Cold Wet Rain and Wind

Another week has come and gone and this one sucked. Windy and wet, and to make matters worse, its cold outside too. Hopefully there will be some nice weather ahead. I've got the Night Shift and my Boat is still at Hatteras so maybe a Fishing Trip will be possible...... This past week, I haven't caught anything. I rode around in the Croatan National Forest one day and I did find an Alligator, but no fish. The "fishing highlight" of my week was: this was the week that happens every spring, where my mailbox was stuffed with NC Fishing Citations. Two standouts were my career best 94 lb Cobia and my 23 lb 3 oz Blackfin Tuna that was caught in the fog, a mile off the beach, on a stingsilver! Photos above are of my "Fishing Wall of Fame". (31 NC Citations for 31 different Species), my Blackfin Tuna Citation, and the Alligator in the Croatan Forest.

March 18 Bluefin Tuna Chewing

After watching my boat sit on it's trailer up here for a month and not fishing for various reasons. Weather, cancellations, bad timing, etc. Yesterday I pretty much made my mind up to go Bluefin Tuna Fishing. The night before fishing, the bad news started coming in.... First the weather forecast that was 10-15 SW added in "becoming 15-20 SW in the afternoon.... Then I got the fishing reports from Thursday. More bad news, the 25 mile run from Hatteras had become a 60 mile run from Hatteras. Oh Jeez. Then I recruited Tuggy, who is pretty damn fearless and a Rescue Swimmer, and we made the decision to pull the boat to Oregon Inlet. We carved about 20 miles off the run that way, but we put the SW on the side of the boat, all the way out there and all the way back. That was brutal. On the way home we made 14 knots and we literally took TEN THOUSAND solid walls of 45 degree Ocean spray straight across the boat from left to right. Right in our faces, for nearly 3 hours. It was was a nightmare of EPIC PORPORTIONS that can be easily fixed with a $1000 set of curtains. Oh well, too late now.... On to the Fishing and it was great! Here's the story as best I can remember it.... Soon after setting out 4 lines, we lost our first Bluefin Tuna after a vicious surface strike and smoking 600 yards of line and the 130# dacron buried in the spool as Tuggy tried to move to the bow of the boat (in 4-6 foot swells). I was trying to clear 3 other lines and drive the boat in horrible conditions. The line popped like a 22 rifle shot and Tuggy was sent sprawling 10 feet backwards and laid out with  a seperated shoulder. One rod was permanantly crippled and out of the action. As we evaluated the injury and what had transpired, another Bluefin Tuna rolled up and swallowed the only bait that I hadn't cleared. After dumping a 50 wide, I felt the ping as something broke. After recovering 500 yards of line we discovered a broken crimp. The score at this point was Bluefin Tuna 2 and Top Water Charters 0. From that point on, we never put out more than 2 lines. We never went more than 10 minutes without a strike. Next came a 10+ foot long, 500+ pound Hammerhead Shark that Tuggy released after a hour long slugfest with 40 lbs of drag on the reel. Following that, Tuggy announced "he was done". Setting out 2 lines, the wait for a strike was very short. I took the next strike and everything ran smooth this time and an hour later I had this fish close and it battle was nearly over when another catastrophe struck. The engine shut down with an overheat alarm. I quickly passed Tuggy the rod (okay I lied, I was done too!) while I reset and refired the engine. Minutes later I had the leader and we each struck with a gaff and we had a 190 lb Bluefin Tuna on the deck. With the pressure off and 2 lines back quickly in the water, we didn't troll too far before we had another savage strike. Unfortunately, I popped the leader on another big BluefinTuna. With so much action, we failed to notice the rising wind that would make our lives so miserable very shortly! With Tuggy recovered from battle and big slicks appearing everywhere and pods of Pilot Whales and Common Dolphins all around the boat, Tuggy decided he was game for another fight. We had another quick strike and for the next 68 minutes he battled a Bluefin Tuna that we released (ouch) at 75+ inches and around 280 pounds. Finally, with one line left in the water and another big slick behind us, we had a strike that Tuggy and I double teamed and released another Bluefin Tuna in the 280 pound class. All the great times were soon forgotten as we started all long, cold, wet ride home. Eventually we made it to the Inlet and all ended well and it was the longest day of my life. We really had no business out there 45 miles offshore, in 6 foot seas and blowing spray, fighting immensely powerful fish in 6000 foot of water, with a harness on attaching you to a life and death struggle with a fish (and the man). I say this because every fish ran into the wind and the seas, so as an angler we ended up on the bow, recovering line, as the bow rose and dropped 4-6 feet, and we both stumbled and fell and held on and reeled. It would have made a great reality show. Trust me, you had to be there. I'm sure Tuggy will comment soon!  But we survived. Total Catch for the Day: 3 Bluefin Tuna up to 280 pounds and a 500+ pound Hammerhead Shark

March 15 The Ides of March are upon us.....

I'm back at Hatteras, working the Night Run and itching to go Bluefin Tuna Fishing. We'll see how the weather responds to my wishes.... Today I drove to up to Hatteras, and casted shad darts all along the way. In the Neuse River, Swift Creek, the Roanoke River, the Scuppernog River, and a ditch near the Alligator River. I caught nothing. I hope my pals Chris, Shane, Capt Steve, and Josh did better. I know Josh did...... Hopefully, better days are ahead. The above picture is a Fried Herring plate from the Cypress Grill in Jamesville. Kick ass. Total Fish for the Day: Nothing

March 12 Day-Night Doubleheader

Early in the day, I went to two local Mung Holes here in Beaufort. One is right by the road and everybody sees it and drives by it twice a day. What most people don't know that it is a steady producer of Bass and Bream. I realize that 99% of the people don't care, but..... So I went there and in 30 minutes I caught 11 Largemoth Bass and 1 Bluegill. Then I went to my "secret spot". Two years ago, this little puddle could produce 50 Bass and 100 Bream in 200 casts. No joke. Unfortunately, on this day, my little spot was choked with algae and I didn't catch a single thing...........JUST WHEN THINGS CAN'T GET ANY WORSE........ Then around 6pm I got a "wild hair" and I made the incredibly bad move by texting Chris the following words: "Let's go Catfishing". Ten long, cold hours later, at 4am, I made it home and collapsed on the couch. Nothing. One nibble and one drag pulled for 3 seconds. We dunked fresh cut Hickory Shad in deep holes, on flats, into downed timber. Everywhere that we thought logically would hold a Catfish. One thing is certain.....We suck at Catfishing. Right now, I'm looking to trade a Cobia sightcasting all day charter for somebody to take me and Chris out to catch a Catfish.... Total Catch for the Day: 11 Largemouth Bass and 1 Bluegill

American Line Burner

The American Shad is a great fighter. Smoking runs and direction changes. Multiple jumps. A true trophy among the hundreds of Hickorys that we have to plow through to get an American Shad bite. They are also a Tasty Fish, if you don't mind a few bones in every bite. Great Flavor.

March 11 Hickory Shad

Back in the Neuse River this morning and the wind was cold and the water was muddy. Two hours in and we'd seen a few Hickory Shad caught, but we were skunked. Finally we abandoned the Neuse and motored up Pitch Kettle Creek. Good move. Our first 2 casts produced double-headers. After a short flurry, we became interested in the many Longnose Gars that were rolling in the Creek. Now, I don't understand this, but we started fishing for Gar. People catch Gar by accident and they are a major head ache for fishermen. However, Chris and I couldn't catch one to save our lives. I hooked 3 and they all escaped while Chris pulled off a major mystery fish! As time wound off the clock, before we knew it we had wasted 3 hours and we had a piss poor catch of Hickory Shad. Nobody around us was catching anything. As a matter of fact, Pitch Kettle was nearly boat-less. On a whim, we ventured into the swamp where a boat like Chris's had no business.....and we found the motherlode. Unfortunately, they were in such a small pool, we could only annihilate them for a few minutes, but it was "every cast". Big, swollen Roe Shad and double hook-ups. It was a great 10 minutes and we jacked up some numbers. We ended our day in the River again looking for a mythical Catfish. Never found one. Again. Total Catch for the Day: 25 Hickory Shad

