Hey all,

I am off on a fisheries related business trip to Kittyhawk North Carolina. I arrive Monday afternoon and am leaving on Wednesday sometime. Anyone know what the status of fishing is in that area right now. What shops should I check out for strange and exotic tackle to bring home? Any other suggestions as to how a jonsing fisher might entetain himself between ad around political meetings would be appreciated.

thanks in advance

Patrick,

Stripers are on the move, you may or may not be in a position to intercept them.

Kitty Hawk itself is pretty densely packed, but there is good fishing, some shopping, and lots of good eats. You might be a smidge early for the drum bite, but give it a shot, especially if there is a Southwest wind blowing.

BAIT FISHING...

Bring a beefy convench (10 foot or more, or better yet, buy one down there - I suggest an Allstar Breakaway LDFC 11 3/4) paired up with an Abu 7500 CT or a Newell P229 or a Daiwa Sealine X 30SH.

Spool it up with 25 lb MONO (don't fish braid in crowds, it's the etiquette down there). Sufix Tritanium is all the rage right now down there.

If you go to a shop, and it stocks "Cuda" shock leader, scarf it up. I'ts about $12 for 210 yards of 60 lb. mono leader. Worth every penny.

You can use a fish finder rig if you want to chunk fresh mullet - but some of the shops have special drum rigs pre-tied. Buy a couple, bring a few home to copy them. They are unique.

Bring down 6 and 8 ounce STORM style sinkers - they outperform the pyramids.

Use small chunks for drum.

Bring sandworms if you want to tackle southern flounder (a relative of the fluke). I think it's a bit early, but I have seen them taken in mid-April.

Juvenile bluefish will take frozen squid.

PLUGS

On the backside (Currituck Sound) you can hook up with puppy drum and maybe trout with small plugs. Bring small swimmers, tins, and rubber and bucktail jigs (white!). Use fluoro, even if the water is muddy.

Out front, throw everything you got. Definitely bring poppers and tins and white bucktails with trailers. I haven't yet tried metal lip swimmers or needlefish in the Spring.

Places (spot nazis notwithstanding) ... these are all well-known areas to fish.

1) Beach south of Currituck Light
2) Kitty Hawk Pier 252-261-2772
3) Avalon Pier 252 441 7494

Also, it's worth the drive down to Oregon Inlet. Park on the South side of the bridge or at the marina and hoof it out. Best is an outgoing tide, obviously.

Shops...

Kitty Hawk B&T 252 261-2955
TW's B&T 252 261 7848
Whitney's B&T 252 261 5551

Hope this helps. I'm jealous.

p.s. you can also try a make-up offshore charter at Oregon Inlet (YFT and Mahi). Inquire around...

Hey Ben, thanks for the info. Leaving for TF Green nin 5 minutes. Good thing is I am going down on a RFA trip and will be with the officers of the NC Beach Buggy Assoc. (Who says fishing 7 politics do not mix)

I have three periods of time to fish for a few hours and should get out at least twice.

May even be hooking up with Ryan and the boys.

do not be jealous, i have to go to south Jersey in another two weeks. :tm:

Have fun. If you buy a ton of stuff, save yourself the hassle with the airlines and UPS or fedex your stuff back.

-B :rude:

The stripers have all but moved north although I am sure there are a few stragglers around. You can find the year round resident rocks at the Manns Harbor Bridge but they tend to be on the small side. The drum are around the shoreline as are the trout. Bluefish should be here anyday now...If you can get offshore on a charter it's almost into full swing especially down in Hatteras.