How calm are the waters - Harkers to the Cape?

[jmcmanus]

In my last posting about Spanish Macks in Oct, I mentioned not bringing my boat down to Harkers - starting to question that decision after hearing a lot about calm waters down there. My boat's a 16.5' aluminum Fisher that's very light and doesn't do well when the water gets choppy. Good waterway and small sound boat, but I'm not sure about bringing it to a larger sound like Core - particularly the deeper, broader parts.

Should we bring it just for use in the shallower marshes (puppy drum, specks)? Would we be able to use it in areas with Falsies and Bonito and count on it to get us over to the Cape? Or should we keep it simple this first trip and stick to taking the 4WD over on the ferry?

Thanks for any info/advice.

[CaptMatt]

There are lots of folks out there in a variety of boats such as you have. It's basically a judgement call. I think that you would probably be fine just keep an I on the weather. Last season I even had some small rigs fishing near by while 5 mi. offshore from the Cape.

[spilunkr]

If you put in from either Calico Jack's or the Harkers island Fishing Ctr. it is all protected water out to the "hook". Albies frequently show up inside the hook. If you have to venture outside the hook, wind begins to play more of a factor as you are now out in open water. But, as Capt. Matt indicated, if the weather is good you can run your boat all the way down to Beaufort.

Guy T.

[captjoe]

Just be very careful if you are going to bring a small alu. boat to use in the sound. Today there were 2 ft. hard chop on the incoming tide inside of Beaufort Inlet. The main thing to watch out for is not only the winds, but which way the tide is going. If you have an incoming tide and a west or southwest wind it will build up a rough chop in the sound one one end of the island, when the outgoing tide will do the same thing on the opsite end of the island.

Capt Joe

[Knotdun]

Really, taking the 4 wheel over may not be the other alternative. Folks that fish from shore for Albies usually fish the beach at the hook and I don't recall vehicles there. Most of those guys take one of the people ferry's that leave you there and pick you up later. Taking 4 wheel would be expensive and not really add anything for you.

I would say bring your boat. If too breezy, get a ferry over or splurge for guided boat. May as well bring boat if it is easy to do. I would say more often than not you could do fine inside the hook with it.