Offshore Fishing Archives - Page 60 of 98

A school of colorful dolphin suspended behind a boat can wind up in the fish box if fishermen are careful when they pitch baits in their direction.

Small dolphin can bail out a fishing trip

Sometimes, bluewater fishing is so slow that even a novice or child can become bored. Small, aggressive dolphin, aka bailers, can provide just the tonic. […]

Colorful and aggressive, a hungry dolphin will hit just about anything in front of its nose that even remotely resembles a meal.

Dancing with the dolphins is a real possibility for North Carolina’s offshore fishermen in April

Jason Hawkins

Peanuts. Gaffers. Slingers. Bailers. Goats of the sea. These all reference the fish known as dolphin or Mahi-Mahi. […]

When boats out of Southport can get offshore, they've been greeted with excellent bottom-fishing.

Find a nice day and catch plenty of Cape Fear bottomfish

Jerry Dilsaver

Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah Right Charters in Southport said he hasn’t been able to get to the bottomfish off Cape Fear until he caught a calm, warm day recently and found that the fish were where they were supposed to be – and hungry, too. […]

Limits of big black sea bass like this one have been common on offshore reefs out of Murrells Inlet, especially The Parking Lot.

Big black sea bass cover up offshore reefs out of Murrells Inlet

Jeff Burleson

Bottom-fishing aficionados looking for a 2-handed thrill can find it not too terribly far out of Murrells Inlet. Heavy stringers of big black sea are lurking about 30 miles off the beach and are gobbling up just about anything dropped onto their dinner table. […]

Plenty of blackfin tuna have been biting when boats have been able to leave Little River.

Blackfin tuna jumping in the boat when Little River boats can get out

Jeff Burleson

The terrible weather of the past few weeks has kept most fishing vessels docked or high in the dry stacks at marinas, but enough pleasant days have been scattered in between the storms to reach the offshore tuna grounds, and Tom Cushman of Myrtle Beach Fishing Charters has been making the trip out of Little River Inlet, putting double-digit catches of blackfin tuna in the boat – making the long boat rid worthwhile. […]

Anglers targeting bluefin tuna must make sure they know which size fish, if any, are legal to keep the day of their trip.

Take care to know all tuna regs

Chris Burrows

Anglers need to be aware that bluefin tuna are the most-highly regulated species of fish in the world. When targeting bluefin, it is mandatory that you have an HMS (Highly Migratory Species) permit for the vessel. […]

Tell a tuna to go fly a kite

Chris Burrows

When the fish spread out and the bite slows down, which can happen later in the day, Capt. Brant McMullan has another trick to hook up. […]

Some fishermen who jig vertically for bluefin tuna prefer high-speed, conventional reels over spinning reels.

Bluefin blitz – Bluefin tuna are the Outer Banks’ premier winter fishery

Chris Burrows

Bluefin tuna is the species that has driven the largest paradigm shift in the recent history of North Carolina’s saltwater big-game fishing. […]

Reef balls will be added to expand three nearshore artificial reefs off the North Carolina coast thanks to a grant of funds from sales of the recreational saltwater fishing license.

Three artificial reefs will be enhanced with CRFL money

Jerry Dilsaver

Fishermen in the southern part of Onslow Bay will soon be fishing on improved habitat courtesy of the Coastal Recreational Fishing License and the Onslow Bay Artificial Reef Association; the OBARA was awarded $637,500 in the most-recent round of grants funded by income from the saltwater fishing license. […]

Keeping your boat directly over productive structure by proper anchoring is a key to being able to load up on reef and wreck sheepshead.

Anchoring down for a good trip

Brian Cope

Capt. Rick Percy of Reel Chance Charters said a good anchor is important for sheepshead fishing. […]