Surf Fishing- Carolina Specifically

[SawyerTed]

Here's an interesting link to NC Saltwater Fish Identification 

https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/public-information-and-education/species-profiles

Here in NC we see 3 varieties of Kingfishes - there's Northern, Southern and Gulf Kingfishes.  

The whiting/Kingfish has a crown-like front dorsal fin - thus the moniker. They are called mullet, sea mullet, Virginia mullet, Kingfish and whiting here.  

[Bert]

Well I made it back to PA all fingers intact. Kind of got busy late in the week didnt take many pics of the fish we caught. Nothing too different than the one in the photo from the earlier post. Almost got bored catching the same things over and over. Will be back in October and with some tackle updates mentioned here will prob try for the "bug eaters" next go around. Had a great time and learned something. Can't beat that!

[tule peak timber]

Next week for me!

[SawyerTed]

Sounds like you now have the early stages of fishing pox!  Symptoms include consistent need to upgrade tackle, rods, reels and other equipment, false casting, headache from too much sleep or lack of sleep due to nightmares of broken knots, frequent internet searches for better tackle, excess YouTube viewing of fishing (including Bill Dance bloopers), anxiety from having to cope with non-fishing people.  Can lead to boating blues, fasting to afford boat gas.  Two foot-itis occurs when fishing pox is combined with watercraft.  The need to urinate is directly proportional to how long waders have been worn. Empty wallet syndrome is common .

There's no cure but regular forays outdoors with fresh air near water containing fish, sunshine, light breezes, early mornings and late nights all are viable treatments.  Frequent exposure to baits both artificial and natural tend to lessen symptoms.  Saltwater is especially effective treatment as are lakes, rivers, ponds, streams and in extreme cases aquariums. 

[Bert]

Pretty much.  We took the ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher one day and I had visions of casting a line off the back into the Cape Fear River. Also, into the tanks at the NC Aquarium.

Sincerely though, thanks for getting us started.

Biggest lesson- fresh shrimp stays on the hook way better than frozen. Maybe that was was further down the list of being educated but still a good observation.

[SawyerTed]

@Bert or any FF members, if you are ever around Ocracoke in June and want to fish, let me know.  We usually spend the month of June split between Ocracoke and Portsmouth.  Next to Hatteras, there's no better surf fishing in NC.   And boat fishing is stellar and we don't do badly on the pier at Portsmouth.

Y'all come! 

[caveman]

One thing that can be done to help make shrimp tougher and stay on the hook better is to pack them in salt.  When we would have leftover live shrimp after a fishing trip, if we did not fry them, we'd pinch the heads off and cut the shrimp in segments and pack in salt.  After a day or so, they'd be dry and tough.  We kept the pieces for months in 35 mm film canisters and used them to tip jigs or as bait to catch bigger bait.

[SawyerTed]

Kyle, packed in salt or heavy brine?  We packed some shrimp in salt without water, they turned into shrimp jerky - not good jerky either.  

[caveman]

We would put them in butter bowls or some other small containers in table salt.  They were shrimp jerky but not for human consumption.  The little chunks could be kept in a tackle box for months and worked well for bait.  They stayed on the hook as good or better than squid tentacles.  Read that last sentence carefully, I've never tried squid testicles.

The film canisters were handy to keep in the tackle box.  I still use some for hooks and bullet weights.

[Bert]

Well, since I started this topic and value the knowledge shared, figured I better update. First off, no photos. I figured I'd take some later in the week and then the action just trailed off. I have a bad habit of putting my phone in my pocket and then wade off into the surf so usually just leave it where we are staying.

Anyhow, upgraded the line to braided, got some additional rigs and variety of bait aside from shrimp. Caught alot of croaker, mullet, and a pompano. Had 1 that as soon as the cast hit the water the pole bent, drag ran, and gone. Also had a shark on the line at one point and when people started gathering I got overly ambitious and lost it. It was a 20 minute fight to see it in the waves. ( I knew my breaking point from Roberts truck hitch suggestion, but went to far anyhow).

I didnt feel right posting about the adventure real time after seeing the suffering in western NC, not to mention Milton in FL, and the troubles around the Southport area.

In any case, I'm hooked and cant wait to give it a go again although it may be awhile with work and life demands.

Again, thanks for getting me started. Hopefully, one of these days I can meet up with some of you at the coast. Theres been some great offers.