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by Bill Morris

Saltwater fly fishing has its roots tangled up with the mangroves’ on the shallow marl-and-turtle grass flats of South Florida.  So it may simply be tradition that drives saltwater fly anglers toward “sight fishing”—the technique of seeking out specific fish and attempting to cast right into their feeding window.  Sight fishing is most often associated with Florida species—bonefish, permit, and tarpon—but the sport’s purists can also try their hand right here in North Carolina, during the false albacore season.

by Bill Morris

It’s a common joke that fishermen spend more dollars per-pound on their catch than any market could possibly charge.  But if there is one species that might put your ledger into the black, it’s the pompano.  These fish — which carry the highest market price in the country — feed in the surf zone from the Outer Banks south, and the best time to catch them is through the first two weeks of October.

by Bill Morris

From late summer through the fall, the Spanish mackerel is one of the most reliable game fish along most of the North Carolina coast.  From the beach, Stingsilvers and small Hopkins spoons are the lures of choice.  Pier fishermen swear by Gotcha plugs with gold hooks.  Small private boats and large charter vessels alike spend countless hours trolling gold and silver spoons.

by Capt. George Beckwith

When Capt. Owen Lupton and young Rick Cayton caught the first tarpon on a rod and reel in the deeper waters of Pamlico Sound in 1976, a new fishery was created for Pamlico County anglers.  The heavy, 20-40 pound gear reserved for offshore excursions through Ocracoke Inlet proved ideal for the newfound tarpon fishing.  In the subsequent years, a few local anglers spent thousands of hours battling mosquitoes, dodging sudden thunderstorms and learning the secrets of the giants of the lower Neuse.