the best OBX meal doesn’t need Instagram—it just needs a fork.

🚨 CRIME + SAFETY CORNER

Fourth of July is over, but the mess? She’s just getting started.

  • 🚶‍♂️ Missing Person… Was Just Cooling Off
    An adult male went missing after an argument with his daughter and a few drinks. He was found safe—just taking a dramatic walk. Emotional damage: TBD.

  • 📱 Scammed Over “Jury Duty” in Buxton
    In the 47000 block of Dippin Vat Road, someone lost $1,300 to scammers via Apple Pay and Zelle after being told they missed jury duty. Reminder: the court doesn’t accept payments in emojis and panic.

  • 🚐 RV in a Ditch in Rodanthe
    Outside Hatteras Campground, an RV botched a turn and ended up with its back tire in the ditch. We’ve all been there—just usually not with 13 bicycles strapped to the back.

  • 🔥 Duck Pool House Goes Up in Flames
    At 5:00 a.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to a full-blown structure fire at a pool house on Schooner Ridge Drive. Thanks to a fast and coordinated response from Duck and neighboring departments, the fire was contained with no injuries and no damage to nearby homes. Cause is still under investigation, but we’re guessing “leftover fireworks” is on the shortlist.

  • 🚗 Traffic Meltdown Season Has Arrived
    Yes, the traffic is bad. No, it’s not surprising. It’s July in/on/under/at the Outer Banks. It’ll be like this until September—hydrate, turn up your podcast, and maybe don’t drive like you’re late to your own beach wedding.

⛱️ VACAY OR STAY

🏡FOR SALE: Pool, Tiki Bar, and a Boat Slip? Say Less.

This 4-bed, 3.5-bath coastal stunner in Frisco’s Sunset Village is fully furnished, full of possibilities, and just steps from Ramp 49 and Billy Mitchell Airport. Two primary suites, a third-floor flex space, gas fireplace, tiki bar, hot tub, private pool, and a dedicated boat slip—because your kayak deserves a home too.

No rental program? No problem. Keep it all to yourself or cash in on that Airbnb dream. Either way, this one’s got the bones, the breeze, and the bragging rights.

🌊 VACAY: Cozy Cottage + South Beach + Horse Access = OBX Goals

Just a mile from Frisco’s beloved South Beach, this 2-bed, 1-bath retreat is the Outer Banks version of a soft reset. It’s got a screened porch for sunset meals, a gas grill, four bikes, and yes—a six-horse stable if your getaway involves actual horses (or you just like the energy).

📍Frisco, NC | Cape Hatteras Island Abode

With a king bed, a queen bed, and keyless entry, this place keeps things simple and sweet. No pets, no parties, just clean coastal vibes and maybe a little saddle soreness.

🕵️‍♀️ HEARD AROUND, IN, OVER, or UNDER THE DUNES

Because freedom rang—and so did the Facebook comment sections.

  • 👣 A Duck resident reported “mysterious footprints” in their backyard that turned out to be from a barefoot cousin who forgot where the rental was. Again.

  • 🎆 Overheard in Waves: “If the fireworks are illegal, why are they for sale in every gas station?” Ma’am. That’s the Outer Banks in a nutshell.

  • ⛴️Ferry Schedule – You can’t teleport to the Outer Banks (yet), so here’s how to float your way here the old-fashioned way.

  • 🐾OBX SPCA Pet of the Week (more like every 10 days): Onyx is a sweet, energetic guy who loves toys, car rides, and dishing out hugs like it’s his job. He came to the shelter after his family lost housing, and now he’s ready to love hard all over again.

  • 🌊Live Surf Cams – For “checking the surf,” but really just spying on beach traffic and seeing who already claimed your favorite spot.

  • 💬Submit a Tip or Event – Got a hot lead, weird sighting, or something the seagulls should be squawking about? Slide it our way.

🧂FINAL PEEP FROM THE PERCH

If you made it through the long weekend without sunburn, regrets, or accidentally texting your ex “Happy 4th,” we salute you.

Forward this to someone who still thinks the rip current signs are just decoration.

Sign up. Stay salty. Be nosy.