Friday, June 19, 2009
Coastal casting: Beaches along the mid-Atlantic offer plenty of fun surf fishing opportunities
Beaches along the mid-Atlantic offer plenty of fun surf fishing opportunities for summer vacationers.
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
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Some beachgoers can be content sitting for hours on end in their chairs, just staring at the breakers lapping on the shore.
For plenty, it is just as relaxing -- and a lot more fun -- to be standing knee-deep in the surf holding a fishing rod.
During the peak of the summer season, such casual anglers account for many of the fishermen plying coastal waters.
"I'd say about 75 percent of them [are novices]," said Frank Folb, one of the owners of Frank and Fran's tackle shop in Avon on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
Folb takes pride in reaching out to novices.
"We want it to be a good experience so they'll come back," he said.
That's a pretty common attitude among shop owners up and down the coast. While a few may cater to veteran casters at the expense of helping newcomers, most shop owners do their best to put newbies on fish.
In fact, taking time to visit a local tackle shop or two is among the key steps vacationing coastal anglers should take to increase their chances of having a good fishing trip.
Coastal fishing spots
The coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia all can offer decent -- and simple -- saltwater fishing action during the summer.
North Carolina has a reputation of offering the best surf fishing action, especially along the Outer Banks, which jut out into the Atlantic and can attract a mix of cool water and warm water species, especially early and late in the season.
Ease of access has been another big draw for many Outer Banks anglers, who have appreciated the ability to reach many fishing spots by four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Access has become much more difficult in recent years, however, since sweeping beach driving restrictions have been enacted to protect nesting shorebirds and sea turtles. For the better part of the summer, some prime fishing spots can be reached only by foot, and a few hot spots are completely off limits.
Tackle shop operators can provide information on current beach closures.
In Virginia, some of the better surf fishing action can be found on the Atlantic beaches of the barrier islands off the Eastern Shore. However, most of those areas can be reached only by boat.
In the Virginia Beach area the best surf fishing action can often be found around Sandbridge, which is on the southern end of Virginia Beach. Wading anglers can also find some good fishing around Virginia Beach's Lynnhaven Inlet, a narrow slot that connects a fairly large inland bay to the Chesapeake Bay.
The surf around South Carolina resort cities offers good fishing, but the key is to fish when the beaches aren't packed with swimmers.
For anglers seeking a different type of experience, a number of fishing piers are available up and down the coast.
Available species
In prime surf fishing seasons in spring and fall, coastal anglers can connect with huge red drum, stout stripers, blitzing bluefish and massive cobia.
During the warmer months of summer, however, small species provide most of the action up and down the coast.
Kingfish are among the more popular and abundant species found in the mid-Atlantic summertime surf.
"You won't find a better-tasting fish," Folb said.
Also known as whiting, sea mullet or roundheads, kingfish typically run up to about a pound but can top 2 pounds.
Folb said the action has been outstanding for the fish on the Outer Banks in recent weeks.
"I have never seen as many pretty whiting as I have lately," said Folb, who added that in the past week anglers had registered at his shop more than two dozen fish of at least 1 12 pounds for North Carolina saltwater citation awards.
Folb said kingfish often can be found right outside the surf curl, within easy casting range of surf anglers.
Pompano are another summertime possibility, especially in North and South Carolina.
With a round shape similar to freshwater sunfish, tasty pompano often cruise the surf wash as they feed.
Small bluefish, called snappers by the locals, are also regulars in the summertime surf. Flounder are another possibility, while sheepshead can be caught around inshore bridge pilings and jetties.
Skates and dogfish are often plentiful. While they are not exactly a coveted surf fishing target, they can provide a fun pull.
Tackle and gear
Summertime coastal fishing doesn't require big or fancy tackle.
Medium-powered bass tackle can work perfectly fine for smaller inshore species such as whiting, pompano, small bluefish, flounder and the spotted sea trout that cruise around the sounds and bays.
Anglers who want to use surf-specific gear can get started for just a small investment.
Folb said Frank and Fran's stopped offering rental tackle because basic surf fishing rigs have become so affordable, with decent entry level combos starting around $30.
When baitfishing for saltwater panfish, a classic two-hook bottom rig remains hard to beat. Outfitted with size four hooks, often with a red bead atop the hook, the rig works well for whiting, pompano, small bluefish and even flounder.
Top baits are shrimp, bloodworms, Fish Bites (in bloodworm flavor) and mole crabs, which are often called sand fleas.
Pompano, especially, are suckers for sand fleas, which kids have a blast digging for.
For anglers wanting to cast artificial lures, metal spoons such as Stingsilvers and the Bass Pro Shops Sling Jig are popular choices for tricking bluefish and Spanish mackerel.
Of course, the best way to find out what's working best, and where it's working, is to visit a local tackle shop or two.
