relocating to NC

[hawg hunter]

It looks like work has me headed to Raleigh NC around May. I have been a stand up West Coast fisherman for 25+ years Yellowtail,Tuna etc. Any tips or pointers on East Coast style fishing will be appreciated. I have read about the Huge Blue Fin Tuna you catch there, I am possitive my current assortment of gear will not hold up to these huge feeeshh. As far as 20# 40# and 60# gear goes what would one expect to catch and times of the year?
I am really looking forward to fishing your waters!!!! Any and all help is much appreciated. I would like to meet up with some of you for a few and talk fishing later this year.

[atun53]

I just moved back from there at the end of '05. May is a little late for the Blue Fin Tuna, they are more of a winter time thing. Around May the Yellow Fin Tuna are moving in. Also the wahoo and king macks start showing a little more frequently. If you are there in May, go to Holly Springs (10 minutes south of Raliegh) and fish Harris lake for some 10 lb largemouth on top water baits from shore. I lived 5 minutes from the lake and had some epic afternoons. Crappie over and bluegill over 2 lbs, bass close to 10 lb, cats approaching 15 lb. Great impound to fish. One thing to go after is the false albacore around Lookout in October. Great times, its where all the tackle manufacturers test their new gear. Summertime can have some good wahoo, marlin, and tuna catches out in the stream. Inshore there is going to be some good catches on flounder, spots, weakfish. Your gear should be fine, almost all the fishing is done via charters. They have some head boats that are equivalent to cattle boats. They go out and pick the reefs for snappers with steel fishing rods and dead bait.

[hawg hunter]

Atun 53 Thank you very much for the information. I am glad to hear about the bass fishing. I am really looking forward to all the different types of fishing the East coast offers. I fill I will become a more rounded angler able to adapt to many different enviroments. Thanks again for the information.

[Ol Pedro]

Hoggster , You shouldn't have too much trouble with most of what you should catch offshore .I moved from San Diego to Jersey 12+ years and the biggest reels I currently own is an Int.30 and a 6/0 . If you have your Long range stuff you will do fine . Don't make the mistake that I made and sell most of your toys before you come out (I sold most of my decoys ,two boats , and most of my rods ). On the first Tuna trip I took out here I asked the Captain if 30lb was too heavy he said 30 lb ? you had better have 60lb minimum for chunking . To me the fishing is easier out here . The Yellow Fin Tuna and Albacore don't seem too line shy most of the time . We don't target Blue Fin Tuna because of the Regs. It's hard to tell a customer that he will have to release the 200+lb Blue Fin Tuna that he has spent the last two hours fighting . the six pacs have the advantage of chasing down the Blue Fin Tuna and you can use their gear . West coast Iron catches it's fair share of fish out here . Your trolling stuff will also work too .

[skinny0812]

Hey Eric

If this is you. Me and my girl were hanging with you this weeknd at Saguaro. I would love to meet up and get to some hawgs

Call me if you get this and it is you 480.287.3698

[hatidua]

Closest fishing to RDU (saltwater) is going to be down near Harkers/Beaufort.

Summer: dorado, drum, kings, the annual Big Rock blue marlin tourney, spanish, flounder.

Fall: tunny, spanish, specks, kings, bigger drum, bluefish

Winter: Blue Fin Tuna and occasional stripers at the shoals off Core Banks


Freshwater: stripers on the Roanoke in April as well as shad.

panfish in every pond/lake/stream/river/etc.

trout are all through the mountains there.

-I don't bass fish so can't comment on that.