Fishing the Outer Banks Beaches in Fall

While it is true that the season of sun tanning and swimming has come to a close, however the Outer Banks beaches are still very busy. But what is it that is drawing people over the dunes to the ocean this autumn? The fishing!

Fall is fishing season in the Outer Banks. This area has a long history as an angler’s dream spot. The location is ideal with the brackish sound on one side and the salty sea on the other side. Before bridges and ferries connected the long chain of barrier islands to one another, the Outer Banks was in many areas largely a series of fishing villages linked only by a sandy trail.

NC Highway 12 is now a paved road that traverses the length of the Outer Banks. Some of the fishing villages have grown into small towns, but thankfully not all of them. The fishing is still legendary and the fall of the year holds some of the anglers’ best hope for glory.

One fish that draws anglers from long distances is the striped bass. This fish migrates down the East coast in the spring and fall. They are knows to be a tasty meal and numbers are on the increase due to careful management and regulations by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Stripers show up once the water temperatures cool and the fishermen follow. There are even tournaments held in the striper’s honor.

Another migrating fish to be found in the fall is the bluefish. Blues are aggressive fighters that serious fishermen love to fight into shore. They are typically caught through surf casting. This involves using a long, heavy pole and a big reel to throw the bait past the breaking waves from the shore. Many fishermen love the feeling of pulling a big, tough blue in from the waves. In many spots on the Outer Banks, these anglers can drive their trucks right onto the sand. There’s no need to haul the heavy equipment down to the shore. You can just drive it all right to the perfect spot.

If surf casting isn’t your favorite way to fish, there are many other options. Boats and guides can be chartered with relative ease up and down the Outer Banks. These experienced fishermen and women take clients either onto the sound or into the blue water of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean for a day of fishing.

Prices for guided trip vary depending on the distance travelled and the duration of the fishing trip. Guides are often locals or long-time residents who know all the best spots and are famous for keeping the truly great ones secret. It’s all worthwhile if you are lucky enough to find a "honey hole" full of fish just waiting to strike. A fall fishing trip to the OBX will give you plenty of fish stories to tell for years to come.