Hatteras Help?

[Airslot]

Alright guys. I'm headed to hatteras for a week starting 8/22. We have a canal side place, and we'll be keeping the boat in the water. I figure that we might get two good days in for offshore out of the week, and a few sound trips. Never fished there, and assume I know nothing about fishing there. I've got the offshore gear covered, but not spots. Have no idea what to use in the sound, or where to use it.

How bout a little help?

[Blue_Runner]

What we normally do is just drift finger mullet or mud minnows on a carolina rig with just enough weight to hit bottom. The better success we've had was with the same setup but slow trolling with the big motor either around sandbars or in the inlet with perhaps a little more weight to maintain bottom on the troll. A lot of people use flounder belly for bait and it works really well down there. I think you can even buy it in some of the bait shops. Some friends of mine freeze the dolphin bellies to use as strip baits instead of flounder belly.

As for offshore it all depends of course and I have only fished offshore there in the spring but there is a place called the rock pile about 20 miles out where its normally pretty good. From what I've heard the YFT are up around "the point" mixed in with the whales and that is going to be around 40 miles one way (out of my range). I've heard of YFT as close as 10 miles though and certainly wahoo should be well within your range. Be sure to drag some purple/black up top or down low!! I'm thinking of painting up a special stretch 30 w/ purple/black and wire leader for the hoos.

Good luck and have fun!

[Blue_Runner]

Slot - check out the 2 videos I just posted in the fishing section. One is from last year's hatteras trip. One day we could not get out so we caught flounder in the sound around one of the islands behind the inlet. Nothing big at all but we had 4 or 5 keepers. We caught some good dolphin the 2 days we got out though. And lost 2 really nice ones

[Airslot]

Thanks Blue.

[Blue_Runner]

Well, Airslot should be wetting a line about now after Bill got out of the way. Looking at the reports it seems the boats are back to fishing and the sailfish bite is outstanding right now.

Hopefully Slot will bring home da meat! Rootin for ya buddy!

[Blue_Runner]

Come on...fire up the laptap Slot....the suspense is KILLIN me!

:hi:

[Airslot]

Sorry to keep ya watin Blue. Been reel busy at work since I got back, and didn;t spend much time online while in Hatris.

Let me tell you, that inlet can be downright hateful. I don't have many pics yet, but here is one of the new ride...see thumbnail.

Bill had the inlet closed out the first three days we were there. Even when we finally got out, the inlet was NASTY, but we pushed through. Found the conditions I was look for about 17 miles out. We had a big day with 1 sailfish, 1 gaffer dolphin, 1 yellowfin, a few bonito and plenty of penuts around. Ended up burning through 3 packs of hoos in a little over half a day.

Our secind day outside was planned to troll for spanish and then setup for sharks. We were succesful on both fronts, catching a nice mess of spanish and then releasing a small sandbar...and a 200# Blacktip that only showed up after we were done fishing. I had tossed a bonito carcass overboard when he showed up. We were able to keep him around and interested and finally got a hook into him.

Sound fishing was very very slow for us. We were there for 7 days and had a hoot. Hoping to do it again next year. I'll get some other pics up when I get them off the cameras

Later

[Blue_Runner]

GOOD deal! Nice variety Any size to the yft?

Glad you had a good trip. I bet the inlet was NASTY after Billy boy. Thats when you have to skooch up behind one of the big sporty's and let him knock the tops off for ya, if that is even possible.

I figured you'd be disappointed on the sound fishing compared to the big flattie slayings you do up north.

[Airslot]

Nah, maybe 25#'s on the yft. Also had a micro yft, maybe 12" long.

[Blue_Runner]

Cool, How'd you like the island?

[Airslot]

Let's just say I can't wait to get back. Incredible place to hang out. Fishing was just a bonus...

[C YENSEN]

Air....did you sell your V?

[Airslot]

Still have the V. It's sorta for sale, but not really advertised. I'm getting ready to clean it up and get serious about selling her...