Ocracoke Island

Spring Fishing Fever

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The Outer Banks spring fishing season is well under way with most of our summer species already showing up in the standard venues. Atlantic and sound side piers have opened after weathering the off season. Some of our local piers sustained minor damage over the winter. They are now operating at full strength and welcoming both anglers and seeing good catches of puppy drum, blues and plenty of bottom fish.

Soundside docks and bridges are also becoming productive and will continue to get better each day once the water temperatures increase.

While there is excitement of heading out to join the other anglers, this is a good time to take a step back and review last year’s gear and bait choices, techniques and locations.

Now comes the preventive measures. After many months of dormancy, skill sets and tackle can lose their effectiveness. So now is the time to recover those techniques.

Saltwater gear has a limited shelf life regardless of your attention and care. Take time to evaluate your rod and reels. Correct any corrosion or surface dirt. Replace your line and coat the entire system with a good marine lubricant.

Check all tackle boxes. If you were an artificial bait angler, rusty hooks and connectors can fail after being exposed to saltwater over the course of a year. Plastic baits harden and lose scent when in storage. Having the correct feel and scent is a game changer.

Special techniques can lose their flair over time. Even the best professional anglers seek pointers after time off. Hire a guide or find a friend to evaluate your casting and retrieval techniques. Well worth your time.

Anglers have known for years that even certain species seem to have a memory recall. Occasionally we find what was used last year may not be effective this year. And that not only applies to techniques, but the actual baits. Never be afraid to change up or modify your gear, baits or even retrieval methods.

Scouting some of your old favorite places ensures you are prepared for any changes. It’s best to start at places that were productive last year and work your way to locations recommended by friends and tackle staff.

Tackle shops and pier staff are valuable resources when starting out each new year. Know your creel and bag limits. Know partial or full season closers. Unexpected changes can occur without much notice. Two agencies share regulation oversight on our fishery. Know all sets of rules before you go.

Many of our transitional species including some of our summer species are being landed from northern beaches of Corolla all the way to Hatteras Village and Ocracoke. So the time to go is now.

It appears that after a long winter off season, this year is beginning to mirror last year, which most consider one of the best.

First time out, anglers should pick the right tides, check water temperatures and use only the freshest baits. This will give the spring angler the best opportunity to be successful.

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

Starting Point

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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 by the hundreds for vacation on the Outer Banks.  Most are looking 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.  This is lesson #1. Fresh 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.

This is lesson #2. 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 tackle shop home, they can learn 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