Dare County

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

Member of the Club

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Lately, we have been hearing about local fishing clubs having difficulty attracting both new and young members. Here is my recommendation on joining a club.

Fishing clubs can be the best way for a new angler to learn about a local fishery. It can be very frustrating when an angler move§ to a new area and has to start over. But it might be a little more helpful to find that fishing buddy who can show them the best locations and proven techniques in the new area.

But what typically happens when anglers move into a new area? They try winging it on their own. They may eventually give in and stop into a local tackle shop. They might pick up a new rod and reel, grab some bait and then hit the first and possibly the easiest spot and hope for the best. Good start but still not the consistency they need.

Now they may even fall back and attempt to use their personal “it worked up north” gear. They will soon realize that this gear will not hold up for this type of fishing. There is a good chance they may catch something and possibly have a good time. But once they get past that stage, they may ask themselves, now what? Will they continue to return to the tackle shop for advice and keep tempting fate fish or bite the bullet and find a fishing buddy who can show them the ropes?

Well, that’s where a fishing club comes into play. A fishing club can take that new or even experienced angler to the next level. As with every hobby, using certain techniques that if utilized properly will make the activity more successful and even a lot of fun. And this work§ the same way with fishing. Make it a habit doing things right the first time and good times will follow.

Joining a fishing club will give those new anglers that competitive edge. And with the access to a host of knowledgeable and experienced members and the support and camaraderie found there, the angler will find it to be a win-win proposition.

Membership is not just one sided affair though. This commitment in a fishing club takes work. Each member is asked to participate in a number of activities all of which makes the club successful.

There are periodic meetings, assorted committees, picnics, awards dinners and of course tournaments. These all take volunteers to make it happen.  But the rewards are worth the effort.

Most fishing clubs meet monthly sometimes for just a few hours. Typically, there are several part§ of each meeting: Club business, speaker, committee reports and open forum.

Fishing clubs are the best opportunity for an angler to expand their skill level. It can open many doors typically not usually available to the casual angler.

If you are looking for something new and exciting, joining a local fishing club is time well spent and is definitely worth your effort.

The Outer Banks has several types of fishing clubs looking to add new members. Several choices are: Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, Outer Banks Anglers Club and the Nags Head Fishing Club. If you are looking for new friendships and a place to learn new techniques, then check them out.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Falling for Speckled Sea Trout

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Fall is the perfect season to catch Speckled Sea Trout. These fish are one of the most sought after gamefish on the Outer Banks.  And October is the perfect month to begin targeting this species. Their aggressive strike, beautiful appearance and great table fare make them a desirable target. Speckled Sea Trout are members of the drum family which are noted for their drumming or croaking sounds.

They are also aggressive hunters and will feed constantly except while spawning. These fish can grow quickly to over sixteen inches in just two years. It is not unusual for anglers to catch dozens of these fish well into the mid to upper twenty inch range considered “gator trout”.

The prime season for these Speckled Sea Trout is Spring and Fall but they can be found locally almost twelve months a year. They are temperature sensitive and their residency is dependent on their comfort zone. They are known as a migratory species but can remain in one area for months or even the entire season only moving to feed or spawn.

Speckled Sea Trout are creatures of habit and in season can be caught in the deep ocean sloughs just inside the bar along the entire surf zone and adjacent to our ocean fishing piers. Fishing from the surf or one of our many piers or even one of the soundside bridges can give the angler an advantage in recognizing perfect spots to target Speckled Sea Trout.

Other popular shore locations where anglers can find these fish on the Outer Banks are the inshore grass flats, potholes and creek mouths that feed the various sound waters. These areas provide a safe zone where there is good water quality, moderate water temperatures, solid water movement, some structure for safety, and provide many ambush spots.

Their main diet is small bait fish but have been known to attack shrimp and similar natural baits. So the most popular lures are lead head jigs with a plastic swim tail, top water hard baits and popping corks. This species has also been known to take spoons, a bucktail or even Mirro Lures.

The jigging involves the use of a lead head jig with a three or four inch plastic swim tail. The jig is then cast and retrieved using several quick jerks of the rod followed by a pause, allowing the bait to pause or fall. This casting and retrieval is repeated until there is a strike. The strike or hookup usually occurs during the pause or fall phase.

The next technique is using a top water floating or sinking hard bait. The lure is cast out and retrieved. The design of the lure produces a unique darting or swimming action. The quick and erratic nature of the top water lure during the retrieve causes splashing and noise which attracts a trout’s attention. When the strike occurs, it can be violent and fierce as the fish crushes the lure on the surface.

The final method is using a popping cork and is probably the most successful technique for both novice and experienced anglers. The rig is a cork float with a jig or hook with a plastic tail suspended below it. The angler casts it out and will give several quick jerks on the rod causing the cork to jump and make a splashing noise. This splashing mimics another feeding fish.  Other nearby fish will then come to investigate the noise and find an easy meal sinking just below the surface.

Anglers have found that the best gear is a six to a seven foot light medium rod and reel setup. Ten pound braid or fifteen pound monofilament line followed by a twenty pound two foot fluorocarbon leader will give the best results. This setup gives the strength for the hook set, quick retrieval and helps make baits appear natural.

The Fall season is one of the best times for catching Speckled Sea Trout. So whether you prefer to fish on your favorite pier, along the surf zone or on a local bridge, you should be able to find and catch this popular gamefish.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony