The surf scene is spring and fall. Red and black drum, stripers and blues. Down there, the red drum are king. April and May are good. Mid to late fall is pretty stupid too.
When the weather warms up it gets pretty hot and the surf scene is limited. I'm amazed at how warm the back bays can get (Pamlico Sound) - water temps are 80 deg+ in mid-summer. There's a great "fluke" fishery (not our summer flounder, but southern flounder, and boy do they love sandworms), speckled trout, as well as the true weakfish. You might run across a puppy drum here and there. Tarpon in the sounds are not unusual, I came close to hooking up with a few last year. Out front, there are Spanish macks, albies, and pompano. And if you're nuts enough - there is shark fishing and kingfishing from a few of the piers. Crazy stuff.
In the summer, most hardcore fishing guys hit the offshore grounds and go for YFT/BFT, mahi, marlin, shark and wahoo (there are distinct optimal seasons for these species). Offshore, there is also decent bottom fishing for sea bass, triggerfish, some grouper, and various red snappers (did I tell about the time I got bitch slapped by a thresher as it chased up and gobbled my triggerfish from 300 feet of water?) There are a gazillion charter and headboats in the OBX to choose from.
What kills me about that place is that there is always something you can do year-round in the OBX. There's always something offshore, and even in the dead of winter (Jan-Feb-Mar) there is a stupid inshore boat striper fishery.
There is miles and miles of 4WD beach with wonderful structure, and quite a few large inlets. Then you have the shallower sounds, with their channels and pockets and holes.
You couldn't possibly fish it all in a lifetime. It is sand flea heaven (there's not a lot in terms of rocks).
You really suck now!
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