saxatilis
11-11-2000, 01:26 PM
Just returned from trailering the boat down from Maine to fish around Cape Lookout and have to say that we had an awsome time. We fished for 5 days, Sunday 11/5 to Thursday 11/9. The weather was fishable everyday. We did get out late two days because of very thick fog, but it didn't prevent us from having great days on the water. We caught 64 fish ranging from 8 to 16 lbs. The majority of the fish were in the 10 to 12 lbs range. We did manage five 13 lb, two 14 lbs, and one 16 lbs fish. We did this by fishing deep even when there were breaking fishing. Look 1 to 3 miles east of the last set of bouys that mark the Beaufort shipping channel at first light for knots of birds and thousands of busting fishing. You will have these fish all to yourself. If you luck out you can use your radio to locate the rest of the guide fleet (or they may find you). I found all the guides to be very respectful of the fish and other fisherman. The only minor problems we had was with non-guide local guys putting fishing down, but honestly it didn't bother me one bit. We talked with lots of guys and even traded flies and lures.
The whole trip only cost me $350 to $375 dollars. The biggest cost was by far gasoline and chum.
SOME TIPS IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE: Buy the ground menhaden chum, flat of the big glass minnows, and a box of the small glass minnows each day if you don't use it you can refreeze it. After the breaking fish get finicky set out the ground chum (while you are difting) in a bag and toss in a handful of glass minnows in every kown and then. I found that it is best to throw the glass minnow in the water on the up wind side of the boat so they sink under the boat. In a few minutes to 1/2 hour you will see fish cleaning up the chum. Blind cast out and let the fly sink deep and begin a very slow retrive.
If you don't want to buy chum you can slowly motor up the the rest of the fleet (respectful distance is 150 feet) on the up wind side and just blind cast using their chum. They will be happier though if you are chuming also.
Don't chase the fish they will come around to you and you will get your shots, so be patient!
Look around some of the anchored shrimp boats for marks on you fish finder. Blind cast around the marks or even right up and under the boat especially around the nets and bilge effluent.
tight lines and relax, it's a blast!
The whole trip only cost me $350 to $375 dollars. The biggest cost was by far gasoline and chum.
SOME TIPS IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE: Buy the ground menhaden chum, flat of the big glass minnows, and a box of the small glass minnows each day if you don't use it you can refreeze it. After the breaking fish get finicky set out the ground chum (while you are difting) in a bag and toss in a handful of glass minnows in every kown and then. I found that it is best to throw the glass minnow in the water on the up wind side of the boat so they sink under the boat. In a few minutes to 1/2 hour you will see fish cleaning up the chum. Blind cast out and let the fly sink deep and begin a very slow retrive.
If you don't want to buy chum you can slowly motor up the the rest of the fleet (respectful distance is 150 feet) on the up wind side and just blind cast using their chum. They will be happier though if you are chuming also.
Don't chase the fish they will come around to you and you will get your shots, so be patient!
Look around some of the anchored shrimp boats for marks on you fish finder. Blind cast around the marks or even right up and under the boat especially around the nets and bilge effluent.
tight lines and relax, it's a blast!