Column - October 2, 2006

The crisp, cool nights and sunny, warm days of autumn are here. And so is the best saltwater fishing of the year!

If you ask just about any avid angler about fall fishing in North Carolina, their eyes light up. That’s because the fishing from late September into mid-November offers some of the best variety and largest catches of the year.

The trade winds blow from the southeast or southwest most of the summer, keeping the warm water on our coast. This time of year, the trade winds shift to come from the north and northeast. This brings cooler air and cooler water to our coast. It also brings bait and game fish from the north as they make way for their warm-water winter homes.

Perfect! The wind direction blows the bait right up to our inland waters and beaches. Trout, flounder, puppy drum, blues, king mackerel and other local fish have a smorgasbord to feast on, becoming very active feeders. Summer resident fish load up on the buffet brought to them. East-west migratory fish like kings move in close to take advantage of all the bait fish brought near the shore.

It also brings that other migratory creature, the Saltwater Angler, to the beaches. Fishers from all over the east coast make the trip to the N.C. coast this time of year. The epicenter of this activity is the outer banks, but we get our share of activity here, too.

Surf casting for big bull red drum occupies local anglers all summer long. However, in the fall, their ranks soar as other anglers look to get in on the busiest action of the surf season. Just about any spot that might hold trout or flounder will have at least one boat over it, and often a crowd of boats can be seen at some of the more popular spots.

The piers see the best action of the year, too. Often anglers will line the entire length of the pier from end to end, taking advantage of the bounty of fish chasing bait right below them.

Look off to the east from our beaches on a weekend this time of year, and you likely will spot a number of boats trolling the waters for king mackerel, blues and Spanish.

It’s a great time to fish! Grab a pole and get in on the action.

Catching report

Trout, flounder, drum, spots, croakers and mullet and being caught near shore. Kings are close to the beach as well as Spanish, blues and false albacore. Offshore, the grouper and snappers are biting hard.

Tight lines to all!