Above is the fleet of boats at the Oregon Inlet, and to the right is the reason thousands of people fish the gulf stream each year. The Oregon Inlet fishing center is like to the Outer Banks as "popcorn is to a movie". When you hear someone mention that name you know that they are talking about the Outer Banks.
The Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is on the sound side, and is one of the best and most complete fishing, and pleasure boating facilities on the North Carolina coast.They are known as the Bill Fish capital of the world. They often welcome boats back to port with fish weighing five to six hundred pounds.
We saw a marlin one time that was hung up, like you would hang a deer. It was about 8 ft long and I would say it weight 500 lbs or more. To me, used to catching small fish, it was huge.
If you just want to fish the Oregon Inlet, it is a great place to fish. You can catch fish all around it, or you can drive a couple of miles across the Herbert C Bonner bridge, and fish on the bridge, on the catwalk, or anywhere close by. Sometimes the fishing is great. The reason is the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pamlico sound meet. Ocean on one side of the bridge and the sound on the other.
Many times off the Oregon Inlet bridge, we have caught blues and mackerel, like the ones above. The inlet is there because a hurricane in 1849 cut a path out from the Pamlico Sound to the Atlantic Ocean, or vice versa. Also Bodie island is separated from Pea Island. I wouldn't wanted to have been there when that storm came through, how about you?
The two islands are connected with this two and a half mile bridge. Along this strech of coast is quite a few access points to the ocean, where the fishing can be good.Oregon Inlet is a major point for charter fishing boat trips. Heading for the gulf stream about every day, they bring back tons of fish. Each time we have went to see the boats come in (around four in the evening), they have enough fish to pay for the trip.A short story from my brother-in-laws brother, both are not with us anymore. One time he and some friends chartered a boat, went out and caught so many fish, when they went home, they kept what they needed, and one of the men sold the rest. He said the man split the money from the sale of the fish, and it paid for the trip. I thought that was pretty neat. And they had a good friend to, that would do that for them.
Oregon Inlet is about charter boats, and gulf stream fishing. And they do their job well. I've never chartered a boat for a days fishing, but I know guy's that have. They get together, and split up the cost, and they say a trip is quite reasonable. But if you paid for your family, like my neice's husband did one time, he said it cost a few dollars$$$.
If you want to charter a day on the gulf stream at Oregon Inlet, these guys can make it happen. When I used to go fishing, I would end up spending my time finding the things I needed. Now I try (notice I said try) to have everything I need before I go fishing.Also this site gives you all of the fishing reports, and you can also charter a boat to bring some fish home. I was searching the net one night, and found them. They had such a nice site, it impressed me. You may enjoy it. I hope so.
On communities south of Duck, but north of Oregon Inlet, such as Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills,Nags Head, Manteo, and Wanchese, building is brisk, but blessedly there still remains miles, and miles of fine clean beaches, that offer great fishing, good places to eat, and plenty of family entertainment, and tons of water based recreation.
Two more points of interest, and I will sign off, is to stop in and see the Bodie Lighthouse. The National Park Service Visitor Center is located in a two story frame dwelling built in 1872 as a keeper's quarters. Also the visitor center serves as a museum, an information station, and a bookstore. They have plenty of parking. Unless you are in a hurry, stop in to see it. We have been there many times, and I still look forward to seeing it.
After you have seen that go back on North Carolina 12 and
continue south. About two miles away is the Oregon Inlet Campground on the left. The fishing center is about a mile south on the right. Some of you may be interested in camping.It is located Oceanfront. It is one of five in the National seashore,and the only place to stay on Bodie Island.
It is open from April to October, offers 120 campsites, restrooms, drinking water, cool showers, and picnic facilities. The reason I gave you these two points that may interest you is that they are close to the Oregon Inlet.
If you charter a boat, I hope you catch one of these. Whatever you do, be careful on that ocean, and most of all, have fun.
