First time on Hatteras Island

[Bassturd]

I took the family on vacation from Sept 17 thru Sept 24. We had a great time and will be back next year for 2 weeks. I took my oldest son surfcasting for his first time he is hooked like his dad I had no idea what to fish for. I am always after "rockfish" stripers and learned they aren't really in the surf in Sept? Anyway I know Bass eat bunker where I live so I was using bait running reel, 12 ' rod, 50 lb. power pro line, steal leader w/ size 13/0 hook. I threw a whole frozen bunker out in the surf with a 8 oz weight to hold bottom. first cast we landed a 40+ pound?? sting ray. It took me 20-30 minutes to land the thing I easily unhooked it and took 2 pics and pushed it back in the ocean. Next year I would like to catch more fish then just that one. Where are the bass/rockfish usually around sept in that area? The sting ray we landed looked like a baby sting ray compared to the ones I seen on TV in mags etc. Should I have been looking for a charter and have done gulfstream fishing? Seems everyone down there surfcasting were after small fish. I noticed everyone using small bait. Next year I want to be more prepared.

Any advice is apprecated...

[longcaster]

Fresh Bunker, 7/0-9/0 circle hook, mono leader, to start. Chunk the Bunker, it will cast out better. Search this and the other forums for all the info you need to fish here. There is more information than you will ever need here. We rarely get the chance to snag a live bait to fish, but all the tackle shops have fresh bait. The only frozen bait we use is Squid.

[Bassturd]

thank you for the advice. I did try smaller hooks and tried all difrrent types of lures , metal , poppers, and bait. I did get bites here and there but they were so small it felt like a blue gill Maybe I was not there at a good time? The waves were huge and the water seemed brownish?

[Mike D]

Lat Nov. thru New Years Day are prime striper months at Hatteras.

[pksurfish]

Google Joe Malat. He runs surf fishing schools several times a year in the Outer Banks. It would be well worth your time and money. After three days or so with him, you will have advanced your skills and knowledge a good bit AND have had a great time. (I have fished with him but no $ connection.)

[rockhoppingmike]

the stripers are still in cape cod and just starting to move /
RHM