Tweets by @nchuntnfish There’s a reason why Manteo’s Pirate’s Cove Billfish Fishing Tournament is held in August. With the Gulf Stream just over 30 miles out from the inlet, you’ll get to test your skills and strength against some of the ocean’s most prized creatures on an 8-hour trip! We use several colors depending on the water clarity. For exact locations, visit http://www.ncwildlife.org/Boating/WheretoBoat.aspx. REGULATIONS — Fishermen can keep three stripers per day with an 18-inch size minimum from Oct. 1-April 30 in the Albemarle Sound Management Area. Map 18. He said putting in the time to find spots that consistently hold bait and fish and learning how to fish them will add fish to your catch. If you find your deal on another fishing website at a lower rate, contact our customer care team. Karl Helmkamp of Fistful Charters knows all about them, especially how to catch them. Mahi Mahi joins the offshore party, giving you an even better chance of landing something delicious to take home from the deep, while the Drum run kicks off inshore, leaving you with a dilemma of where to fish. Stripers are one of the winter staples for fishermen in Albemarle Sound, and Capt. Just because it’s the end of the year, there’s no need to give up on fishing. With plenty of fish to go round, there’s no need to worry, and you can even catch a glimpse of a Marlin offshore. Head out to the deep and join in the serious fishing as you try to land a trophy-sized catch for big rewards. But it's easy to get in and out. The Albemarle Sound is overflowing with exciting fish. Map 15. You can feel the season start to kick in as April dawns. “Don’t make a single pass and give up on these areas,” Helmkamp said. Karl Helmkamp, Fistful Sportfishing, 252-395-1907, www.fishfulsportfishing.com; Manteo Marine, 252-473-2197, www.parkboat.com; Pirate’s Cove Marina, 800-367-4728, www.fishpiratescove.com. Stripers will typically be holding on deep-water ledges in eight to 16 feet of water — a great starting-point for just about any spot in the sound and especially where the rivers run into the bays and the sound. Abundant Fish in Slow Waters Makes Fishing Pleasant The Albemarle Sound region is the spawning grounds for bass, herring, shad and several other fish that live in the ocean but spawn in freshwaters. Eventually, the Albemarle Sound would become severely overfished, depleting the supply so greatly that the fishing … The other deal is subject to the same booking conditions you’ve opted for with Go after the last of the pelagics offshore as the season reaches its climax. Map 17. Barry Sweitzer and First Mate on Hallie M. Charter, Wet Kitty Charters – High Water Adventure. Map 11. Helmkamp said when trolling, he deploys a spread of six rods and covers most of the water column. Based on 19557 reviews by FishingBooker anglers, 09/30/2020 Half Day Trip with Hitman Sportfishing, Half day trip with Capt. We will match the rate of the other deal if the So it should come as no surprise that North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound, part of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary (the second-largest in the continental U.S. after Chesapeake Bay) offers a lot of potential real estate for sharks. For the past several years, we have found more stripers from the middle of the sound to the west, say, starting in the general area of the Perquimans River and heading inland. Monster Kingfish and Spanish Mackerel will offer great angling options just beyond the surf, so come and extend your summer. A medium-fast retrieve is a good starting point, but don’t be afraid to vary the speed in either direction. Fishing was a major industry in the Albemarle Sound. package offer, etc.). Helmkamp begins trolling at 3.2 knots, fairly quick to cover as much water as possible. We fished near shore , be ready for the heat. “We also cast for stripers,” Helmkamp said. Striped bass is a popular fish to catch here, and the population is quite abundant with older fish as an indicator of a healthy, growing population. Map 12. WHEN TO GO — Striped bass are in Albemarle Sound most of the year, and keeper season is from October through April. Segull’s Nautical Charts, 888-473-4855, www.captainsegullcharts.com; Sealake Fishing Guides, 800-411-0185, www.thegoodspots.com; GMCO’s Chartbook of North Carolina, 888-420-6277, www.gmcomaps.com. “There still are stripers in this area, but just not in the numbers they used to be. He said stripers are feeding more heavily, and there are larger fish in the mixture, during the late winter and early spring than any other time of year. The fishing is great. Bill, Dempsey, and Betsy did a great job concentrating on a steady pick casting to 16-22 inchers in the sound. Helmkamp said using a GPS unit to mark strikes will allow you to save areas to concentrate on and help see if there is a pattern to the strikes. Map 20. However, depending on the wind and bait movement, they could be anywhere from the Pasquotank River basin up the sound to the Chowan River. When you find them, they will be on both sides of the sound, but the larger schools generally tend to gather about 30 miles farther up the sound than even just a few years ago.”. See also Guides and Charters in Classifieds. Escape the January blues with a trip on the productive waters of the Albemarle Sound. Once in the circle, he gradually slows his speed until the bites come regularly. including a link to the offer on the website and the exact price being quoted. GUIDES/FISHING INFO — Capt. “This is a healthy fishery; we regularly catch stripers ranging from 15 to 30 inches,” Helmkamp said. Map 8. Push yourself to the limit in July as you go after White Marlin, Blue Marlin, and Sailfish offshore. “Some days, they are out deeper and respond better to trolling, and some days they are shallower or just prefer the movement of a lure that is cast and retrieved.”