Hammocks Beach State Park Report

[JoeB]

Gents,

For those of you living in coastal NC around the Swansboro/Morehead City/New Bern/Jacksonville areas, you probably are already familiar with this amazing state resource. For those not aware, this state park has a 3 mile "kayak trail" through prestine marsh lands that is literally TEAMING with fish. The marked trail ends at Bear Island, where tent camping is allowed for a small fee of $6 per night.

I took an afternoon paddle yesterday (despite the 20+ MPH winds) with the intention of doing some advanced recon of the Bear Island area itself as the wife and I are planning a camping trip there during the second week of June. Needless to say, I never made it all the way to the island, as I was "forced" to continually stop and toss some flies to a variety of different gamefish...all of which were hungry and actively feeding on the flood tide.

Those who fly fish (almost) exclusively, this is about as good as it gets. Tailing reds, shools of blues crashing bait in small rip currents, and plenty of specs and flouder all in less than 6 foot of water.

I have been living in the Jacksonville area for around 1.5 years and never knew about this place. Just wanted to drop a line and motivate some of you guys to check it out!

[Ocracokeobx]

Congrats I've been doing an annual camping trip over there in January of almost every year since I was little.
It is absolutly amazing. And it used to be even better than it is now.