Conference wahoo::fishing

    Don...I've just started fishing myself and know some good spots
    in the Raleigh/Durham area...but I will ask around and reply via
    Vaxmail.
    
    Sam Conviser
    CHFS32 [ 33960 ]
    

    thanks Sam, I'm not sure how far Raleigh/Durham is from GBO, but
    if it's not too far, I'll use that info you mailed me, thanks!
    donmac

    The FISHING part of my trip to NC turned out lousy...
                                        
    When we landed last Saturday the temp was a wonderful 69F and I
    was extremely optimistic... However, the next day it was in the
    40's and remained there for the rest of the week.  The day before
    we left (Thursday) I decided to take a ride to Lake Norman (pretty
    big lake) and rent a boat -- no rentals, no charters, nothing...
                                        
    Ended up fishing a channel by a Steam Plant, off shore for a couple of 
    hours, lots of fishermen, no fish...      
                                        
    Oh well, I at least got to try out a new rod & reel....
                                        
    Maybe next time...  Don Mac         
                      
                      

    Any new NC info out there?  don mac

    Hi.
     I will be going to wilmington N.C. around the end of november. I was
    wondering if anyone knows what prospects there are for fishing. I can
    either do salt or fresh water.
    Roy

    re: .5
    
    	I'm not sure what will be around at that time... I usually head
    	down to that area around the end of this month (if fact, I'm
    	going the week after next!). At the end of Oct., you can catch
    	speckled trout, redfish, and LOTS of snapper blues by surfcasting.
    
    	Sure hope this hurricane doesn't cause too much damage!
    
    				Robert.

    well i finaly it made down to panama city fl. for our deep sea fishing
    trip. we had a good day everyone caught fish. i brought home 48lbs of
    red snappers the largest one weighted 22.4 lbs i lost the lunker pool
    by .4 ounces. we used capt. anderson fleet the sea was kinda rough but
    most of the group survived.
                    

    Ray,
    
    Can you send/post detailed directions?  This could be the closest ocean
    fishing opportunity for me (~ 500 miles).  How late might the season
    be, what else do they catch, how does it compare to pollock/cod fishing
    up north, what are the length/price options?
    
    Thanks,
    -SSS-
                                                       

    pamana city is in the panhandle of florida. i took I65 south to 231
    south to florida its 7 1/2 hours from hazel green alabama. i think if
    you check the coast line around the east coast you could find closer
    places around you. the fishing was real good everyone caught fish that 
    day. they have what they blue runners and they are alot of fun to catch
    because they give a good fight the red snappers are like the cod
    fishing back east you fish for them about a foot off the bottom. capt.
    anderson charges $35 for 8hrs of fisshing and he does not allow coolers
    but we agued about and he finally agreed to it. he runs his boats on
    saturdays and tuesdays and thursdays. the hotel rooms are cheap this
    time of the year because panama beach area is closed some what like the
    cape is after labor day their season starts up again around last part
    of feb. early march. we will be planning another trip again in the
    spring if your interested in it let me know.
    

    Maybe someone can point me in the right direction.
    
    	We're considering taking next summer's vacation on the outer banks.
    The chamber of commerce has sent me 2-3 lbs of brochures but I'm still 
    confused about several important items.
    
    1)	Fishing - Any part of the summer better than others?  what's it like in 
    		late June,
    		July,  or 
    		early August.
    
    2)	Boating - Is the sound any place for a small boat (15' whaler)?
    		i.e. is it worth considering trailering the boat?  Any
    		general comments about boating in the sound (winds,tides
    		shallows, lots/few reefs, channel markers, etc, etc)
    
    3)	Surf fishing - Again, any general recommendations as to which town
    		mignt have better fishing from the beach.  I noticed in the
    		rental brochures, there were many houses right on the
    		beach.
    
    4)	Beach Access - are jeeps/trucks allowed on parts of the beaches?
    
    5)	Guides - anyone have a recommendation for a surf guide ?
    
    6)	Charters - Oregon inlet is a pretty well known bill fishing harbor.
    		What's the tab run for a day offshore? 

    I can't answer most of your questions because I tend to go to Hatteras
    in the fall. In fact, I should be there right now but - the dredge
    which is used in Oregon inlet broke loose from it's moorings last week
    wiped out the bridge to Hatteras Island. I drove all the way down there
    only to turn around and come back - never even got to unpack my
    sailboards or surf-rods.
    
    Generally, the best fishing down there is in the fall - thats when the
    redfish, spot, and speckled seatrout are running.
    
    They do allow truck to drive on the beach.
    
