Bogue Inlet Pier – Well it is officially summer time, maybe not officially, but it sure feels like it and looks like it to me. I just checked the fishing report over at Bogue Inlet Pier and they are really racking up some nice catches of a variety of fish.
They’ve got their first king of the year weighing in at a whopping 12 pounds. I was also shocked to see someone landed a nice cobia that weighed over 29 pounds. I love cobia, its one of my favorite fish to eat.
They’ve also been landing some nice spanish. The hatteras blues are definitely in the neighborhood. I noticed some of them ranging from 8 to 12 pounds.
Another one of my favorite fish for the table, pompanos, seem to be in the area, and they’ve got some size to them! Some are breaking 2 pounds. Which is a nice size to cook up. If you’ve never ate pompano…give it a try, you’ll be hooked.
Fishing is probably one of my favorite things to do in Emerald Isle. It doesn’t cost much and you will be entertained for hours. Definitely stop by the pier while visiting our area. Whether you want to fish, or just see what others are catching, its worth the walk to the end.
I’m off on Friday and if the weather allows I plan to do a little fishing myself. I’m not sure if I’ll head to the pier or jump in the kayak and see what I can scare up in and around Bogue Inlet.
Good luck to all you anglers, and catch ‘em up!
The water is really warming up. Its in the mid-seventies this week. Time go swimming.
My son and I had the misfortune of fishing with Captain Tracy of Island Girl Charters in Morehead City on July 18, 2009. Due to rough seas, we were limited to a total of two hours of trolling on large rods and reels for Spanish Mackerel so small that we couldn’t tell if they were on the line. We asked to return to dock, as this wasn’t what we had signed up for, and when we returned the Captain insisted on charging for a half day. When I observed that he clearly wasn’t looking for repeat business, he snapped “well you’re just trying to Jew me down.” I told him I was Jewish and that I wasn’t inclined to pay him anything at this point, he proceeded to call the police. After the police talked to both of us, and told me that he was just an ignorant redneck with a bad reputation around these parts for being a racist, they said just be the bigger man and forget about it. So I wrote the check for a half day, at which point Captain Tracy came over, and in front of m astonished son and two officers said: “I better make sure you aren’t Jewing me out of my money.” I was about to slug him when the officers intervened. I would advise everyone to keep a safe distance from this ignorant tobacco-spitting knuckle dragging cracker. Not only is he a racist, he’s one of the worst and laziest charter captains I’ve ever encountered. He would not spend one minute or waste one drop of fuel more than he had to to meet his basic requirements. He didn’t tell us how bad the seas would be before we left, and when we returned, he said it wasn’t worth him going out later in the day even if the weather cleared. As the two Carteret County officers advised me, the best thing to do about guys like this is to put them out of business. Hope this is useful to folks thinking about chartering.
By the way, a police report is on file, if anyone doubts this.
WOW! Well I’m very sorry you guys had such a bad experience. I hope this does not deter you from fishing or booking another charter in our area. I’m sure if you book a charter with some of the more reputable captains around here you will have a trip that makes up for this bad experience. I personally cannot comment on Capt. Tracy as I’ve never met him. Next time you want to go off shore try booking Second to None out of Morehead City. Capt. Shane Bradford is truly second to none and he and his crew will ensure your satisfaction. If you would like to stay inshore make the drive to Swansboro and try Capt. Jeff Cronk of Fishing 4 Life charters.
Thanks for your input on Island Girl Charters. You may have saved someone else a lot of grief. If you have had an experience (good or bad) with a local charter captain please let us know.
Tight Lines y’all,
Jason
IN REPLY TO savetheseafood:
Dear Prince Dramamine,
Bottom Line Up Front: You might want to stick to small ponds and slow moving streams, and leave open water fishing to the men and women that have already found their sea legs.
I went fish aboard the Carolina Girl with Capt Tracey during my bachelor party and found his operation to be top shelf. The day I went fish aboard the Carolina Girl was ROUGH — think three for four foot seas in varying directions every five to six seconds. The guys I went out with were seasoned off shore fishermen, and half got sick (NOT ME!). Capt Tracey never asked if we wanted to go ashore or chase the smaller fish closer to land — because we never asked. (Finding fish, which Capt Tracey did: Dolphin x 2; Wahoo x 1; Kingfish x 3 is kind of funny that way.)
My guess is that you chartered for a full day, got out and found out why not everyone goes out after the palegics . . . if they could they would. You asked to stay close to shore; which he did. As for the rods that were out on deck: having been aboard the Carolina Girl I have seen their tackle; they have a varying degree of rods and reels — from heavy offshore to medium in shore. If the mate (who is the best I have ever fished with) didn’t put it out it was because he was afraid that you would destroy it with your inexperience, or it was out and you didn’t know what you were looking at — both seem plausible after reading your ranting and ignorant blog.
When you book a Captain, you enter a contract with that man or woman. When you break the contract, you must incur the financial consequences. Sorry the weather didn’t work out for you, not every day looks like glass out on the Atlantic, but that’s what separates the men from the boys.
If what you are saying about the discriminatory remarks is true, I am sorry. I grew up Catholic in the South and have heard plenty of sick remarks. (I have plenty of Jewish friends too — my remarks are not intended to apologize for any alleged antisemitism.)
In summary: maybe the brim are biting near a dock somewhere, leave the fishing Captains alone; it ain’t a Carnival Cruise out there.