NC Winter Tuna Recomendations

[Tombass123]

Looking to go out of NC this January to catch some Giant Bluefins.
Anyone have any recommendations on boats that go out (preferably overnight headboats) to do some serious standup fishing?

[Sea_Slueth]

I'm not sure about overnighters, but here are a few that stand out for me.

Boss Lady- We did a charter with them this spring and they were a great group, allowed us to work the pit and had a blast.

Sea Creature-This guy is always catching a lot......I spent three weeks down there this year (Hatteras) and the Creature was always flying flags when he came back to port.....

I am sure others will pipe in.......

[surfperch1]

Look towards Moorhead City. The main run the past few years has been in the first week of December. Most of the boats down there take you out but commercial fish at the same time.

There are boats available during this time and it is better to wait and see if a cold snap goes threw. Last few years it has been real warm and the bait has stayed in the Bays. Get a cold snap and the fish usually bite real good.

[TommyTuna]

be prepared to go multiple days, the weather is usually bad and fishing was horrible last year, each year it is getting worse.

best shot is Morehead city or even Southport, the bite moves around a lot

Many boats will be commercial fishing as the money is a lot more than the charter fee, and they can catch up to 3 a day - might have to search for boats that will charter

[goldman]

I would try Delta Dawn, if he is doing trips. Morehead city.

[31footer]

I don't think you can comm fish and charter the same day

[surfperch1]

31footer that was a big issue that came up last season, but as long as you had the safety gear and Charter licenses there was no restriction on number of passangers when commercial fishing for BFT. Boats would take folks out under the premiss that they would pay for the charter, but if a keeper fish or fishs were caught then the boat kept the fish and the charter did not have to pay. I thought the same thing as you, but NCDMF out of Morehead, NC stated that was OK.

[TerpHeels]

TT, funny you mention Southport. What used to be a total king bite town is now crazed by the last couple years. Tackle shops carrying 300lb flouro and hand tied Becky looking stuff (Cape Lookout Lure Co, etc). I'm headed down to the beach house (ocean front Oak Island) the entire week of Thanksgiving to give it a go. That was the when they began to show last year but who knows this 1!

If anyone is interested in beach front rental with boat/trailer parking let me know. The house is 1/2 mile from the public ramp (free) and then another 1/2 mile to Lockwood Folly inlet.