Cape Hatteras

Reading the Surf

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Finding the best place to fish on the surf is sometimes one of the major challenges for both the new angler or  tournament participants.

New anglers just pick a spot and cast their lines. But when you are in a tournament, your spot is usually assigned. So how does the angler find a good spot to fish on the surf 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 look signs can and do change by the hour or tide phase. So a consistent review of conditions is imperative for success.

When hitting the beach for the first time, anglers should first focus on the entire picture. Look at everything but mainly focus on the surf zone. Specifically sand formations and waves are a good spot 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. Typically don’t hold 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 spend their efforts.

Wave action will also give out specific signs. Normally waves form offshore and travel a good distance without breaking and then break right on 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 and 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 along 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 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 of water to flow back out to sea. They are easy to spot, Just look for the rapid out flow current. These may be absent from 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 ten feet where you stand. So keep your eyes open, fish your bait close and never oversize your gear.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Transition to Fall

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Fishing on the Outer Banks during the Fall transition can produce catches of puppy drum, big drum, Speckled Sea Trout, Stripers and dozens of other species.

September typically means two things to me – the start of a new school year and Fall fishing. Classrooms and school buses get crowded and popular fishing spots become deserted. But just like school, there are many lessons to be learned when fishing between the Summer and the Fall on the Outer Banks.

Summer fishing is a lot like swinging in a hammock. You find a seat in the shade on the pier or maybe under an umbrella on the surf.  You cast your bottom rig out and wait for something to come by and take it. Summer fishing is usually very slow and kind of easy going. There are always plenty of small bottom fish to keep you busy. So as you can see those lazy summer fishing days are a lot like swinging on that hammock. Not real exciting nor is there a lot of interruptions but still a lot of fun.

Fall fishing on the other hand is where those summer lessons are put to the test. The Fall species that move into our waters can be very large and aggressive and fast.  These fish are aware that their main food source will be scarce in the coming months so they must feed aggressively.

The Florida pompano and Spanish Mackerel will be leaving for warmer waters soon and two of our most popular fall visitors will be taking their place. The Norfolk Spot and Atlantic croaker are a huge draw on the local piers in the fall. The Norfolk “Spot Run” occurs in mid to late September. During these runs, it is easy to fill a cooler in a matter of hours.

A short time later we see an increase of our native sea mullet, speckled sea trout, puppy drum and bluefish as well as the prized big red drum and many other traditional species such as flounder, sheepshead, sharks and rays and many others.

When fishing in the Summer we typically use light to medium gear. In the Fall season with the onslaught of huge and aggressive species moving in, we need to consider the use of stiffer and heavier gear. Larger rods, heavier reels, more stout lines and of course stronger rigs.

We also need to think about how we present our baits. Fresh shrimp, finger mullet or cut baits are your best bets this time of year. Some anglers will stay with fishbites, sand fleas, and even go with artificials and metals. But the key is the action and presentation of your retrieves. This action must match the feeding preferences of your target.

Weather in the fall is very unpredictable. Outer Banks environment can be brutal on anglers and gear. Preparation is key to a successful outing.

Now is the time to prepare. Our local tackle shops, piers, many of our media outlets and of course my website can help make this year’s fishing experience one to remember.

Fishing in the Fall on one of the local piers or the surf can be one of most enjoyable times. Many anglers travel hundreds of miles just to fish this time of year in our waters. Will you be joining us this year?

Captain’s Tip – always keep a light tackle rod set with you at all times in the fall. Hot action with a light rod and big fish are what memories are made of.

Watch for more fall fishing, gear and techniques shortly.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Might Be the Pressure

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It might Just Be the Pressure

Now that we are in storm season, it’s a good time to talk about how weather affects fishing.

Anglers who take the time to monitor specific weather conditions, especially barometer readings, can result in the difference between catching and just sightseeing.

There are specific weather conditions that anglers should monitor before they go fishing. This effort can mean the difference between catching and just sightseeing.

We all know most anglers will go fishing when they can. But the remaining anglers are a little bit more studious and will go only when the conditions are right. And one of those major weather conditions is barometric pressure reading.

Barometric pressure is the amount of force or weight that the atmosphere pushes down at any point on earth and its inhabitants. This pressure can be either steady, rising or falling according to the current weather conditions. And these three different readings can have a significant effect on fishing.

Anglers have used weather instruments including barometer readings for years. And those anglers have realized that you don’t have to be a scientist to understand how these readings affect wildlife including our saltwater species.

Each living species responds to many different weather conditions. But the change in barometric pressure can be felt in both humans and wildlife alike. And when there is a change, sometimes even slight everything responds including wildlife.

Weather systems are the main cause of barometric pressure changes. When the sun is shining with little wind, the barometer is steady. Falling pressure actually increases the pressure felt on the surface. And rising pressure will decrease this effect.

This rising and falling typically proceeds or follows a weather system. For example, an approaching front will cause the barometric pressure to decrease and once passed the system increases pressure as it does after a tropical storm. The closer the storm is to a particular area, the lower the pressure becomes. And vice versa.

And its effect on wildlife does not have to be significant – only a few degrees of measurement can make a world of difference.

So how does this condition effect fishing?

On steady calm or “bluebird” days, fishing is dependent on many natural instincts of a specific species. They act in a normal fashion. But with an approaching system or storm the pressure begins to fall and this pressure pushes in on the fish’s organs, causing them to feel full and reducing their instinct to feed. Now once the front or system passes, the pressure rises and the “full feeling” effect diminishes, and the fish will begin to feed aggressively.

Many anglers who have followed barometric pressure change concept have been richly rewarded.

Looking for one more advantage, why not check the weather page before your next fishing trip.

It just might surprise you.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony