Fishing on the OBX – Outer Banks Blue's Vacation Tips

Summer Outdoor Adventure Guide to the Outer Banks of North Carolina

As the weather heats up, so does the fun at the NC Outer Banks. Summer is prime time for outdoor activities like fishing, swimming, surfing, boating, kayaking, hiking, cycling, and so much more. READ MORE

Caught one! Memory Monday 3/2/2010

Good Monday morning from the Outer Banks! Temperatures are expected to rise to near 70 degrees today, tomorrow and Wednesday of this week. We feel like we caught some luck this week here on the beach. Spring is definitely in the air and it appears that the Groundhog was right when he predicted an early spring last month! READ MORE

Fishing for Fun and Food in the NC Outer Banks

Right off the coast of Cape Hatteras, two mighty currents collide.

One is the warm-water Gulf Stream, flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico. The other’s the Labrador Current, which carries much cooler water down from the Arctic Ocean. READ MORE

Memory Monday 4/29/19 Fishing and Memories

We’ve had a great few weeks of weather and festivities on the Outer Banks. Today is cooler than it has been recently, but it is expected to be in the 80 degree range for the rest of the week. A good week to go fishing! READ MORE

What You Need to Know About Outer Banks Surf Fishing in the Fall

The fall in the Outer Banks is the best time to go surf fishing. At the end of the summer, the weather is cooler, and there are fewer people. Of course, you don’t have to fish in the fall. Surf fishing is fun any time of the year. It can be a relatively inexpensive hobby compared to other activities such as windsurfing or kiteboarding. Here are the things you need to know about surf fishing in the fall in the Outer Banks.

Equipment

You don’t need much in the way of equipment — a rod and reel. The tackle shops in the Outer Banks sell rod and reel combinations so you don’t have to figure out the rod and reel separately. These combinations are sold in different weights and lengths. An eight to nine foot rod is the best size to buy.

When you’re surf fishing, make sure you have a sand pipe so you can put the end of the rod in it. This sand pipe can be a piece of PVC pipe stuck in the sand. You won’t want to put the rod in the sand because a reel can get ruined.

Bait

Depending upon the season, the bait will vary. The local tackle shops can help you figure out which bait you need. Whatever bait you buy, make sure you keep it in a cooler so it stays fresh. The fish bite better when the bait smells good and is fresh.

You might also want to have artificial lures to attract the fish. Some fish like a lure better than bait. Just make sure the lure is shiny and pick one that is heavy enough to cast out into the ocean and also make sure you have extras in case the fishing line breaks.

North Carolina Fishing License

A fishing license is required to surf fish. You can get that license through any of the tackle shops in the Outer Banks or through the N.C. Marine Fisheries and Wildlife website.

Beach Driving Permit

During the off-season, you can drive your four-wheel drive vehicle on the beach in a few places, such as Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Hatteras Island. You may need a permit to drive on the beach in some of these areas.

Best Place to Fish

The best place to surf fish in the Outer Banks is Cape Point. This point is where the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current come together. The Diamond Shoals are located off of Cape Hatteras and are sandbars that shift with the currents. You can find plenty of fish between the two currents and the Diamond Shoals.

Cape Point can be crowded with fishermen from all over. The most popular times are the months of September and October. You can catch such fish as sea mullets, trouts, mackerels, bluefish, and croakers.

Surf fishing is done at any time of the year in the Outer Banks. However, the best time is in the fall when the hot temperatures are gone and some of the fish are migrating during the off-season, providing plenty of fish to catch.

Top 10 Activities for Kids on the Outer Banks

Every parent desires to build memories with their child and what better way to build memories than when you’re on vacation. Going on vacation can get costly especially if you have kids, but fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Here is a list of activities you can do with the kids for little to no cost while you are staying in the Outer Banks.

Go Crabbing

This is a fun activity for all ages. When I was a young child we would go crabbing in the sound all the time. There are a few things you will need for this activity. First you will need a bucket, a net, some raw chicken, and some string (strong enough to hold the chicken.) Once you have this you will want to cut the chicken into chunks and tie the string around it. After that you are ready to go. Once you get to the sound dump your chicken into the water while holding onto the string. Soon enough you will have a crab gran onto the chicken. Scoop the crab out of the water with the net and place it in the bucket with water. Once you have had all the fun you can handle you can release the crabs you have caught. You are able to keep them as long as they meet requirements. I would check with a local bait and tackle shop to see what the requirements are as they may change.

Visit a Lighthouse

Making a trip to the lighthouse can be both fun and educational. There are three different lighthouses to choose from here in the Outer banks. First you have the Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla, then you have Bodie Island located in South Nags Head, and last you have Cape Hatteras which is located in Buxton. The kids will enjoy climbing to the top and seeing the view.

Visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

This would be a fun rain day activity. Many places you visit will have an aquarium close by but the kids always seem to enjoy going. At the aquarium kids will be able to see alligators, otters, and the largest collection of sharks in the state. They will love the touching tank full of stingrays and the hand on sea turtle rescue exhibit. If you go when it is not raining make sure to check out the nature trail and the sound side pier.

