♦ Who We Are
♦ What We Do
Sign up for your adventure aboard the Lucky Dog! Captain Jess Hawkins is a USCG Master Captain/Insured, holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology, and brings 30 years of experience as a professional Marine Biologist in North Carolina to your personal ecotour.
ABOUT THE VESSEL
Crystal Coast Ecotours, Inc. uses the Lucky Dog, a 20 foot center console vessel, to take passengers on coastal adventures. The vessel is named in honor of the Hawkins' family beagle, Lucky, and was built by Sea Ox, powered by a 200 HP Yamaha outboard motor. She is well constructed to operate safely and comfortably in the near-shore Atlantic Ocean and the backwaters of the Crystal Coast.
The Lucky Dog is insured to take up to 6 passengers, excluding the Captain, and has all the required federal safety equipment. She is equipped with ample storage space and has a T-top that provides shade for passengers. The Lucky Dog has 12 fishing rod holders and Captain Hawkins can supply all the rods and reels you will need if on a fishing adventure. Pick up for your coastal adventure will be at a location convenient to you and your guests.
CAPTAIN JESS HAWKINS
Captain Hawkins grew up exploring the waters of the Pamlico River near Bath, NC. His childhood days were mostly spent fishing and boating, which sparked his desire to be a marine biologist. Capt. Hawkins received a B.S. degree in zoology from UNC-Chapel Hill and a M.S. degree from East Carolina University in biology.
Upon graduation Capt. Hawkins began a 30 year career as a marine biologist with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. He spent the early years studying the ecology of fish and shellfish in the brackish waters of Pamlico Sound. He was often involved in recommending conservation measures for fish and their habitats. For the last 13 years for his career, Captain Hawkins helped develop conservation policies for North Carolina as an Executive Assistant to the Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries. He was involved in most of the major coastal fisheries issues facing North Carolina from 1993-2006, when he retired from the Division.
For his efforts in conservation Captain Hawkins was presented the North Carolina Governor's Award for Wildlife Conservationist of the Year in 1994. He also received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award in 2006, which is the highest civilian award for public service presented by North Carolina's Governor.
Capt. Hawkins has boated the waters of Carteret County since 1996. He is an avid recreational fisherman, primarily fishing, crabbing and clamming the local sounds and shallow Atlantic Ocean waters. Since his retirement, Capt. Hawkins became an educator at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores as well as the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teachers at Ocracoke. He holds a Masters Captain's License from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Capt. Hawkins is married to Diane and has two daughters, Leigh and Mari. (Pictured above: Mari, Capt. Jess, Diane, and Leigh)
