Posts tagged ‘surf fishing’
Speckled Sea Trout Season to Re-Open in NC
Speckled (spotted) Sea Trout fishery will be re-opened at 12:01 A.M., Thursday, June 16, 2011.
According to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, recreational fisherman may harvest six (6) Speckled (spotted) sea trout per person per day by hook and line.
The minimum length is fourteen (14) inches total length. Of those six (6), no more than two (2) may be greater than 24 inches in total length.
The closure this past spring was due to several cold stun events: one in December and the second in mid-January. This event took a significant toll on this fishery.
Even though this fishery has re-opened, only through a conservation effort will we all enjoy this recovery into the future. Remember, only take what you are going to use.
Until next time, Tightlines.
Kick off The Summer with Us
Memorial Day is typically the kick off for the summer season in most regions. Here on the Outer Banks we had kick off many weeks ago. Fishing has been iffy – from great to just mediocre. Water temps have been changing, it seems daily. One day warm in the 70’s then dropping down to the mid 50’s. One main stay has been the sea mullet and blues. Some spot, croaker and flounder have been picked up in the sounds. Blues can be caught on gotchas, spoons and cut bait on a bottom rig. The mullet, spot, and croakers favor blood worms. The flounder seem to like double jugs with twister tails – near structure and pilings.
But we also been having another visitor that has been hanging around. These visitors are rip currents. I believe there have been more rip currents this year than any in recent times.
A rip tide is a strong and narrow channel of water rushing seaward. This tide is created when wind and waves push water up on the shore. At some point the water begins to move sideways and parallel with the beach in search of a weak spot on the bar. The sand bar weakens under the tremendous pressure and breaks free, allowing the excess water rush seaward.
If you happen to be in the water at this point, the current will pull the strongest summer or angler out to sea.
This year we have already had hundreds of rescues. This past Tuesday while enjoying the new Jeannette Pier, I witnessed two summers struggle to remain on shore. Both were caught in a rip current. Luckily for both they had boogie boards. Only after much coaxing, did the pair make it back to shore. Without those boards and the support, we might have had a tragedy.
When fishing the surf, always monitor the wave and tidal action. Stay just off either side of the rip current. This always a great indicator where the fish are but it also tells us where we should exercise caution.
Be safe and enjoy the beginning of a great season.
Until next time, Tightlines.
All You Need is Thirty Minutes
I got off work a little early this evening, made a trip to the fitness center and had a little time before sunset. So I loaded up the “quick surf bag”, 6-1/2′ light tackle rod, and two of my favorite spring lures and headed to the beach. My plan was to fish on the surf just north of the old Kitty Hawk Pier. (on new Hilton Garden Hotel property)
I arrived on the beach close to sunset. So I had to do a quick scan of the surf and fortunately located a nice slough. The outgoing surf was typical with rolling one to two foot waves breaking near the beach. Perfect height to cast over the crests to the flat water. My rod was pre-loaded with a yellow and red “gotcha”. It took about five casts and boom. It was a hard hit. I know that feeling well – small tailor blue.
The easy retrieve brought him to the beach on short order. Several more casts produced nothing. Did I just happen to catch a single blue by accident or did the school continue down the beach.
Thought I would do a quick change up and tied a “krocodile” spoon. The second cast drew another blue out of the surf. As the fish approached the beach, I did the “no-hands” self release technique. All you do is just drop the rod tip down and the fish spits the hook. Easy and safe for both the angler and prey. This technique allows the fish to go free without you rubbing any scales or the protective film off the fish.
Caught two nice tailor blues in 30 minutes at sunset. Using a quick release technique to prevent injuring the fish. Just Priceless!!
So for you all who say, I just don’t have time to wet a line, try my 30 minute technique. It does wonders for your health. And I guarantee even if you don’t catch anything, experience will time well spent.
Until next time – Tightlines.
Nothing could be finer, than to be in Carolina
Today, that saying is as perfect as can be. 
At 1045, the grand opening presentations began for the revamped Jennette’s Fishing Pier in Nags Head. If you weren’t there, you missed an outstanding show. It began with the many congrats to all involved in the construction to the mass entrance for the visitors.
Four members of the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team made a grand entrance. Landing on the beach.
Next the many dignitaries made congratulatory comments. Then Govenour Perdue broke the champanye bottle a piling. As should be expected, the bottle was connected to a fishing rod. She just reeled the bottle into the pier.
Then the race was on. Hundreds of spectators poured into the new pier house, classrooms, gift shop and of course the 1000 foot pier. The new structure included many sheltered areas, benches, fish cleaning stations and signs instructing the visitors to the various sea life. It will be as much a vacation spot as it will be a training center.
