SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY

In the winter, the weather up here at Cape Hatteras is always extreme. If it's pretty.... It's really pretty. That just don't happen very often. If it's windy where you are, then tack on another 15-20 kts out here. At this time of the year, when its cold and windy out here, it's brutal. Long ago, mariners and coastal residents depended on the local Weather Bureau Offices or the nearest Coast Guard Station for the weather forecast. Especially the Maritime Forecast. The Coast Guard's method of relaying this forecast was by a system of flags and pennants that they'd raise up a "forecast pole" every morning. a A flag up a pole is still very important to us "modern day" mariners. I use the huge US flag that flies at Fort Macon every morning that I fish out of Beaufort Inlet to gauge wind and sea conditions and to formulate my Fishing Plan, at least for the early morning hours. Certainly how hard a flag is flapping and the direction its flapping aren't the same as a color and shape coded system to deliver information to mariners, but hey, it works for me and its an important little piece to my puzzle.

The Single Red Pennant flying over at the Cape Hatteras Coast Guard Station means that a Small Craft Advisory is up. We've all heard it. If you've ever wondered exactly what it means, here it is:

It means winds from 25 to 38 miles per hour (22 to 33 knots) are expected to occur over the forecast area within the next 12 hours

As a Center Console Boat Operator and Fishing Guide, it pretty much means sleep late and cancel any Fishing Trip until tomorrow. The exception, for me, is that in May or June we are able to fish in relative comfort inside the Cape Lookout Bight even if there is a Small Craft Warning posted. A Cobia would still definitely be possible! Also, Albacore Fishing in the fall on a SCA for north winds can produce great fishing in the Inlets or right along the Beaches....