Fishing comic: Issue is no laughing matter

CAPE HATTERAS, N.C.

Fish Fishburne is angling's best-known comedian.

As a former professional bass fisherman who now emcees tournament weigh-ins, his one-liners and tomfoolery are the stuff of cable-TV specials. The redhead's ESPN show "Go Fish" often featured him fishing from a ladder mounted on his boat or laying on his back on the bow. Cartoonish sound effects when lures hit the water were commonplace.

But last weekend on the sand of Hatteras Island, Fishburne was... well, a fish out of water.

Fishburne, 42, was on hand to emcee events at the 4PLUS Four Wheel Drive Club's 24th annual surf-fishing tournament out of Buxton.

As he met with and talked to anglers and business owners, he tried to wrap his hands around the sport of surf fishing. It didn't take him long to understand the dispute between anglers who want to drive on the beach and environmental groups who want to limit beach access to protect endangered shore birds and turtles.

" From what I'm learning, and with my experience in the outdoors, I just have to wonder what these environmental groups are thinking," he said.

After spending hours last weekend talking with hundreds of Hatteras Island locals and out-of-towners, Fishburne left Sunday for his home in Knoxville, Tenn., with a little more understanding about the situation.

And he had formed a pretty strong opinion.

"Hey, there are no better conservationists than fishermen, so we usually understand both sides," he said. "I've lived in Ormond Beach, Fla., where they allow driving on the beach, and I've lived in Clearwater, (Fla.), where they don't allow it.

"The difference down there is that one survives without it and the other place would be able to if they stopped allowing it. But I don't get the feeling that Hatteras could survive without it.

"I don't know an awful lot about these birds, but what are these people thinking? How can you potentially put an end to an entire community for the sake of a few birds that already have the ability to deal with the situation?"

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com