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The inshore fishing has been good the last few weeks and shows evidence that the spring season is fastly approaching. The Red Drum have been present in and around the creeks, as well as making a good showing in the surf around Topsail Beach. The Virgina Mullet have arrived in the Cape Fear River, and will provide family fun for anyone, as well as a good meal at the end of the day. Speckled Trout are also being caught in the surrounding areas, and are ready to bite artificals like Gulp, or Trout Killers, and live bait when available. The flounder will beign showing up at the end of may, alsong with some other inshore species.
Our recent attendence at the fishing schools and boat shows around the state have been great. We managed to attend the Raleigh Boat Show, the Bass Pro Boat Show, Saltwater Sportsman fishing school with George Poveromo, and the Fisherman’s Post fishing school. These all provided very informative seminars and I was proud to be a part of each and every one of them. If you did not get a chance to stop by any of these schools this year, then be sure to stop by the schools next year and gain knowledge that will be very beneficial to your fishing experiences up and down the east coast.
The grouper fishing off our coast is good as usual right now, with Gags and Reds biting biting from 15- 35 miles right now. They will be willing to bite most live baits as well as cut bait and cigar minnows droppeed on any ledge. There are also many different assorted bottom fish willing to tug your line right now. The snapper and sea bass provide a great fight and a fantastic meal for anyone, and they are also easily caught by all ages. The fishing will continue to be heating up as the spring season comes upon us, and will bring in the many different migrating species of fish into the warming waters of the Atlantic.
Bluefin Tuna Fishing
If you are a fishing enthusiasts but have never experienced the thrill of big game fishing, then fishing for bluefin tuna should be your entree into this exciting sport. Bluefin tuna is a delicacy and highly prized by sushi connoisseurs and should be on the list of “must catch” for every big-game angler.
The bluefin is one of the swiftest and most elusive fish you’ll every attempt to catch. Their speed and size is what makes them popular among experienced anglers. Bluefin tuna weighing almost 1000 pounds have been caught in Ireland. Smaller size tuna are also commonly captured.
Hunting a bluefin tuna requires patience, careful planning and a little research. The Northeast coast of the United States and the Western coast of Ireland are two popular areas where bluefin tuna have been frequently captured. On the Northeast U.S. coast, June through November is the peak seasons for bluefin. On the Irish coast, August through November is the best time for bluefin tuna angling. Depending on your budget and travel preferences, either location is an excellent choice for capturing a trophy bluefin tuna.
Bluefin tuna can only be caught in the deep waters – they never approach shallow coastal shores. Their specific habitat has resulted in enterprising anglers to establish themselves as knowledgeable experts in locating and capturing bluefin tuna. Your best chance to catch one is to charter a private boat with a reputable skipper who uses well maintained equipment. The skippers should have a verifiable reputation for catching bluefin tuna or other big-game fish. You should avoid charters who claim they know where to find these sea giants but can’t document or prove their claim.
Scheduling a date and an experienced crew is not the only things you need to worry about. You should also use professional-grade equipment (rod, reel, etc) that is designed for big game angling. If you are an occasional big-fish angler, investing in this type of equipment might not be cost effective. That’s why the boat you choose to hire should provide all the necessary equipment you’ll need to catch a bluefin tuna. Most skippers include the rental of this equipment with the price of the charter. Other skippers will charge an extra nominal charge. Before finalizing your charter boat reservation, make sure what equipment is included so that you won’t incur any unexpected expenses. You should also be aware that you might also be responsible for equipment that is damaged or loss. Verify your reservations “terms and conditions” before confirming your charter.
Most boats come equipped with a “fighting chair”. This is a chair that is anchored to the boat’s deck from where you can easily “fight” the pull from a big-game fish. The chair is designed to anchor your fishing rod such that it makes it easier for you to reel in large powerful fish. Although this specialized equipment is not required, having a fighting chair makes reeling in your giant bluefin tuna a more memorable experience.
Conrad is an avid angler, has experienced big-game fishing all over the world and urges you to choose wisely before committing to hire a fishing charter. The last time he went bluefin tuna fishing was in Northwesten Ireland and he selected an experienced crew at Broadhaven Charters
Striped Bass
Striped bass have several regional names. Known as striped bass, stripers, linesides, rockfish and other names, this fish is highly sought after as a recreational fish, as a commercial species and is even grown in aquaculture operations. Striped bass are very hardy fish, and even take to life in freshwater where they are often stocked throughout the USA.
