Nc outer banks

[cfish71]

Just got back from the "Banks" and was lucky enough to be able to get on an open boat from Pirates Cove Marina. Target was tuna but the Capt. stated b4 we departed that the chance of getting tuna in the boat was very difficult because of the sharks. We had six hook ups with tuna dropping one and feeding the other five to the sharks. Oregon Inlet Marina reports stated that a major amt. of tuna were lost per day. Our mate said that if the shark problem continues to grow that the tuna fishing for charter boats will probably become a thing of the past. Nobody wants to pay over 2 grand and have notta to show for it. Also read an article concerning their fluke season that stated NC will be closing the fluke fishing season sometime in August to both the rec. and comm. fisheries and will reopen in August 2020. Not good times down there.

[bigfishy]

Sounds great if you target shark.....but I know what ya mean..

[Merle31483]

Not a good time at all especially for that kind of money

[Uncle Nicky]

It really is a shame what is happening there. I remember the glory days back in the 80s & 90s when a trip to the Outer Banks meant a usual limit of yellowfin along with a nice catch of mahi. I sometimes wonder if the sushi/sashimi craze that started about 20 years ago had any influence on things? .

[Skolmann]

Originally Posted by Uncle Nicky

It really is a shame what is happening there. I remember the glory days back in the 80s & 90s when a trip to the Outer Banks meant a usual limit of yellowfin along with a nice catch of mahi. I sometimes wonder if the sushi/sashimi craze that started about 20 years ago had any influence on things? .

I don’t think it has to do with a lack of tuna but rather with an increase in sharks, which have learned to ‘feed’ on hooked tuna as they make easier targets.

Last time I was in OBX (mid 2000’s) we caught a good amount of tuna but back then sharks were problematic as I vividly recall seeing numerous finning sharks cruising just below the surface swimming among the fleet. I know we lost at least one to the “tax man”.

[Taxman]

I always get blamed