You know when we run across great stories we have to share them with you all, so here it goes! Ever been out fishing and you keep getting bites but end up with nothing when you reel in? Well it happens to me all the time, especially because I am a newbie to the whole surf fishing thing. I have had a few successful trips but since its getting into fall and around here that means the perfect time for surf fishing, I figure I need all the help I can get!

Mike Sweeney of the Daily Advance wrote a great article on a recent fishing trip in Duck, and how he ended up catching over 20 bluefish by getting some tips from the local tackle shop. He also included some great info on whats biting in the area,w here and what kind of bait to use to reel them in. Here is his story…

“I’m at the beach in Duck this week and of course I have a surf rod in my hand.

I notice a sandbar about 100 yards off shore and I have a tandem leader with four ounces of lead on the bottom and shrimp for bait. I bait up the hooks, wade out and let it fly, but I can’t reach the sandbar. I also notice that when I wade out the drop off into the water is steep. It is the kind of beach where you take one too many steps and the water is over your head.

I get a couple of strikes, but when I set the hook I get nothing but an empty leader back. This happens time and time again, but no matter what I do it’s still empty hooks. I changed to smaller hooks, circle hooks, different leaders but nothing works so I know what to do next.

I put up the rod, open the cooler and enjoy the remainder of the day with my grandson on the beach.

The next day I resort to my secret weapon. I wake up early and head to the local tackle store. We are not talking about any huge super store, but the local guy who knows anything and everything about the area that you are fishing in. In Duck it is Bob’s Tackle Shop.

The owners have been fishing there for years and follow the fish in the Outer Banks closer than most. I know that they will be happy to tell me what I am doing wrong. I find out that the fish have positioned themselves right off the beach on the first drop off and in order to find out what is biting, you have to put a blood worm on the top hook and cut bait on the bottom hook, then pitch the bait right over the breakers.

If you catch a spot or croaker, then put blood worms on both hooks. If you catch a blue off of the cut bait, then double up on that.

Armed with that information, I go back to the same beach with the same tide and bait my hooks. I toss it just over the breakers and in less than a minute I set the hook on the first of 20 or so blues that I caught that day all thanks to my local tackle shop.

Those shops are a valuable tool for fishermen and in many cases they are the best asset you can have.

Local shops have first-hand knowledge of what’s happening right then and there in the area that you want to fish. They can give you tips and pointers that can make the difference between a good day and a great day.

Before you go out, make sure you stop by, support the local guy and see how it improves your trip.

There are many shops at the beach, but some of my favorites are Bob’s at Duck, the three TW’s locations up and down the beach and in Hatteras is Frank and Fran’s, but these are just a few.

In Elizabeth City there is Bass Ackwards Lures if you want to know what’s up around town and it’s Currituck Sports for the ICW.

These are just a few so try a bunch and pick your favorite and see how they can help you with your next trip out on the water.

What’s biting and where …

The fishing report this week looks great. With the weather taking a cool turn, it has really turned on the bite.

The north beaches are on fire right now, but ones in the south are still out of reach because of access.

This is the time of year when multiple species can be caught, including sea mullet, speckled trout, black and red drum all within reach. The fish are just off the beach and the water temps are around 70 degrees.

The wind is going to bring the big red drum into casting range this weekend and there was a speckled trout over six pounds weighed in this week.

The Kitty Hawk and Nags Head beaches are holding their own with croaker and a few spot left over. They are catching blues and Spanish off of the piers and the beach.

When you fish for blues off the piers, try the Gotchas and off of the beach you want to try cut bait. The road to Hatteras is still closed, but they are making some progress and should have it opened in the next week or so.

The fleet is back in Oregon Inlet and they are on the tuna bite, so if you like sushi, now is the time to call and book your trip.

The offshore boats have come back every day with limits of black fin and some yellow fin. There was even a couple of nice sailfish this week, but the mahi bite has slacked.

Stripers are in the inlet and if you can get to a bridge piling you have a chance of catching some nice fish. The season just opened on the Oct. 1 and the reports are good for this early in the year. The size this season is 18” minimum, three a day in the sound, and if you can catch a live croaker and drift it by any bridge structure, you may just be in for a ride.

The fresh water bite is also looking up with the large mouth catch getting better each week. Throw an off color spinner bait around the wood and flip the pads with your favorite worm. I like to throw a red, 5” ring worm with as small a weight as I can get away with and still make it through the vegetation.

Poppers and buzz baits are also a good choice, but you want something with a little color to it like yellow or red. If you throw a white bait, they are short striking the lure and you will miss out on some fish.

The white perch and brim bite is also on with Beatle Spins and live crickets the bait of choice.”