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Fall Surf Tournament Time

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Fishing in one of the various surf tournaments is no time for trial and error. Especially when you are limited to time and space. My experience tells me that there are several important components to being successful during this type of a surf fishing event. And being competitive in these events, there are several skill sets needed.

Homework is the key to any fishing trip but imperative in this type of competition.Ā  First, the fish or target species need to be in the area or zone. Canā€™t catch them, if they are not there.

Past reports should give you a good idea of what’s been caught recently and how. Success isn’t about luck; it’s about targeting. You must understand the precise habits, feeding behaviors, and structural preferences of your target fish. Gear types and sizes along with appropriate rigging and baits should match the species you target. Previous reports should indicate whether you need to target passive such as sea mullets, spot or croaker or aggressive bluefish, puppy drum or trout. Each species requires a different set of gear and technique. Study and remember it.

Once the participants determine what gear and bait works best, a smart team begins to use a range from either light medium rods for small species to the heavy gear rod sets for the seasonal huge migrating drum and blues.

Next is the local conditions such as air and water temperatures, tide phases, wind speed and direction. Remember the ocean can change by the hour. So fishing two sessions per day within two continuous days gives the angler the best opportunity to fish the best conditions. A skilled angler continuously monitors how external factors impact their immediate area and adjust accordingly.

Reading the surf and water is not an overnight lesson. It takes time to focus on the various parts of the sand and waves. The beach is not a flat desert; it is full of underwater topography. Finding the fish means actively scanning the water to evaluate sand formations and wave actions. You have to locate the deeper sloughs, look for the breaks in the sandbars, and identify the specific troughs where fish are using.

Before the angler casts the first time, they need to step back and take in the entire scene. Start at the surf. Is it flat or tapered, has cusps or is it sloped. This indicates a deeper slough. Next, monitor the waves. When and where do they break? This view can indicate the bars. Some surf zones have two. Placing the baits either stationary or shifting will give the angler the best chance to cover the correct zone.

Once all the boxes are checked, now the clock starts, don’t just throw straight out. Fan cast your lines at different angles and distancesā€”one short in the trough, one medium on the edge of the bar, and one deep in the cutā€”to quickly locate where the schools are moving. Each member of your team should use a proven technique. And with a process of elimination, anglers should move to that technique. With one always remaining a little different.

While Iā€™m past my days participating in these events, I find it fascinating that even though years pass, the old tried and true, back to basics, seems to be the trigger of the day. Enjoy this tournament season and the camaraderie that this friendly competition brings. Safety is always first as is conservation.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt Tony

Ready Set Drum Roll

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September marks the start of the legendary run of big drum on the Outer Banks. The autumn air brings a crisp northeast breeze, cooling water temperatures and the highly anticipation of fall big drum migration.

Anglers wait all year for a chance to catch one of these trophy giants. North Carolina big drum are well known for their huge size and ferocious fight. Anglers travel many miles to experience this phenomenon.

These remarkable creatures originately known as puppy drum, can grow 40 to 50 inches or more in a matter of couple years. Once they reach full size, they are referred to as ā€œbullā€ or just big drum.

Big drum are originally targeted early on in the surf. But as the conditions change, anglers have their best chance to land one on the ocean piers. The best bites occur with rough churning seas and constant winds up to 20 to 30 miles per hour.

Most pier anglers focus on the deep end but many different sizes of fish, along with the big drum, are caught along the entire length of the pier. So proper location is imperative.

To catch these giants, specialized gear and rigging is required. Heavy conventional or spinning surf rods of eight to ten feet or longer rated and reels designed to hold 17-20 lbs of monofilaments or 30-50 lbs braided line are the standard set up. Caution using braid lines on piers or near other anglers. And donā€™t forget that 50 lbs mono shock leader.

Rigging and baits are personalized. My favorite rig is the “Fish Finder” with short leaders and circle hooks. This rig helpsĀ  prevent deep hooking and is the one most frequently used. The second one is a standard drum or cannon ball rig. This rig uses a heavy sinker slide attached to a weight on the main line swivel then a short leader with your preferred circle hook. Either way, these rigs work well.

Cut pieces of menhaden, mullet or spot are the baits of choice. Large chunks including bait heads with lots of scent attract these big drum. Anglers are known to use chunks of finger mullet or other oily smelly baits too.

The key to catching them is placing your baits where the drum are. While you may have the tendency to long cast, big drum will stay near structures. So while under the pier is perilous and can result in snag or being cut off, this area holds drum.

Every angler has their own strategy. Some anglers position themselves directly at the end of the pier, others will start at the shallow part and move to cover each side, just moving and looking for another opportunity. Another strategy, the big drum moves around to find a food source, so the anglers should too.

Regardless of your strategies. The passionate drum angler watches the weather and knows the migration signs.

Remember all red drum over 27 inches must be safely released in North Carolina, handling them with care is paramount. Keep the fish in the water as much as possible, minimize their time on the dry sand or pier deck, snap a quick photo, and support the fish in the water until it swims away under its own power.

Joining the elite fraternity of anglers who have landed an OBX autumn giant is an unforgettable experience, and protecting the fishery ensures the tradition continues for generations to come.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt TonyĀ 

Spanish Bite is On Fire

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I’ve been hearing reports lately of huge schools of Spanish mackerel traveling between the northern beaches south to the point.

Spanish mackerel are a perennial favorite during the warmer months for both surf and pier anglers on the Outer Banks. These aggressive fighters can give the light tackle anglers all they want. It seems they show up once water temperature reaches 68 degrees and follow their migratory patterns in the late summer to fall.

So today, I thought I would spendĀ  several hours on a local pier targeting these lightning speed and aggressive Spanish mackerel. Traveling light, I just packed one rod and a small bag of the preferred baits.

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Most anglers prefer a 6 to 7-Ā½ā€™ medium rods with a fast tip. Load the reel with 10-15 lbs braid and then attach an eighteen inch heavy 20-25 lbs fluorocarbon or wire leader to prevent sharp-toothed fish from biting through your line.

Gotcha plugs are the go to lure but many anglers prefer sting silvers or Clark spoons. But almost any type of flashy jig will work.Ā  Regardless of your lure type, itā€™s the fast erratic action that produces the hook up

Both pier and surfĀ  anglers should evaluate conditions using the wind and tides to help put the lure in the right position.

Once at the proper place on the surf or pier, the anglers should throw the lure as far out as possible. Count several seconds to allow the lure to sink to the desired depth. Reel in the slack then use sharp, quick pops or jerks of your rod tip while reeling at a fast, steady pace. This makes the lure dart frantically side-to-side. An occasional pause briefly will let it drop again during the retrieve if you donā€™t get a hit. Sometimes we find that fish may be deeper in the water column so more pauses will tempt them to hit the lure.

Once hooked up, continue your rapid straight retrieve. If on a pier, smallerĀ  fish can be raised up but larger ones need to be drop netted.

Remember, Spanish mackerel have extremely sharp teeth. So use pliers or de-hooker to remove hooks.

Harvested fish should be immediately stored in a ice cooler. And release any unwanted fish unharmed.

It was a successful day for me. Caught six beautiful Spanish mackerel ready for the grill.

Keep in mind, these fish will be migrating soon so if you have always wanted to catch Spanish mackerel, now is the time.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt Tony