They are hardy fish which are caught using many techniques. Rigs and baits for striped bass vary with their location and what the fish are feeding on. In some areas cut baits are used, including clams, fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, bloodworms or other baits. In other situations anglers troll, jig or cast artificial lures or use fly fishing gear.
Cooks have a variety of favorites for cooking rockfish. Whole fillets of school sized fish or steaks of larger fish are delicious fried. Other choices for cooking striped bass include grilling, broiling, fish cakes and more. For top quality striped bass or “rockfish” as table fare, it’s important to take care of the fish prior to cooking. The fish should be chilled on ice and laid out flat until cleaned.
Once the fish is home, it can be rinsed thoroughly and filleted. Several cleaning methods exist and each angler learns their favorite style. The fish can be scaled and the skin left on, filleted and then skinned or the skin can be cut around the perimeter of the fish and pulled off with pliers. The skin-on version is nice when baking or grilling smaller fish. Skinning the fish before filleting has some advantages, the most important being speed. Filleting the fish and then cutting the skin off removes the most dark meat and leaves the highest quality portion, although some fish is lost in the process.
Summer Flounder
Flounder Fishing
Summer flounder are found around inlets, jetties and channel edges. They also frequent ocean wrecks, artificial reefs and areas of rocky or coral bottom. Flounder are not born with both eyes on one side. During growth, the “bottom” eye migrates to the upward-facing side of its body. This allows the flounder to lie on one side, burying in the sand where it can ambush its prey. Flounder feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans.
Flounder fishing is extremely popular along the Atlantic coast. Some anglers specialize in catching this fish almost exclusively while other choose to target them only at certain times. While no single location, technique or angler is a guarantee of success, there are a several tricks to the fishery. Most anglers drift cut or live baits, with the types of baits varying with location, time of year and local fish behavior.
Atlantic Croaker
Atlantic Croaker or “hardhead” are popular saltwater fish common along the Atlantic coast. They are known to have wild population fluctuations. The fish get their names because of the “croaking” noise the make when removed from the water. Croakers are hard fighters and prolific feeders. They are caught on a variety of baits and lures.
Spot
Spot occur along the Atlantic coast in estuarine and coastal waters from the Gulf of Maine to Florida, although they are most abundant from Chesapeake Bay south to South Carolina. Spot are fun to catch and a great fish for anglers of all ages.
Spot are caught along inlets, fishing piers and in inshore bays. Anglers use standard 2 hook rigs, using small hooks and small pieces of bait. Popular baits include bloodworms, shrimp, clam and a synthetic product called “Fish Bites” that works very well.
Speckled Trout
Speckled trout, also known as spotted seatrout are common throughout the Southeast, with nearly seven million fish harvested and released in 2006. In Florida, spotted seatrout is often the most sought after and exploited gamefish. 75% of recreationally caught speckled trout are released to grow.
Shad
American shad are among the most exciting fish to catch. Anglers fish for them using small jigs, shad darts, sabiki rigs or by fly fishing. The fish are beautiful species and extremely tough fighters, known for their ability to run and make spectacular jumps. Most recreational fishing for American shad occurs in the spring, when the fish enter rivers to spawn. Due to a decline in shad populations, shad fishing is now a catch and release fishery.
Red Drum
Trophy Redfish
Red drum is one of the most popularly sought recreational fish throughout the South Atlantic. Since the 1980s recreational fishing has accounted for about 90 percent of all red drum landings. The recreational fishery is an inshore fishery, targeting small “puppy drum” and large trophy fish. Red Drum are caught in the surf, in bays and in shallow areas using live baits, cut offerings or artificial lures.
Black Sea Bass
Black sea bass are common along the Atlantic coast from New York to North Carolina. Black Sea Bass are excellent table fare. The meat is firm, white and delicious. Sea Bass are superb fried, grilled, baked or broiled. Sea Bass are easily skinned and filleted. They are best fresh and do not freeze well.
