Going to the OBX for the first time in a few years for Thanksgiving. Anyone have advice for shore fishing around Buxton/Hatteras/The Point? I've caught puffers and flounder before but usually skates and seaweed (if anything). FiL usually provides shrimp & some kind of cut baitfish.
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Fishing reports are generally positive, not sure what this big cold front will do, but there have been red and black drum, bluefish, some trout also being caught in the surf. If the Red Drum tackle shop is still around in Buxton, I'd stop there and get the fresh skinny on what and where, but shrimp and cut bait are decent choices of baits for those fish. Casting Stingsilvers and the like can also be productive, and if the fish are close, my old standby of Gulp Swimming Mullet on Gotcha type jigheads and light tackle can be even more productive if done right. As you likely know, spots like the Point can be crazy crowded, and I've usually done pretty well avoiding the crowds, but they can also be a great indicator of productive spots to try. Good luck and please give us a report. I have had some good luck on Thanksgivings in the OBX, wish I could join ya. And as an aside, puffers are pretty damn fine table fare, just a bit different to clean. Check the prices in the seafood stores, they can be called anything from Sugar Toads to Sea Squab, but they have a nice section of sweet, firm white flesh along their back that is as good as fish needs to be.
My best day ever fishing produced 7 keeper puffers. For those that don't know, all of the meat is attached to the spine with no ribs (to allow the fish to inflate). You cut off the head, then peel the skin back while holding the spine using 2 pairs of pliers and everything but the meat comes with the skin.
We grilled them up with some onions and they were really good.
I don't mind catching them, but would like to catch a drum or whatnot.
Go as far south as you can. Cut mullet in the surf should get you some red drum
It is all about wind direction. Fish south/southwest of the point on a south/southwest wind. Fish on the east side of the Point on an easterly wind. If the wind is from the northwest, take a nap.
You want spot heads if you plan to target big drum. Smaller chunks on smaller hooks will produce puppy drum. The northern piers have had good runs of sea mullet before this cold spell hit. And I have heard rumors of rockfish being on the ocean front.
Working small holes in the surf with tandem trout jigs (chartreuse gulp mullet with a red jig head) is a good plan of action for puppies and speckled trout too.