Big Uncle

Every other year I try to get to the OBX for a week or so to stare at the surf and lose terminal tackle in the ocean. On trips in the early Fall I catch a fish once in a while and on Spring trips I usually catch nothing but skates, dogfish, and game fish that are too small to keep. I think the biggest problem with my Spring efforts is my obvious lack of any fishing talent.

I never hike out to the Point at Buxton to combat fish with the crowd at night, but on the incoming tide I can usually be found at one of the access points between Nags Head and Frisco. Anyone else here fish the area?

Ridge Runner

I fish Avon mostly fish the pier unless I get the 12/0 out to target a big toothy. when it comes to fishing the box its mostly what do you want to catch? reds, trout, cobra, kings? they all have different seasons.
RR

Big Uncle

For catching fish in the surf it is hard for me to beat bluefish. They are not the best eating fish but they are aggressive and can bend a rod just fine. For catching fish to eat I like pompano and of course flounder. On the rare times I have found the pompano they are very close to shore nearly at my feet eating soft shell sand fleas. The occasional drum is also welcomed.

Fishing the piers is a relaxing way to spend the day unless a gang of guys claim a whole section (usually the end) and get belligerent with anyone that dares set foot in it. I have seen guys actually threaten (they seemed serious about it) to throw and older couple off the side of the pier when they walked through. I used to fish the old wooden pier at Frisco quite a bit, and have had a bit of fun at Nags Head and Avon too.

Even if I do not catch much the local barbeque makes the trip worth it!

Ridge Runner

depending on when you go the Spanish mackerel run can be intense! to say the least, my last trip to Avon we put over 100 Spanish on the deck between 8 anglers, up to 6 1/2 pounds, in 2 hours. and they are very good to eat. I mainly live bait fish for cobia, the best eating fish from the ocean as far as I'm concerned. The gang at the end of Avon pier is the best bunch of guys I ever been around. I've made lifelong friends there on the planks. pomps are always in the wash when they are there, the whiting are not far behind, throw a sting silver or gotcha beyond the breakers for Spanish. cobia will take a bottom bait but you always risk catching a ray when you put meat on the bottom, but they do put up an awesome fight if you catch a big one. unless you use ray for bait then you may catch a big toothy.
RR


this one is about 6 1/2 feet across

Big Uncle

A Gotcha from a pier beyond the surf when the Spanish are around is great fun!

When you are trying for Cobia with live bait do you use a two pole rig like you would use for Kings?

Ridge Runner

yes, same setup. same bait, just may/June for cobia, July/aug./ sept for kings and tarpon, and always sharks. but cobia will take a bottom bait also, as will a tarpon occasionally.
RR

Big Uncle

If I understand her correctly my wife is booking a house for a week somewhere in the South Nags Head area sometime in May. It can be a long drive from there to Avon, Buxton, Frisco, or Hatteras. I do not really care much for the surf fishing up around Nags Head with all of the beach people with their dogs and Frisbees. Sometimes a few of them seem to go out of their way to deliberately bother fishermen

Ridge Runner

Stayed in south nags head a few years, but Avon, Frisco is 1/2 the price or less. and its a little more geared towards fishing down there. However not as much tourism driven activities there.
RR

Big Uncle

I just got back from a week of fishing. I stayed on the North current around Nags Head. Surf fishing was not very good anywhere due to some storms. Lots of seaweed and skates. Surf fishing was poor all the way down to Hatteras so I did not bother to drive down.

The fishing was pretty good from Jenette Pier with blues hitting hard around daylight, and then a long steady run of whiting hitting shrimp and cut bait. A couple larger groups of guys (12 - 15 fishermen) had combined catches of over 250 whiting daily. I caught my share, and quickly gave them away. Too many bones for me. Some mid-size blues and Spanish hit metal sporadically during the day, and there were a few keeper gray trout.

One 30" cobia was caught and released by a guy at the end of the pier.

Mickey Finn

Thanks for the report Big Uncle.

Been down there a couple times in April. The Blues tore it up and Spanish mackerel came along towards the end of our trip. Great times!