Outer Banks around Christmas

[needlefishaddict]

Hi there everyone.
Welcome from up here in Mass. Stripers will be heading down your way soon.
So, my dad and i used to surfcast the OBX when i was a kid. I want to take him there for Christmas as a present. But i want to make sure we are going at a good time.
So i am looking for advice.

Is this a good time for stripers?
Red Drum?
Artificial or bait?
Where should i look to stay? Not to expensive, as we don't need anything that fancy.
Over Sand permits? Do you have to have them?

Any other help information would be great.
This trip will mean alot to us both, and i think it will be a great time, with hopefully good fishing.

Thanks.

[John M]

that time of year......stripers should be here, it be can spotty like the last 2 years, or it can be incredible like it was 3 yrs ago. you never know until the time comes though. Bait, Metal and plugs work for them.

Trout and puppy drum are around then too. jigs small mirror lures are the ticket then.

no permits needed south of nags head.

I usually go for the week between christmas and new years.

[vasurfisher]

As John said it can be hit or miss you will need a saltwater
license. as for a place to stay google Drumdum's Place

[needlefishaddict]

thanks for the replies. Hopefully i will be able to show my father a good time, and we will get into some fish.

Would it be a worthwhile idea to look into a charter. I myself would rather surffish, but i also want to put my dad on fish?

thanks again

[John M]

there are charters to be had and they do ok usually. Last year was slow for everyone. Charters boo kup early so dont wait if your gonan do that.

As for where to stay id look around rodanthe, that way you have an easy run from oregon inlet to the north and the point to the south.

[OBXCAT28]

Lets hope the fishing will be good, last year was slow. In december they may still be getting tuna in the gulf stream if nothing else is going on. Rick

[brianbutler10]

We've been down there in dec/jan before, and when the fishing is slow from the surf, then we decide to take the charter. You can probably get by with not making the decision to book early. If all else fails and OIFS is booked up, you could always take a charter out of Pirates Cove.

[piney]

There are charters at OI fishing center or google beach bum charters,he produces.last year dredge was working inlet & fishing was not great from beach,but boats limited almost every trip

[mcruze]

You should consider Cape Lookout. But, it all depends on your "style" and preference. Nags Head down to Cape Hatteras has become really over developed and VERY crowded. Cape Lookout National Seashore, however is undeveloped (you can turn around 360 degrees and not see a man-made structure other than the lighthouse), and the only way to get there is by boat. That's a $10, 10 minute ferry ride from Harkers Island if you want to surf fish. You should choose Barbours Harbor or Harkers Island Fishing Center if you decide to use a ferry (avoid the other ferry services). You can camp over there for free. Or you can get a modest room for well under $100/night on Harkers Island where the ferries are located. If you want a charter, they are $550/day and you can fly fish for Albacore in the inlet, live bait for kings (if the water temp hasn't dropped to low), or catch lots of nice trout, blues, drum, etc. ... just something to consider. May you have light winds, tight lines, and fun times!

[FishLipz]

You should catch something at Christmas. It might be slow but fish are there. Stripers, drum and maybe some specs. Tuna might be around off hsore as well. You don't need a permit to drive on the beaches south of Nags Head but you do need a fishing license anywhere in North Carolina.

Have a great holiday. Bring your gear and be sure to check with the local tackle shops for what's biting and what to use.

[brianbutler10]

don't need a beach permit from duck and points north either....

[wdbrand]

by going over to **************** or P&S. A lot of the charters outta OI and Hat. are moving to Rudee Inlet for the striper season. But, good luck booking one now. This might give you a better handle on it.
http://odens-dock.com/?cid=headboats
wdbrand.

[newsjeff]

Originally Posted by John M

Bait, Metal and plugs work for them.

Plugs, John?

Poppers, needlefish or swimmers?

Where and when and how?

Tell me everything.

It's only two weeks to the Wheeler tourney.

[John M]

Originally Posted by newsjeff

Plugs, John?

Poppers, needlefish or swimmers?

Where and when and how?

Tell me everything.

It's only two weeks to the Wheeler tourney.

Ill tell ya at breakfast sunday during the awards lets just say im going though my plug boxes now

[Drumdum]

Originally Posted by John M

Ill tell ya at breakfast sunday during the awards lets just say im going though my plug boxes now

I guess you'll be sitting at the same table with Plug right???? Hope it's "drumfishin weather" cause that's what I want to catch anyway,I'm banking on one a those big doorprizes.. Course my luck hasn't been too swooft for that either...