Surf Fishing

Prepare for the Unexpected

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Being prepared can be applied to most things in life. But it can’t be more important than when you go fishing on a local ocean pier.

How many times have you arrived at your fishing spot and found out you forgot to bring something or maybe you brought the wrong rig or the wrong bait? Well it happens to everyone including some of the best anglers.

When fishing on the Outer Banks, you must prepare for just about anything.  In spring, you might find plenty of small species, or you might just happen to run into a big school of puppy drum or bluefish. In summer, your gear may be too large for our smallest species and in fall small rods and reels may hinder you landing the huge trophy. So it’s important to be ready for the unexpected.

During the early summer, I usually bring at least three rods. Two light-medium and one medium-heavy weight rods. I match my reels and line to the rods, usually use a 2500 or 3500 size reels. Now keep in mind, my goal is to catch the largest fish on the lightest tackle so I usually go lighter than most anglers.

The first light-medium rod will have either a double-hook bottom rig or a home-made bottom rig. The second light-medium rod will be rigged with a twenty-four inch fluorocarbon leader and either colored lead head, Got-Cha plug or possibly gold spoon lure. Finally, I rig the medium heavy with a snap swivel and a heavier bottom rig tipped with fresh cut bait.

When first arriving on the pier, I take time to watch other anglers to see what is being caught and their setups. 

The bite may be close in toward the surf, or mid-pier or even near the end. Select your spot based on where the other anglers are fishing but not on top of them. North or south side can make a difference, Watch the current and tides – so decide carefully.

I start with one of the light medium rods and a double hook bottom rig tipped with either Fish bites – “sand-flea” type or small piece of fresh shrimp. I usually start with number four circle hooks but always carry a package of “J” hooks. And I use just enough weight to hold the bottom but not interfere with feeling the bite.

I keep the jigging rod handy for those quick runs of bluefish or Spanish Mackerel that cruise past the piers. These fish arrive and pass by quickly so you must be ready at any time. Occasionally a cobia or large school of blues or even a large drum may pass by. This is where the medium heavy rod with a Carolina rig can be used.

Last week, I found myself on a pier catching sea mullet and several small spot  Suddenly, a large school of bluefish arrived at my spot. I quickly switched to the heavier gear with fresh mullet. Within minutes, I had caught over a dozen Taylor blues. And just as quick as they arrived, they were gone.

If I had not prepared a rod beforehand ready for the unexpected, I might have missed this action.

So my tip of the week is to bring extra rods and gear for just this situation. Rig them up before hand and be prepared.

You never know when the unexpected will happen.

Until next time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

Using Jig Head Lures

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Fishing with a lead jig head and soft plastic lure is one of the most popular methods of fishing on one of the Outer Banks piers, bridges and even the surf.

Jigging is the practice of casting out a lead jig head with a plastic body and retrieving  it through the water at varying directions and speeds. And depending on the size and shape of the lure, the angler can cover vast amounts of water and all levels of the water column very quickly. If a target prey is in the area, this method attracts them quickly.

The jigging method is designed to mimic a bait fish that may be injured or struggling in the current. There are two popular methods of jigging. First is a cast out and a slow and steady retrieval speed with an occasional pause. The second is a cast with an erratic retrieve followed by a steady pull, pull, pause, and repeated. Either way, these methods can quickly initiate an aggressive strike. And it’s typically during the pause of either phase that most strikes and hookups occur.

The jigging method can increase the success rate when the angler focuses on three important phases of the process: the action, sound and vibrations, and smell and scent.

The action of the jig lead head and soft plastic is the most important. The speed or erratic behavior of jig head and soft plastic can quickly attract the attention of a target species. A hungry speckled trout or puppy drum can sense a struggling or wounded baitfish by its erratic movements. A slow moving bait can also be an easy prey for a waiting fish. 

Sounds or noise from a lead head and specific type of plastic pushing through the water can cause a significant vibration. Sound and vibration can travel great distances underwater so any unusual sound can quickly get the attention of a searching species.

Soft plastic bodies are designed to make specific sounds by the each manufacturer. For example, swim baits create a drumming sound as the paddle tail swings in the current. Twister tail plastics cause a high pitch tin-like sound. And a finesse plastics will give off a swishing sound. Each soft plastic has their own specific sounds when dragged through the water. So the angler should select the specific soft plastic body for each targeted species.

Finally, selecting the proper scent or favor for the soft plastic body should correspond with the specific bait fish in the water. Fish have a tremendous ability to smell. And they can sense a fish scent hundreds of yards away. So when choosing a soft plastic, always select one with the scent that is embedded into the bait. Adding an after-market scent can also provide additional attractant although plastics designed with scent will retain that scent longer.

The key to successful jigging is to first, select the proper lead jig head action for the specific area and depth you are fishing. 

Next, select the soft plastic that can give off the right sound and vibration. 

And finally, it’s very important for the angler to vary their retrieval rate frequently. And finally, make sure your soft plastic bait has the same scent as the other bait fish in the water.

Remember – when handling scented soft plastic baits, make sure your hands are clean. Don’t allow any body oils and suntan lotion get on you soft plastics. Any foreign substance may compromise your ability to fool your target.

Until Next Time – Tightlines – Capt. Tony

May is for Sea Mullet

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Sea mullet are one of the easiest fish to catch on the outer banks.  They have a slender body with a slightly arched dorsal fin. Their color can range from a light to dark gray with dark shaded stripes. Their mouth faces downward to assist in feeding.

The range in size from several inches to eighteen with the typical size being caught range to ten to fifteen inches. Sea mullet can go by several names including Whiting, Kingfish or roundhead.

Most anglers just call them “fun to catch and great to eat”.

Sea mullet can be found along the entire outer banks coastline from April through October.  They typically show up in the spring when the water begins to reach fifty degrees and stay around until the water cools in the fall.

Local anglers target these fish in the shallow surf zones and on the ocean piers.  They can range from the close in the sloughs to out in deeper water adjacent to structures such as piers and docks.

 I usually find them either right near the beach in shallow water or half to three quarters out on the piers. When fishing on the piers, I usually will cast out and away from a structure and retrieve back to me.

They are typically bottom feeders and prefer cloudy or stained water.  Sea mullet stay in a zone where there is a lot of water movement. This constant water movement stirs the bottom and mixes the food source that the mullet search for. They also search for food by smell so fresh baits are always the best way to go.  

These regular visitors to our waters are caught on standard one or two hook bottom rig. Sea mullet have a small mouth so I always start with a small hooks and depending on my success I might change up or down in size.

I prefer a number four “J” or circle hook. I just bait the hook with a small bait. The best baits for sea mullet is fresh shrimp, bloodworms, or fish bites.

When you use shrimp, always purchase eating type shrimp. I never peel the shrimp. The hard shell usually helps the bait they on the hook.

When the sea mullet are in season, you can fill a cooler in no time. And most probably one of the best eating fish with its white flaky meat.

But please remember, when fishing, only harvest what you plan to use fresh. Frozen sea mullet or any fish loses it favor quickly.

Oh, and one more thing that will make your day better is to take a kid fishing.  With every fish they catch that smile gets wider. 

Grab a rod and hi the surf today. There is no better time to catch a sea mullet is now.

Until next time – tightlines – Capt. Tony