Thanksgiving has come and gone, now we all need to find ways of working off the extra few pounds we gained from eating too much! Fall and winter always includes a good dose of hunting for me but I always keep my eyes open for a good weather window to get back offshore.
The water has cooled off and you can expect the typical longer winter runs to find the productive water. Wahoo and blackfin tuna will make up the primary targets for the next couple of months with the occasional sailfish and mahi. You will need to run out and look for the larger temp break for the warmer water, hopefully in the 30-50 fathom range over good bottom structure. We will generally work that temp break until we find the bait, and that is normally where you are going to find the fish. Work that area hard and it should produce. From the Morehead area we will typically head down the beach, often starting around the 350 line and then working on down another 5 or 10 miles from there – or until we find the fish. The good news is that once you find them, they will usually be stacked up in decent numbers. Wire leaders are a must due to wahoo being the prevalent species; don’t worry, the tuna will not hesitate to hit that bait either! You will absolutely have to get a bait down deep to ensure a successful day…it is not unusual for the planer rod to be where ALL the action is during this time of year. Dark color combinations are good but I always have some blue/white rigs out there as well. If you are marking bait, and especially fish, but are just not getting the bites, you can play with your speed a little. I often find that a little extra speed will trigger bites from lethargic wahoo. As I always say, find the bait and you will find the fish.
Winter is a great time to practice the Boy Scouts Motto, “Be Prepared!” The water is cold, the weather can change quickly, and there will not be many boats out there… this is not a time to have a problem and not have what you need to survive. Start ahead of time and make sure your boat is ready for the trip. File a float plan with someone who will quickly realize if you are overdue, and find someone to buddy boat with if possible. Take plenty of warm, DRY clothes and have some extra food/water along in case you experience a breakdown. Pay attention to the weather throughout the day and don’t hesitate to head back home if it gets questionable.
Offshore fishing from the Crystal Coast can be a lot of fun, even in the winter. We will have decent opportunities to get out there and bring home some very nice catches. Planning and preparation are keys to success, or better yet, support the local charter fleet and hire one of us to take you out there. We take all the headaches out of it for you and provide you with a fun day and a heated salon! Either way, keep draggin baits!
