Dare County

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

Never Too Late

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I’m as guilty as most anglers at this time of year. The 2025 fishing season has been over for months and I have to admit, most of my gear continues to sit idle on my garage rack. But with the 2026 season just around the corner, it’s time for us to complete those off season chores. So put down your remote and let’s get to it!

First, a complete evaluation should be done on your rod and reels. Look for damage, any minor cracks or even corrosion on either the rod seats or guides. Next, removing the reel from the rod will allow you to do a thorough examination and allow for cleaning. Check the butt, reel seat, guides and tip. A good cleaning and applying an anti-corrosion spray might be all you need.  If everything checks out, move on the reel.

The reel should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled. Replace any damaged or worn parts. The drag washer should also be checked. These rarely wear out, but it’s good to just check them anyway. An easy way to check is to tighten down and pull on the line. Make several adjustments and if it pulls drag, it’s good.

Next, gear. Many types of lures and hard bait hooks may not survive more than a year so close focus on these items is imperative. Rusty rings, tangled lines or damaged components can result in potential loss of the catch. Sometimes it’s cheaper to replace the entire lure unless it’s your ‘go-to” catching machine. Then it’s an easy decision to just replace the hooks and rings. One tip: go with a single hook replacement if possible and try to get away from those treble hooks. Makes for an easier release.

Tackle boxes and bags habitually get cluttered over the season with many of those “I must have those” gadgets or maybe the “favor of the month” lure. And even gear attached to leaders that were quickly changed out and too valuable to discard.

Your best option is empty the bag, sort through what’s salvageable and toss the rest.

Sinkers, loose terminal tackle, swivels, extra leader materials should be placed in separate containers for easy access next season. I like to use old plastic medicine jars or even z-lock baggies.

Pliers, scissors, line cutters, fish grabbers should be cleaned or at least organized in its proper place for quick access in the spring.

Remove all batteries on any electronic gear such as bait bubblers, night lights and bug zappers. It is good to look for battery corrosion. Sometimes you can clean the acid but best to replace it completely.

Knives should be cleaned, sharpened, oiled and placed in a sheaths for protection. I typically only keep a bait knife in the bag and leave the filet knives for cleaning fish.

Large items such as coolers, cast nets, pier carts, cutting boards, rod holders and other large pieces need a good flushing, wiped off and stored properly. A mixture of beach and water does wonders in removing stains.

Finally, all metal surfaces should be coated with rods, reels or other gear with an anti-corrosion protectant. Using a good protectant oil is well worth the expense.

Remember, the off season is the best time to find and replace worn or defective gear or equipment.  Because most anglers have their own special fishing collections, I am sure we missed something but that’s what the offseason is for.

It is imperative to address those issues before they cost you that trophy species next year.

Couple things to keep in mind when organizing and cleaning out gear. Salt water is not your friend. Anything that came out of the box should probably be replaced. Once corrosion starts it’s contagious to everything else.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony