Ocracoke Fishing

One of the questions I get more than anything is “Why Ocracoke?”. Why, out of all the great fishing destinations along the Atlantic coast, is Ocracoke the very best? Why should I plan my fishing trip to Ocracoke?

As with anything that is #1, it is due to more than just a single factor, and Ocracoke is unique for so many reasons. On its sound side, you find the Pamlico Sound, the United State’s second largest saltwater estuary. This tremendous expanse of habitat provides refuge for hundreds of species of marine life including drum, trout, flounder, sheepshead, shrimp, crabs, and more. Add in the secluded nature of Ocracoke village which means extremely light fishing pressure, and you have an inshore fishers paradise.

On the offshore side of things, the main calling card is our extremely close proximity to the Gulf Stream. Depending on the time of the year this warm body of water that holds so many fish species ranges from 15-25 miles from our inlet. This is less than half the distance that you will find anywhere else along the Atlantic seaboard other than Florida. This means more time fishing, less time running, and year-round offshore fishing options. Whether you are looking to fill up your cooler with tasty grouper, triggerfish, and snapper, troll for pelagic species such as tuna, dolphin and wahoo, or search for billfish species such as blue marlin, white marlin, or sailfish, when you fish Ocracoke, you can do it all. This short run also means lower charter boat rates as a general rule.

But lets be serious. When you take a vacation, its not (at least to the “boss”) all about fishing. Enter Ocracoke Village. Accessible only by ferry, Ocracoke feels more like a hidden Caribbean gem that what you typically find along the Carolina coast. The village itself is only about 2 miles long, and is situated around a harbor called Silver Lake. It includes high quality but local (there are no franchises or stoplights in our entire county!) lodging, dining, and shopping options. There is one general store that proves all groceries, hardware, and liquor for the island. Once you leave the village there is over 13 miles of undeveloped beach that is part of the Cape Hatteras national seashore.

So lets recap. Better fishing, less people, less money, and the best island vibe; who can compare!