The “Little Bridge” officially titled the Melvin Daniels Bridge is one of the best kept secret places to fish on the Outer Banks. The little bridge can be found on the Rt. 64/264 Manteo Causeway just west of Whalebone Junction in Nags Head. This area has produced record numbers of fish and crabs during most fishing seasons.  

With fishing platforms on both sides of the bridge and an adequate guardrail and concrete barrier on the south side provides adequate protection from the wind and road traffic. On the west end, there is also a crabbing dock with running water and fish cleaning table

You will find plenty of parking on the west side of the bridge with nice picnic area, covered pavilion and modern restroom facilities. These areas are also accessible for those who are physically challenged.

These amenities are why this fishing area has always been a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

When fishing the little bridge, I always start on the south side and work my way from west to east. The water is a little shallower on the south and west side and but becomes deeper as you go east along the rail. The water moves faster around the pilings and through the channel along the east side. The east end on the north side also is a great place to drop a line.

Bottom fish can be found all along this bridge. The key is watching the bait fish and other anglers. Try to mirror their actions. The sound bottom is mostly sandy with minimal structures outside the bridge footprint. So stay close to the bridge.

The summer months can bring a lot of crabs to this area. They are the most proficient bait stealers. So when using a standard two hook bottom rig, you just have to be patient and continue to replace the missing baits. One tip I use is only put a top hook on the bottom rig. Occasionally the bottom bait attracts the crab and they follow the line up the second one. Leaving the bottom hook off may help.

Fresh shrimp, live minnows, blood worms, cut bait or fish bites are always useful here.

When jigging, match the lead head and plastic lure to the bait and conditions. I always use dark colors in cloudy or overcast days and light colors on bright days. I will vary lead head weights when the current or winds prevent me from getting the lure where I need it.

Casting away from the bridge and retrieving your jig at varying speeds with some jerking and pausing can attract the attention of many fish species. Most fish will be found in the lower water column so a slow retrieves along the bottom might be your best bet.

The west side observation area and crabbing dock is also a great place to either bottom fish or jig or crab (more about crabbing in another blog entry)

You don’t need any special equipment. A simple light tackle rig and assortment of gear will work great. Your local tackle shop can hook you up quickly.

When fishing on this bridge, you will need a saltwater fishing license so check the regulations. Also, you need to know the creel and bag limits for each species.

So for a great place for the beginning angler, kids of all ages, families or the experienced one looking for that trophy fish, the Melvin R Daniels “Little Bridge” is the place to go.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

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

They range in size from several inches up 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”

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 piers. They can range from the close in sloughs  to out in the deeper water and also 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. When fishing on the piers, I usually will cast out and away from a structure and retrieve back to me. South side seems to work best for me but either should work when they are there.

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 search for. They also search for food by smell so fresh baits are always the best way to go.

These regular visitors to our waters are caught on standard one or two hook bottom rig. Sea mullet have a small mouth so I always start with a 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 baits for sea mullet is fresh shrimp, bloodworms, or fish bites.

When you use shrimp, always purchase eating type shrimp. I never peel the shrimp. The hard shell usually helps the bait they on the hook.

To increase your chances of catching, change the bait frequently.

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 it favor quickly.

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

Ocean pier fishing in April can be a mixed bag. Some regular species are there but you may find some strange visitors. This is exactly what I found on Friday.

On Friday, I had an opportunity to spend several hours fishing on the Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

As a rule of thumb and before any trip out but especially in April, you should plan your trip by doing your homework. Your plan should include tides, weather, water temps and what’s catching.

Your plan should be to bring just the gear you need and not be overwhelmed with equipment that you don’t need.

The daily reports showed sea mullet and blow toads along with rays being caught on a regular basis.

I arrived at noon just as the high tide was beginning to fall. I have always found whether fishing the back waters or ocean, a moving falling tide always produced more action.

The weather was breezy with a steady fifteen MPH wind out of the north. Water temperatures were in the middle fifties so conditions were just about right for an April outing,

My gear included both a medium and light rod. I had several different bottom rigs and various hook and sinker sizes. My only bait choice was “Fishbites”. I could have stopped at a local shop but chose to wait.

The day started slow but as the falling tide began to accelerate, the fish began to bite. But most bites were misses. I changed to smaller hooks and lighter sinkers and then I began to catch sea and blow toads. The “Fishbites” turned out to be the ticket.

Just as the tide began to slack, I hooked up with several small Norfolk spot. There was also a mix of small croakers. Each cast late in the afternoon brought in spot two at a time.

The day went well because I had planned for both large and small prey.

So next time you plan on a fishing trip in April, prepare for more than just the expected prey.

Until next time – Tightlines – Captain Tony