Best places to fish

Outer Banks Atlantic Ocean Piers

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Time to talk piers.  Most anglers are familiar with fishing piers but sometimes don’t know what to expect. Here is a list of the ocean fishing piers that are most frequently visited. From north to south.

Kitty Hawk pier / Hilton Garden Inn.

MP 1 – on the Beach Road

Kitty Hawk, NC

(252) 261-1290

Built in 1953 and is 245 feet long

This pier is a private / public pier designed primarily for guests of the Hilton but daily and annual passes are available. Limited tackle shop and equipment rentals.

Avalon Fishing Pier

MP 6 on the Beach Road

Kill Devil Hills, NC

(252) 441-7494

This pier was built in 1958 and is 420 feet long and is a locals favorite. Full service tackle shop, equipment rentals, bar and carry out food and snacks. Live music most nights and family fun arcade.

Avalon Fishing Pier

Nags Head Fishing Pier

MP 12 on the Beach Road

Nags Head, NC

(252) 242-5071

This pier was built in 1947 and is 850 feet long and the oldest pier on the Outer Banks. Full service tackle shop, equipment rentals, a full restaurant with live music several nights weekly.

Jennette’s Fishing Pier

MP 16.5 on the Beach Road

Nags Head, NC

(252) 255-1501

This pier was originally built in 1939, modified in 1947 and again in 2011 and is 1,000 feet long. The pier is part of the NC Aquarium. Tackle shop, equipment rentals, gift shop, beverages and limited food and snacks for sale. They hold assorted camp programs and educational marine and fishing programs.

Outer Banks Fishing Pier

MP 18.5 on the Beach Road

Nags Head, NC

(252) 441-5740

This pier was built in 1958 and is 600 feet long and a special place for many old-school anglers. Full service tackle shop, equipment rental, full bar and sit down restaurant. Live music most nights.

Rodanthe Fishing pier

24251 Atlantic Dr.

Rodanthe, NC

(252) 987-0030

This pier was built in 1960 and is 700 feet long. It was originally 1000 feet long and was known as the Cape Hatteras Pier before many storms helped shorten it. Full service tackle shop, limited food and beverage service. Live music most nights.

Avon Fishing Pier

41001 NC Highway 12

Avon, NC

(252) 995-5480

This pier was built in 1963 and is 630 feet long. This pier is owned by the National Park Service and was originally 1000 feet long and shortened due to many storms. Full service tackle shop, equipment rentals and gift shop.

Until next time – Tightlines

Capt Tony

The Little Bridge

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The Melvin R. Daniels Bridge is one of the area’s favorite places to fish on the Outer Banks. Better known as the “little bridge”, it was once one of the local’s best kept secrets. But with its central location, easy access, amenities and abundance of action most of the year, this bridge is now known as one of the best places to catch fish.

The Daniels Bridge is located in the town of Nags Head on Rt. 64/264 Manteo Causeway just west of Whalebone Junction. The concrete structure is easily accessible to a guarded walkway on the south side of the bridge. A five foot concrete barrier on the south side provides protection from wind and traffic. The north side was closed last year due to pedestrian safety issues.

The parking lot on the west side of the bridge can accommodate dozens of vehicles.  And adjacent to the parking area, visitors will find a nice picnic area, covered pavilion and modern restroom facilities. There is also a fish cleaning table and running water as an added convenience.

When fishing this bridge, most anglers will start on the west side and work their way along the entire walkway from west to east. Since the north side is closed, finding the main slough under the bridge is important. Tides flow quickly under the bridge so fishing close to the piles gives you the best chance for success.

Many species of fish can be found around 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. Unless jigging, it is a safe bet to fish close in toward the bridge pilings. Fast moving current under this bridge is the angler’s best friend.

Most anglers use a light to medium fishing gear to either bottom fish or jig for roving schools speckled trout, puppy drum or stripers. The standard two hook bottom rig tipped with small #4 hooks with fresh shrimp or cut bait is best for bottom fishing. When jigging, anglers typically use small lead head jigs fitted with a swim bait or other artificial plastics.

The best advantage for anglers who fish on the bridge is they don’t need any special equipment. It is important to just keep it simple. A simple light rod and reel, a two bottom rig and some fresh bait should help to get the action started quickly.

Anglers who want to fish on the Daniel’s bridge need to purchase a saltwater fishing license and obtain a copy of the local fishing regulations at a local tackle shop. It is also imperative that all anglers 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 angler looking for that trophy fish, the Melvin R Daniels “Little Bridge” is the place to go.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Fishing from Land on the OBX

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We are finally 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 only the south side. Easy access, parking, restrooms, shaded area, fishing cleaning station. Good for crabbing. Look for channels and moving water. There is 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 Albermarle and Roanoke Sounds. Easy access, parking, portable restrooms, shaded certain times a day, benches. Fish the north and east sides of 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 to 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