Few places in the world offer the variety of fishing opportunities and challenges that may be found along the Outer Banks. From fresh to salt, it’s all there.
More than sixty miles of sandy beaches are a surfcaster’s dream, and a line cast into these fishy waters might produce anything from a half-pound spot up to an eighty-pound cobia. Fall and spring are known as the “prime times” for surf fishing, when speckled trout thrill light tackle anglers and jumbo striped bass, bluefish or red drum can challenge even the most experienced anglers.
The summer surf holds lots of small stuff such as spot, croakers, pompano, sea mullet, Spanish mackerel and bluefish. The fish might not be huge, but they are cooperative and provide plenty of sport. Summer surf fishing is a fun family activity requiring a minimum financial investment. A rod and reel, a few rigs and the “bait of the day” are all that’s necessary for beginners to get their feet wet in the surf.
Throughout the year, shorebound anglers can wade along the “soundside” of the barrier islands. These shallow, protected waters provide spawning and nursery areas for several species that roam the Atlantic Coast. Fly fishermen and light tackle fans will discover one of the best kept fishing secrets of the Outer Banks as they cast for speckled trout, striped bass, flounder and puppy drum.
Free public parking areas are found along the soundside and oceanfront, and much of the beach within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is open to four-wheel drive vehicles. No permits are necessary to drive on the National Seashore beaches.
The courteous and friendly folks at local tackle shops can provide information about beach driving and walkover surf or soundside access, as well as tips for those who might be fishing on the Outer Banks for the first time.
Pier fishing is a great family event. There are six ocean piers from Kill Devil Hills to Cape Hatteras, and no experience is necessary to enjoy the action. Rods, reels and rigs are available for rent, and dangling a baited bottom rig from one of the piers is a terrific way to pass the time of day, or night. From summer through the early fall, many of the piers are open for fishing 24 hours a day. Hours are adjusted seasonally at other times of the year. At some pier house restaurants you can even have your catch cooked to order and enjoy a fresh fish dinner!
The breathtaking sight of an orange-red sunrise against the cobalt blue water of the Gulf Stream sets the stage for some of the most exciting fishing found anywhere in the world. Imagine the thrill as a massive blue marlin charges from the deep to inhale a lure trailing only yards behind the boat. That feeling kicks into high gear when the marlin, weighing nearly 500 pounds, takes the bait and leaps ten feet into the air. At the end of the fight, both angler and fish are winners when the fish is unhooked and released to swim away unharmed.
Blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish, locally known as “billfish,” are but one element of offshore fishing. Some of the best tasting fish in the sea, such as yellowfin tuna, wahoo, king mackerel and dolphin (also called mahi-mahi) can be caught on a Gulf Stream charter.
Nearshore waters provide an abundance of fish for boaters. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, red drum, sea bass, cobia, and amberjack can be caught within a few miles of land. During the past several years, striped bass have made some memorable appearances during the winter. Striper season kicks into high gear in December and January. These popular gamefish are found close to shore and are within the range of anglers who launch their own boats at any one of several local boat ramps.
Knowledgeable guides are available for offshore charters or backcountry fishing safaris, and local captains are among the best in the world and respected for their fishing skill. They furnish all of the tackle, bait, and equipment for fishing trips, which may be arranged through many of the Outer Banks marinas and boat docks.
Experienced anglers with their own ocean-going boats can also share in the blue water bounty. Staff at any marina or tackle shop will gladly provide the latest information about where to go, what’s biting, and how to hook ‘em.
The Outer Banks is not just about salt water fishing. Kitty Hawk Bay, Currituck Sound, and several inland lakes and rivers offer largemouth bass, striped bass, white perch, sunfish and catfish that will interest freshwater fishing fanatics.
Both fresh and salt water fishing licenses are required and are available at many of the Outer Banks tackle shops and marinas. |
