Ocracoke Island

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

Slowly Back to Normal

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Memorial Day is considered the kickoff for fishing on the Outer Banks. It seems this year may be a little different than most but still we hope to find some normalcy.

Visitors are storming into the beach this week hoping to find that little piece of paradise. And with many amenities closed or severely limited, fishing has become more popular than ever.

So how does someone explore this new passion? Several of the first questions will be:

What is the best gear to use to catch a fish? Well, this may be a difficult question to answer unless you know what species you want to target and where you will fish.

Fishing on the surf, piers and bridges have many similarities but also have several differences when trying to figure out what to use.

When fishing on the surf in the summer, you might want to use a light medium rod and reel set, possibly in a six to seven foot range. Eight to sixteen pound test line works fine here. Most fish are primarily small but hard fighting. You will need a light enough set up to feel the bite but strong enough to reel it in. If you don’t mind losing a big fish once in a while, catching more small stuff can make for a great day.

Pier fishing is a little different. You want to use a light medium to a medium heavy rod set up. The piers can attract both our small seasonal fish but also a number of larger fast running species. Your gear needs to be stout enough to successfully reel these in and over the rail. And the line needs to be stronger as well as the rigging. Once hooked, many fish run for cover under the pier and into the pilings. A tougher line will help prevent chaffing on the pilings.

Bridges present the same concerns as piers. But when you can add a fast moving current that flows quickly under the bridge, it can add an additional challenge of bringing the fish to the bridge deck. Retrieving a larger fish to the bridge railing in addition to dragging heavier sinker, you will need some backbone in that rod and reel set up. Medium seven to eight foot rods work well here. On bridges you might also need a variety of sinkers to hold the bottom.

Next the best advice is to head to one of our many tackle shops for the best gear set ups. I try to avoid big box shops for my fishing gear. The discount you get on the gear there can never make up for the better quality of gear and equipment and free knowledge that a local tackle shop can provide. And you will be surprised that the prices are very close.          

Remember the better the quality of equipment and gear you use, the better the chance of success.

In a future article, we will be discussing the different types rigging and the various baits that help improve your chance of success when fishing on the Outer Banks.

Until next time – Tightlines. Capt. Tony

A Call for Help

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October is the peak fishing month on Ocracoke Island. Jumping mullets move along the inlets and beach, providing a great source of bait for game fish such as drum and bluefish. Water temperatures start to cool down toward the end of the month, bringing larger bluefish and citation (over 40 inches) red drum to the surf.

But this year was different. On September 6, 2019, Hurricane Dorian approached the small island of Ocracoke of North Carolina flooding the entire island with over seven feet of water and devastating winds. The flooding destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure. And what the water didn’t do, the wind finished it. But most of all it affected the people. Their spirit is broken as well as their lives. But they are a determined to not let the storm defeat them.

Businesses on Ocracoke Island depend on their summer visitors to live but they need the fall visitor to survive. This year after the Hurricane Dorian, they and the rest of the island are suffering.

But we can help. You can help.

Alan and Melissa at Tradewinds could really use your help now. Have you ever wanted an official T-shirt, sweatshirt or even a hat from Tradewinds Tackle? Well now you can get one delivered right to your door and help them. Now you can order one from e-bay.

To place an order for any of their merchandise, use the link below.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264496952701

Ocracoke Island Slogan, ““A Short Ferry Ride Away But A World Apart” by Alan Sutton

Friends helping friends – let’s all pitch in and do what we can to help.

Tightlines – Until Next Time – Capt. Tony