Atlantic Beach/Beaufort Offshore reports 10/28

[Bud Man]

With calm weather, offshore action hot

By Craig Holt
October 28, 2009
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Big wahoo are available for offshore boats based at Atlantic Beach/Beaufort/Morehead City when the weather cooperates.
Big wahoo are available for offshore boats based at Atlantic Beach/Beaufort/Morehead City when the weather cooperates.
With mild weather and calm winds near the end of October (temperatures in the 70s and low 80s) at N.C.’s Crystal Coast, anglers have been able to go offshore and catch pelagic sportfish and bottom fish.

“The weather has been beautiful recently and bottom fishing, wahoo and the king (mackerel) bite has really turned on,” said Capt. Rick Baldwin of Morehead City and the sportfishing boat Mattie G II (252-269-0809, http://morehead-city-charter-fishing.com or www.mattiegfishing.com).

In addition to king mackerel, dolphin, blackfin tuna, sea bass, groupers and beeliners, false albacore have shown up in good numbers offshore and near the mouth of Beaufort Inlet.

False albies (also known as “Fat Alberts”) provide one of the top targets for fly anglers who fish from small boats.

An intermittent problem for offshore boats has been the wind, so anglers should call first to see if charter captains are willing to go offshore.

“The flounder bite is pretty good inshore, too,” Baldwin said. “Back in the marshes, people are doing well on puppy drum.”

One of Baldwin’s favorte targets while fishing offshore this time of year is wahoo.

Angler Ernie Zierenberg landed a 50.20-pound wahoo aboard the Mattie G II during the Morehead City-Atlantic Beach Wahoo Challenge, good for fifth place and $607.50. First place went to the Ava D and Capt. Jerry Jackson, with angler Bernie Doss landing a 54.80-pound ’hoo worth $9,112.