Spring is in the air and the tell-tale signs are all around us. There are drum showing up in the surf, speckled trout have been caught in the sound and inland rivers are producing a nice catch of rockfish. What’s more, the weather is warming up so fair weather fishers (like me) are actually getting out there and giving it a try.
Commercial fishing
Hyde County had some of the first trawlers come in from ocean flounder fishing last week. This is great news for our local economy because boats haven‘t been able to pack out locally this winter. Because of the treacherous condition of Oregon Inlet, those that went out mostly stayed north to unpack their catch. Lots of boats didn’t even leave their home ports. A crew aboard the Charles D. Smith (out of Atlantic) unpacked a pretty catch of flounder at Sammie Williams Seafood in Engelhard Wednesday and Captain Alex (Swan Quarter) came into Hobo Seafood in Swan Quarter to pack out on Thursday. Obviously, they made it through the inlet safely, but I heard they bumped bottom pretty good. Oregon Inlet is our local fleet’s outlet to the Atlantic and it is constantly changing and shoaling. The fight to keep the inlet open is older than I am and very expensive. Actually, it can cost upwards of 20 million annually to keep it open. The other option for commercial vessels is to head down to Beaufort. But, it takes 28 hours to steam down to Beaufort Inlet to get out into the ocean. Then, they have to head back north to get to the fishery, wasting time and fuel. It’s kind of like the old saying about taking the long way to get to your elbow.
Boating safety
Shoaling is present in many of our local waters and those navigating a vessel should be mindful of these ever-changing channels. You don’t want to be like the crew aboard Honey Badger. This crew of blow boaters got the wind knocked out of their sails near Stumpy Point when they ran aground in January. The boat was a loss and they were lucky to get out alive. A Coast Guard crew had to air lift them out. Don‘t be a Honey Badger.
Inland fishing
The secretive bunch of fishers haven’t been bragging too loudly, but a few loose lips had some good stories to tell last week. I heard of a nice catch of speckled trout in the waters of the western Pamlico Sound. Last year the specks made a nice showing in the eastern Pamlico around Rodanthe. Hopefully this year we will have another nice season, starting on the mainland and moving to the island. One of my old-time fishing buddies told me a secret about the yellow butterflies being a good indicator of speckled trout biting. That being said, I saw a yellow butterfly fluttering along Stumpy Point highway. Here come the specks!
Blue gill and white perch have also been a good bet for inner banks anglers. I saw a cooler full caught in one of the ponds around Hyde County.
Captain Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Charters has been shad fishing in the Roanoke River. The fish are fat and full of roe and his parties have been having a good time angling for them. He even had a UNC-TV crew aboard to film the action recently, so look for our local stars on public television in the coming weeks.
With the shad making such a good showing, this is great news for the striped bass fishery. Capt. Andrews said stripers have been found around Washington in the Pamlico River, as well as the lower Roanoke River.
Beach fishing
Nothing cures the winter doldrums better than a deep breath of salt air and this is a great time to go out and get some. The village of Ocracoke is quaint and quiet right now and fish are starting to show up in the surf. Some of the local boys have been catching puppy drum, as well as big citation drum on the beach, according to the folks at Tradewinds Bait and Tackle. A few bluefish and dogfish have also been biting. I was going to head out during a trip to the island last week, but I spent my beach driving money at Gaffers. Beach driving rules are now in effect, but this is still a “transition period” so you could play dumb and head out there without paying $120 for your yearly permit ($50 for a week). I was going to try it last week, but considering my luck, I chickened out. I’m not telling you to break the rules - I’m just saying.
Don’t forget to sign the petition.
Hatteras folks are also having some good luck out on the beaches with drum, as well as some puffer fish and blues.
Offshore, the days of bluefin tuna fishing are numbered, but there has still been some news of nice catches in the Atlantic near our ports. Blackfin tuna and yellowfin are also a good bet aboard boats out of Ocracoke and Hatteras.
Tell me a fishing story!
Whether you caught or missed the big one, I want to share your fishing story with the folks in eastern North Carolina. Send me an email at
megpieinthesky@gmail.com or post a comment on my blog. Until next time, keep your line or net in the water and fish on and on!
No comments:
Post a Comment