Where Do I Start

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The outer banks are a great place to fish whether they are new, a returning visitor or a local resident just looking to jump into something new.
This time of year, visitors are arriving for vacation or just something different and searching for their next adventure. Fishing may have been on their bucket list for years but they really never took the time to explore it.
Now more than ever, visitors are taking that opportunity to experience this pastime that is exploding all over the Outer Banks. Fishing has been just outstanding over the past several seasons and with so much excitement many new anglers are jumping into this new hobby.
Starting fresh in fishing can be frustrating for any new angler. Where to go and what to use for gear and bait can be overwhelming to the newcomer. There are dozens of places that can “set you up” but only a few places can actually get you started so that this first experience is rewarding.
A local tackle shop should be your first stop. They can help identify the best rod and reel for your use. They can also provide you with the proper technique but more importantly they can provide the freshest and best choices for bait.
Freshest bait, locally caught and unfrozen is the key to getting the most bites. Local tackle shops are also good sources for info on special places to fish, times, conditions and legal regulations that are required.
As any novice would do, some may be tempted to fill their basket with many items that look good or that they saw on TV. These items do a great job of catching more anglers than anglers catch the fish. Big box stores or catalogs may offer low pricing but can never provide local knowledge and instruction that your Outer Banks tackle shops can.
Ask where to go. Fish can be found in lots of places but good technique is specific to an area or region. What worked at home or what worked last year may not work here and now. A good tackle shop stakes its reputation on return business. Many consider their return customers as family. This is something you can’t put a price on.
Once new anglers find their favorite tackle shop, the professionals can teach them the proper basics and move on from there. Many want to shorten the learning curve by going directly to the advanced class.
But there is no substitute for crawling before you walk, especially when so many knowledgeable sources are yours for the asking.
Until next time – Tightlines – Capt Tony

Seasonal Favorite – Sea Mullet

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Sea mullet are one of the easiest fish to catch on the outer banks.  They have a slender body with a slightly arched dorsal fin. Their color can range from a light to dark gray with dark shaded stripes. Their mouth faces downward to assist in feeding.

The range in size from several inches to eighteen with the typical size being caught range to ten to fifteen inches. Sea mullet can go by several names including Whiting, Kingfish or roundhead. Most anglers just call them “fun to catch and great to eat”.

Sea mullet can be found along the entire outer banks coastline from April through October.  They typically show up in the spring when the water begins to reach fifty degrees and stay around until the water cools in the fall.

Local anglers target these fish in the shallow surf zones and on the ocean piers.  They can range from the close in sloughs and near bars to out in deeper water adjacent to structures such as piers and docks.

I usually find them either right near the beach in shallow water or half to three quarters out on the piers. On the surf, just cast to the first bar or drop it on the slough. When fishing on the piers, I usually will cast out and away from a structure and slowly drag the rig back to me. Hook ups will be near the pier, sand bar or shallow areas where they believe bait is getting away from them.

They are typically bottom feeders and prefer cloudy or stained water.  Sea mullet stay in a zone where there is a lot of water movement. This constant water movement stirs the bottom and mixes the food source that the mullet searches for. They also search for food by smell so fresh baits are always the best way to go.

Anglers should use a seven and half light medium rod and reel with a fast tip and a standard one or two hook bottom rig and either a pyramid or bank sinker. A light tip will allow the angler to feel the lightest tap before the hook up. Sea mullet have a small mouth so I always start with small hooks and depending on my success I might change up or down in size.

I prefer a number four “J” or circle hook. I just bait the hook with a small bait. The best bait for sea mullet is fresh shrimp, bloodworms, mole crabs or fish bites.

When you use shrimp, always purchase eating type shrimp. I never peel the shrimp or mole crabs. The hard shell usually helps the bait on the hook. Remember, leave just a small tip out of the bait to ensure a hook up.

When the sea mullet are in season, you can fill a cooler in no time. And most probably one of the best eating fish with its white flaky meat.

But please remember, when fishing, only harvest what you plan to use fresh. Frozen sea mullet or any fish loses its favor quickly.

Grab a rod and hit the surf today. There is no better time to catch a sea mullet now.

Oh, and one more thing that will make your day better is to take a kid fishing.  With every fish they catch that smile gets wider.

Until next time – tightlines – Capt. Tony

Reading the Beach

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In spring most anglers get excited. It’s a new year, the weather is turning and fish are migrating into the area. Bluefish, big drum and many other species are being caught on our southern beaches. One question I always get is how to read the beach and find the fish. Well here is my take.

Finding the best place to actually deploy when going surf fishing is one of the major challenges for both the new angler or the most experienced surf fishing tournament participant.

Early season anglers just typically pick a spot and take their chances. So how does the angler find a good spot to fish on the beach within their zone?

The successful key when surf fishing is to look for the signs. They are easily spotted if you know where and what to look for. It is important to keep in mind that obvious first appearance signs can and do change by the hour or by the tide phase. So a consistent review of conditions is imperative for success.

When hitting the beach for the first time, anglers should focus on the entire picture. Look at everything but mainly focus on the surf zone. Specifically, evaluating sand formations and waves is a good place to start.

Flat sand beaches can indicate shallow water. On the beach where the sand tapers from a flat surface into the water will indicate a gradual slope. This area will be shallow for some distance and typically does not hold many fish.

Some sand formations that include cusps or small hills could indicate a greater slope and deeper water. The deeper water close to shore is better at holding fish. This is where the angler should concentrate their efforts.

Wave actions will also give out specific signs. Normally waves form offshore and travel a good distance without breaking and then break right in the surf. This is a sign that the bottom has a gradual slope for most of the wave set.

The best condition is when the waves start offshore, break on the bar, taper off with a foamy appearance and then re-form to again break near the shore. This is an indication of a slough where the deep water begins after the foam begins to form again. Sloughs form before a sandbar and after at a steep sloping beach  These sloughs are where most of the fish will be found. If the wave breaks and seas remain flat or foamy, move to the right or left until you find the right conditions.

Just a review, a slough is a channel of moving water that flows parallel to the beach and provides a highway for fish to find food and protection from other prey. This is the best place to focus your attention.

The final sign to look for is a rip current. A rip current is a rapid outflow channel or river of water. This happens when the waves push too much water onto the beach and there needs to be a way for the excess  water to flow back out to sea. Rip currents are easy to spot. Just look for the rapid outflow of current. These are usually lacking much surface foam.

So, when looking for the best place to fish on the surf, focus on the far and near sloughs, deeper water channels and rip currents.

Remember most fish are within 10 feet of where you stand. So keep your eyes open, fish your bait close and never oversize your gear.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony