Emerald Isle NC Suggestions

[WhaleFart]

Hi,

I am going down to Emerald Isle NC in a week with my GF and her family. I would like to escape early morning / evening to do some fishing either on the surf or bayside. I have no idea what to bring as far as tackle or what species ill be able to target. I am not sure if anyone has any recommendations, im bringing my brothers traveling rod which is pretty much equivalent to a bay rod. Any ideas what fish would be swimming these waters? I have a few popping corks, some gulp shrimp/swimming mullets, jigs and jig heads, and some metal. I will not have the chance to hit a boat so any advise as to what i can do via land would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
WF

[cfish71]

First round of advice is you need a fishing license in NC.
Have fun and good luck.

[courbeco]

Try the Bogue Inlet fishing pier. There is a bait and tackle shop on the pier. They will be able to help you with what to fish for, rigs, baits, etc.

[bakayd]

i go down there twice a year and have always had success Fishing the surf at high tide. If you fish low tide just need to get it out past the sand bar. I always catch small fish in the surf on tiny hooks using tiny pieces of squid and then I cut them in half and use them for larger species. I always hook into big stuff down there. This year caught a black tip shark, black nose shark, red fish and giant sting ray. Be sure to use wire leader or you won’t land the sharks.

[Grateful Dad]

A bay rod is fine down there. There are plenty of small fish in the surf, including spot, croaker, kingfish (our kingfish, NOT king mackerel) baby black drum, redfish and and and...
I've always used a simple hi-lo rig with size 4 snelled hooks and enough lead to hold, usually 2oz. or less.
When you stop at the tackle shop to buy your license, pick up a pack of "Fish Bites" bloodworm strips. They are tough, and stay on the hook forever. You only need a 2" piece on each hook.
Good Luck!

[Gfedor]

Beautiful place, will more then likely retire down there.
I never had to much luck surf fishing though. Maybe try to do a party boat, half day charter? ?

[WhaleFart]

Thank you all for the insight, i think im going to keep it simple and just mess around with the small stuff on the beach. I might have to bring down wire leader rig and try catching a small shark or ray off the beach...that will get my blood pumping.

Ill be sure to post a report back.

[bunker dunker]

bring some top water stuff and fish the pier at first and last light.jig with small{1/2-1oz} rubber jigs.lots of action and some good eats.crockers by the hords some days.metal fron 1 to 2oz work well also.

[bakayd]

If you chunk the small fish and use them for bigger stuff be sure to watch your rod. It’ll double over if a shark or ray latch on. A ray pulled mine in the water last year and I had to swim after it. make sure you have a full spool of line. Those rays can dump line like a freight train

[Virginiaducks]

I have a house there and have been fishing the western end of the island since the early '80s. Go to "the point" near the coast guard station at the western end. Get there early and park in the small public lot 2 blocks off the ocean. Go thru the beach access and work your way to the right - heading toward the inlet. The surf will have pompano and sea mullet that can be caught on a bottom rig and mole crab or bit of shrimp. You may catch small black drum too. Early in the AM I throw a 3/4 kastmaster for blues and Spanish mackerel. The rest of the day fish a gulp swimming mullet on a jig head along the inlet drop offs...for just about anything that swims. If you're looking for a fight, cut bait on the bottom will hook up a ray. FWIW, I use an 8' extra fast spinning rod rated up to 1 oz, 20lb braid, and do a lot of walking. Bogue inlet pier is laid back, enjoyable and you can catch the same fish there. Nice people too....pm me if you want more info.