Other fish around Harker's in Nov.

[ppatricelli]

Can anyone (Capt Joe?) give me information about other fish options in the general Harker's area the first week in Nov. I was there last year and had several days of bad weather which the guides did NOT have an option for since they were out of area guides. The last day we got heavy winds but were able to go deep inside and catch specks since we were with a local guide. Doesn't sound too exciting except for a couple of Northwesters who had never even seen specks before.
Specifically, I know there are King macks around since we heard discussions on the radio. Any way to target them on flies? How about reds between Harker's and the Cape? Anyplace one could sight fish them productively? One guide seemed to indicate that if he had brought his GPS or Loran unit he could put us on amberjacks over wrecks.
What are the other options is case we get a bad case of Albert's fatigue or bad weather and can't get "out?"
Peter Patricelli

[captjoe]

There are alternative fish to fish for around the Cape Lookout area in November. If the weather is rough as you mentioned, you can go fishing for the speckled trout and we do have sight fishing for redfish in November, if you know where to go! Some of our best redfishing happens from November thru February. If the weather is calm enough you can go offshore and fly fish for the king mackerel around the offshore rocks and wrecks. We will usually chum up the kings and use full sinking lines to get a fly down to them. Usually a 400 or 500 gr sinking line works well. Use a little bit of AFW Micro wire in 40 lb. test for a bite tippet and you can catch kings on the fly.

[DirtyDave]

Excellent sight fishing will be available for our red drum but you will need a tunnel skiff to get close enough to these fish. Most folks bring threir modified v boat to the beach, this will not work and could get you in trouble. Drifting over the grass flats in Back Sound(the body of water between harkers island and shackledford banks) for specks and drum can be alot fun. Control your drift. Fish in 3 to 6 foot over broken grass beds. 7 wts work well loaded w/interm. Plenty of bait to chose from glass minnows,pinfish, finger mullet, shrimp, crabs. Clear water light colored patterns, stained water drarker colors.
Try fishing into dusk, usually a good bite.

[ppatricelli]

Thanks guys, that's helpful. Now I just need a guide that knows where "the right spots" are on a day when it's blowing. Others reading these postings should know that most of the guides out of Harker's have temporarily converged there from up and down the Atlantic coast for the Albacore blitz and really know very little about the other local fishing opportunities.
Peter Patricelli

[captjoe]

If you need more local information about guides, give us a call at Cape Lookout Fly Shop or visit our icon on the carolna reports.