At 4:00 pm the NCDOT announced that the Bonner Bridge at Oregon Inlet was safe and open to traffic. Recent surveys and inspections of the scoured bridge sections indicated enough sand had been replaced to warrant giving the go-ahead for vehicles to drive across the bridge. Merry Xmas Hatteras Island!!!
Coolbreeze out
Sunday’s high will be in the mid 50s with rain likely this morning becoming mostly sunny for the afternoon. Wind will be W 15 – 20 mph gradually shifting to NW this evening. Sunset will be at 4:49 pm and sunrise tomorrow at 7:06 am.
First tide will be high at 5:45 am followed with a low at 12:25 pm
Second tide is high at 6:02 pm with the next low tomorrow morning at 12:02 am
It’s a grey, dreary, Sunday morning and I can’t find much going on with the local fishing scene. Slot-sized drum from the Buxton jetties yesterday, a private Virginia boat decked 20 blackfin tuna out of Oregon Inlet on Friday, no report from Jennettes pier, lots of Christmas parties. Drive responsibly or stay home.
Coolbreeze out
Forecast for Saturday Dec 14th indicated a high around 58 -59 degrees with a significant chance of rain. Winds will start out light E clocking to SE and building to 20 – 30 mph. Sunset will be at 4:49 pm and sunrise tomorrow will be at 7:05 am.
First tide is a high at 5:03 am followed with a low at 11:42 am
Second tide is high at 5:19 pm with the low at 11:21 pm
Apparently the northern outer banks is in holiday mode cause I’m just not hearing much in the area of catching or fishing. Red drum tackle reported lots of pups and some specks yesterday from Buxton to Cape Point. Oregon Inlet reported one boat going out today – the last day they sent a charter out was Friday a week ago. Jennettes pier decked one skate and a spiny dogfish yesterday and also saw one drum taken off the beach north of the pier.
For anyone interested in great white sharks, Katharine, a 14′ 2300# female, pinged her satellite tag a couple miles off of Kitty Hawk on Thurs Dec 12th. I’m also hearing a lot of chatter about decent speckled trout catches in the “hot ditch” in Chesapeake (in the southern branch of the Elizabeth River).
Be a hero, TAKE A KID FISHING !!!
Coolbreeze out
It’s Tuesday Dec 10th and it’s raining again, clearing up later today. Expected high in the 50s early with temps dropping this afternoon as the wind shifts around to the N and increasing 25+. Sunset is at 4:49 pm and sunrise tomorrow is 7:02 am.
First tide is high at 1:15 am with the low at 7:41 am
Second tide is high at 1:30 am with the low at 7:56 pm
Yesterday I mentioned my conversation with a customer from Pennsylvania who had purchased a dozen eels to live bait for stripers from the Oregon Inlet catwalks. His intent was to take the ferry to Rodanthe and drive up to the south end of the bridge. Reading the Coastland Times last night I noticed an article referencing that access to Pea Island refuge was closed from the south so this morning I called the refuge office in Manteo for a clarification. The staffer I spoke with stated that Pea Island was not closed however NCDOT could place their roadblock where ever they deemed necessary. I don’t know if my customer made it to the catwalks but I don’t think I’d go to all that trouble and not knowing if I was going to get turned around within casting distance of the bridge. Anyone know who to chat up at NCDOT?
On a somewhat related topic, ORV permits for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore are available for purchase online at www.recreation.gov . There are administration fees so if you want to avoid those, you can still drive to that trailer they have at the Coquina Beach parking lot.
Coolbreeze out
For Tuesday the 9th of Dec, the winter winds have switched around to the SW and laid down to 10 – 15 mph. It’s still cloudy with a 40% of rain. Expect a high about the mid 50s and not seeing the sunset at 4:48 pm or tomorrows sunrise at 7:01 am.
First tide is high at 12:08 am and low at 6:29 am
Second tide is high at 12:56 pm and low at 6:52 pm
Haven’t heard of much going on from the beach today. I did speak with the staff at Jennettes pier this morning and they reported what few people they had fishing decked skates and spiny dogfish – get used to it cause I expect to hear that a lot over the next several months. There are probably some more trout and puppy drum coming out of the bay and eastern shore area that haven’t reached us yet. I have heard of schoolie rockfish around the bridges in the sounds – mostly small but some keepers.
Unfortunately with the Bonner Bridge being closed that shuts down any likelihood of us fishing Hatteras Island, but I did sell a dozen eels to a Pennsylvania guy who was going to take the ferry to Rodanthe and then drive up to the catwalks to fish for stripers. He said he had spoken to an engineer with the state who told him access to the catwalks was open. Good luck with that.
