[aln]

Seems this year I've been seeing quite a few dolphin and tarpon being taken off the OBX piers. Is this normal or a bit unusual ?

 

[DaBig2na]

It's typical each year .. Since we are so close to the blue water.. And the temps are up.. We will eventually see a sail caught off a pier in the next month or so

 

[Drumdum]

The dolphin are a little bigger than the norm,but yes piers here do get dolphin..

 

[aln]

I was curious because I'm looking to retire sound side around KDH or Nags Head in a couple years and just doing a little homework. If dolphin, tarpon and small bills can be caught off a pier then I wouldn't need a lot of boat to do decent inshore/nearshore fishing. I see there are a few AR's near OI so there should be decent fishing there .. maybe even year round. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[ncdead]

I wouldn't plan my day around catching a dolphin or a tarpon inshore. It happens on occasion but not enough to consider it to be a reliable fishery. Depends a lot on the wind direction on the outer banks north of hatteras. A southwest wind even in the dead of summer can turn that water over and will drive seventy five degree water down to temps that will make your teeth chatter if you step foot in it. The Labrador current. It's very odd...it's frustrating for families that plan their vacation at the beach when it's 95 degrees outside and the water will send you into hypothermia.

 

[Garboman]

I was curious because I'm looking to retire sound side around KDH or Nags Head in a couple years and just doing a little homework. If dolphin, tarpon and small bills can be caught off a pier then I wouldn't need a lot of boat to do decent inshore/nearshore fishing. I see there are a few AR's near OI so there should be decent fishing there .. maybe even year round. Thanks for the info guys.

There are days going out of either Oregon Inlet or Hatteras Inlet that one will feel the need (in the pit of your stomach) for a bigger boat to come back with than the one he ventured out in.

For me anyway going out of an OBX inlet into the open sea in less of a boat than say a 20 foot Privateer Roamer (not their Bay boat) with flared bow, relatively high sides and a closed stern is not an option.

Squall can come up on you at any time and a big surf from distant storms can roll in even if it was flat glass calm when you left the dock that morning.

 

[Drumdum]

Can remember days like that with a 20' seaox,as well as a 19' downeaster ,and now a 23' maycraft that I have put myself in that position.. Trust me,it happens.. Can remember ole Joe aka Joe Mullet and myself on a day that was slick calm,have a squall come through out of the w and we were e of Hatteras Inlet.. It was blowing 50 and raining sideways in a 19' downeaster.. So bad we could not see to make way through it.. I anchored her down and Joe and I hid behind console till it went through.. haha