-November in NC means False Albacore (aka Fat Alberts). They are members of the tuna family. They are small (usually up to 5 lbs. but can get to 20) but ferocious on the hook. They run then run some more and then they really run. Few people eat them so it is all catch-and-release. But the thrill of it is beyond measure.
-The world epicenter for fishing for them with a fly rod is Cape Lookout, NC. We have had trips up there in the past but the weather is very iffy and the fish themselves are here one day and gone the next. Since it is a 3-4 hour drive up there hauling a boat, we have found it is better to plan last-minute trips out of Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Inlet. There are some off our shore but the Cape Fear River has a great influence on the clarity of the water off Oak Island and False Albacore like clear water. It’s an hour’s drive to the ramp at Wrightsville Beach (don’t even try going on weekends because of the chronic lack of sufficient parking). The fish aren’t as plentiful but they are there.
-Gear: 8-wt is OK but a bit light. 9-, 10-, 11- or even 12-wt. rods with floating, intermediate or sinking line. Small, minnow-like flies work well. It helps to be able to cast more than 40’ so you can reach a surfacing school without spooking them. They go up and down pretty fast as is so there is no sense trying to crowd them. A boat that can handle a choppy ocean matters, though Masonboro Inlet has jetties and is pretty good. But most of the fish will be outside the inlet up to 5-10 miles offshore. The trick to finding them is watching for birds. See the birds and this becomes run-and-gun fishing of the highest order. An added advantage of Wrightsville Beach is that you don’t have hundreds of boats all trying to catch the same fish. It’s insane enough as is. But what a rush.
-So, we could use some 18’-25’ boats to go. For those who don’t have a trailer, it’s about a one hour run from Southport up the Cape Fear to Snow’s Cut and then up the ICW to Masonboro Inlet, depending upon how fast you can go up the Cape Fear.
– It’s worth the effort. If you are interested in being on a call/email list for going, let us know. When a boat owner decides there is a good day coming up, we will notify you and from there on it’s first-come-first-serve.
To Sign Up, contact: Jim White jwwhite115 @gmail.com 910-477-0441 or Jim Larson jwlarson2@hotmail.com 847-309-0596 First Come, First Serve