The Island Farm in Manteo

After visiting the Aquarium make sure to stop by The Island Farm for a fun and educational experience for the whole family. Here you will be able to experience island life as it was more than 150 years ago. Children will get the chance to dress up, play with toys and games from the 19th century, and play and feed the farm animals. Be sure to check their event page online before going. They offer special programs such as ox-drawn wagons rides and wash day on the farm only certain days of the week.

Visit Jockey’s Ridge

What could be more fun than climbing a large sand dune?! Nothing! That is why visiting Jockey’s Ridge is on our list! Kids will love running up the large sand dunes and then rolling down. Be careful though! In the summer the sand can get hot.

Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial READ MORE

Special Family Memories: Memory Monday September 29, 2014.

Special Family MemoriesThis week’s Memory Monday Photo submission comes to us from Robbie Dusing of Inwood, West Virginia who stayed with Outer Banks Blue this past July in the vacation rental property “Beachcomber’s Paradise.”This collage of memories lets us know that Robbie’s family had a great time on the Outer Banks.There is nothing like a family vacation on the Outer Banks to recharge your life batteries.Thanks Robbie for sharing. We look forward to serving you and your family again soon.All the best from the beach!By Tim Cafferty, President, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services

Chillin’ in Corolla: Memory Monday August 25, 2014.

Chillin’ in CorollaThis week’s first submission for Memory Monday comes to us from Nancy Stymacks of Landing, New Jersey who stayed with Outer Banks Blue in the vacation rental property “Looking Glass.” As you can see Nancy and family enjoyed all of the Outer Banks as they got to the 4-wheel drive territory north of Corolla to see the wild horses.

Kissing Horses

Nothing better than a nice soak in the hot tub after a long day of travel to the Carova area and Nancy’s dog seems perplexed about why he can’t join Dad in the hot tub!Thanks Nancy for sharing your Memory Monday photos!Also this week we have photos from Jen (no last name) who shared this memorable photo from their family vacation with Outer Banks Blue. Let’s hear it for Summer Vacation 2014!!!Thanks Jen for sharing.All the best from the beach!By Tim Cafferty, President, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services

Outer Banks “Wicked Tuna” premiere

Wicked Tuna North vs. South Premiere on The OBX! Tomorrow night (Sunday, August 17th) the National Geographic Channel premieres a new series that spotlights the Outer Banks offshore fishing industry in “Wicked Tuna North vs. South,” but an exclusive number of Outer Bankers got a sneak peek preview this past week. Outer Banks Blue’s reporter on the scene (me) was invited to attend the premiere.Wicked Tuna is a television series that is hugely popular and been running on the National Geographic Channel for the past three seasons. The show is based out of Gloucester, Massachusetts and follows the exploits of Bluefin Tuna fishermen that chase the monster fish in hopes of bagging thousands of dollars. “Wicked Tuna” is Nat. Geo’s most viewed program.Bluefin tuna are the most desired fish for sushi and the overseas markets, particularly Japan, are willing to pay $30 or more per pound for the fish that weigh in at several hundred pounds. Wicked tuna chronicles the adventure of catching these behemoth fish.Last season’s top boat (F-V Tuna.com) was able to bring in more than $126,000 worth of Bluefin tuna over the course of the 13 week television season 3 of the show.Trying to build on the success of the original show, this new series, “Wicked Tuna North vs. South,” brings some of those captains from Gloucester to the Outer Banks to put their fishing skills up against the best the Outer Banks has to offer and the premiere showed that the show is going to be hugely entertaining. The Outer Banks enjoys a Bluefin fishing season each year beginning in the winter months and continuing until the fishing quota is met in the early spring.The filming for the series took place in the spring out of the fishing village of Wanchese and highlights the local fishing boats “Wahoo,” “The Doghouse,” and the “Fishin Frenzy.” Local captains and mates were introduced in the show along with the already known captains and mates of the northern vessels. Local Captains Reed Meredith, Greg Mayer, and Britton Shackelford will be introduced to “Wicked Tuna” viewers in style and are soon to become very famous.

“Fishin’ Frenzy” headed to the fishing grounds

In the first few minutes of the series that will air Sunday night Captain Greg Mayer and his mate Nick Gowitzka open the Outer Banks Bluefin Tuna fishing season in a unique way. You will need to watch the show to see all of his antics, but Nick opens the season with

a bottle of champagne and a 12 gauge shotgun READ MORE

“Make This a Family Tradition”: Memory Monday August 11, 2014.

The first Memory Monday photo submission this week comes to us from Ashley Cordelli of Hagerstown, Maryland who stayed with Outer Banks Blue in the vacation rental property “Salt Shaker.”

Yes, I know I am cute!

These pictures bear out the point that Ashley made when she sent in the photos when she said “We had an amazing time and plan to make this a family tradition!”

Hello Fans!

Thank you Ashley for your photo memories!We also are adding a second Memory Monday this week due to the huge number of photos that we’ve been receiving lately.This second set of photos comes to us from Brandy Meadows of Metropolis, Illinois who has stayed with Outer Banks Blue at the properties “Robins’ Nest” in Corolla as well as “Metedeconk” in Kill Devil Hills. Brandy said Robins’ nest “was great” and “you can’t beat the views at Metedeconk!”Nothing like a couple of beautiful ladies on the beach to get our attention on a Monday morning!Thanks Brandy for sharing your photo memories!All the best from the beach!By Tim Cafferty, President, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services

Tag: Fishing on the OBX