North Carolina Offshore Surf Fishing
Saturday, 12 May 2007Offshore surf fishing in North Carolina is an exciting, accessible activity to all anglers. We can reach most locations either by ferry or car. And with a good understanding of equipment, regulations and weather conditions, a fisherman can never go wrong with offshore surf fishing at any of any season of the year, although normally the best time for surf fishing are spring and autumn.
One of the popular game fish species that you can catch when surf fishing along the coasts of North Carolina is the Channel bass. It’s best to catch channel bass during the spring season. The average size of this bass species in spring averages 35 pounds. During September, there are smaller-sized bass which range from 2 to 12 pounds in weight. These are more bountiful than the bigger species and are most likely to be seen in most sloughs. You can use fresh mullet as effective bait and your rod ideally should be 9 to 12 feet with medium action tips.
Blue fish is also another favorite of surf fishermen. They are usually available for fishing from April to December to anglers and boaters. Large-sized blue fish of 8 to 14 pounds usually arrive in late May and will remain up to November. The departure of these fish is hastened by the fall run of 15 to 20-pound giant blue fish. These fall visitors are abundant and very powerful. Should you wish to go for these fish, your fishing rods should be 10 to 12 feet. You must also use bait such as spot, menhaden or mullet or any kind of lure.
Spanish mackerel is a real, exciting challenge of a fish to any surf fisherman. Available from the month of June up to late September, this fish average 2 to 4 pounds and are usually caught by using fast-moving lures. Your fishing rod should be a 9-footer that’s great for light action. The minimum Spanish mackerel size permitted is 12 inches from the snout tip to the middle of tail fork.
Whether you are starting or veteran surf fishermen, offshore surf fishing in North Carolina is an immensely enjoyable activity with no great expense, requires no boat, access to excellent fishing conditions and lots of great action. With minimal effort and costs, you can very well catch excellent fish species by surf fishing the waters of North Carolina.
