Outer Banks Vacation

[Rexhamer]

Hello from chilly Massachusetts. My wife and I are planning a fishing/relaxation vacation trip to the Outer banks for early May. I have a few questions:

1) General area to stay? We will be driving, bringing all our fishing gear and expect to do a lot of surfcasting, as well as a charter or two. I am initially looking at the Hatteras area, but also note there appears to be a lot of opportunities around the Oregon Inlet. Although we won't mind making day trips, what would be the best area to stay that will afford the most local spots?

2) We would like to rent a cottage oceanfront or soundfront (great prices during off season). Will the prevaling winds at that time of year be from the SW? If so, would that make it a bit calmer oceanfront on the beach?

3) Any chance of a red drum from shore at that time?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

[albacized]

If I were you, I'd stay out in the Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras area. In that area, you have the point itself, one or two long (and productive) piers as well as Hatteras Inlet. And of course, as with all of the OBX, you have miles and miles of beaches to check out. The best tackle shops on the OBX are out in that area as well.

I've been up in MA for a while so my info is a little old (I used to fish there often in the 80's when I live in VA and we took many trips down). But as I recall, yes...red drum are a possibility at that time. It's also the time when spanish mackerel just start to show up...so hopefully, your trip is timed so that you get to experience these fish. Also on the list of species available (depending what techniques you like to use) include fluke, speckled and gray trout, bluefish (the big ones are probably gone by then), assorted croakers/spot/etc, northern whiting(locally called sea mullet), assorted sharks (mostly small dogfish but a few small duskies mix in as well), large cow nosed rays and there is even a run of albies (albeit smaller than the run that occurs in the fall). I don't know how much gear you want to bring, but I'd bring at least one heavier surf outfit as well as one lighter outfit.

The wind will mostly prevail from the SW, although current weather patterns can temporarily alter that. So I would guess that staying on the ocean side would offer a little bit more lee than the sound side. As far as what's currently available for rentals, I wouldn't be much help since it's been so long that I fished there.

But in any regards, have fun and good luck.

[Ken Catch]

Rex sent you an email

[Rexhamer]

Albacized - thanks for the info. I will continue to look in the Hatteras area. As for species, my preference would be to target something new to me. So we would love a red drum instead of a bluefish. But in the end, we won't be too choosy.

Ken - I didn't get your e-mail. I adjusted the settings, please try again, or maybe a PM.

[Hank G]

First of May we'll be fishing the Ocracoke (surf fishing) tournament. Can be some spanish that early, but generally not. Small blues, sea mullet, grey trout, flounder, puppy drum. Two years ago there were lots of big drum, even during the day, at the last point short of Ocracoke inlet. You'll see the fishermen, but it is easy compared to Hatteras. Almost a sure thing at night. Cape Point (Hatteras) can be good at that time, but nearly all at night and one needs to be very specialized to fish the point with the locals. I'd stay on Hatteras Island but schedule one day for Ocracoke. Email me as you get closer and I'll give you a current report.

BTW, my girlfriend lives in Quincy and I want to know when the flounders start in the spring. Also, I heard the codfish fleet sails from Marshfield. I'll be up in early March for restaurant week in Boston, but probably won't have much time to fish.

Hank

[ACE]

1)As far as places to stay, do you want wife/relaxing or fish,fish,fish?
2)Expect it to be windy, you are out on a sandbar miles offshore. What little villages there are are built in the slight elevations or in the trees that can grow in the lee of the wind. Sound side is calmer, ocean side is the ocean, the kind with waves. You'll notice a delineation in wind, water temps and species if you are North or South of Cape Hatteras.
3)Red Drum, absolutely.
Did you get my email?
ace

[Rexhamer]

Thanks to everyone for the info.

Ken - still no e-mail or PM.

hank - looks like we will miss the Ocracoke tournament (We will be arriving weekend of May 5-6). Good luck, leave a few fish for the rest of us! I'm not a flounder fisherman so I can't help you with that, but I can tell you there are some charter boats out of Green Harbr in Marshfield that will target cod depending on the season. Big head boats (fleet) that regulaly target groundfish such as cod sail out of Plymouth Harbor. We can talk soon as we closer to May.

ACE - my wife fishes also, so my primary focus is on fishing, but we will also do some tourist things. That is why I am leaning towards Hatteras as it offers good fishing and a good starting point for day trips north or south. Looking forward to chasing red drum. Got your PM, Thanks.

[Ken Catch]

Rex, I've been away I'll shoot that email over today