Novice - would like some help

[Racer_X]

I am headed down to Duck for the New Years Holiday and would like to wet a line in the surf. I am a novice - any free advice would be appreciated.
1) is a license required. (all areas/ only some?)
2) Is Duck as good a place as any - or will our chances significantly improve if we head North or South.
3) Bait/ Rig set up - I was intending to go into a local bait shop. A
recommendation on a shop in Duck would also be appreciated.
4) What weather conditions should I be aware of. (+ and - indicators)
5) Time of day or tide considerations.
6) How to pick a spot. (reading the water, other indicators)

Thanks in advance -
Happy New Year

[Steve Coleman]

I'm not a regular there but these are easy questions so here you go

1. yes
2. ask the tackle shops for the latest intel , stripers / specs should be around, but sparse, look for beehives of birds over working fish
3. lures / bunker for stripers, mirrolures for specs
4. anything fishable is ok light ne wind is best for stripers
5. fish 24x7
6. near sloughs for specs, cuts and bar for stripers

[savfish]

Check out Bob's b+t in duck.

[beachtoad]

T&Ws in Corolla best I've found for prices and info. Right next to the Food Lion. Forget the other place in Corolla way over priced and full of BS.

[mkelly]

Originally Posted by beachtoad

T&Ws in Corolla best I've found for prices and info. Right next to the Food Lion. Forget the other place in Corolla way over priced and full of BS.

TW's in Corolla is closed now and not sure when they will re-open. Current (as of today) open Tackle shops on the north beaches would be Bob's in Duck. Not sure about Sharky's in Duck, he got sick a short time ago and I'm not sure if he is open yet. Next closest would be TW's in Kitty Hawk.

Best options for bait (in my opinion) are Stop and Shop in KDH and TW's in Nags Head.

One more item, the water has been to rough to do anything from the surf the last week on the north beaches. The waves again today are too much. If you want to try up here with bait you will need to be throwing at least 12oz and I doubt that will hold today. I'm not setup for that, the most I can get out there is 8 with my current gear and that just won't cut it right now.

Hope this helps.

[jerkjigger]

theres been a few stripers cought from the surf. none in real big #. mostly the trout fishers are getting lucky catching them on lures. for baitfishing, i would use bunker or eels, using a fish finder rig. BTW, good luck trying to find fresh bait anywere, cause there is none to be found