OBX Sound Report - Why can't I catch fish?

[Steve F]

I'll be back down 9/19 - 9/23, I'll keep this thread going with updates. Thanks for all the assistance!

I hope that you can find them and that Manteo bridge can be very good. I have caught many trout, flounder and stripers on it. I hope to be down there October 11th for a couple of days... Best of luck to ya.

[cnaff]

wyven-Ol' mountain boy here-been living around OI for almost 20 years.SMB in the rivers,bass and stripers at the lake,trout with flyrod and minners in the creeks of the Alleghenies and the Blue Ridge,and from way deep in Moomaw---all these are and were more predictable than OI and its surrounding waters.EVERY season is remarkably different here,some are extra tough,some are extra good.We're on a cycle of improvement over last year,IMO.Fact is,you CAN drill it down to the moves you make on most waters where the fish are captive in terms of location,but the interplay of weather and climate,temperature and wind,ocean and sound,pressure and lack of pressure,seem to call the cards around here.So I will say with humility,that,as soon as I think I know a thing about fishing,I learn real quick that I am not so smart,because the fish are just that way(and they have the habit of disappearing).I have learned to never expect any good pattern or set of conditions,or population of fish for that matter to hold in place for more than a short time--maybe a few days,or maybe for a season,or maybe for a couple of years or so--that's what we have here.Each and every little victory is precious.As well,our marine fisheries structure is fairly well broken in NC,and silly to no actions are taken when a thing wants for treatment,while the Federal government shoots wildcards and asinine rules at us like THAT'S THEIR SPORT. Ergo----if you experience a measure of success here,you probably have worked for it,and you should love it for that time and remember it well,for your next trip will be different.

[FishFarm]

Wvyen: Way to be persistant and get to the fish. Good trip.

Fishtales: Way to step in and help out with good local advice !!

[wvyen]

here, here to that FishFarm! I really appreciate everyone's input!

I am heading back down tomorrow, with a new boat in tow! I picked up a 16' Key Largo CC on Labor Day Weekend. I am going to have 2-3 solid mornings of fishing. I plan on starting with the same tactics as below to target flounder. I also noticed on the south side of the bridge some boats anchored up fishing for what I assumed to be trout. I don't have a trolling motor yet, so I may try that as well. What I am really looking forward to is tying up to the pile ons and getting out to do some Sheepshead fishing. I will keep up with this thread while i am down there next week, so stay tuned...

[r1pcurl9]

Sounds like a great boat for the sound..... The fishing is really heating up and you should be able to do well on the trout and flounder..... Good Luck!

[wvyen]

9/20/2012
Tide - high tide was 11:30am
Wind - North
Put in- Oregon Inlet
Time - 7am-1pm
Bait - cut squid, Gulp

drifted two flounder rigs off the back lost lots of bait, had what seems like hits so switched from circle back to khale hooks. Drifted Green Island Slough, but it was very shallow and got shoaled, which took forever to deal with, *so decided to fish the bridge.

Tied up to the metal pile ons and dropped Gulp sand fleas. Caught 3 toad fish pretty cool, but not what I was after.*
Went to the south side of the bridge in the cove area and caught 1 nice 16-17" pup on Gulp. Tried to anchor but couldn't get secured so decided to drift Davis Channel some, but no luck. Tried to run up to the new bridge in Manteo for some trout fishing,*but turned back due to the waves. Soaked, so decided to head in, soil try again tomorrow.

[wvyen]

9/21/2012
Tide - high tide 12:30, fished incoming tide
Time - 7am-3pm
Wind - north 7-8 mph
Put in - Oregon Inlet
Bait - Frozen Sand Fleas and Gulp Sand Fleas, Gulp Swim Mullet cut squid*

Started fishing the south barricade wall at Bonner Bridge until it got too rough. Caught 3 sheepshead, 2 puppy drum 15"-16".*

Drifted the deep water along the shore south of the bridge. Caught 14" Spanish on ZMan electric chicken*

Tied up to pile on #133 hooked something huge on flounder rig out the back with squid that I could not move, probably a skate. Caught 1 drum on cut Mullet

At around 1pm I decided to drift again. Went to the south end of the bridge and drifted in. Used cut bait and squid. Caught 2 flounder bouncing Gulp off*the bottom. Water was crystal clear and could see bottom at 10ft!