Enjoy my pictures.
Tightlines!!
Fish Stories
Thought for the day:
“Don’t tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where the people know the fish.” Mark Twain.
Fish Grip – Might Be The Right Choice
Ever hook up a fish, fight it to the shore, dock or boat and then look for the hand net. Only to find that it is under your gear, some distant spot or worse defective. This is the time when you realize that you should had bought that new one at the tackle shop.
I purchased several different fish holders over the years. See my mainstays in the photo. Now focus on the orange gripper.
I took a class from CA Richardson, host of the Flats Class TV show, several months ago when we visited our home in Punta Gorda. He had one on display and uses one during his taping of shows. I had to have one.
This new type of “fish grip” allows for quick hold and release without injury or damage to the fish.
Since I first discovered this new device, I looked at numerous shops and on the net, only to find it at Cabella’s online for 19.95 plus tax and shipping – NO WAY.
I was traveling to Houston this past week for my real job and happened to stop by the local Bass Pro. And yes, there they were!!. I could not believe it. Picked up one for $14.95. Not sure it would pass the airport security but I planned to take my chances. During my security clearance, the agent asked what this was and I replied a fishing device. The next unexpected comment, “can I go with you?”. TSA agents are human and enjoy fishing just like you and I.
It works great for professional anglers, but not tested by myself. I will experiment and report back. Stay tuned.
Tightlines!!
Blues and Sea Mullet
Fishing should be excellent this coming week. Water temperatures are in the lower 60’s throughout the entire northern banks. Small front with slight chance of rain is moving into the area on Tuesday. This should make fishing improve over the next couple of days.
No report from the surf, but all piers are reporting sea mullet, dogfish, and small blues on “Gotacha” lures” and blood worms.
Blues are hitting anything that moves. Color does not matter. Lighter colors work best in cloudy water. Clarity changes quickly, so bring a variety of colors.
Sea mullet and dogfish are hitting the worms using bottom rigs.
We been waiting a long time – Go get’em.
Tightlines.
Sunscreen – Not What You Think
The huge billboard shows an innocent little girl’s butt cheeks being exposed by a rude dog for the entire world to see. The letters on the sign reads, “Don’t be a pale face,” “Use Coppertone.” Back then we were all mesmerized by the message. Pale is bad, the sun is good but only with Coppertone!
As a child, the lesson to “stay protected” came from my parents. It seems they were always interrupting our games to smear gooier sunscreen lotion on our exposed skin. Little did we know at the time how this would influence us later in life?
Being an avid outdoors person, I have spent many countless hours in the sun over my lifetime. Whether its fishing, boating or just working in the yard, I have always remembered that lesson to use some type of protection when outdoors.
My latest stop at the drug store for a sun protection product left me confused and frustrated. With so many to select from, I could not determine which provided the best protection. So after a little research, I found an interesting web site that thoroughly discusses various sunscreens.
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/
Be sure to review each tab. And don’t be ashamed to find out that your popular brand has no protection at all. I know I found mine did a poor job protecting me. Going forward, I will be more careful to the brands of sunscreens I use.
Will you?
Three Piers are Now Open
On Thursday 14 April marked a spring milestone on the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks Fishing pier opened for the season. The Avalon Pier began the process on 02 April, followed by the Nags Head Pier on 12 April and now Thursday’s opening of Outer Banks pier. So now there are “three commercial piers open for business”.
One mainstay – the Old Kitty Hawk Pier – Hilton Gardens Hotel stays open year round.
WOW. What a change from just several days ago. Water temps jumped from the upper 40’s to 57 degrees on 15 April.
Pier access fees have increased slightly but still a bargain. Especially for those who have travel maneuvering the surf beaches. These piers can supply you everything you need to make you day fun!
Reports of sea mullet, small croaker, dogfish and plenty of skates on the northern banks typically knock the cobwebs out of the hardened angler.
Drum are showing up on Hatteras and other southern beaches.
Remember – no speckled trout fishing. The NCDMF closed this fishery due the major cold snap earlier this year. Watch for more news here but it appears 15 June is still the re-start of this fishery.
Tightlines.
First OBX Fishing Pier is now Opened
Well, its been a long winter and finally we can look the light at the end of the tunnel. Avalon Fishing Pier is open. The pier offically opened on Saturday, 2 April to beautiful day.
Several bottom fish were caught including some small croaker and dogfish. The water temperature is still fluctuating between 48 and 50 degrees.
Once we have a consistent warming trend, the fish will not be too far behind.
I’m ready!!
NCsaltaire 