OBX/Oregon Inlet virgin

[jamisjockey]

Hi all!
Heading to the OBX on a family vacation at the end of July. Trailering my 23' down as well. Obviously my hope is to get to run out the inlet. This would be my first inlet run, I've been told and fully intend to keep an eye out for someone to follow out.
Beyond that, then what? I'd like to hit some of the towers for some AJ, Kings, Mahi etc. I have some knoweldege of each type of fish and ways to fish for them, but I'd rather put that aside and accept any and all advice from the bottom up. Also, coordinates for towers, paper chart recommendations so I can plan my trip a little easier, bait and rig advice, etc.
I think we'll put in at the launch down near the inlet...what's a good bait shop that will be open early and have ice, live baits, etc?
Any rigs I just have to have on the boat?
I don't have outriggers nor downriggers, so my number of rods will be limited. My crew is pretty green, too, so I don't want to overwhelm them with too many sticks in the water.
Another odd question....I'll need to fill up the boat more than once I'm sure. Are there any gas stations to avoid on the main drag....I don't want to get the pump shut off every $50 when I need $200 of gas.....
Help!!

[bluffman2]

Broad Creek Fishing Center.....great bunch of people

[blueh20pc]

Welcome aboard Jamis.

There's basically two types of fishing you want to do while here.

First off, launch at OIFC, the free public ramp. They sell maps of the channel and will draw a line showing you how to get through the inlet and the cut to the main channel.

Then, wait for a boat headed that way and follow him out to mark the line on your plotter, there should be many headed out of the inlet on a nice day.

As for the fishing, I'd start off trolling a few spoons on a planer in 40 to 60 feet of water near the shoreline, prolly south of the inlet. You'll pick up spanish, taylor blues, etc.

Keep some of the smaller 6" ones in the livewell, then head to the 102 tower (which is about 102 degrees from the sea buoy, about 15 miles out), and live bait those suckers. A 40 lb AJ will nail it. You can also jig for the AJ's, or even use big topwater plugs for them if needed.

There are a few AR's listed on the NC DMF website, they offer triggerfish, black sea bass, ling, cobia will be hanging around, as well as sandsharks and blues. For those you drop a line in 80 feet of water with a live bait or jig em up.

Not too many shops around here sell live bait, but you can catch it while trolling up and down the beach.

Good luck.

[TunaTeaser1]

4-5 lines is all you'll need to pull so outriggers won't be needed anyways. Chris' suggestion to start inshore is good and just pull 4 staggered lines here...your flatlines on small planers and your longer ones with inline weights. Start off pulling gold and silver clark spoons. Keep a bucktail ready to cast if you see a cobia.

If you want to work out to the towers do what Chris said and jig or live bait them up. On charters a lot of time we'd jig for a little then troll around the area of the tower with 5 lines. Pretty much the same setup as inshore but just use larger drone spoons with no. 4 or 6 planers and 16 or 32 oz inline weights. We pulled a ballyhoo most of the time on the shotgun. We caught a lot of kings this way and occasional dolphin if the water is right. If you don't want to pull a ballyhoo take some squid with you and use strip bait and a seawitch or small squid shell. This will also come in handy if there happens to be grass out there. That should get you started. Good luck!

[Blue Magic]

Dude...
Check this post out and also check the video. If you want Reef Donkies this is the way to go. Like Chris said the 102 tower is an excellent spot for these arm busters.......
All Jack'd Up

Nerver mind..............I see you were there already.

[jamisjockey]

Yeah I saw that. I think that the tower for AJ is going to be our primary plan. We might drift around and try to catch a king or two, and troll some weedlines, but I want me some reef donkey!

Where do I check the NC regs?

[blueh20pc]

Here's the regs:

2008 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide - October

[vettnman]

Be sure and follow those regs. I screwed up recently with the AJ's regs. BTW, for all concerned ,It's one AJ per person per day. Thx, I got it!
JJ, that 102 tower is hot! We had them all under the boat all around us. We used butterfly jigs and they wore us out. There were also a lot of spadefish? I guess that's what they are called. It's a great little place to drop a line though. Chris gave you some great advice. I would definitly watch some other boats go through first , if possible. We were there for 2 days and I saw 3 boats up on sand bars, so be careful. Good luck