I am booking anglers to fish for False Albacore at Harker’s Island, NC this October and expect the action to be nothing short of spetacular! Watch the video that is attached and enjoy the action, but be careful, I can’t slow my heart rate down for five minutes after I watch it.
I have dates available that include October 24, 25, 26, aand 27. I have a house already booked and the closest airport is in New Bern, just about 45 minutes drive. This is a world class fishery and nothing has gained popularity like the false albacore fishing at Harker’s. Give it a try!
FISHING CONDITIONS: Truly the best Tarpon fishing I have seen in years. Despite the few turns in the weather nothing put these fish down. The only real summer condition that concerns is the possibility of thunderstorms. Keeping up with weather forecasts and radar images on my cell phone are a must! Winds can throw up a chop on the water but nothing of consequence where we are fishing. Strong or weak tidal flow didn’t seem to make much difference over the days I spent down there this past week. We always found Tarpon.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 85 Degrees, Lower Bay 80 Degrees, Near Coastal 78.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Bunker, Crabs, and other species.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Nothing worked so I can’t give you a play by play of the best working flies but we used several popular patterns including the Malzone Black Death, the same fly in Chartreuse and White as well as some half and half’s on the ten weight rod.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 80 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: 12 weight rod was the primary and the 10 weight was a secondary for prospecting. Both had large arbor reels.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Primary lines were intermediate with either clear sink tip or a full clear intermediate line. We didn’t try a full float or full sink but perhaps we should have.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Find the Tarpon first, on this we got lucky and discovered two hot locations. Watch for rolling fish and attempt to place the fly in the fishes feeding/sight zone. Strip slowly. When fish are caught here this works. Locating fish feeding and plentiful is the key to success.
COMMENTS: Larger fish above the 150 pound mark got caught in the past week according to one source (on bait). Truly this trip I saw more giants than I have ever seen in the Barrier Islands on previous trips.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: Tides will be changing to more outgoing this upcoming week. Looking around the same ares for fast current coming off the flats from the new direction are key. I have planned an early trip for this week hoping that that can make the difference.
FISHING LOCATIONS: Found in water less than 20 feet deep and frequently in the shallowest of water, this fish is easy to sight fish for. Back bays and less desirable waters are perfect habitat for this species. High temperatures seem to make them happy and they feed and breed all over the Chesapeake.
MOST COMMON BAIT: Oysters, clams, mussels and small bait fish.
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working best although all white is a good choice as well. Some reaction to other popular colors as well such as white on chartreuse. Never use poppers or other top water offerings for this species.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT: No special tackle required, 9 weight rod with large arbor reels are fine, but use care when fighting and landing because these fish can break rods easily.
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Almost any line will do provided the fly can get down to the level the Cow Nosed Ray can see and be able to eat.
BEST TECHNIQUES: Get into an area that the Rays are plentiful and not all spawning (easily detected by the numbers of pairs of Rays swimming one over the other). Feeding occurs all hours of the day but can be especially good in the hours when the light is low. Rays don’t fear boats and will move around and under your boat even in the shallowest of water. Good quality imitations of bait fish like a half and half will work but don’t expect every time you get the fly in the face of one these fish it will eat. Casting beyond and bringing the fly out from under the fish is best and not too fast. Rays will expend just so much energy to chase a fly. When fishing with someone it is helpful if they are using a pole to aid in positioning the boat to maximize your casting. Once the Rays eat the fly, let the line nearly clear the deck before you set the hook in order to prevent tangles from getting caught in the guides. Once the hook is set with a firm strip strike the Ray will leave your immediate area surprising quickly. Expect lots of turns and if in the area of structure, like stumps or rocks try to control how far the Ray gets into them. Typical runs will get into your backing and once you gain it back will do it over and over. This is a great fighter on a fly rod. Once exhausted carefully remove the hook with a long handled hook removal tool. The Ray will still put up a fight but can be released safely with careful handling. NOTE: the Ray has a barb located at the base of tail near the body that can inflict terrible pain on you if you get too close, and don’t bring him on board your boat, its way too dangerous.
COMMENTS: Cow Nosed Rays are growing in numbers and can be found all over the Chesapeake as well as other areas of the mid Atlantic. They are not prized as edible and do not look good mounted over your mantle but can provide the most big fish excitement during the summer doldrums that you can imagine.
FISHING CONDITIONS: Despite the numbers of great Striped Bass still out there, in May we also have worms.New moon phase in May and a hatch might just happen like this weekend when you are out to catch some Striped Bass.This seems to have been the trouble on Sunday.We drifted over the nicest school of Striped Bass ever and what happened?We caught only a few fish.Tried every fly imaginable and only one had any consistent results, a smallish Clouser on a 1/0 hook.There are still many Trophy size Striped Bass running around as you can see in the picture.Several trips this week in the Rivers near St. Michaels have netted some real nice fish although nothing larger than 36 inches.Water clarity is still excellent.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Mid Bay 60+ Degrees, Lower Bay (CBBT) 60 Degrees, Near Coastal 56.Not much change.
