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Fly Fishing North Carolina Outer Banks

Fly Fishing Opportunities for
Striped Bass and False Albacore

Cape Lookout • Harkers Island • Ocracoke • Cape Hatteras
Oregon Inlet • Nags Head • Corolla

 
        The Outerbanks of North Carolina offers fly fishermen truly world class saltwater fly fishing opportunities for Striped Bass and False Albacore.  Not only are there fly fishing opportunities in the ocean waters from Cape Lookout up to Oregon Inlet to catch False Albacore and Trophy size Striped Bass, the sound-side waters of the Outer Banks hold speckled trout, redfish, and school size striped bass that can be taken on a fly almost year round.  Costal rivers of North Carolina have exceptional spring runs of Hickory Shad, Striped Bass, and American White Shad.  The lower tidal reaches of these river have a mixed bag offering to fly fishermen, a blend of both fresh and saltwater fish.  It is possible to catch flounder, speckled trout, and redfish swimming the same river areas as inhabited by largemouth bass and raccoon perch.  I grew up fishing the costal rivers and the Outerbanks of North Carolina; over development, decline in water quality mostly from non-source specific pollution, and commercial pressures; have all taken their toll on the inshore waters, but there are still plenty of fish to catch.  And there are some remarkable come-back stories as well; most notably the striped bass population of the Roanoke Valley water shed.  Striped bass populations have recovered to outstanding levels as compared to what they were in late 70's. 
 

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Pamlico Sound Fly Fisherman Fishes the back marsh of Cape Hatteras National Seashore -Harry Hall photo-Green Island Slough, June

Cape Hatteras National Seashore has a multitude of saltwater fly fishing options for wading anglers, from both the Pamlico Sound side of the Islands, and ocean front surf fishing.  Striped bass, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and speckled trout can all be taken on flies by shore-bound anglers.

Kayak Fishing the Outer Banks

Kayak fishing's popularity is gaining more momentum every year.  North Carolina's Outerbanks is a kayak fishing paradise.Fly Fishing for Outer Banks Striped Bass with a Kayak  Opportunities for kayakers to get into the fishing action run the full spectrum; from fishing the brackish waters of the Currituck Sound for Largemouth Bass and schoolie size stripers, to paddling out into the ocean to catch a trophy size Striped Bass, or line stripping False Albacore. 

 

 
 

Manns Harbor Bridge

North Carolina Fly Fisherman Striped Bass Fishing at Manns Harbor Bridge

Connecting the Outerbanks to the mainland, the Manns Harbor Bridge has been a magnet for both striped bass and North Carolina striped bass fishermen for decades.  During the peak of the season, fly fishermen can catch dozens of striped bass per day around the bridge.  Kayak fishermen are getting into the action too.  For the wading fly fishermen, there are a few traditional hot spots for stripers close by the bridge.  Many days fly fishermen working the waters around the Manns Harbor Bridge or the newer US 64 By-Pass Bridge experience catch rates that rival those of the famous Roanoke River spring run at Weldon, North Carolina.

 

Cape Lookout False Albacore

The fall False Albacore fishery off the southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks, the area from Cape Lookout down to Beaufort Inlet, has probably received more national publicity in saltwater fly fishing magazines than any other fly fishing opportunity in all of North Carolina.  What's not to love about it?  Strong, lightening fast fish crashing through school of baitfish with wreck less abandonment.  What fly fisherman doesn't wish to tangle with a fish that will peel a hundred or more yards of backing from his fly reel?

Flase Albacore Busting Bait off Cape Lookout

Harry Hall sefly
Guided Fly Fishing

 
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