Outer Banks, NC Fishing

Outer Banks, NC Fishing

Courtesy of Outer Banks Vistiors Bureau North Carolina has a special place in our hearts. From the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, to the beautiful beaches in the east - there really is something for everyone in the Tar Heel State. A truly unique feature of North Carolina is without a doubt the Outer Banks - a stretch of 200-miles of barrier islands off the coast of the state. Surrounded by bays, rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s not hard to see why fishing is by far the best family outing while visiting the Outer Banks! There are several cities to start your OBX fishing adventure (OBX is the abbreviation most commonly used to refer to the “Outer Banks”) - whether it’s Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, or Wanchese in the northern part of the Outer Banks, or Hatteras, Cedar Island, or Morehead in the southern part - the possibilities are endless. Each has access to the sounds, bays, and rivers to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east: now you see why the Outer Banks is such a special place to fish! During the summer, the biggest draw for Outer Banks fishing is the proximity to the Gulf Stream - just a 15 mile boat ride from certain cities (Cape Point on Hatteras Island is one example). If you want to catch Blue Marlin then book your Outer Banks offshore trip today! But don’t discount Albemarle Sound or Pamlico Sound - fishing the west side of OBX offers fantastic fishing as well! With calmer waters, more opportunities to fish shallow water (and therefore more opportunities for a variety of fishing techniques), and more fish species - the fishing in the sounds and bays of the Outer Banks is nothing to dismiss. And let’s not forget the shore fishing while in the Outer Banks. The long stretches of beaches on the barrier islands offers a plethora of shore fishing opportunities. No matter where you’re fishing in the Outer Banks, make sure you have a valid North Carolina fishing license before setting out. To get the full potential of your Outer Banks fishing charter, we recommend hiring a FishAnywhere Charter Captain or Fishing Guide. With their experience and knowledge of the area, they are able to accommodate your needs. Anglers of all ages and skill levels are able to fish OBX waters and have an exceptional experience. Thousands of anglers flock to the Outer Banks year after year to cross off highly coveted fish species from their bucket list. The main two that come to mind are: Yellowfin Tuna and Blue Marlin. What Fish are in the Outer Banks?

Sportfishing in the Outer Banks is a huge attraction for many anglers. Hatteras Island is known as the “Blue Marlin Capital of the World” but there are several other pelagic fish species available for your fishing adventure. When inshore fishing the OBX, you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get as you often find inshore and offshore species on the end of your hook. No matter where you’re fishing, here’s a sampling of available fish species in the Outer Banks: - Blue Marlin

White Marlin

Redfish

Black Drum

Flounder

Croaker

Pompano

Sheepshead

Weakfish

Mahi Mahi

Yellowfin Tuna

Bluefin Tuna

Amberjack

King Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel

Wahoo

Cobia

Bluefish

Speckled Trout

Sailfish

Little Tunny (False Albacore)

Striped Bass

Best Season to Fish the Outer Banks

The good news is: Fishing the Outer Banks is a year-round adventure. The greater news: Summer is the best time to plan your OBX fishing vacation. Outer Banks Charter Captains know that summer is when people vacation here, and they are ready to take your crew out for a day of fishing. Four, six, and eight hour fishing charters are available - some Captains even offer 12-hours or more deep sea fishing trips on the Atlantic Ocean. We recommend inshore fishing trips for families or first time anglers; and if you want an offshore fishing trip - six hours is really the minimum you’ll want to go out (this is so you have as much time fishing as possible). If you’re in the Outer Banks during Winter, Spring, or Fall… don’t worry - the fishing is still great!

Popular Fishing in the Outer Banks

Trolling for Marlin is a popular technique while fishing the Outer Banks. Or try your hand at fly fishing for Speckled Trout. With access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Sounds, fishing techniques are as various as the fish species. Your FishAnywhere Charter Captain or Fishing Guide will be able to plan your day for a successful fishing trip: Inshore guides are great for fly fishing, bottom fishing, or casting; while the offshore captains can take you trolling, bottom fishing, or jigging. And be sure to plan in advance your Outer Banks fishing trip, the best Captains and Guides keep a full calendar and should be booked as early as possible (although a cancellation could be your lucky day!)

Fishing the Outer Banks

Outer Banks Fishing Charters are known for providing great family fun! Whether it’s inshore on the Sounds, or offshore in the Atlantic… you can’t go wrong with an Outer Banks fishing trip. It’s this reason why the Outer Banks tops our favorite fishing charter destinations! And the Professional and Experienced Charter Captains and Fishing Guides in the area have never let us down... They love North Carolina probably more than we do! Book your Outer Banks, North Carolina fishing charter and fall in love with this great state too!