Anyone mind helping a newbie out?

[Dick Magnifico]

Sorry to be a bother, but...

The wife and I are making a quick trip down to The Banks(near Kitty Hawk pier) this holiday weekend, and for a longer trip the first week of October.

I love surfcasting, but so far have just landed a few sharpnose sharks, a truckload of skate, some spot, and some green tubular thing which nobody can seem to identify.

This time, I want to impress the wife and the mother-in-law, and actually catch some real fish. They need a reason to put up with the stinky bait in the fridge. Any hints on rigs, bait, distance, seasonal timings and the like?
Obviously planned on shrimp and bloodworms, and tossing a few bucktails in...

The only thing I have to offer in return is the name of a GREAT striper guide on Smith Mountain Lake (relatively cheap and probably the best out there), my thanks, or maybe a few beers while fishing. Your pick.

[steve andrews]

The better fishing is typically always south on Nags Head any time of the year, you need to get south to at least Oregon Inlet.
This time of year you are primarily fishing for Blues and Spanish and they have had some good runs down at The Point. You fish for both these species casting 1.5 to 2 oz. sting silvers, you should use a high-speed reel and you can't reel fast enough if they are biting. You already know what you are going to catch using cut bait this time of year.
October is a great month to be on the OBX, the big Drum start running and here are a lot less people on the beaches.

hatterasrentalcottage.com

[derf]

yup , the summer doldrums
what steve said , blues & spanish ........
ya might want to check with the local tackle shops , TW"S , when ya get there .
oct is a lot better
we'll be there the first week ........but we are gonna be in buxton ........
derf

[Steve in Mass]

Guys, aside from the spanish and blues, I think ya forgot pompano (or am I wrong?).......nice fighting fish for their size, and tasty to boot.....

And I'd imagine the specks are starting to get bigger in the sound about now......

[Dick Magnifico]

Thanks for the input guys... I'll try to sneak down south one morning.

What's the one thing I should know about fishing in early October?

[kw]

There used to be some good cuts on the north side of Kitty Hawk Pier, most of the piers for that matter. If you get there before first light and use fin-s type grubs and lead head jigs worked slow you might get specks.

Good Luck

[bhorsley]

probably the best speckled trout beach on the northern banks is north of Kitty HAwk pier. True it is better in Oct and NOv. but i have had decent speck fishing in Sept. KW has the right idea jig wise.

[steve andrews]

October fishing, bring your big stuff, 11 ft min heavy surf rod, large line capacity reel, spooled with min 17# test line, 08 hooks and cut bait. The currents are stronger in October so you want to be casting 6nbait min but be ready with 8oz., I have gone as high as 10oz. The local tackle shops can set you up and there is plenty of advise to be had on this board and others.

hatterasrentalcottage.com

[Dick Magnifico]

Thanks for the advice guys... A dreary weekend for me. 20+mph winds. Just caught a few blues and a nasty hangover. Darn near caught a 115 lb. surfer who didn't seem to care that I had lines in the water.

25 days until the next expedition on The Banks begins!