Ocracoke Island

Fishing from Land on the OBX

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

Reading the Beach

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In spring most anglers get excited. It’s a new year, the weather is turning and fish are migrating into the area. Bluefish, big drum and many other species are being caught on our southern beaches. One question I always get is how to read the beach and find the fish. Well here is my take.

Finding the best place to actually deploy when going surf fishing is one of the major challenges for both the new angler or the most experienced surf fishing tournament participant.

Early season anglers just typically pick a spot and take their chances. So how does the angler find a good spot to fish on the beach 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 appearance signs can and do change by the hour or by the tide phase. So a consistent review of conditions is imperative for success.

When hitting the beach for the first time, anglers should focus on the entire picture. Look at everything but mainly focus on the surf zone. Specifically, evaluating sand formations and waves is a good place 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 and typically does not hold many 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 concentrate their efforts.

Wave actions will also give out specific signs. Normally waves form offshore and travel a good distance without breaking and then break right in 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 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 to 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 to look for 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  water to flow back out to sea. Rip currents are easy to spot. Just look for the rapid outflow of current. These are usually lacking much 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 10 feet of where you stand. So keep your eyes open, fish your bait close and never oversize your gear.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Fishing in Cold Weather

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It’s January and the air & water temperatures are turning cold. This is a good time to discuss fishing in cold weather.

Fishing in the winter months can present a unique set of challenges for an Outer Banks angler.

Unpredictable weather systems can wreak havoc on even the most experienced angler. And scarcity of cold tolerant species can leave the angler empty-handed.

But in spite of the cold weather conditions, there are going to be many anglers trying their luck and catching fish. So this is a good time to discuss some of the safety precautions that anglers should take when fishing in colder conditions.

Angler comfort should be the first priority. Harsh weather conditions can wreak havoc on even the most stoic angler. Checking the weather forecast before they head out can assist on the type and layers of clothing needed to stay warm and dry. Wind and rain can affect the anglers ability to find a suitable location to actually fish. Stocking hats and gloves help preserve heat. So dress accordingly.

Know the target species. Anglers should check with a local tackle shop to determine when and where their target species was last caught. The tackle shop professionals can help the angler determine the best gear, baits and locations. In cold weather the target species may be scattered about, so narrowing down a specific area will help limit the anglers search time, where to go and limit the exposure to the elements.

In winter it’s best to fish later in the day after both the air and water temperatures have had a chance to warm up. Wintering specie’s metabolism slows in cold water and they typically wait for the right conditions to feed. So a good rule is for the angler to sleep in.

Another reason to fish later is visibility. The angler can see better and observe hazardous conditions such as slippery or uneven surfaces. Piers and bridges can become icy overnight and shorelines can be lined with high tide debris. Navigating on the surf can also be a hazard. Soft sand, drop offs and hidden objects at the water line can cause a trip hazard.

A good rule, if fishing on the surf, is for the angler to wear waders with a belt and a life vest. Even though there is little chance of falling in, at least it can help keep them afloat and visible to rescuers.

The angler shouldn’t burden themselves with too much gear. Only carry what is needed in a knapsack to keep arms and hands free. Taking extra rods and gear can overload them, prevent their ability to move from one place to another and when fishing on the surf or an uneven level can cause them to lose their balance, slip and fall.

Always carry the cell phone in a waterproof container and where they can reach it quickly in the event of an emergency. When fishing in the elements, emergencies can occur quickly and fast action is needed.

Anglers should never fish alone in the winter. The smart thing to do is take a buddy. That way if one angler gets into trouble they have someone who can help out. And if they are fishing alone, it’s imperative that they tell someone where they will be at all times and when they will be returning.

And finally, anglers need to know their limitations. An exhausted angler can put themselves at great risk. When its cold, maybe one more cast is not smart. Live to fish another day.

Fishing in the cold winter months can be both productive and rewarding. But only if the angler takes the proper precautions.

So be a smart angler when fishing in cold winter months.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt Tony