MOST COMMON BAIT:Bunker, Herring, perch, shad, and a host of other bait including MAY WORMS
“MUST HAVE” FLIES IN DESCENDING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Large (four inch) half and half’s, blue and white is still working.Some reaction to other popular colors as well such as white on white and white on chartreuse.
RECOMMENDED LEADER: 20 to 30 pound test, 7 ½ foot or 9 foot non-tapered.
BEST FLY ROD AND REEL OUTFIT:9 weight with large arbor reel
IDEAL FLY LINE TYPES: Full sink line in the fastest sink rate for waters around 6 to 12 feet and full float in skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface.
BEST TECHNIQUES:Drifts over the hot areas that are holding fish. Cast up current if necessary to get your fly down.Once you feel the fish hit the fly do a solid strip strike.Continue to use debarbed hooks to make release easier during this period.Because we are using debarbed hooks a second strip strike is advisable, being careful not to mistakenly grab the backing when it is moving.
COMMENTS:Big fish are still around; don’t give up on a goal to slam one this Spring.Lots of patience and good casting can bring home the big one.
7-DAY OUTLOOK: With the fish and the bait I’m seeing in the area, once this worm hatch is over, expect to see bird action and breaking fish at least occasionally.
Trying to salvage this winter fishing is looking like an impossible task. Cold water temperatures have kept me at home much of this winter, at least since the end of December.Ice has been a problem, both at the ramps I use, in the water and if the deck of the boat gets wet, on the boat.I hope this is the last report that I send out with no actual fishing.
Meanwhile, I have been working on tackle, the boat and plans for an expanded fishery in the Barrier Islands along the coastal waters of VA. Despite striking out on several Tarpon trips this past summer the clients saw many Tarpon in the water. Hooking up was the problem. We also saw a good number of sharks in the same, shallow waters. They were either Blacktip or Spinner Sharks and were average size of about 5 feet. Either species would be a good fight on a fly rod, identification will only come with a hookup since the two sharks are similar in coloration and shape. If they are spinners expect to see a lot of jumping and acrobatics. I plan to use chum to attract the sharks to the boat and then we can them throw flys that should get there attention. Tarpon respond to chum as well as many other species so it’s a win, win. Preparing for the trips I have set up several shark rigs both on fly and spinning with extra strong abrasion resistant leader, and wire bite tippet. Fly rods will be the award winning HELIOS 12 wt coupled with the new MIRAGE reel. A stronger, lighter outfit just isn’t available.
In addition my preparations for spring include replacing all my fly reels with the MIRAGE reels from ORVIS. These new reels are lighter and have a drag that is superior in every way to most other reels and this reel is light weight. What a combo for the HELIOS rods!
seen in years. Despite the few turns in the weather nothing put these fish down. The only real summer condition that concerns is the possibility of thunderstorms. Keeping up with weather forecasts and radar images on my cell phone are a must! Winds can throw up a chop on the water but nothing of consequence where we are fishing. Strong or weak tidal flow didn’t seem to make much difference over the days I spent down there this past week. We always found Tarpon. 
detected by the numbers of pairs of Rays swimming one over the other). Feeding occurs all hours of the day but can be especially good in the hours when the light is low. Rays don’t fear boats and will move around and under your boat even in the shallowest of water. Good quality imitations of bait fish like a half and half will work but don’t expect every time you get the fly in the face of one these fish it will eat. Casting beyond and bringing the fly out from under the fish is best and not too fast. Rays will expend just so much energy to chase a fly. When fishing with someone it is helpful if they are using a pole to aid in positioning the boat to maximize your casting. Once the Rays eat the fly, let the line nearly clear the deck before you set the hook in order to prevent tangles from getting caught in the guides. Once the hook is set with a firm strip strike the Ray will leave your immediate area surprising quickly. Expect lots of turns and if in the area of structure, like stumps or rocks try to control how far the Ray gets into them. Typical runs will get into your backing and once you gain it back will do it over and over. This is a great fighter on a fly rod. Once exhausted carefully remove the hook with a long handled hook removal tool. The Ray will still put up a fight but can be released safely with careful handling. NOTE: the Ray has a barb located at the base of tail near the body that can inflict terrible pain on you if you get too close, and don’t bring him on board your boat, its way too dangerous.
skinny or if you happen to see fish on the surface.
would be a good fight on a fly rod, identification will only come with a hookup since the two sharks are similar in coloration and shape. If they are spinners expect to see a lot of jumping and acrobatics. I plan to use chum to attract the sharks to the boat and then we can them throw flys that should get there attention. Tarpon respond to chum as well as many other species so it’s a win, win. Preparing for the trips I have set up several shark rigs both on fly and spinning with extra strong abrasion resistant leader, and wire bite tippet. Fly rods will be the award winning HELIOS 12 wt coupled with the new MIRAGE reel. A stronger, lighter outfit just isn’t available. 