It looks like the sun will return by Wednesday but with it will come colder temperatures for the rest of the week. Be a hero, TAKE A KID FISHING!!!
Coolbreeze out
For Sat Dec 7th it’s not looking like it will be the nicest weather on the OBX. Expect N winds 20 – 30 mph, rain is very likely with the high in the low 50s. You probably won’t be able to see the sunset at 4:48 pm nor tomorrows sunrise at 7:00 am.
First tide is low at 4:18 am and high at 10:27 am
Second tide is low at 5:02 pm and high at 11:03 pm
It’s the kickoff weekend for the Xmas and end of the year holidays and as I look outside at the grey wet skies, I’m just not feeling the love today. I’m pretty confident there isn’t much fishing to report on this morning but there are some holiday happenings in our community to post. Jennettes pier is hosting the annual Hotline Festival of Trees (call the pier at 255-1501 for details). The Manteo Christmas parade kicks off at 10:30 am thiw morning. Santa will be at the Great White Fishmas hosted by the N C Aquarium on Roanoke Island beginning at 5:30 pm. In the other direction the Duck Yuletide Celebration hosted by the town of Duck begins around 3:00 pm (call 255-1286 for info).
Drive responsibly this holiday season,
Coolbreeze out
For Tuesday Dec 3rd, mostly sunny skies 0% chance of rain, high around 57 degrees with NW winds 10 mph or less. Sunset at 4:49 pm and sunrise tomorrow at 6:56 am.
First tide is low at 12:38 am with a high at 6:58 am
Second tide is low at 1:32 pm then high at 7:19 pm
For early December it looks to be a pretty decent day. I did hear of a few trout (emphasis very few) landed on the beach north of Avalon pier yesterday. Schools of puppy drum are scattered up and down the beaches – Oregon Inlet area has been fairly active.
Jennettes pier reported some drum caught but not many people fishing – Jennettes just went to their winter hours, 8 am – 5 pm, open daily.
Winter hours at the Stop n Shop are Sun-Thur 7 am – 9 pm, Fri and Sat 7 am – 10 pm. Just a reminder we make personalized gift baskets, perfect for the holidays.
Be a hero….TAKE A KID FISHING!!!
Coolbreeze out
Sunday Dec 1st is going to be partly cloudy with a high around 55 degrees. 0% chance of rain today, possible tonight, likely tomorrow. Wind is NW 10 mph or less. Sunset will be 4:49 pm and sunrise tomorrow will be at 6:54 am.
First tide is a high at 5:19 am followed with a low at 11:51 am
Second tide is high at 5:36 pm and a low tonight at 11:47 pm
Nags Head pier reported keeper red drum this morning – NH pier is closing for the season today. OBX and Avalon piers locked their doors yesterday – they will all open up again next spring. Jennettes pier hosted their annual Redfish tournament yesterday morning with over 70 anglers signed up. The winning drum was 24 1/2 inches. Jennettes pier will remain open for the winter. Several slot sized drum have been landed there this morning also.
No detectable weather anomalies for the next several days – maybe we can snag some of those large specs evacuating Virginia. Keep your hopes up – it could happen.
Be a hero – TAKE A KID FISHING!!!
Coolbreeze out
The forecast for Saturday Nov 30th calls for a high of 52 under sunny skies with a 0% chance of rain. Winds will be NE 10- 15 mph, sunset will be at 4:49 pm and sunrise tomorrow will be at 6:53 am.
First tide is a high at 4:30 am with a low at 10:59 am
Second tide is high at 4:44 pm with a low at 10:57 pm
It’s the beginning of the end of another holiday weekend and it’s a busy one. Red drum is the fish of the day again and that is a good thing cause today is Jennettes Pier annual Redfish Tournament. They have about 50 anglers signed up this morning – cruise on over and check them out. Jennettes pier will be open all winter, however it’s the last day of the season for Avalon and the Outer Banks piers – it’s also the last day for Fishheads Bar and Grill at the OBX pier – they will all re-open next spring.
There are some forecasters calling for a bitterly cold winter and half of me would like to see it happen. It would increase the likelihood of striped bass leaving the bay and coming south, but the tossup is whether the fish will stay inside of 3 miles or not. As much as I would prefer another mild winter, it has been a long while since there has been a good rockfish run around the old sandbar.
With high hopes, TAKE A KID FISHING !!!!
Coolbreeze out
