Surf Fishing The Outer Banks of North Carolina


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.





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
News Corp. says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Mark Williams, a News Corp. executive named late on Wednesday as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere, has taken over in an interim capacity, a News Corp. spokeswoman said on Thursday. News Corp exec becomes chief of Germany's Premiere (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp's chief financial officer for Europe and Asia has been named chief executive of German pay television group Premiere, following the resignation of Michael Boernicke, Premiere said on Wednesday. Premiere CEO Is Replaced by News Corp.'s Williams (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
Sept. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Premiere AG , the German pay- television company partly owned by News Corp., said Chief Executive Officer Michael Boernicke is being replaced by a senior News Corp. executive. News Corporation to redevelop London Wapping site (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is to redevelop its Wapping site in London, moving all its UK businesses, including News International, Harper Collins, MySpace and Dow Jones, under one roof. DeJesus, Royals sad at Sweeney news (MLB.com)
DeJesus, Royals sad at Sweeney news Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (Philly.com)
The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. Tribune blames Google for damaging news story (Market Watch)
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Tribune Co. said Wednesday that the mistaken online publishing of an old news story that cratered UAL Corp.'s stock price earlier this week was because of a repeated technology failure at Google Inc. Get the latest news in racing (Daily Racing Form)
In order to read Daily Racing Form's free daily news stories it is required that you have a DRF.com free membership. If you do not have a DRF.com free membership, please register here . You will NOT need to be logged in to read each day's free news stories. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI)
Chesney nominated for 7 CMAs ... Hoffman: I'm not playing Penguin ... 'RocknRolla' No. 1 at U.K. box office ... Jessica Simpson stops song on 'GMA' ... News from United Press International. Kyodo News agency says three inmates executed (AP via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
Kyodo News agency says three death-row inmates have been executed in Japan.

Site: news - Google News
Amid Gaza violence, a new task for Obama - USA Today

ABC News

Amid Gaza violence, a new task for Obama
USA Today - 1 hour ago
Instead, the new spate of violence "will empower every anti-Israel, anti-US and extremist movement in the Middle East and the Islamic world," says Anthony ...
Video: A Chance For Peace In Gaza CBS
Israel Mulls New Gaza Cease-Fire Proposal CBS News
News Analysis: How far to Gaza ceasefire? Xinhua
Voice of America - The Associated Press
all 29,463 news articles
Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals - CNET News

The Age

Ballmer touts Windows 7 beta, new deals
CNET News, CA - 4 hours ago
Microsoft will also announce new deals for Windows Live that will see Microsoft's search engine become the default on PCs from Dell as well as touting a ...
CES: Microsoft announces new search deals with Dell, Verizon Seattle Post Intelligencer
Microsoft's Ballmer touts new Windows, search deal MarketWatch
BARRON'S BLOG: A Running Blog Of Microsoft CEO's CES Speech CNNMoney.com
CNBC - CNET News
all 450 news articles
Australia, New Zealand Dollars Drop on Commodities, US Jobs - Bloomberg

RTT News

Australia, New Zealand Dollars Drop on Commodities, US Jobs
Bloomberg - 44 minutes ago
8 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian and New Zealand currencies fell, snapping three days of gains versus the US dollar, as prices of commodities that make up ...
Currencies Trading All Over the Map Washington Post
Australia, New Zealand Dollars Drop on Commodities, US Jobs Bloomberg
Dollar Near 5-Week High After GM Says May Not Need More Funds Bloomberg
Bloomberg
all 382 news articles
Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld - San Francisco Chronicle

ABC News

Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 7 hours ago
We get going at 9 am and we'll be delivering the news as it happens. 8:53 am Just a few minutes away. Listened to some Killers music on the way in. ...
Apple disappoints: No Jobs or big news at Macworld Reuters
iTunes Music Store Finally Drops DRM, Adds New Prices Wired News
News from the Mac world New Zealand Herald
SmartBrief - Zacks.com
all 1,324 news articles
US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda - Voice of America

ABC News

US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda
Voice of America - 5 hours ago
By Deborah Tate A day after a new Democratic-led US Congress was sworn in, lawmakers are focusing on an ambitious agenda. ...
Video: Obama's Economic See-Saw CBS
Obama Announces New Government Efficiency Post The Washington Independent
House Democrats Pass New Rules to Curb Republican Influence CNSNews.com
FOXNews - The Miami Herald
all 6,904 news articles
O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era - San Jose Mercury News

BBC News

O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 14 hours ago
Schiller unveiled a series of upgrades and new features to Apple products that pleased the Mac faithful, but otherwise felt incremental. ...
Video: Steve Jobs Weight Loss Due to Hormone Imbalance AssociatedPress
Apple unveils software updates, new laptop San Francisco Chronicle
Alternate Universe of Macworld News PC World
Contra Costa Times - New Zealand Herald
all 2,667 news articles
Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer - Washington Post

National Post

Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer
Washington Post, United States - 12 hours ago
When Bernie Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme hits the news, we realize the Securities and Exchange Commisssion needs to step up its enforcement. ...
Video: Obama Names Chief Performance Officer AssociatedPress
Obama Appoints New Officer to Get Rid of Government Waste Voice of America
Obama Says He Will Seek to Overhaul Retiree Spending New York Times
FCW.com - Troy Messenger
all 718 news articles
Sony Ericsson's new W508 Walkman phone - CNET News

CNET News

Sony Ericsson's new W508 Walkman phone
CNET News, CA - 5 hours ago
Sony Ericsson expanded its Walkman phone line at CES with the announcement of its new W508 music phone. Sporting a flip phone design that reminds us of the ...
Reopened theater stages comeback for New Orleans arts - USA Today

Reopened theater stages comeback for New Orleans arts
USA Today - 2 hours ago
By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY NEW ORLEANS ? Closed for more than three years, a prominent performing arts center is scheduled to reopen Thursday in what city ...
New Sony Hard-Drive HD Camcorders - PC World

CameraTown.Com (press release)

New Sony Hard-Drive HD Camcorders
PC World - 6 hours ago
The SR line will live on, however, with three new standard-definition units. Pictured above is the Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V ($1500, available in March). ...
Sony Spotlights New Flash-Based HD Camcorder with Intelligent ... CameraTown.Com (press release)
New Sony Camcorders Do GPS, Too PC World
Sony Unleashes 60X-Optical-Zoom Camcorders PC World
PC World
all 42 news articles

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for fishing
Fly-fishing for these salmon is simple, fun (Detroit Free Press)

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario -- Going after pink salmon is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to catch salmon on a fly rod. The techniques are so simple and so much fun that they should call this Salmon Fishing 101. INSIDE THE OUTDOORS: Fishing by the numbers? Try a 7 (Detroit Free Press)

My standard fly-fishing tackle for chinook salmon and steelhead used to be a nine-foot, eight-weight rod with a traditional floating line. But for pink salmon I've sometimes used a six-weight trout rod for fish that run two to five pounds. They're considerably stronger than trout of the same size, so using a six-weight really revs up the sporting factor with these fish. Fishing report: Sept. 11 (The Tennessean)

FISHING REPORT South Florida fishing report (Miami Herald)

With water levels more than 15 feet in Lake Okeechobee, Howard Kleeman of Slims Fishing Camp in Clewiston reported that largemouth bass are scattered and moving further up into the grassy areas, where they have not been able to get in years. . . . Largemouth bass are being caught in the Moon Shine Bay area, Pelican Bay and the west side of Red Island. The bass are eating swimming frogs, shiners, ... Fishing derby designed to promote sport of fishing to kids - and parents, too (Morris Daily Herald)

The third annual Just 4 Kids Fishing Derby is just as much for the parents as for the kids, Troop 471 leader and derby organizer Dana Morse said. Pittsburgh hooks big-money fishing tournament (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Pittsburgh will host another big money fishing event on the Three Rivers in July and August, 2009, with $1 million guaranteed to the winner. Fishing report: Sept. 11 (The Longview News-Journal)

AUSTIN (AP) ? Here is the weekly fishing report as compiled for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Sept. 10. (Report also available on Web as www.txfishing.com.) Of the Outdoors ? Jig Fishing: The Ultimate Catching Tool (Yankton Press & Dakotan)

With all of the traveling I do, I have the opportunity to talk with a lot of anglers. At a recent in store promotion, I was talking with a group of fishermen talking about different fishing techniques. Boy Scouts set to host fishing derby Sept. 13 (Morris Daily Herald)

Morris Boy Scout Troop 471 will host its free Just 4 Kids Fishing Derby on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris. PHOTO GALLERY: Fishing Rodeo in Fairview Heights (St. Clair County Journal)

The pond at Everett Moody Park in Fairview Heights was the place to be for young anglers on Aug. 30 as Elk?s Lodge 664 and Mayor Gail D. Mitchell sponsored the 16th annual Kid?s Fishing Rodeo. Site: fishing - Google News
Fishing/hunting report - San Diego Union Tribune

Fishing/hunting report
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 1 hour ago
San Diego Fly Fishers sponsors a Lend-A-Rod program on Sundays from 10 am-2 pm, and it includes free bait and tackle and fishing tips. ...
Fishing Report AZ Central.com
Fishing report for Thursday, Jan. 8 Alameda Times-Star
Time in nature can benefit kids AZ Central.com
all 6 news articles
GAO: Dolphins, whales lack protection from fishing - The Associated Press

GAO: Dolphins, whales lack protection from fishing
The Associated Press - 7 hours ago
... by law to more than a dozen marine mammals potentially at risk of death or injury due to commercial fishing, congressional investigators said Wednesday. ...
Illegal fishing charged; tons of rockfish seized - Baltimore Sun

Illegal fishing charged; tons of rockfish seized
Baltimore Sun, United States - 22 hours ago
It was the second time in less than a week that officers had charged Jack C. Colbourne, owner of Colbourne Seafood Inc. in Secretary, with illegal fishing. ...
Police board fishing vessel; three men cited Examiner.com
Maryland Today Frederick News Post (subscription)
all 10 news articles
DNR: Ice-fishing conditions continue to improve - MLive.com

DNR: Ice-fishing conditions continue to improve
MLive.com, MI - 6 hours ago
Detroit River: Boat anglers are launching at Metro Park and heading up to Gibraltar and fishing for perch in the canals. Most of the fish are not big, ...
Ice fishing may be safe sooner than later Evening Observer
Anglers enjoy a fine ice fishing weekend Petoskey News-Review
Wegman to host ice fishing seminar Georgina Advocate
Sault This Week
all 8 news articles
Teenage girl, a rarity aboard fishing boats, lands giant yellowfin ... - Los Angeles Times

Teenage girl, a rarity aboard fishing boats, lands giant yellowfin ...
Los Angeles Times, CA - 13 hours ago
That's because women are a rarity and girls are essentially nonexistent aboard San Diego long-range fishing boats, which spend up to 18 days at sea. ...
Fishing away through the holidays - MLive.com

MLive.com

Fishing away through the holidays
MLive.com, MI - 9 hours ago
"We were fishing for steelhead earlier today in the Paw Paw River, but they weren't biting," said Smith, a 31-year-old angler from Parchment. ...
Ice fishing traditions passed on - Fort Mills Times

Ice fishing traditions passed on
Fort Mills Times, SC - 10 hours ago
"This is his first time ice fishing," Brian said between drilling holes through the lake's ice. The younger Teskey is starting ice fishing at about the same ...
Ultimate Fishing Show Returns - WXYZ

Ultimate Fishing Show Returns
WXYZ, MI - 12 hours ago
(WXYZ) - The Ultimate Fishing Show returns to the Detroit area Thursday, January 8 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. ...
Michigan's Ultimate Fishing Show starts Thursday Port Clinton News Herald
all 2 news articles
Man arrested for robbing bank also charged with stealing fishing ... - EmpireStateNews.net

Man arrested for robbing bank also charged with stealing fishing ...
EmpireStateNews.net, New York - 3 hours ago
Fitzpatrick was also charged with grand larceny in the third degree for allegedly stealing $30000 worth of fishing equipment. The merchandise was stolen ...
Man charged in PJ bank robbery Times of Smithtown
all 4 news articles
Search suspended for lost fishing boat crewman - Fort Mills Times

AlaskaReport

Search suspended for lost fishing boat crewman
Fort Mills Times, SC - 7 hours ago
JUNEAU, Alaska ? The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing crew member of a fishing boat. The search was suspended Wednesday for 43-year-old ...
Coast Guard crew seeks missing fisherman Anchorage Daily News
Coast Guard searching for lost crab fisherman KIAL
Crewman missing from Kodiak crabber Kodiak Daily Mirror
Fort Mills Times - Anchorage Daily News
all 20 news articles
Home | Site Map | Resource Links