March 8 Shad Fishing

Chris and I broke me out of my slump with a day of Shad fishing on the Neuse River. The Fishing wasn't great, but it should be improving every day. Between the two of us, we caught 30 Hickory Shad in about 3 hours of fishing. We fishing in the vicinity of Pitch Kettle Creek, the scene of many great memories for Chris and I. Every stretch of shoreline brought about stories and laughter! We needed the Rouser with us bad!! The 5 lb Shad he lost off the rocks at Pitch Kettle Outpost is a Fish of LEGEND now! The day Linwood removed Chris and I off his property will also NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. As the years have passed, we can't recall if he was reaching for a pen and notepad to write down our license plate number OR if he was reaching for a PISTOL to make a statement to all trespassing, no good for nothing, freeloading Shad Fishermen...... Anyway, the highlight of our day was the 2 lb 4 oz American Shad that I caught. American Shad are more commonly known as White Shad are very good to eat. The Sanitary Restaurant in MHC sells a ton of them every Spring. Everyone should try it...........We also spent a couple of hours soaking cut bait on the bottom. We only had one bite and I pulled the hook on a 10 lb Bowfin right at the boat. No Catfish. Our Catfish program needs some work, for sure. For our efforts, I got about 10 roe Shad and one nice "eating" Shad. I'm out the door with a fillet knive right now.... Total Catch for the Day: 30 Hickory Shad and 1 American Shad

March 6 The Forecast Looks Windy

Another week at Hatteras is winding down... Crappy weather has been the norm... I will bw leaving my boat up here and I am still trying to get a day off on a pretty day so I can go Bluefin Tuna fishing. We'll see how it works out this week. From the forecast, it looks more likely that I'll be chasing Hickory Shad in the Neuse River. Really, I could care less as long as there is a chance to chase something....Please. Its been a strange year. Send me some fish. Please.

Feb 27 Just a Fish, Please

I call this a slump. Bad timing. Wrong Move. Fate. Whatever. Here it is the end of February and I've had two or three awful trips in a row. So on a pretty day in Beaufort, while the Striped Bass were "re-appearing" off Oregon Inlet and the Bluefin Tuna frenzy continues off Hatteras.... I went to a small pond in Beaufort just to catch a few. It was a success. I caught 2 Largemouth Bass and 2 Bluegill on ultralight spin and a roostertail. The Slump is over! Total Catch for the Day: 2 Largemouth Bass and 2 Bluegill

Feb 24 Different but the Same

What a beautiful day on the Ocean. Unfortunately, my client couldn't make it to Hatteras to go Bluefin Tuna fishing and I was already up there so I got a couple of my Ferry Crew members to go with me. Unfortunately, they weren't interested in Tuna and that Red Hot Bite, so we motored up to Oregon Inlet to chase Striped Bass. And chase and chase and chase. To my knowledge, there were NO Striped Bass caught in North Carolina waters on this day. Charlie, Johnny, Blake and I went on an 80 mile boat ride and we had a memorable lunch off Nags Head (self heating MRE). When that's the highlight of a day spent fishing.....it doen't speak well for the fishing.............. Meanwhile, down south at Hatteras, the boys that were Bluefin Tuna fishing were having there own troubles. Giant marks of fish that wouldn't bite so well in the morning. Later in the afternoon when they turned on, they were mostly a larger class of 350+lb Bluefin Tuna that destroyed alot of high priced jigging and spinning tackle. Maybe we did the right thing. At least nothing got destroyed.. but my "good fisherman" reputation with Charlie. Sorry Charlie, we should've went for Tuna.... It would've seemed the anglers fault, not the Captains! Total Catch for the Day (and Month): Nothing