. Once the water temperature reaches 60 degrees, striper are usually active enough to hit topwater lures, and that is exciting fishing. Helmkamp said stripers typically move to shallower water when the temperature reaches 50 to 58 degrees, and that’s the time to start casting. TACKLE/TECHNIQUES — For trolling, go with medium-heavy Shimano rods in 6-foot-6 and 7-foot lengths to handle deep-diving Mann’s and Yo-Zuri and Rabel Fastracs. When fishing with a jig, reel down to the fish and set the hook as soon as you feel a bite. When he catches a striper trolling at this speed, he circles back to see if he can get multiple bites. “We begin on the upwind side and drift across or along them several times before moving on. © 2020 FishingBooker.com. The still waters are a great place to get to grips with a rod and reel, while avid anglers can also get their fix of fishing by filling the boat. Weather was great for us, we had great weather. Helmkamp said there are deep, submerged stump beds through the entire sound, and there really aren’t any bad places to look for fish. It’s not over yet! You have contacted us immediately after booking with all the details of the other deal Map 4. North Carolina Department of Environment Quality, North Carolina Department of Environment Quality - Marine Fisheries, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Coastal Recreational Fishing Programs (CRFL), License Information, Applications, Permits, Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality, Return to Anadromous Fish Spawning Areas Maps Page. The brackish waters at the confluence of several rivers are protected from the sea by the Outer Banks, creating a wealth of fishing opportunities. Helmkamp said 20- to 50-fish days are the norm, and 100- fish days are possible when conditions align. Map 9. modifications. Delicious Flounder and Striped Bass will be the order of the day, ensuring a warming meal to look forward to. If you see darker creek or river water flowing into the sound that is usually a good place to check.”. Come fishing in the Albemarle Sound and you’ll discover stunning nature, calm waters, and thrilling action! Hit the shallows of the Albemarle Sound in November and you’ll find plenty of delicious fish to take home for the holiday season. “Our typical fish is around 20 inches and weighs three to five pounds. Bring a long sleeve shirt or light jacket. Stripers are one of the winter staples for fishermen in Albemarle Sound, and Capt. Map 5. Find a charter that suits you and get on the Albemarle Sound for a true summer getaway! Spool spinning or traditional outfits with 12-pound test mono. FishingBooker.com. MAPS — capt. Map 6. Map 16. “Striper fishing here picks up during the winter and peaks during March and April. Three more public ramps access the sound off US 64 (East Lake, Scuppernong River, Roanoke River at Plymouth), and a fourth is at the NC 32/94 bridge across the sound to Edenton. “These are stickbaits with lips to get them down in the water column. Head south from the sound and, after navigating Roanoke Island, you’ll come to Oregon Inlet. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); The spring striper run up the Roanoke River is famous, but the fishing is just as good in the Albemarle Sound before the spawning run begins. *If you are a DENR employee with an I.T. Hit the backcountry’s shallows and you’ll come across some tough-fighting Largemouth Bass and delicious Crappie, or fish the main basin for Flounder, Redfish, Weakfish, and many more. If we can't match the rate of the other deal because one of the above conditions is Fish here or along the Outer Banks’ famous beaches and you’ll take advantage of the Gulf Stream’s incredible effect on local marine life. Map 3. Map 2. HOW TO GET THERE — US 64 is the main west-east highway that brings fishermen to the Albemarle Sound area near Manteo. It's small and a bit hard to find as my navigation app took us to the wrong place. Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, and Mahi Mahi all call these waters home at some point during the year. Albemarle Sound Area Entire Map Package (8.3MB), (If you would like us to respond please include your phone or e-mail.). You will find flounder everywhere in the waters around the Outer Banks. Fish are most active during this time, with March and April the peak as fish feed up and gather in schools to move upriver to spawn. I also use grubs and bucktails in deeper water where you may find a school out in the sound or around any of the bridges in the sound. While the offshore waters may be a little choppy in winter, the calm inshore waters will cater to your fishing needs. Ask for knowledge and know how I had a great experience. Fishing the sounds in December is as good as ever, so don’t miss out on the chance to see out the year with a boatful of tasty fish. Join the annual Manteo Rotary Inshore Slam and go after Stripers, Flounder, Drum, and Trout as you test your bottom fishing skills. issue, please submit a DOTS ticket. different, you still keep your existing reservation – including the cancellation policy. Map 7. Map 19. Recommend to be ready for a great day and catch!!!!! Switch to soft-plastic grubs when fish are in deep water or around bridges; when fish are shallow, cast suspending jerkbaits and topwater baits. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Map 1. following conditions are met: The best out of 56 charter fishing deals in Albemarle Sound - enter dates to check availability. Albemarle Sound Fishing Resorts & Hotels: Browse our selection of 22 hotels in Albemarle Sound. “Sometimes it is to a suspended school we found while trolling, but typically we are casting in four to eight feet of water where there is structure holding bait. ACCOMMODATIONS — Albemarle Outfitters, Nags Head/Columbia, 252-395-1907; Dare Haven Motel, Manteo, 252-473-2322, www.darehaven.com; Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, 800-627-3150, www.outerbankschamber.com. Bill and Dempsey have done this one before and Betsy got the hang of it pretty quickly. Troll the open waters for the bite of these beasts and get ready for the fight of a lifetime. These tough-fighting Billfish will do anything to get off the end of your line, so get ready for the fight of your life.