    Most surf fishermen seem to go down to Hatteras inlet (out by the
    lighthouse) though anywhere along the beach can produce.
    
    I think a 15' boat would be find in the sound - a lot of small boats
    seem to fish the sound between Hatteras and Okecroke Islands. You do
    have to watch for shallow areas in the sound - 1 of the major reasons
    (besides the wind!) that Hatteras is popular with windsurfers is
    because in some spots, you can go out a few miles, jump off your
    board an only be thigh deep!
    
    Anyway, be sure to check on the status of the bridge before you go :
    I've heard estimates of up to 6 months to get it repaired.
    
    			Robert.

    I will be headed down to Hatteras the first two weeks of June for some
    well needed R&R&F.  I plan on taking a charter for one day, anyone know
    what will be running,  I am sure there will be plenty of blues but I
    would rather not charter for them.  I figure I should be able to get
    them from the shore,  I will fill you in on the N.C. fishing when I get
    back.  I dont think I will do any fresh water fishing being that I will
    be over an hour from the mainland,  I dont think that sand strip has
    any fresh water ponds but I might be wrong,  Can some one fill me in
    if there is any bassin on the outer banks??  Any hints on surf cast
    would be appreciated, baits, lures, amount of lead to use, rigging set
    up, etc...
    
    Thank 
    Les   

    
    Les,
    Surfcasting for blues is pretty simple. You dont need much. Depending
    on the size and stiffness of your rod, choose the heaviest lure thats
    recomended. Hopkins or castmasters, with bucktail, in 2 or 3 oz. size
    should do the trick. they are cheaper than, say, a bomber and when 
    you get the hang of it you can cast them close two 200 yds. beleive it.
    You'll also need 3 ft of steel leader and some ball bearing swivels.
    I also like to use a lighter line with a shock cord leader. This is
    a leader of sufficient length to reach from the steel leader (top
    eyelet) down to the reel with a few turns around the reel. The purpose
    of this is to allow you to really heave this 3 oz. lure with all your
    might without snapping your line. I usually use 12 or 15 lb test line
    with a 30 lb. shock cord leader and 30 lb. steel leader. Use a blood
    or nailless knot from line to leader so it dont get hung up on the
    eyelets. This setup allways outcasts a reel full of 20 lb test, Its
    frustrating to see only the longest casts catch fish, unless your the
    longest caster.
      Bait, or bottom fishing is an art. buy a book or watch the locals.
    I can't wait to hit the beach- keep us posted.
    
    
                                                      Ken
    
    

    I will be going to NC during the July 4th week. I will be in Moyock,NC.
    Can anyone give me any information on the area, where to fish, what
    will be around to fish for in July. Is there any good fishing/party
    boats around and any other useful tidbits???
    
    I've read in some of the other notes about the sea run trout...is there
    any chance of hooking a few of them in July???
    
    Thanks,
    
    Steve

 Um, there's a difference between sea run trout (usually salmo gairdneri and
salmo trutta) and spotted seatrout (dunno the taxonomic classification, but they 
aren't salmonids.)

 In North Carolina, they are almost surely talking about spotted seatrout. 

 The Doctah

    Hint:
    
    When I first started surf casting for blues, I had a cheap, wimpy rod
    and could  not cast as far as most on the beach.  When the blues are
    hitting out beyond your range and the long casters are catching them.
    Wait until one hooks a fish and when he is in your range cast in the
    vacinity of the hooked fish.  Bluefish will chase a hooked fish,
    probably wondering what all the commotion is.  This is one way that I
    saved an otherwise frustrating day.
    
    Gordon
    

    Well I am back from the outer banks.  We stayed in Avon for a couple of
    weeks.  Fishing was a bit slow.  At the piers we were catching small
    blues and the normal variety of pan fish, spot, mullet, croakers, and
    flounder.  The old timers said the spring warmed up to quick and the
    good fishing didnt happen this spring.  The ocean was 78 degrees!!
    Great for swimming.  Surf casting produced lots of spot and mullet and
    I even got a puffer fish. Everyone said come back in november when the
    Giant Blues and 40 to 50 pound Drum come into shore.  The charters were
    having the best off shore season that they can remember.  They were
    catching blue marlin 300 to 500 lbs, some big tourney going on, and
    dolphin up to 80 lbs, all the boats seem to limit out on dolphin.  Also
    spanish mackerel were real hot just past the beach, with a ten fish
    limit a day boats were coming in with 60 or 70 fish.  Maybe I will try
    in November.  The fishing was only fair on the Diamond Shoals, nver
    made it out, you need a four wheel drive to get there but spoke to a
    few fisherman on the beach and they did get many.
    
    Les