Weather Windows for Striped Bass and Bluefin Tuna

There are a couple of Great Fisheries, Striped Bass and Bluefin Tuna, going on in coastal NC right now, World Class Fisheries. Unfortunately, each of these fisheries require a special weather windows in order to participate. Also, for me, on a Center Console, my window must open a little bit wider..... However, I am in position to take advantage of these awesome fisheries by leaving my Boat up at Cape Hatteras. The Striped Bass fishing up at Oregon Inlet needs great weather to make it comfortable, however any wind out of the west is generally fishable. Likewise, the Bluefin Tuna at Hatteras just need light winds and calm seas for me to participate. Remember, I am fishing around a full-time job.  This week would've been great.  I get off work Tuesday and unfortunately, we are looking at 20-25kt N winds. Therefore, Tuesday is a no-no. Hopefully, wednesday and thursday will look good and I can get into some great fishing. My fingers are crossed.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, especially my momma. And maybe a few others who might still check out this blog...... who knows...... Anyway, I'm back at Hatteras for the next 7 days and my Boat is here and I'm loaded with gear for Striped Bass and Tuna. Hopefully, when I get off work on Feb 22nd, the sun will be shining, the winds calm, and the fish abundant. Call me if anyone is interested. I'm sure that last fishing report will create a big demand for my services, but hey, I told it like it was.

Feb 13 Strike Out

Today, I sucked. Fishing outside of my home area is always a challenge. Striped Bass Fishing, on the other hand, is pretty simple. There is one major factor though. Where to fish. Lack of a little timely local knowledge can kill a day. Especially a day when you get up at 3am, drag a boat 170 miles, launch, run 20 miles the wrong way, and finally end up at the right spot at the same time the fleet disperses due to the USCG Cutter, Inflatable, and C-130. The problem with yesterday though, was I was told by 2 different Captains where to go... And I ignored that info and run north up to "the same old place" where we'd been killing them. It was an abysmal plain. A dead zone. So by the time we got in the right spot, it was over. My crew saw lots of Whales, bait marks, and had a nice boat ride. We saw a 45-50 pounder at the boat ramp. What a let down that was.... I am sorry for my blunder. Total Catch for the Day: Nothing

"Baby Penguin" at Oregon Inlet

Here's everybody's "Baby Penguin". Its actually called a Dovekie or Little Auk. Its nearest relative is the better known Puffin. It nests in high Arctic cliffs and ranges south in the winter. Oregon Inlet is well south of its normal range. It is a diving bird that feeds on tiny crustaceans and tiny fish. Sea Lice?? I also saw my first Harbor Seal this winter down at Hatteras Inlet last week. Lots of snow, cold wind, seals, and "baby penguins"...... It's about time for some warm weather!!!

Jan 29 Cape Lookout Fizzle

What a difference 100 miles makes! Today I fished in absolutely perfect conditions. Same water temp as Oregon Inlet yesterday... Same bait... Absolutely no catchable fish between Beaufort Inlet and Shark Island! Honestly, all I saw was hundreds of Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphin. Evidently the Striped Bass can tolerate Whales and 1000s of Boats pounding them off Oregon Inlet, but can not stand the harrassment delivered by Flipper. In a beautiful setting, watching these Dolphin frolic around the boat was amusing.... For about 5 minutes. I want fish. I want blood. I did manage to catch a perfect Starfish on a speck rig off Shackleford Banks... That's it... Total Catch for the Day: 1 Starfish

