Fishing from Land on the OBX

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We are entering the official start of summer so it’s a good time to review some of the best places to fish from land.

The most frequently asked question by visiting anglers. Where can I go fishing while visiting the Northern Outer Banks? Well, here are some of the locals’ favorites.

Daniels Bridge – great bridge deck to fish from the south side only. Easy access, parking, restrooms, shaded area, fishing cleaning station. Good for crabbing. Look for channels and moving water. There is a deep hole approximately one hundred fifty yards south of bridge. Long casts and covering more water increases catches.

Wildlife Pier /  Baum Bridge – long dock that separates the Albemarle and Roanoke Sounds. Easy access, parking, portable restrooms, shaded certain times a day, benches. Fish the north and east sides of the dock. Drag baits along the pilings and cast north into the slough / channel leading into the marina. Avoid the south side – rubble and snags from bridge construction.

Various boat ramps – Wildlife pier ramp (under Baum bridge) and Oregon Inlet (near Coast Guard Station) ramp as well as many other ramps that line the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds are good places to find many bottom fish. Long casts into the sound and slow retrievals into the ramp holes increase catches. Watch for boats being launched and loaded.

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center – south point on east side of basin. Good wade fishing and crabbing Watch for waves from boats and deep holes while wading. Parking is good at marina. Restroom facilities are fishing center.

Mid Island – Various dune cross-overs. KH, KDH and NH have dozens of dune break for immediate access to the surf. Some areas require a long walk. Some areas have adequate parking, potable toilets, and stairs and ramps. Fish the moving tides and focus on the close in sloughs.

North Island and Corolla Beaches – most of this area is a 4-wheel access. A great location during the entire year. Permits are required during the summer months.

BeBop Pier – west end on Mann’s Harbor Bridge. Easy access, limited parking, shaded area with benches.  North side is good for shallow fishing. East and south are adjacent to bridge. Long casts toward bridge into slough increases chances. Lots of crabs and mosquitoes during the summer.

Bodie Island Slough – west end of parking area at the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Long walk through gate at end of circle along a dirt road. Minimal parking. No restrooms adjacent to fishing area. Once at slough, good fishing to the north or around any structure. Lots of crabs and mosquitoes most of the year.

Pamlico Sound / Hatteras Island Sound fronts – many pull offs along the entire coast with direct access to shallow water. No facilities. Park parking permits may be needed if off pavement.

Bonner Bridge Pier – this a new pier at an old location. Located on the south end of the new Basnight Bridge. Extends into the Oregon Inlet channel. Need a license to fish here.

Obviously, there are dozens more but these are my favorites. We haven’t included the piers because they are a given. These are the special spots. Piers will be discussed during another post. Remember – anglers will need a license to fish any of these spots.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

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