NC blue fin

hammer slammer · #1 09-28-2003, 11:08 PM

Now that north carolina has opened up the waters to us yankees i was wondering when the blue fin show up and start biting. I just bought a 25 sea vee io to trailer down, my plan was to fish out of morehead city? Does that make sense. At the rate we are going up here there will be 450 mt left and i didnt feal as though my 20 was ready for that fishery, and i am not about to run my bhm done there. any thoughts?

BARNABY55 · #2 09-29-2003, 07:56 AM

I think you will find the Blufins there in February. You can call Harkers Island Fishing Center and ask them more accurate dates.

Mark · #3 09-29-2003, 08:00 AM

Basing out of Morehead would be fine, or any of the surrounding communities (Harkers Island, Beaufort, Etc). The fish start to show in late November with the bulk of them being more of a December/January thing. The run out from a place such as Harkers is all of about 20 minutes and they bite within site (frisbee toss?) of land.

Horse ballyhoo behind a blue/white Islander is the standard bait setup along with 80 or 130 sized tackle. Most of the fish last year seemed to be caught right at first light out by the Atlas Tanker and surrounding area, including a bit of action near the Trawler buoy.

If you are unfamiliar with the area, don't run the slough without seeing someone do it ahead of you: it is NOT a straight shot from the West buoy to the East buoy!!

An excellent source of on-the-scene info is Dennis Gillikin at Harkers Island Tackle Company. He does a fair amount of rigging for a number of the charter boats that chase the bluefin in the Fall/Winter and would be happy to give you all the information you can handle. His number is 252.728.3016. In the middle of the week he may be willing/interested in riding along with you. If this is the case, you will have a lifelong local in your boat who has a wealth of info on this fishery - and a nice person to boot.

[ September 29, 2003, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Mark ]

BARNABY55 · #4 09-30-2003, 02:51 AM

Hey Mark,
That East to West Slough has to be one of the most dangerous around. Good Advice to others. Follow someone that knows.