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Growing up in Jamesville NC, a small town on the lower Roanoke River, outdoor recreation became a part of my life. The river and its natural resources were often the topic of conversation everywhere you went. People always talked about what they were catching, how high or low the water was, changes in rules and regulations and personal opinions about the governing bodies that made them. Often listing to the old-timers talk, I would eavesdrop to make sure I knew what the hot bait of the week was and how deep the fish were holding. I was sure to put the conversation into action the next time I was on the water, revealing if luck or knowledge was the key to catching the big one. I was able to fish often as I grew up within walking distance from a local fishing hot spot known simply as Gardner Creek. Doing odd jobs for the locals, I always seemed to accumulate enough change to keep a good arsenal of tackle and was trusted with one of the local john boats to cap my outings. By age 15, I had saved enough cash from working in tobacco to purchase my first motor boat. It was a used 16’ wooden river skiff made by a local carpenter with a 15 h.p. Johnson. I kept it overboard all the time and it was my key to new horizons. After school, it was all the bus driver could do to come to a complete stop before I was off and running for the water. Later in high school, I worked with a gentleman who commercial fished part time and we would set hoop nets and bush hooks for cats, nets for herring and baskets for eels and perch. By this time fishing had become a part of what I did for sport and recreation and I could participate in the conversations on the hill, adding my own opinions about the local fishery. After high school I furthered my education by earning degrees in Fish and Wildlife Management, Turf Grass Management and becoming a coast guard approved Captain. With my background and education, I landed a job with a private organization which studied waterfowl patterns and managed private restoration projects for both fish and wildlife. These projects ranged on various levels and allowed me to travel to many areas, from Canada down to South Carolina on a regular basis. After several years budget cuts became an issue and I wanted to create a business that would allow people to experience the outdoors like no other. With this goal in mind, I decided to create my own outdoor recreational business known as fishibx.com. I have been able to combine my experiences, hobbies, education and network of friendships to offer outdoor adventures that anyone can enjoy. Today fishibx.com is underway offering great experiences in Eastern NC. National and International fishing experiences from Virginia to the outer banks of NC, across the Santee Cooper in South Carolina down to Florida and Mexico, Hawaii, and even the Bahamas has taught me that bar none the experiences eastern NC has to offer can match any fishery found in these areas and fishibx.com would like to share this with you. Thanks for choosing fishibx.com for your #1 choice in outdoor recreation, Captain Mitchell Blake Captain Mitchell Blake. 252-945-2840, mitch@fishibx.com |