Saltwater Fishing

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

Spring Migration is Here

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We are rapidly heading into the Spring fishing season on the Outer Banks. And with numerous seasonal species beginning to show up on the Hatteras Island beaches, it won’t be long before these summer visitors are moving up to the northern beaches. Water temperatures are gradually increasing and it won’t be long before all of our warm water species are well settled in both the ocean and sound waters.

Most diehard anglers are already catching fish, but are you ready? At the end of the last fishing season, there were many things to address. But the two most important things are to get your gear ready and increase your knowledge on what worked and what didn’t.

First is gear maintenance. This is one of those duties typically lost in the hustle of the off season. But it is imperative to put this in the forefront of your spring duties. Checking your rod and reels for damage or corrosion, replacing rusting gear and updating your tackle bag is only a start. I start with what worked last year and fill in the pieces.

Next, getting more knowledge of our fishery is really the most important key to success. This doesn’t mean we have to go back to school but fishing seminars do help including ones online. Learning new things is important for increased success. There are hundreds of websites, podcasts, and YouTube videos about various techniques.

Another way is stopping by your local tackle shops. They can help with any new gear or specific techniques. You may even want to check the various manufacturer’s web sites. Lots of tips can be found there. These are the professionals – they make it their business to make you a better angler. So stop there frequently.

And finally, checking your catch log book. This is the best way for the average anglers to gain more knowledge. Their log book will tell them what worked best under certain conditions, and when and how? The variables were time of day, tides, weather conditions but probably more important was the water temperatures and barometer readings. Records of what species were caught and what gear and baits were used. One of the best sources of knowledge you can have is a currently maintained log. 

Don’t have a log or reference book. Spring is the best time to start one. Create your own log or purchase one. Then next year you will have an excellent reference on factual data.

Knowledge and personal experience are the best teachers. And the best part, these are simple and provide valuable information that can be used for many years.

Many of the warm water species are close and the summer season is just around the corner. Ready or not, here they come. Will you be?

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Tides Do Matter

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We have talked tides several times over the years and this is a great time to refresh. Tides can have a major influence on whether you catch fish or not. It’s the various tides that help create ideal conditions for fish to feed. And if the angler is present during these feeding times, their chances improve significantly.

It’s been a common practice that most anglers prefer to fish on top of the high or low tides. Frequently, anglers will also look to fish on the sun and moon phases  but it’s actually the tides that should bring the anglers out. But it’s the specific part of these tides that make all the difference.

Let’s take a closer look at why you too should consider following the tides.

Ocean tides occur up to four times per twenty-four hour period – two high and two low. The tide phases are influenced by a number of conditions but mostly the moon.  Frequently, we hear that it’s best to fish on the exact full or new moon or on the top of the high or low tide because in theory that’s when the bite is on.

Well, this is only partially correct. Let’s take a closer look at how the tides affect the bite.

First, a little background – when the high and low tide are at their peaks, the water is slack and not moving unless there is outside influence such as wind. And second, when the tide is between the high and low, this is where a significant water movement can occur between the two tide phases.

Now, let’s break down one side of a tide. At the highest phase of high tide the water is slack. As the tide begins to fall, water starts to move toward the low tide phase. As the level continues to fall, this tide or water begins to pick up speed until it reaches a certain point usually two thirds into this phase at which the water begins to slow again to a slack phase.  Then the process starts again but in reverse.

So let’s do an example to help find the best time to fish. Let’s start with high tide at 600am and the low tide at 1200 noon. The tide is slack at 600 and with gravitational influence the water level or tide begins to fall. As the tide continues to fall, it will pick up speed typically around 0730 and continue to increase flow or speed until 1030. At this point the tide begins to lose its force and between 1030 and 1200 noon the tide slows and finally is slack again.

As you can see in this example, the fastest moving water and the best times to fish is approximately 1-1/2 hours after high and before low tide. Other times work too, but for increased success pick these.

Remember, there are many other conditions that can influence the bite. Water movement is just one. Monitoring water temperature, seasonal migration and barometer can also improve your success.

But reviewing tide phase should always be part of your fishing trip preparation.

So the next time you pick up a local tide chart – do some homework and you might just catch some more fish.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony