Just got back!

digger · 10-21-2003, 01:16 PM

Hi all. I just returned from a week long vacation in Nags Head with my family. We had a fantastic time. Rained only one day and that was just enough time for my son to do the mountain of homework he got for missing 4 days of school

I met some knowlegeable guys in TW's in Nags Head. They have top shelf gear and were very friendly and spent a lot of time with me and my stupid questions about the local fishing scene.
I caught lots of small blues, sharks and a couple of puppy drum for my efforts. I fished daytime as this was a family vacation. Next time..I get serious.
I bought a pureglass 400-3 blank and I'm looking forward to building it out. I also picked up some sputniks and a few frogs toungue weights to try in the surf here in Jersey when the wind blows hard. I learned about a rig called a "Doodle Bug" and I'm going to make a few and try 'em on a hi-low rig in the Spring Fling Zone.

I was impressed with the speed that the weather changes down there. The conditions went from warm, calm and glassy to 25mph Northeast with 4 footers in about 10 minutes flat

We had one night when the wind gusted over 30 mph and we lost power. The house we rented (which was huge) was shuddering and creaking a little and some debris (garbage cans and stuff) was blowing into the front of the house. My son who is 10 was little freaked out, but we played charades in the dark and had a lot of laughs.

Oregon inlet looked great from the bridge, but I didn't fish it. It also looked pretty crowded, even by NJ standards! I drove the family down the island to Frisco where the new inlet is. There was a lot of water coming out of the sound through the breach. I saw a lot of storm damage that I didn't expect. I feel for the local folks who have to deal with it. In spite of the damage, all the locals I met were optimistic and in good spirits. Everyone I met on the beach was very friendly. My dogs enjoyed themselves immensely all week.

I had hoped to meet some OL'ers on the beach... Maybe next time.

Digger

pksurfish · 10-21-2003, 02:52 PM

I am headed to Avon and Buxton is three weeks hoping for further recovery from the storm by then. Re: the Doodlebug - I saw that lure last year in Hatteras and at my home bait shop in Delaware and have used it ever since. It seems to work well on stripers and blues alike. I have always used it rigged alone, but have an old surf fishing book that says that two doodlebugs on a line was the typical approach in Hatteras years ago when fishing a surf tourney. One thing you might try. I have started making my own Doodlebugs with better componenets than come on the premade ones - in some cases circle hooks, although I am not sure that last part makes sense.

digger · 10-21-2003, 03:31 PM

Hi pksurfish.

I was shown the rig by and older gent (tourney fisherman)named John at TW's in Nags Head. He said the same thing about the store bought rigs. He makes his own based on a brass tube and the heads are smaller. He also uses tandem hooks and fresh strip bait or pork rind. He had his rigged on the hi hook of a hi-low setup with a chunk on the bottom hook. I will make my own as well and I plan to use 6/0 gami circles in tandem. If things work out well, I'll post it up.

Good luck fishin'.

Digger

HatterasJack · 10-22-2003, 03:21 PM

I'm heading north from GA in about 4 weeks with intentions of staying on HI or OBX. Had orginally planned on taking the ferry to Ocracoke and again to HV, but now that's a dead ended prospect. So, i guess I'll cross over onto Manteo and then OBX.

Had thought that NC DOT would have a ferry in place by now between HV and Frisco. Can't believe they're patching that strip with sand and asphalt again. It's the weakest link on the barrier, for pete's sake.

But i will consider the charter fleet in HV, and maybe take a whatever shuttle I can find over there.

Some valuable info being posted - thanks

pksurfish · 10-22-2003, 11:48 PM

Digger: check your PMs. Thanks.

BaitWaster · 10-23-2003, 11:28 PM

Digger - you hit a great tackle shop with TWs. Great selection & great folks.

The Hatteras Baitbugs (doodelbugs) are a tournament stable but now they are made pretty flimsy. Guess so you'll have to buy more. When they get chewed up or the trailer hooks get pulled off (they will) I save the body and rebuild them with heavier mono or fluoro and stronger hooks.

If the water is a little dingy the green seem to work better.

Have caught a little of everything on then. Blues, pups, stripers, flounder, black drum, specks & grey trout. Buddy has even caught a ~35# jack cravalle and a 3 pound pompano. They can work even better if you cast them out and after a minute or two start trolling them back with a sweep or two.