An Introduction To Surf Fishing The Outer Banks

[BrianBM]

I did drive on Shelly Island. You will get your tires damp at low water, but it's not difficult. The hard part would be staying there through a tidal cycle, there's very little sand that stays dry, and a good wind or a moon tide would (I think) eliminate that too. I talked to other anglers there who said they did it without a problem, but that's not how I read that beach.  (And their P/Us were rusty as hell, too.) 

[ByronPA]

Yes on the SSE winds for the spring bite. If I see there's going to be 4 or more days of SSE or SE winds and above average temps anytime middle of February through the end of March, I'll be down there for the days that follow. 

 

Honestly, I go out of my way not to look at the winds during the fall bite. During late winter, early spring I can pick up and head down there whenever I want. During the fall, my job dictates when I can go, this year, it'll be next week and following weeks depending on weather. When I do get the chance to go, I don't want to be that guy sitting in my room at 4am thinking, well the winds from the wrong direction.... But I'm sure the folks at RDT know of what they speak.  

[ByronPA]

54 mins ago, BrianBM said:

The fall drum run is bigger and stronger then the spring run, but that's when cobia are available. Not too many are actually caught from the surf.  

 

Yes, there are also a lot more smaller Drum and other species around in the fall. I think the biggest cobia I've ever caught from the beach was about 24", I seem to think that was the week before memorial day. All I know about cobia is that it seems the few that are caught are caught by Drum fishermen at the point. 

[Jrod6419]

Trying to put together a surf fishing rod and reel combo for flounder and blues.  Also if anyone can recommend a sinker weight I've heard everything from 3-6 ounce.

 

Thank you all in advance.

[TimS]

1 hour ago, Jrod6419 said:

Also if anyone can recommend a sinker weight I've heard everything from 3-6 ounce.

Sinker weight depends much more on conditions than anything else. If you need to hold bottom with bluefish bait in the surf unless it's almost dead calm 3oz is much too light - I'd start with 5 or 6oz...and if there are decent waves you can expect to need 8oz to hold bottom. For flounder holding bottom isn't ideal, you want your bait moving, either with the current or by casting and reeling back to you...so you'd use much lighter sinkers and they wouldn't be the Hatteras/storm sinker style but bank sinkers or even bucktail jigs. 

 

There isn't a one size fits all sinker recommendation for any type of surf fishing...you are going to need to be able to fish a pretty wide range of weights to soak bait in the surf for bluefish and to effectively fish for flounder in the surf

 

TimS

[Porktown]

Are the heavy winds a good thing for summer puppy drum too?  I was hoping to keep my pool stick at home for my upcoming trip to Avon.  But the wind forecast (a week out) is calling for some windy days.  If conditions call for it, I am fine with 8 & bait.  I'm just fine catching mullet, black drum, croakers and blues in the surf with lighter gear.  I am thrilled to get pompano or Spanish in the front and small trout and small puppies in the back.  If these 30+ MPH gust come as predicted, I imagine that I need to change up my approach.  I was thinking to head to the sound more, but not sure if casting small plastics into that wind will be very productive either...  Any recommendations/additions to your list for high wind/rough surf fishing on the OBX (Avon)?  

[ByronPA]

17 hours ago, Porktown said:

Are the heavy winds a good thing for summer puppy drum too?  I was hoping to keep my pool stick at home for my upcoming trip to Avon.  But the wind forecast (a week out) is calling for some windy days.  If conditions call for it, I am fine with 8 & bait.  I'm just fine catching mullet, black drum, croakers and blues in the surf with lighter gear.  I am thrilled to get pompano or Spanish in the front and small trout and small puppies in the back.  If these 30+ MPH gust come as predicted, I imagine that I need to change up my approach.  I was thinking to head to the sound more, but not sure if casting small plastics into that wind will be very productive either...  Any recommendations/additions to your list for high wind/rough surf fishing on the OBX (Avon)?  

Honestly, the only advice I have to offer, is to use just enough weight to hold bottom, but you already know that.

In my mind, wind is always good, it stirs things up, which brings fish closer to the wash. Of course, there can always be to much of a good thing, and that is especially true when it comes to wind. 

Wind direction is more important than wind speed. Wind in your face, from the East, out front, is good.

Unless space is really an issue, I'd take the pool stick, you never know. 

[Porktown]

Thanks Byron.  I'll follow the wind in face rule as much as possible.  I plan to stop at the local shops a few times anyway, so will add some heavier lead to my list.  Just hoping half of the days are kid friendly to use the beach.  If fishing is shot, oh well.  I'll just watch more World Cup and drink more beers...  Pool stick is in my pile.  An extra rod (added to my 6 already packed won't take up much extra space)...

[bstriping]

20 hours ago, Porktown said:

Are the heavy winds a good thing for summer puppy drum too?  I was hoping to keep my pool stick at home for my upcoming trip to Avon.  But the wind forecast (a week out) is calling for some windy days.  If conditions call for it, I am fine with 8 & bait.  I'm just fine catching mullet, black drum, croakers and blues in the surf with lighter gear.  I am thrilled to get pompano or Spanish in the front and small trout and small puppies in the back.  If these 30+ MPH gust come as predicted, I imagine that I need to change up my approach.  I was thinking to head to the sound more, but not sure if casting small plastics into that wind will be very productive either...  Any recommendations/additions to your list for high wind/rough surf fishing on the OBX (Avon)?  

And never go by the forecast down there a week out. Weather changes down there by the hour and minutes. Just make sure you are prepared for any condition. I usually won't start watching the weather till a couple days out and always take it with a grain of salt.  

[Porktown]

Thanks.  Gives me a bit more confidence that things will be good.

[drumfish213]

Just read this post in prep for my trip down there. Very informative. Thank you!

[johnbull]

This is a great thread!  I would like to clarify something regarding the discussion of fish.  What are elsewhere called kingfish or whiting are known as “sea mullet” in North Carolina.  The popular bait fish is often called a “jumping mullet.”  Jumping mullet are caught only by net and farther south on the coast mullets grilled over charcoal are a delicacy, and mullet roe is prized.

[BrianBM]

Where on the coast would you have to go to see people grilling jumping mullet? 

[Ksjohnson]

The communities on the sound behind Portsmouth and Davis islands in NC prize bbq jumping mullet and the roe.

[johnbull]

I grew up "Down East" in Carteret County and down there charcoaled mullets were one of the great delicacies- along with fried soft crabs, fried shrimp, an oyster roast in the dead of winter, ahh- makes my mouth water just to type this.  As Ksjohnson put it the Core Sound region down through Cape Lookout and Harker's Island.