new to area and eager to start!!

[drh146]

I just moved to new bern, and before I have to start working next monday i was hoping to drive down to atlantic beach, or a little further and get some surf fishing in...supposed to be nice this weekend too!!..

I was wondering what my best bet would be. I saw that some people throw plugs for speckleds while walking along the shore, and that sounds like fun, but i question my ability to do it effectively..is there anything else worth trying that might get me a fish?? Im looking to catch whatever bites my hook!..What fish are out there? When do the mackerel startup from the peirs??

I have a 7'6" med. heavy. rod with penn reel...i have 8 lbs flouro on cause i came from steelhead country in ohio, can someone recommend a good line to use with the plugging

[surffishn]

Hate to post specific spots on a public form.I tried to PM you but you don,t have your account set up for them.Fort Macon is a good spot to check out.Not far from AB. Maybe toss some jigs and plastic or better yet some GULP tails.Also a carolina rig with bait or gulp.Stop at one or two of the bait shops on AB causway they will get you going.Two that I like are Joe Shutes and Freemans. Good Luck! Paul

[capt_gordon]

Not a whole lot going on in the surf at Ft Macon right now and in fact the beach is closed due to them putting new sand on the beach from an area that is closed to shellfishing and therefore is supposedly gross. I know it smelled really bad when I was out there yesterday. Dummies. There is a little public beach on Radio Island and if you go out there with some fresh cut bait and are willing to just bait and wait, there are various nibblers in that channel; sea mullet, grunts, small gray trout, etc. Best bet for those without a boat this time of year.

[drh146]

sorry for the delay replying to you guys. I appreciate the advice you gave me and put it to use...unsuccessfully unfortunately, but it was enjoyable. I went to atlantic beach saturday and tossed some mirrorlures (a sinking and a suspending) and jigs and tails with no luck....
sunday i went to fort macon and worked an area of the inlet. i used jigs with a tail, and also tipped them with some shrimp i bought at the bait shop on the way down....again no luck...HOWEVER, i did catch the biggest crab ever! it was a stone crab and was about 200 yards from those rocks that stick out. i saw him in about knee deep water and was amazed! i picked him up and upon seeing the size of his claws, kept him for dinner! the big claw was probably 6 inches in circumference! hopefully ill get pictures on soon, but i can only get on a computer at the new bern library until i find a house...
i tried to get the pms working, but cant...ive sent two before and recieved replies to both, now i cant send or recieve! nor do i see any buttons to do so, or any options to change to allow me to...any ideas?

anyone know of any good houses for sale in the new bern area??

[kip]

Just to let you know on the stone crabs down here(NC), you tear off the large claw and throw the crab back to regenerate another claw.....

If you get down Emerald Isle way, give me a shout. I'll show you a few other places to fish.