Outer Banks Newbie Questions...

[falsecast]

Will pay for lunch, beer, and gas if you take me fishing!!!


The above is true, but I would welcome any advice just the same. I'm from Vermont, fish the salt in Mass. and Fla. often, and am coming to Duck on the outer banks for the fist time next month April 20-25. Here's a few questions, if youve got any answers or suggestions I would appreciate them.
(Ive exhausted the internet research at this point...at least all I can find)

1. Anybody Kayak Fish down there? If so, where do they go?

2. Is there good fishing around Duck that time of year, or do I need to convince my wife that I have to travel a bit?

3. Surf Casting, Spinning, or fly fishing? I do it all and would like to do each, but I just dont know where to begin!

4. What am I gonna be fishing for?

5. If you are withing a reasonable drive from Duck and would like to take someone out, I will buy the gas, etc. and scrub the boat. Any takers?

Any and all suggestions welcome...I thank you in advance and wish you tight lines...(and in our current situation, peace).

[Jim Miller]

I was down that way last June. There was excellent Striper fishing to be had in Manns Harbor, around the causeway bridge pilings. The water is protected in that area and would be fishable from a Yak. Hope this helps!

[waltw]

I fish hatteras island more than up in the duck arera . It can be good at that time. Depending on the water temp. speckle trout cound be in the surf up in duck- for them you could use spinning or fly. the specs will be in holes or sloughs along the beach that you can cast to . Further south at cape point on Hatteras could find blues or big drum - depends on the water temp and condition. I do most of my fly fishing in the sound behind hatteras but water might be a little cold in late april. Another spot to fish is oregon inlet, there are places to fly fish or surf fish. Not all of the tackle shops are open now but you might try www.reddrumtackle.com - look at the fishing reports and the message board. this will cover hatteras island . Check their links for other shops - some in the nags head area will be listed .

hope this helps- if you have any questions get back to me before tuesday aas I will be going out of town. walt

[ruge13]

The following information I believe is pretty public and well known but if anyone from the area thinks I gave anything away I appologize, email me and I will delete it.

I go down every year during the summer but untill last year never really fished the area. I am not sure what is there this time of year but I found Oregon inlet to be a great spot with a couple different options in a small area. I am not sure how far you will travell from Duck though. The Outer banks fly shop in Nags Head might be of some help. Follow the highway south just past the Oregon inlet fishing center. This is option 1. Lots of guys fish the flats in the sound around the fishing center and there is plenty of parking there. Great easy access for a kayak to the sound. If you continue south just past the fishing center you will cross the Oregon bridge. Just past the bridge there is another parking lot. Here you can also access the sound if you cross the road, or you can fish the shore around the inlet (option 2). Option 3. is to walk around the inlet and out to the surf. Get a sattalite photo of the area from Mapquest and you will see everything I just described. I fly fished most of the time but you could use just about everything.

[RBarnhart]

A popular place in the Sound is behind Bodie Lighthouse near Oregon Inlet. A short walk from the lighthouse puts you in prime water for schoolie stripers, small bluefish. and speckled trout. In addition, there is a great area behind the Coast Guard station by the Oregon Inlet fishing center - same species. You could put your kayak in at the Oregon Inlet boat ramp, turn right and start fishing these areas in safe waters. The other area for both shore and kayak fishing at that time of year is the "Little Bridge" located about 1/2 mile from Whalebone Junction in south Nags Head on the "Causeway" to Manteo. Kayak can be launched right at the Little Bridge parking lot. On the ocean side, it may be a little early in Duck. Check out the website at avalonpier.com to get a sense of what's happening in the ocean.

From Duck to South Nags Head/Oregin Inlet is about 45 minutes.

If you're into kayaking there is always someplace in the Sound that is accessible in any wind direction. The sound in the Duck area is not really prime fishing in April - nice padddling though.

[Jim Miller]

Falsecast
Take a look at this site
http://outerbanksflyfishing.com/forum/
Good Luck!!

[falsecast]

Thanks for all the info. I leave in the morning and will leave a post after the trip. Tight lines to all...