Jan 28 Striped Bass Fishing

With my Boat on the shelf with false alarms that make trolling for Striped Bass nearly impossible....... This morning at 3am, I made a good decision to head out the door and go Striped Bass fishing at Oregon Inlet with Capt Tuggy. Honestly, the fishing was so good, it sucked. However, Capt Tuggy gets full credit for working his "Striper Magic" and I know that lots of boats failed to produce.... Or produce legally.... Whatever..... How can the fishing be so good that it sucked? Well, I got up at 3 am and I got home at 9pm. We basically fished for 20 minutes, caught 20 Striped Bass with a total weight of between 350-400 pounds. Caught them all at once. up to three per rod. We had a 35, 37 and 39 lb 12 oz Striped Bass. Tuggy got the biggest one as part of a doubleheader with a 25 pounder. I've watched his technique and studied his rigs enough now... I'm ready. I need to get my engine fixed. It looks like the fishing is going to be good for another month. At one time today, we marked 60 feet of solid Striped Bass. Lots of Whales today also Right Whales, Humpbacks and Fin Whales. Also, lots of C-130s, Helicopters, and CG Cutters. The Feds certainly dont want their Striped Bass tampered with in wake of last weeks massacre. Obama would proud of their vigilance along the 3 mile line at a 1000 dollars an hour..... Total Catch for the Day: 20 Striped Bass up to 39 lb 12 oz

Hatteras Blizzard

I finally got to play in the snow on Jan 22nd. It snowed all day and half the night at Hatteras. We had at least 7" and a few drifts as high as 5 foot. Needless to say, Fishing was at a standstill. I think. I know the Ferrys were until Sunday morning.....

Elvin Hooper and his World Record Red Drum

For those that don't recognize that name, Elvin Hooper caught a 90 pound Red Drum on November 7, 1973. This fish was the IGFA All Tackle World Record for exactly 11 years. Elvin caught this Drum off the Rodanthe Pier and 37 years later, he is still a legendary figure out here on Hatteras Island. Elvin is a retired school teacher and recently starting working at the Hatteras Ferry for "something to do". Tonight I asked Elvin about the story behind his record catch. I had heard a few rumors and wanted to hear about that fish from the guy who caught it. Its a great story. Here it is.... Back in those days, Elvin and a small group of friends fished every night from Nov 1 through Nov 14. It was a tradition. On the night of Nov 7, 1973 Elvin was fishing 2 rods. He got a bite and was reeling in a Clearnosed Skate. He had the Skate on the surface, clearly visible under the pier lights. Before he could lift the Skate to unhook him, he had a bite on his other rod. He quickly leaned the rod with the Skate on it against the pier railing to attend to the other rod. After catching and releasing a smaller Drum and rebaiting and casting the second rod back out, Elvin moved back to the rod with the Skate on it. As he lifted the rod, he felt a strong thump. Line suddenly ripped off the reel. A few minutes later Elvin's friends had netted and landed a 90 pound Red Drum on the deck of the pier. The Skates tail was wagging out of the Old Drum's mouth. Elvin's Red Drum weighed 95 pounds that night on the Pier's scales. Unfortunately, the scales weren't certified and it was 6 months later when the frozen and then thawed out fish was weighed officially and the scale read 90 pounds. A replica of Elvin' s Drum hangs on the wall at Finnegan's Restaurant in Buxton. On Nov 7, 1984 David Deuel caught a 94 pound Red Drum from the surf at Avon. Elvin's record might still stand if certified scales would've been readily available. Who knows. Elvin doesn't reallycare, h e just wishes he could legally keep one on occasion for an Outer Banks culinary classic, stewed Drum. The Puppys just aint the same !The date of November 7th is a date that ALL Red Drum on the Outer Banks think of as the most important date of the year. Elvin's story is a classic and it is a tale that will never die. I hope my blog readers enjoy this tale and hopefully I will have a good fishing report to post soon!

Jan 20 Crazy Fishing Rules

The top picture is of hundreds of dead Striped Bass that stretched for miles. Discards of a legal Trawling Operation in NC. The bottom picture is a deck load of icy-dead Speckled Trout scooped up in a frozen NC creek. Another ridiculous NC decision. One the one hand, a Trawler crew can fish all day and cull hundreds of dead 18-25 pound Striped Bass in order to max out the monetary value of their 50 fish limit of 40 pounders..... HELLO Stupid Example ONE.... On the "just as stupid" hand, a fisherman is not allowed to pick up a dead, frozen 8 pound Speckled Trout stuck in the marsh grass. Unlawful to possess..... HELLO Stupid Example Two...... The SPECKLED TROUT must lay there and rot because of IGNORANCE while the STRIPED BASS must float there and rot because of GREED. Another pair of baffling fisheries decisionshe State of North Carolina. Saltwater fishermen in states like Florida, So Carolina, Texas and Louisiana must be scratching their heads over the Speckled Trout ruling. Meanwhile, fisherman in Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, and Maine are absolutely livid over the Striped Bass massacre that NC politicians endorse just south of the Va state line. Who's running this place, Butch Davis? Hell he didn't see anything or know anything. Only in North Carolina. Move NCDMF to Carrboro. Can't get any worse.

