Want to catch some fish or maybe fill a cooler without the hassle or expense of a boat? The answer to your dilemma is pier fishing, especially on the Outer Banks, which boast some of the best fishing piers in the region.
Piers get you out past the range surf fishermen are limited to and also provide the kind of structure many species gravitate toward. In September and on into the fall, fishing is good from Outer Banks piers, and many like, Jennette’s on Nag’s Head, are open 24 hours to allow for night fishing.
Here’s a quick look at what should be biting right now on Outer Banks piers.
For those interested in just catching some fish and taking them home for the fryer, spot, croaker and mullet fishing should be strong. Later in September and on through October, the big spots start showing up in numbers. The best way to fish for these bottom feeders is on the bottom. The standard two-hook bottom rig with a few ounces of lead, depending on what it takes to keep it on the bottom, will get you in the game. Shrimp and squid are the baits of choice for this application.
And with that bottom rig, don’t be surprised if you hook up with a puppy drum this time of year. The fall drum run should be getting started this month, with large schools skirting the coastline. If a mature 30-, 40- or even 50-pound drum is what you’re looking for, it’s best to change tactics. Or maybe set up a dedicated “big-fish” rig. Most folks hunting bull reds or big black drum will fish a slide-sinker rig, so the fish doesn’t feel the weight, and fresh natural bait is your best choice. Mullet, menhaden or even one of those spots you caught on your bottom rig are your best options. You’ll either need line heavy enough to handle the strain or a pier net to land one if you’re the lucky angler who hooks up.
Bluefish are a staple for pier action on the outer banks, but the bite peaks in May and June before tapering off into the fall. That said, schools of bluefish still show up this time of year. Anglers will often find them with long casts off the end of the pier.
Similar to the bluefish, a few Spanish mackerel should still be hanging around, and sometimes you’ll find them mixed in with the bluefish. While bluefish will fall for a bottom rig and bait, Spanish mackerel are more susceptible to artificials. A jig or spoon worked through an active school will likely be bitten.
Flounder are another regular catch. Again, the bite is not at its peak in September, but meaty flounder can still be caught. They love the structure a pier provides. Flounder prefer live baits, and a flounder rig with a live baitfish is your best bet. Bounce it around the pilings, walk it down the pier or just let it sit in a likely spot and wait.
One of the great things about fishing piers is you never know what you’ll catch, and fall is a great time to fish them. The summer crowds are departing, and the fishing can be very good.
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