Outer Banks, NC artificial reef fishing?

[hogtown_usa]

Anyone have experience fishing any of the artificial reefs around the Outer Banks? 014 I've never had a boat capable of fishing the big pond, so I've never given much thought to reef fishing. With my 23 DLV on order, I was looking on the NCDMF website at the artificial reefs, particularly AR-160 off of Oregon Inlet. If I get a calm day, I'd like to try it. AR-160 is only about 4 or 5 miles from the mouth of the inlet so it would be a pretty quick run to get back in. 015 Any pointers, advice, experiences, fishing reports, etc. would be appreciated! 018

[lakebiker]

Anyone have experience fishing any of the artificial reefs around the Outer Banks? 014 I've never had a boat capable of fishing the big pond, so I've never given much thought to reef fishing. With my 23 DLV on order, I was looking on the NCDMF website at the artificial reefs, particularly AR-160 off of Oregon Inlet. If I get a calm day, I'd like to try it. AR-160 is only about 4 or 5 miles from the mouth of the inlet so it would be a pretty quick run to get back in. 015 Any pointers, advice, experiences, fishing reports, etc. would be appreciated! 018


Oregon Inlet is the 2nd most dangerous inlet in the USA. For your first few trips, I think I would look further south, Bardens, Beaufort, etc. If you can, follow somebody who know's where they are going at either place you choose. Heck, from you're place, I'd be hitting the Bay. ;D ;D

[Capt. Mick]

Oregon Inlet is not a place to take lightly. Y^ou may leave in the morning out of a calm inlet, but most of the time it's another thing coming back in. The previous post was dead on. practice some where else first. They don't call this area the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for nothing.

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Where is oregon inlet,i google map the cape hatteras area and the outer banks, and nothing.

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Never mind, found it, it was more north.

[CFISHN]

hey Hog

I fish sound side " OLD HOUSE CHANNELL"
We fish right up to and under the Bonner bridge "Flounder,Trout" whitch is the gateway to Oregan inlet if you try in a C/skiff dlv dlx any size ! before you go radio the coast guard to stand buy YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT !!! MY 25 YEARS EXPERANCE TELLS ME SO ! old house channel from Ronoake sound Changes from week to week UNCHARTED SHOLING IS THE ORDER OF EVERY DAY!
On a calm day you can have your run of the Tri sound area The
"Roanoke,Pamlico,Croatan" all on old house channell!

IF YOU DO GO OUT FOLLOW A BIG BOY TRU THE SLOUGHTS IN THE CHANNELL AND TRU OR AROUND THE BREAKERS ! MAKE RADIO CONTACT WITH THE FLEAT CAPTINS TO WATCH OUT FOR YOU !!

Broad creek is my recomendation for your boating needs on the obx oregin inlet fishing center offers launch store restrooms fule too.
http://www.outerbanksfishing.com/FishingInfo/marinas.htm

http://www.broadcreekfishingcenter.com/

http://www.tunafever.com/ < plug for my nabor :)

TRY THE HATTREAS OCRACOKE INLETS A SAFER

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

What makes Oregon inlet so dangerous?

[Redfish]

Never fished it, but have NC kin-folk who go regularly in an offshore rig. What others have said on this thread is what they say--very dangerous--especially trying to come back in on outgoing tide. Apparently very strong currents, big shoals, and not much room for error. They fish in a boat with a couple hundred horses of moters hanging off the back and tell about being afraid thay the boat will not make headway in some conditions. Don't know about you folks, but I fish for fun and enjoyment. I ain't real found of white knuckled rides--especially on the water.

[lakebiker]

Never fished it, but have NC kin-folk who go regularly in an offshore rig. What others have said on this thread is what they say--very dangerous--especially trying to come back in on outgoing tide. Apparently very strong currents, big shoals, and not much room for error. They fish in a boat with a couple hundred horses of moters hanging off the back and tell about being afraid thay the boat will not make headway in some conditions. Don't know about you folks, but I fish for fun and enjoyment. I ain't real found of white knuckled rides--especially on the water.


Everything he said but to add to it. If the wind shifts, which it does all the time, conditions can change in minutes and at times, from bad to worse. At times, you can do it in a row boat, at other times, the big charter boats have trouble and they do it every day. Hatteras isn't much better. In fact, if you have a good day at Oregon Inlet, odds are you're going to have a bad day at Hatteras and vise versa, due to the wind changes. Fact is, you better know what the hell you're doing at either place, charts ain't worth a chit cause that place changes with every tide change, shoals, sand bars, you name it. It ain't no place for a novice. Better say ya 008 008 008 008

[CFISHN]

THE SHOLING " SHALLOW UP TO SMALL ISLAND SPOTS" MAKE A SORT OF RIP TIDE THAT SHOVE OR PULL YOU AGROUND IF LUCKY NORTH USALY IT'S BEACH , SOUTH SORRY A'BOUT YOUR LUCK RIP RAP JETTY!!!

