WHAT SHOULD I FISH FOR INSIDE OREGON INLET

[mike hogue]

I WILL BE IN HATTERAS FOR ONE WEEK DURING THE MIDDLE OF MAY. I HAVE A 16 FT CAROLINA SKIFF AND WILL BE OUT IN AT OI, WEATHER PERMITTING. I AM LOOKING TO FISH AROUD THE BRIDGE AND INSIDE THE INLET. WHAT SHOULD BE BETTING AROUD THIS TIME AND WHAT BAITS AND TECHNEQS SHOULD I USE AND ALSO WHAT AREAS SHOULD I FISH. ANY INFO WILL BE APREDIATED. THANKS

[Firestomper]

I will be there the 13 through the 20 i will be fishing for anything that bites. Will be my first time out there so who knows.

[happy hours]

grey trout,sea mullet...use a bottom rig with fresh shrimp or blood worms,butterbean bucktail rigs also.
good luck

[mike hogue]

THANKS FOR THE HELP HAPPY HOURS. WE HAVE GOOD LUCK USING AN ELECTRIC CHICKEN GRUB FOR TROUT IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. MAYBEE ILL GIVE THAT A TRY ALSO. HOW ABOUT FLOUNDER ? ANY CHANCE THEY WILL BE BITING?

[mike hogue]

FIRE STOMPER, I WILL BE THERE THOSE EXACT DATES. GIVE ME A CALL AND MAYBE WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER FIND THE FISH. MY MOBLE # IS 757-477-1251 OR 757-235-5938.

[Firestomper]

Sounds good I will my numbers are 919-427-1011 and 919-616-5868 I staying in Nags head but will be all aound fishing might even try a lil in the ocean if the weather is right.

[happy hours]

might be some flounder also but they are usually small compared to what I catch in the bay.the grub color should be fine also.

[Diamond Jim]

If you want to catch some striped bass go to the western ½ of Albermarle Sound, or the Roanoke River for the best fishing. They are gathering to start the spawning run up the rivers. If you fish in the rivers make sure you get a NC freshwater fishing license. You don't need a saltwater licesnse until 2007.

Otherwise the fishing is not the best around OI this time of year.

With that said, you don't have any business going out OI in a 16' Carolina skiff. Last fall IIRC one of the boats that flipped was a 22 or 23 foot Carolina skiff. I believe that Capt Rick Caton who was just passing by in his boat was the one that pulled the three fisherman out of the water too. Its not only the size of the boat its the design to as it is not a rough water boat.

[reduaram]

Give Capt. Mike at stop n shop in KDH a call, he fished the inlet a couple of days ago and caught a few fish. Reported lots of bait around as well. With this warm weather coming it may be pretty good.
good luck

[yostbilly]

organ inlet can be tough going in and out of in a big boat much less a small boat.

[bhorsley]

mid may should be plenty of bluefish on the ebb tide west of the bridge. Flounder should be there also. Fish some of the deeper marsh points with in sight of the inlet for catch and release stripers. Davis Slough should have plenty of bluefish.

[Firestomper]

A 20' hydra sport Ocean skiff would that be ok for OI?

[Diamond Jim]

Firestomper originally wrote:
A 20' hydra sport Ocean skiff would that be ok for OI?


If its the one I am thinking of that has a true deep "V" hull, it is about the minimum. In other words choose your days carefully, get in/out of the inlet and don't try to fish inside the inlet.

But if its a flat bottom or almost flat bottom boat I don't recommend it at all for that inlet. Oregon Inlet was recently rated in Saltwater Sportsman, as one of the ten worst inlets in the US to go through in a small boat. In Jan this year we had a fishing charter, on a 42 foot boat. This was an ex comerical fishing type boat built for rough weather. The Captain and the other Captains took a loke at the inlet and turned around. The only boats that went out OI that day were four of the bigger ones 60 feet and longer. We still went fishing but the boat took a detour down to Hatteras Inlet and we didn't start fishing until after 1pm. But it was worth it. Jiggig we caught and released well over 100 striped bass, There were five of us fishing and we each kept two fish each. Of the fish we kept each of us had one bigger than 35 pounds which qualified for an award citation from the Division Marine Fisheries.

With that said I have been through it along with many others in 21 foot "V" bottomed boats. Just pick your days and listen to the weather forcast. If the weather kicks up its a heck of a long way to another inlet, which may be out of range for a small boat in foul weather.

[Firestomper]

My boat does have deep "V" i plan on trying it in May what is acceptable 2' to 3' seas? I went out of there last year with Surfperch "Kevin" and it didn't look that bad but he goes in and out all the time. I am probably going to wait until the weather looks real good then follow a big boat out and wait to follow another in.

[bhorsley]

it is about the sea --about the swell- it can be slick cam and you can have a 6 to 8 foot sea and it is fine until the tide ebbs and then it breaks all the way across in several places. As of Febuary the bouys ment there was an inlet close by --hopefully they have fixed them. Southwest and west winds are prevailing winds and they make for decent sea condtions

If mid may is normal not much going on in the ocean --good to decent bluefish around the inlet east and west of the bridge--possible some black tips if you can find a change off the beach. Lot of the locals will be looking for cobia but mid may most are looking from Rodanthe south to Cape Point

[Diamond Jim]

I agree! The ocean can have little or no seas running but the tide, current and wind can combine and make the inlet impossiable for a small boat. Just a change in one of the three can make a world of difference. It can be no problem when you go out but a real hell when you come back.

That's why most of the year I fish farther south. The inlets are easier most of the time for a small boat and its closer to the Gulf stream. But in the winter (which is the worst weather) I do fish out of OI because that is where the best striper fishing is.

[Firestomper]

Thanks for the info it is gonna be a trial run hopefully with out the error. [smile] If the fish are biting west of the bridge i will be perfectly happy there.

[mike hogue]

I AM NOT GOING OUTSIDE THE INLET. I PLAN ON FISHING WEST OF THE BRIGE AND ONLY IF IT IS A CALM DAY WITH A GOOD FORCAST. I HAVE BEEN IN 3' SEAS IN MY SKIFF AND WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. ANY THING BIGGER THAN 1' ILL FISH FROM THE BRIDGE. I DONT KNOW THESE WATERS EXCEPT FROM DRIVEING OVER THE BRIDGE ON MANY SURF TRIPS. IF THIS SOUNDS TO DANGERAS DONT BE AFRAID TO SAY SO. THANKS. MY SKIFF IS A J16.

[Firestomper]

Sounds like fun to me... I will give ya a call down there and we will figure out some how to go fishing. Via my boat , yours, bridge, surf. and if it gets to bad we will slip in the aquarium in manteo i know there are fish there.[grin]

[reduaram]

Ok Horsley, 11 o'clock AM and you are at the computer............whats up with that ???????????
Troy[excited][smile][grin][wink][tongue][sad][shy]

[bhorsley]

do not start fishing until the last of April-- sitting on my butt wondering why i am in DAre County in late march and April[sad]

[Carl Perry]

You should be able to catch some decent rock around the bridge. Depending upon the year you may get into a few Drum. Run back in the sound and catch box full of spot croaker - whatever you can get. Fish them with a slip sinker and as close to the bridge as possible. The tide will dictate the weight needed. I like circle hooks. When the tide starts to pull out or in fish the opposite side in the eddie. If it starts pulling very hard fish inside the piling and the channel marker. You should do fine.

If the weather is nice and calm!!!!! You can slip outside the inlet but pick your day. If you are going to be there all week you should be able to find a day. If so check the local tackle shops to see what is happening in the ocean. Looks like it is going to be an early spring so the Spanish and taylor blues will probably be around in the Ocean. If so slip outside the inlet just to the South and troll clark spoons. That is where I usally stop to pick up bait. Again you can usually find them just outside the waves just south of the jetty. If you pay attention you can run S just off the jetty. I would wait and follow one of the inshore guides the 1st time you run it. Watch the waves and read the water! If you hear of cobia being caught fish the tide line south of the inlet and you should have a good shot. hint - fish your live bluefish on the tide line.

You can also drift the jetty depending upon the tide and catch fish. Try various baits but I usually have better luck on live or dead bait. If you use shrimp buy it at Food Lion.

If you haven't heard of Manns Harbor ask someone about it and try it out. If the rock are snapping you can catch 50 + schoolies around the bridge. Good luck and don't be afraid to get off on your own try the place out. There is plenty of great fishing if you learn the water. Inside the bridge to the south has some good trout fishing if you know what to look for.

I also used to fish a carolina skiff and caught a ton of fish in these area. I will be in a 26 Regulator called Red October - has a tower. Flag me down if you see me and i will be happy to share with you what I know. If we have room you can even jump on.
Good Luck
Carl[wink]

[reduaram]

looks like an early season Brian [grin]
better hurry to foodlion before they run outta bait.

[bhorsley]

did hear of a few bluefish west of the bridge on flood tide last week --won't be long they will be in the Baum Slough[excited]

might be a worm hatch on the moon in April but for sure on the moon in may (13th)

[mike hogue]

CARL, I'LL BE SHORE TO LOOK FOR YOU. THANKS FOR THE INFO. I'LL ALSO CHECK INTO MANNS HARBOR.

[Firestomper]

Well in a week I will be down there wearing them out. SO to anybody whos out there now catch what ya can because I am not going to show any mercy the following week.[excited]

[bhorsley]

pretty slow over all--cold water but it is warming. Good bluefish today --but were small guys 12 inches but lots of them. Ebb tide was the time --east of the bridge--no sea in the ocean but still a little snatchy in the inlet. Few small specks in the sound. Head boat fished today and had no croakers or spots--waters too cold. Live bait will be tough to catch--
Good sign of blues.
We did catch a few flounder today --all keepers so that is another option.

[Firestomper]

Got to get better from here on till summer. I will bring warm water and the fish with me when i arrive.[grin]

[Spearo]

On a 16ft. boat, I would stay away from the inlet if I was you. Get your boat in the water by Pirates Cove and fish down (South) from there. It's a bit early for fishing the OI. area.
In my opinion..if you're looking to fish at this time go south one hr. (to Hatteras) and fish the Sound.

Best of luck