Jan 16 Dogfish Heaven

Today we scoured the Cape Lookout Shoals. Every nook and cranny. I dont know about last week, or tomorrow, or next week, but today there were NO STRIPED BASS AT CAPE LOOKOUT. They weren't there on Jan 15 or Jan 16. If anything changes, you can read about it here..... Back to the fishing. Chip and Shem fished with me years ago and today they came back and brought Antonio, an exchange student from Spain. Antonio had never been fishing. The great thing for me was, he was thrilled with catching Sharks, didn't matter that they were Spiny Dogfish., also called Dog Sharks or Horndogs. Chip and Shem have fished all over the North America and they said "No Problem" when I explained our dilemma! Our dilemma being, cold water, lack of fish and 10,000 Bottlenosed Dolphins on the Shoals. The sheer volume of Dolphin on and around the Shoals usually has disasterous results for the clear water sight casting that I like to do. The only guarrantee I could offer was the Dog Sharks. So for 2 hours we drifted in 60 feet of water and bailed Dog Sharks. Doubles and Triples. The water around the boat was teeming with Dog Sharks. We caught them on bait and jigs. Before and after, we rode the Shoals and pretty much watched the Dolphin. Blue Planet material to say the least. Great experience for Antonio. Then we fished the Rock Jetty, the Port Wall, and the MHC High Rise Bridge. Nothing. Total Catch for the Day: 60 Spiny Dogfish from 5-12 lbs

Jan 15 Spiny Dogs at Cape Lookout

I returned home and with a trip scheduled for tomorrow I figured I needed to go on a little scouting trip. I found ideal conditions, which make any trip much more enjoyable. I found hundreds of Bottlenose Dolphins playing on the Shoals and riding the swells. Now for the bad news..... All I found to catch was Spiny Dogfish. And I found them by the hundreds. In all honesty, they do put up a nice tussle and they are heavily regulated and support a massive commercial fishery. Therefore, somebody likes to eat them!! Hopefully, tomorrow we will catch a few Dogs and also find some more glamorous species. Total Catch for the Day: 8 Spiny Dogfish up to 10 pounds, 1 Clearnosed Skate and 1 Pinfish

Jan 14 15 Striped Bass up to 32 pounds

I had the pleasure of fishing with Tuggy and the Greenville crew today and we definitely got off go a slow start and I had a long day. I left Beaufort at 2am, we left the dock in Wanchese at 630am and were fishing by 830am...... And at 2pm we had 2 Striped Bass in the box and had released a 10 lb Striped Bass. Then we finally got hot. In the next hour we caught 13 Striped Bass. Most of these fish came on umbrella rigs and the rest on Mo-Jos. Finally, while trying to catch our last couple of fish for our limit, we got 6 fish on at once, includindg 2 doubleheaders. A 30 lb Striped Bass, a 20 lb Striped Bass, and an umbrella rig all at once reminds me of pulling the anchor back in the commercial Grouper fishing days. Way earlier in the morning we caught and released our first Striped Bass, a 10 pounder, which I caught on a jig on a light spinning rod. That was our only jigging bite, which was a bummer. At the end of the day, our 3 top Striped Bass were 32, 31, and 30 pounders. Our 10 fish limit weighed approximately 230 pounds. All in all, we went something long stretches between bites, but we finished with a hell of a flurry! Total Catch for the Day: 15 Striped Bass up to 32 pounds