Tautog
Tautog are excellent table fare. Due to their tough and slippery skin, a sharp fillet knife is needed to fillet these delicious fish. Cut around the outline of the fish, making the front cut behind the head and pectoral fin. Then the skin can easily be peeled off by using pliers and peeling from the head to tail. Once the skin is off the fish can be filleted normally. There are a few rib bones which can be cut out after filleting. The meat is firm, white and mild flavored. Tautog is delicious fried, baked or grilled.
The author maintains several outdoor-related websites including Fresh-Seafood, Commercial Fishing and Chesapeake Bay News and Information
My first experience surf fishing was with my father on Wrightsville Beach, NC in the 60’s. He parked our shiny black Ford Fairlane in a gravel parking lot off the beach and we hiked over the dunes to the surf, carrying rods, buckets, tackle box and various other fishing paraphernalia. 
I remember him catching bluefish, croakers, puppy drum and flounder as I played in the tidal pools nearby. Later, my grandmother would fry the filleted fish to a golden brown and we would eat them with hushpuppies and coleslaw.
Years later, in the mid-eighties, I remember an early winter fishing expedition near Oregon Inlet, south of Nags Head, this time with my husband, 8-month old daughter and a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy. My husband had come in from duck hunting and had heard the big blues were hitting the beach! We parked our 4-wheel drive truck nearby on the hard sand and with the baby playing contentedly in her car seat and the puppy chewing on anything he could find, we lined up along the surf with a few dozen other fishermen, casting the heavy silver spoon lures into the churning waters of the big blue blitz. Cast after cast we were rewarded with huge bluefish, twelve to sixteen pounds, filling up a wheelbarrow in a pyramid of large fish. Later we filleted, boiled and ate the fish in casseroles made with mashed potatoes. Needless to say, we were eating bluefish casseroles all winter long.
Surf fishing is exciting, rewarding and accessible to all. Most locations can be reached either by car or ferry. With a basic understanding of seasons, conditions, equipment and regulations, an angler can get lucky just about any time of the year, but typically the very best times to surf fish are spring and fall.
Popular and prolific sport fish species you may catch surf fishing along the North Carolina coast include:
Channel bass (red drum, puppy drum) —
The spring season generally begins in April. This run will peak by mid May and taper off in early June. Average size in spring is 35 to 50 pounds. In September the smaller drum will enter the surf. These fish will range between 2 and 15 pounds. They are more plentiful than the larger variety and can be found in most sloughs. In late October the bigger drum (40-70 pounds) return and remain until late November. Bait of choice is fresh mullet; rods are 9 to 11 feet with medium to heavy action tips. Size allowed is between 18” and 27” with a daily bag limit of 1 per person.
Bluefish —
Blues are available in a variety of sizes from April to December to surf fishermen and boaters as well. Large size blues (8-12 pounds) arrive in May and remain until November. Their departure is generally hastened by the arrival of the fall run of 15-20 pound giant blues. These later fall visitors are plentiful and powerful. They’ll take bait (mullet, spot, or menhaden) or almost any type of lure. Fishing rods 9 to 11 feet are preferred. Bag limit of 15 per day per person. Only 5 allowed over 24” total length (from tip of snout to tip of compressed tail).
Spanish mackerel —
This fish is somewhat of a tourist, arriving in June and staying until later September. The Spanish is delicious, averages 1 to 3 pounds and presents a real challenge to any angler. Spanish mackerel are usually taken on fast moving metal lures. Fishing rod of choice is a 9 foot light action. Minimum size allowed is 12” fork length (from tip of snout to middle of fork in tail). Bag limit of 15 per day per person
Striped bass —
Recently during the winter months striped bass have returned to NC waters in great numbers. October, November and December are the best times for fishing, with fish still showing up as late as February. In Atlantic waters, size limit is over 27” total length with bag limit of 2 per day. For sounds and other areas, consult the NC Marine Fisheries website.
Flounder (summer, southern)–
Flounder begin biting in May as the water warms. By June, the fishing is going strong, with both summer and southern flounder being caught. Southern flounder dominate the catch in inshore and southern NC waters, while summer flounder dominate the catch in offshore waters north of Cape Hatteras. Many flounder are caught using cut baits and some are caught using jigs. When jigs are used, they work best when tipped with fish, shrimp or a mullet minnow.
Other species available to North Carolina surf fishermen are pompano, croaker, trout, spot, hogfish and whiting (sea mullet).
