The Southern Winter Migration

[shoefish]

I've got a question for you North Carlina boys and I'm hoping you guys can point me in the right direction. We fish a 31' Albemarle, and are getting bummed that the season is almost over for us up here. We're kicking around the idea of pointing it towards the south in the next couple of months and parking it in the warmer weather for a few months so we could get down and enjoy it from time to time.

So I want to ask you guys from North Carolina...if a yankee was to head south, where should he go? (this should get some good replies )

Do you guys have suggestions for marinas that may have availability? What is the typical cost of a slip down there?

Thanks for all of your help, and hopefully it works out so I can see the NC crew again!

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Can we start another thread with humorous answers to "if a yankee were to head south where should he go?" The first six that come to mind, may hijack this thread. I am from Virginia so I ain't answering yet for real. Tie it up to The Bite Me. Either one of them.
HOLWACHAGOT

[shoefish]

Can we start another thread with humorous answers to "if a yankee were to head south where should he go?" The first six that come to mind, may hijack this thread. I am from Virginia so I ain't answering yet for real. Tie it up to The Bite Me. Either one of them.
HOLWACHAGOT

I thought that softball would set up some good replies

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Seriously, hope you will get it worked out. See you soon!

[Sea Draggin]

Until the end of September, there is no reason to come any further south than Oregon Inlet. Broad Creek in Wanchese would be my first stop.

Then in October you could work down to Hatteras or Morehead.

[SeaBiscuit]

Hello Danny,
never mind Geoff, he's just a redneck heckler!
The south loves FISHING Yankees.

Where to go, really depends on what you are after. If it's winter bluefin you are looking for, the boat needs to be at Morehead by Thanksgiving. Prior to that the fishing is excellent all up and down the coast. Tuners (YF) from Hatteras north and wahoos from Morehead south. Outstanding bottom fishing in the SE NC coast (Wilmington & Southport).

Don't know specific prices, but I imagine that the following list of potential locations (descending $) can help
Wrightsville Beach
Beaufort
Oregon Inlet (Nags Head, Manteo & Wanchese)
Morehead City
Hatteras
Ocrackoke
Harker's Island
Bogue Inlet
Southport
Carolina Beach

The more expensive places combine easier access and better non-fishing activities.
Narrow it down some and ask specific questions and we'll help get you the answers. Hope to see you soon.
SeaBiscuit

[anthony]

I agree with Jim....and keep in mind that OI had the yellowfins right through December last year!!

[shoefish]

Thanks for the replies guys.

To narrow it down, I think we would want to keep the boat somewhere fairly close to an airport so that it's an easy flight down. I think that we would want an inlet that was fairly decent to navigate (I know that some of your inlets are pretty hard core down there). Where we would be keeping it down there all winter, we would want to make sure that the marina was very secure. In terms of timing, I think we would probably be running it down in mid-October, and returning early April. What other considerations am I forgetting?

[SeaBiscuit]

Thanks for the replies guys.

What other considerations am I forgetting?

What kind of fish do you want to catch? Any commercial fishing (bluefin?) or strictly rec?

Hard to beat Wilmington (Wrightsville, Carolina and Southport) for air access. Masonboro Inlet is the best and the shipping lane in Southport wide open.

Oregon Inlet is serviced by Norfolk Va airport (90 minute drive I believe)

Morehead City, Beaufort and Harker's Island are serviced by New Bern regional, I believe (60 - 90 minute drive)

All else are harder to get to and can be reached in 2-4 hours from RDU airport.

Biscuit

[shoefish]

What kind of fish do you want to catch? Any commercial fishing (bluefin?) or strictly rec?

I guess that was pretty stupid of me- too busy thinking about logistics and I fogot the whole point! Fish!

Commercial giants would be fine but aren't a priority. A mix of yft, wahoo, mahi, and bottom fishing would be the preference.