Vacation: Nags Head mile marker 17.5

[RUjs81]

Greetings from NJ
Yet another "I'll be vacationing question"..but thanks for the help. From July 2-10 my family is renting a house on Nags Head at the 17.5 mile marker, which is hopefully specific enough. Anyway,
I've seen that this time of year is kinda slow for the fishing, but I am dying to give it a shot anyway. Will right off the back of the house work here, or should I try somewhere local that would be better. I also was thinking of renting a kayak to mess around with. Any close party boats, and will they be worth it? I've seen probably not.

Also, where are the ladies going to be at! I need to know where to party and catch a good buzz in case i dont catch fish. Thanks for the help

[BigLuke]

Definitely rent a kayak....and take it right out front in the ocean. Lots of little blues up and down the beach that time of year.

Also some small flounder and spotted trout around.

If you go a little further south....to Oregon Inlet...you can wade fish in the inlet.

You can also wade by the lighthouse, which is on your way to Oregon Inlet.

Enjoy.

[bhorsley]

Good speckled torut in fishing in the sounds. If you are looking at party boat fishing--try the Country Girl she does offshore/deep dropping a couple of time a week--big fun tilefish, and sea bass mostly.
If you can find some steep red sand beach you might find some sea mullets and other smaller bottom fish form the surf.
You should be close to Outer BAnks Pier--usually decent bluefish and spanish form the end of the pier at sunup and sun down.

plenty of places to get in trouble

[Capt. Kim USCG Ret]

Can't help you with the ladies thing, but who told you that fishing was slow that time of the year? Walk the beach in the morning as the sun is coming up and in the evenings with a light 7-8' spinning rod with a jig head and different color tails. Green is always a good color as are sea mullet, salt and pepper, chartreuse, etc. Look for obvious holes and sloughs at low tide and find a mark on the dunes or a house so you can come back as the tide is moving. Lots to catch. Come back after dark and try fishing a Mirrolure 52MR NS, pure black with rattles. Don't be surprised if you catch a striper, speckled trout, puppy drum, etc. Try different retireve rates until you find what they like, but best to start slow and get faster. If you like to fish bait, pompano, puppy drum, and occasionally sea mullet are available. The best bait is free, sand fleas (females are best) on a sea mullet or pompano rig. Check FISHMOJO.com - Mo is selling his homemade sea mullet rigs for a good price In the evenings the Taylor blues will often blitz the beach. And I was lucky enough last year to get in on a stiper blitz. Not big fish, 20-27", but lots of fun on a light rod. Look for large numbers of sand fleas in the sand and you will usually find fish in the wash. Good luck.

On the ladies thing. I told you a little of what you need to know to catch fish. I expect you to reciprocate.

And I can say I am from NJ, never to return.

[OBX_Nomad]

As the Capt. stated, fishing might be slower, but it's never slow. The Outer Banks Pier is at MP 18 1/2 and Nags Head Pier is at MP 12. Right now they're still working on repairs to the OBP but it should be up and running soon. Nags Head Pier will be open 24 hours a day then and there always seems to be something biting. Walking the beach and searching for holes, etc can be very rewarding.

It's hard not to enjoy the OBX, so good luck and tight lines.

[RUjs81]

wow, awesome. Thanks for the replies and all the help, now Im even more excited to go and try my luck.

[YellowJacket]

I just came back from OBX this past weekend. I fished both the Outer Banks pier and Nags Head. My dumb luck had me with one blue fish while everyone else on the piers were catching tons of Mullet. It was pretty chilly out on the pier (the end) around 52 degrees on some days with 10 mile an hour winds. I had to use gloves without fingers at one point. I was out in Southern Shores (MP2) on NC12. Tried some surf behind our rental, came up empty each time. I think the water was still a little too chilly last week.

Had a great time, looking forward to out next trip out. Unfortunately, that won't be until next year.

Beautiful place. Nice people. Highly recommend Jimmy's Seafood Buffet.

[OBX_Nomad]

Y'Jacket,

Sorry to hear you didn't get into more fish, but some days are just like that. At times success can depend on just where you're at on the pier. I've had days where people beside me were slaying them and I was struggling for a fish.

Saturday, we couldn't keep the blues off of our lines. I bet over 500 were landed throughout the day, mainly on Got-cha plugs and Mr. George's Bucktails. Amazingly, most folks were keeping a few for the grill, or pan, and releasing a large percentage. Bodes well for future seasons!

Saturday night we got in to a few nice drum (just one small one for me) and Sunday morning the specks were hitting lime green Curly-tails from the beach. As you mentioned, no end to the mullet, spot and croaker.

Hoping your next trip down it will be your turn.

[ScottO]

I'll be a camp hatteras from 7/1 -7/15. Should have at least two to three yaks with me. Scott