Be advised that there is a proposed recreational saltwater fishing license which is scheduled to take effect January 2006. The license is still being debated by the North Carolina General Assembly and you should check the NC Marine Fisheries website (http://www.ncfisheries.net) to determine if a license is required before fishing the NC coast after that date.
Also, the size regulations and limits given above are accurate at the time of this writing (summer 2005) but are subject to change, so check the NC Marine Fisheries website to confirm these regulations before your fishing expedition.
Whether beginning angler or old salt, surf fishing is a popular and fun activity with minimal expense, no boat required, easy access to great fishing conditions and plenty of action. With a minimum of effort and expense, you can catch a variety of excellent eating fish, have a great time and start making your own memories.
E. A. Edwards is a free-lance writer with a variety of professional and personal interests. You will find more information about fishing and fishing gear on http://www.fishing-rod-guide.info.
Man, this is what its all about….
For the fishing enthusiast, one will be hard pressed to find a more relaxing locale than the Currituck Outer Banks to partake in your favorite activity. Pleasant, year-round weather, spacious beaches, and excellent locales up the coast allow for excellent fishing on charters, area piers, and even the shore. Grab your tackle box and your best spinning rods and spend the day in Currituck. Whether you take home just one drum or an entire cooler full of spot, a day of fishing in the Outer Banks beat a day at work.
Where to Fish in the Outer Banks
The northern coast of the Outer Banks and Knotts Island offer many places for serene, comfortable fishing. Residents and visitors alike often congregate at the Coinjock Marina, where one can fish off the pier or charter a boat trip for some deep sea action. The Midway Marina & Motel, on the Intracoastal Waterway, offers a number of amenities for traveling fishermen, including Internet access and clean, comfortable rooms for extended stay. On Knotts Island, there Pearl’s Bay Villa Marina & Resturant across the Currituck Sound from Carova Beach. There the fish are plentiful and the views especially breathtaking.
Types of Fish in the Outer Banks
Many associate the Chesapeake Bay area with crabbing, and indeed you may find a number of commercial trawlers on the sea when you head out to fish. Truth is, though, there are a variety of fish to be had in the Currituck Outer Banks. On a good day, one can catch bluefish, speckled trout, spot and puppy drum, as well as some croaker, black drum, flounder, and even small sharks. When the tides are right, pier fishermen may be able to catch some red drum, while striped bass is reported found near Oregon Inlet.
Weather Conditions for the Outer Banks
The best thing about fishing in the Outer Banks is that it need not be limited to the warmer months. Truth be told, the warmth in this region stretches further through the year than in most areas, and during the off-season the beaches are not crowded. Fishermen can take advantage of the time before Spring Break for uninterrupted fishing.
From March through November you may see lows in the 60s in the colder months, and highs into the 80s-90s at the peak of summer. Consequently, water temperature also varies, in the 50s during colder month, warming in the summer and staying relatively warm (as high as 70 degrees) as late as October.
Whether you want to fish early in the year or in the heat of summer, the Outer Banks should be a must visit for all fishing enthusiasts.
Kathryn Lively is a freelance writers whose travel articles appear on many websites, including VisitCurrituck.com, the official website of Currituck County Travel and Tourism.
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Tony's Giant Bluefin Tuna
One of the largest game fish in the world, North Carolina is the Giant Bluefin Tuna capital of the world. They show up off of Morehead City, NC and Southport, NC in good number this time of year, and will provide you with a fight of your life in the chilly January air. We offer charters out of both places and will try out hardest to put you on a fish. They will continue to be here throughout Jan. and leave in early Feb. If you would like more information about these trips, call us at 910-622-3474
This time of year always brings in the Gray Trout just off of NC’s beaches. The fish provide fast action that any age would love to reel in. They have been biting well for the past two weeks and should continue this trend for a while longer. You can not get any simpler of a kind of fishing. Their cousin, the speckled trout, has also made a good showing and is some of the best eating saltwater fish, although they are a little bit harder to catch, they provide a great fight and keep you wanting more. The Drum has also been around lately and has been providing fun for anglers up and down the coast. We recently took a trip to the Pamlico and had a very good time with the large drum. We caught 13 fish over 40 inches, and they were all released healthily. Come join us for this hot inshore and nearshore fishing now.