Outer Banks Fishing – The Best in the United States?!

Posted on February 24, 2011

Outer Banks Record Blue Marlin

We’ve been jazzed about the awesome OBX fishing going on this winter. I ramble about it on my daily fishing reports and I mentioned the two state records for rock fish already set in 2011 in a previous post. It’s been a great winter for OBX fishing.

But we expect Outer Banks fishing to be good. It’s like expecting snow in the mountains. It’s what we do.

Despite our expectations, it’s always great to hear how great the OBX fishing is from a trusted, outside source. Last year, Marlin Magazine named the OBX the number one spot in the WORLD for marlin fishing. Very cool. But that’s a pretty specialized game. How about OBX fishing as a whole? Does the Outer Banks have the best fishing in the United States?

The editor-at-large for Salt Water Sportsman, George Poveromo, seems to think so. (I think it’s safe to say he knows a bit about salt water fishing.) The Virginia Pilot ran an article a few weeks ago that discussed Poveromo’s recent trip to VA Beach for a national seminar, and while there, he noted “the Virginia Beach and nearby Outer Banks area’s abundance of variety as one reason he thinks the mid-Atlantic could be the best. The size that some species grow to is a bonus.”

The article finishes up by quoting Poveromo: ”I’d have to say that the fishing you guys have spanks the rest of the country in a lot of ways.”

So I guess our expectations are well founded. It will snow in Colorado, and we’ll catch some big fish on the OBX. Thanks for confirming our beliefs Mr. Poveromo.

Billfish Tournament on the Outer Banks

Posted on August 11, 2010

Outer Banks Record Blue Marlin

Marlin Magazine recognizes the Outer Banks as the #1 spot for Marlin fishing. Seems like a good spot for a Billfish tournament.

The 27th annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament is being held this week, August 9th-13th.

Records are set at this tournament. Two years ago the state record was hauled in at 1,228.5 pounds!

This will be the biggest and best yet with lots of fun and festivities for the entire family.

Friends, fun and family combined with good music, good food, captain and mate contests, and giveaways should keep the spirits up and the fun flowing.

World-class party at a world-class marina.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: Blue One On

Posted on June 18, 2010

The 52nd Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament is one of the oldest and largest sport-fishing tournaments of its kind in the country. Based in Morehead City, boats also fish out of Hatteras on the OBX.

This blue marlin was hooked (and released) by the Ann Warrick out of Pirates Cove Marina – giving it 1st place in the Daily Release category for Wednesday. Go OBX anglers!

Outer Banks Blue Marlin

Outer Banks Angler Scores Big at the Big Rock Marlin Tournament

Posted on June 16, 2010

Monday was day one of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Competition in Morehead City, and it was quite a day for an Outer Banks angler.

There are 156 boats in this year’s competition, all hoping for the big catch that will help them land the $1.66 million in prize money. The boat Citation from the Outer Banks was the first to catch the big blue, and the catch gives the Citation a large lead early in the tournament.

Citation didn’t get to the weigh station until about 7 p.m., but it was worth the wait. The word spread pretty quickly that something big was coming in, and huge crowds stayed to see Citation bring back the tournament’s first blue marlin, and it was quite a show.

Citation hauled in a marlin weighing in at 883 pounds—a Big Rock tournament record. With Monday’s catch, Citation reels in $318,000 for bringing the first fish over 500 pounds to the docks.

The video below shows the impressive catch.

Outer Banks Ranks Number 1 in Marlin Fishing

Posted on December 9, 2009

Every year people travel to foreign countries to hunt for trophy fish such as marlin. Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama are just a few popular countries that are traveled to frequently for big-game fishing, but amazing fishing is much closer to home.

Recently, Marlin Magazine put together a top ten list of the best sport fishing destination in the US. The Outer Banks received the number one slot.

Here is the excerpt that was written about the Outer Banks in the magazine…..

1. Hatteras and the Outer Banks:

From the local boat builders who revolutionized the look of sport-fishing boats to the many bait-and-tackle innovations spawned along this idyllic stretch of water, you simply cannot overlook the influence of North Carolina on the sport of big-game fishing. The first Atlantic blue marlin caught in the United States was landed off Hatteras in 1938, and this area continues to make headlines every year. In 2008, Trey Irvine landed a new state-record 1,228.5-pound blue marlin to win the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament.

Fishing is a way of life in this part of the country, and visitors can choose from a long list of great charter boats to run out in search of billfish. The first blues of the year typically show up around May, and the bite lasts throughout the summer. White marlin also flock to this area, and when they start snapping, crews can catch upward of 20 fish in a day. The sailfish bite picked up tremendously the past couple of seasons, and the tuna, dolphin and Wahoo round out a typical day plying the Gulf Stream waters or the deepwater canyons. Some of the sport’s largest and most festive billfish tournaments call this region home for good reason. For those looking to book a charter, you’ll find 29 offshore boats running out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (www.oregon-inlet.com; 800-272-5199). You’ll also find charters available at Oden’s Dock (www.odensdock.com; 888-544-8115), Hatteras Landing Marina (www.hatteraslanding.com; 800-551-8478) and Pirate’s Cove Marina (www.fishpiratescove.com; 800-367-4728). For more local info, visit www.hatterasmarlinclub.com.

Plan your Outer Banks fishing excursion today. Plenty of vacation homes available.

Record Setting Blue Marlin Caught on the Outer Banks

Posted on August 6, 2009

Outer Banks Record Blue Marlin

During last year’s 25th annual Pirates Cove Billfish festival, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, history was made!

A state record breaking 1,228.5 pound blue marlin was pulled from the depths of the Atlantic. This catch outweighed the previous record holder (1,142) by a long shot.

The gulf stream, which is situated about 15 miles offshore from Hatteras Inlet, is home to a vast amount of fish and marine life, and attracts fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. A wide variety of fish are caught on the OBX, from striped bass to mahi mahi, and of course, marlin.

In most of the world , marlins do not exist in high populations. Off the coast of North Carolina, many blue marlin thrive in the waters of the Atlantic.

Curious about why fisherman from all over the world come to the Outer Banks to fish? Come check out the Pirates Cove Fishing Tournament and see.