THE PARK SERVICE GETS 300 LAW SUITS FILED EVERY TIME THEY TRY TO EXPAND OR BUILD A NEW JETTY! THEIR IS ALSO A BEACH BUGGY CLUB THAT RAISES HECK THEY ALL SITE BEACH EROSION TERN "A BIRD" AND TURTLE HABITAT JUST TO NAME A FEW! 004 004 004

BOAT US AND SEA TOW HAVE STATIONS THEIR 006

[hogtown_usa]

Thanks guys. That was not exactly the response I expected, but very informative 001 . I have some friends there who are commercial fisherman and they go out through the inlet sometimes in a 22 or 24' center console deep-v. They grew up on the water however.

I've seen the tidal current through the inlet many times, but just a few from a boat. Looks like river rapids when it really gets flowing! :o I can see large boats having problems negotiating the channel around the shoaling, but seems to me the skiff's shallow draft would be a lot easier. 006

Don't worry, I won't be trying to traverse the inlet anytime soon. I'm gonna stick to the soundside for now. I'm just always looking for new things. You know that the grass is always greener on the other side! ;D

Philip

ps. -Cfish, thanks for the PM

[Redfish]

One more comment: Fishing the ocean is not like lake fishing. I know that a lot of guys on this forum are lake guys, and I have been on some of the bigger lakes in Carolina, Georgia, etc. I know they can get nasty in a big blow (try one in a low sided bass boat in a big wind if you don't think so.) However, the Ocean (Atlantic, Gulf) will kill you if you do not know what you are doing and don't take precautions. I have seen guys out 30 miles in boats barely suitable for the bays and sounds. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here and do not mean to be condecending to anyone, but there are people who are first-time boaters on the forum and what I am saying is go slow until you learn and then use a degree of common sense and have respect for mother ocean.

[CFISHN]

One final point to ponder !

WHY YOU THINK THEY CALL IT THE GRAVE YARD OF THE ATLANTIC ANY WAY ?

you will see gost fleet maps marking all the wrecks around the obx and cape's !


and thats why we all want to wreck fish their !

DON'T BECOME A PART OF THR HABITAT ! 015

[FishNC]

Just another comment agreeing with the others concerning Oregon Inlet.

I have considerable experience fishing the ocean in boats of various sizes. At one time I ran a large private boat for a few years and spent August and September at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Loved the great offshore fishing(after getting out the inlet). However, knowing that I had to get back through the inlet was always on my mind. It is a very dangerous inlet and is not the place to learn or to practice your boating skills.

The best description I've heard about this inlet was by an old timer. He said it is like taking off in the dark from an airport in a small plane. You fly around for a while. When you return the runway lights are in the same place but the runway has moved. You have to decide where the runway is currently located in order to land. This description applies to this inlet during the day.......fortunately I never had to come back after dark.

The Coast Guard makes numerous rescues involving small boats capsizing in the inlet......some are boats fishing just outside the inlet.

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

One more comment: Fishing the ocean is not like lake fishing. I know that a lot of guys on this forum are lake guys, and I have been on some of the bigger lakes in Carolina, Georgia, etc. I know they can get nasty in a big blow (try one in a low sided bass boat in a big wind if you don't think so.) However, the Ocean (Atlantic, Gulf) will kill you if you do not know what you are doing and don't take precautions. I have seen guys out 30 miles in boats barely suitable for the bays and sounds. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here and do not mean to be condecending to anyone, but there are people who are first-time boaters on the forum and what I am saying is go slow until you learn and then use a degree of common sense and have respect for mother ocean.


I couldn't have said that any better, you are absolutelly right about respect of the seas. thumbsup

[TooTall]

Back in the early '80's I bounced a 72' shrimp trawler thru Oregon Inlet And they said I won't get out with 9' of draft. I showed them!!! It's great the have a steel hull when you do the boucing.
Oh by the way I came back in 5 days later into Morehead.
Charlie

[CFISHN]

HERE'S A OLD PIC OF OREGON INLET FROM A PLANE IT AINT GOT BETTER!

