With water temperatures rising and the winds still unpredictable, the fishing season on Ocracoke is just getting underway. Private boaters and charter captains have reported good-sized blues on the surf in April so far, and with the temperatures hitting 70 degrees yesterday around Portsmouth and Shell Castle, it won’t be long before grey trout and drum are added to the daily count on the soundside.

Captain Norman Miller headed out on the Rascal this morning with Chip Keating and his party of five from Berryville, Virginia for another day on the sound. They chartered the Rascal yesterday, and while private fishermen had nothing to report, experience and know-how prevailed on the Rascal. They reeled in a dozen sharks and over twenty-two drum of varying sizes on cut bait. Everyone in the party took home one slot-sized keeper for dinner.

Offshore Captain Farris O’neal said, “There was a lot of big ocean out there yesterday when we got started in the morning.”  As a result, the bottom fishing for trigger and jigging for Amberjack offshore wasn’t as productive as he would like, but they did manage to put some meat in the freezer trolling. Ed Button booked a party of five on the Drumstick yesterday.   They brought in two dolphin (mahi-mahi), six amberjacks, and one tasty rainbow runner — the rainbow runner is an especially tasty fish seared rare or even better, just “sashimi-ed up” and eaten right there on the dock with a celebratory beverage!

First mate Nick Piland reported that this coming Monday will be the best day to book a charter offshore. Forecasts show east winds at only five knots becoming south by the afternoon. Ocracoke had similar conditions last Monday when Ron Comeaux from Houston Texas booked a party of three and took the Drumstick twenty-eight miles offshore for a full day.   The team filled the freezer trolling with two king mackerel, two wahoo, eleven blackfin tuna, and one false albacore.  Bottom fishing and jigging was productive as well, reeling in eighteen trigger (including a 6.5 lbs. citation), six snapper, and two large amber jacks.

“It was the best offshore so far,” says Captain O’Neal. Comeaux agrees, “I’ve never done this good on any charter I’ve booked out of Houston. And it’s a great deal. When you consider the cost of gas, equipment, renting a boat, out of state license—and you might come back with nothing. These guys know what they are doing. Look at all these fish!”

 

 

Here's a list of Ocracoke's charter boats – book yours today!

Drumstick: 252-928-1421; Rascal: 252-921-0180; Tarheel: 252-928-9966; Drumrunner: 252-921-0095; Williams Hunt-N-Guide: 252-588-0185; Gecko: 252-921-0095; Miss Kathleen: 252-928-8064; Dream Girl: 252-588-0450; Anchorage Inn 252-928-6661