BEHIND THE BONNER BRIDGE IS OLD HOUSE CHANNELL THAT CONNECT RONOKE PAMLICO AND CROATAN SOUNDS!
REMEMBER IF YOUR COMMING TO BRING EXTRA DRAWS ROTFLMAO
http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk1/CFISHN62/CSO/oregoninleteastviewfordesktop.jpg

[TooTall]

008 017 008
It's still a nasty SOB to go out of
A least some things don't change
001 001 001

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

What is so "special" about that inlet, that makes it so hard to navigate?

[o2bfishn]

NEM,

I believe it has sometime to do with the tide and winds and the angle of the inlet. And don't forget the sands, they are never in the same place, always moving. Also a lot of water can be pushed put of the sound through that narrow inlet by the wind. I think the inlet was formed in the late 1600's by a hurricane, and the ocean been trying to close it ever since. (got some reading on it somewhere).

I like to surf fish the OBX and I have seen the inlet so calm a row boat could go through and a few hours later be mad as hell. Gets real nasty in a storm. I understand that the water is shallow at the beach but the current has scoured 100' deep holes at times back by the bridge.

On calm days and nights I have fished off the bridge on the walkway, and could not believe the amuont of current below me. The sound is very large, check out a map, and Oregon inlet is the only inlet for miles and miles around.

Maybe someone can add to thiis.


02bfishn 014

[CFISHN]

CURRENT , SHOLES , ULTRA NARROW CHANNELL , SAND BARS , WIND AND THE NASTY TROLL >:D THAT LIVES UNDER THE BRIDGE nutkick

IN MY OPENION AND A LOT OF OTHERS TOO! :secret:

TREE HUGGERS TRYING TO SAVE US ALL FROM THE NASTY EVIL JETTIE OL HECK NO CAN'T BUILD ONE TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY " WATERCRAFT BIG AND SMALL" clonk
THAT THEIR IS A NATIONAL SEASHORE ! SO PEOPLE DIE BUT HEY THE WELL FINANCED IDIOTS MOST OF WHITCH HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR DONATIONS ARE FIGHTING FOOR! SAVE THE BIRDS SAVE THE TURTLES SAVE THE WETLANDS SAVE THE DUCKS ! JUST SAVE IT I LIKE THEM THINS TOO BUT USE YOUR BRAIN ! clonk

OL AND BY THE WAY THE 400K 1978 JETTIE IS NOW ESTIMATED TO COST MILLIONS. clonk

[CFISHN]

I like to surf fish the OBX


THEY ARE HAVING A BIG HEARING ABOUT A LACK OF A OFF ROAD USE IMPACT PLAN AND THE 4X4 BEACHES MAY ALL BE CLOSED THIS YEAR THE HEARING IS IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO !

THEIR HAS NEVER BEEN A IMPACT PLAN !
WHEN THEY GET ONE THEY WILL FILE SUITS CITING IT AS REASONS TO CLOSE THE BEACH ROADS !

THAT IS TIPICAL OF THE TYPE OF LAW SUITS THEY FILE ALL THE TIME

[TooTall]

NEM,
It's no Jones Inlet, but it can run like jones on a full moon flood tide at anytime during a single tide. It is very narrow and the sand is on the go all the time.

Remember Farmer's shoal in Fire Island inlet. 30 years ago it was more to one end of the inlet and now there is that deep channel out in front of the old OBI night club dock.( good Black fish)

Long Island inlet change slowly. This one changes each day it seems

[Ol'Weezy]

i dont want to take anything away from anyone that has posted a thread here. boating anywhere can be dangerous.

i have taken my 1965 dlx out of oregon inlet fishing marina several times. i have a 50hp on the back. knock on wood, i have never had any issues.

granted that from the marina i only went out to the 3rd or 4th bouy and then fished the bridge. the water was never really too rough. i would NOT go out in anything smaller than 19' but i think the 19 footer will do just fine. i speak from personal experience. there will be times when large boats roll by and send you a nice size wake but my skiff takes everything you throw at it.

good luck. fish safely. enjoy.

[bozwell]

I used my old 18' Sea Pro out of the Inlet marina several times drifting for flounder at the bridge... would never have thought of going thru the Inlet with it though.
I am picking up my new 1965 DLX Fri. which I got primarily for use sound side from Oregon Inlet to Hatteras Inlet.
I have a place in Rodanthe so will leave the boat there alot.
The guys at Hatteras Jack also told me the New Inlet on Hwy.12 S of Oregon Inlet is a good place to put out as well.

[Ol'Weezy]

i will look into it further. thanks for the info.