Tradewinds Tackle

August brings hot weather, greenhead flies, and fishing opportunities for those on vacation. The hot weather generates afternoon thunderstorms, but the surf is often calm enough for some light tackle fishing. While spring and fall are considered the prime months for fishing at Ocracoke, some trophies can still be found in late summer.

Flounder is one of the best bets from the surf or boat. The north end of the island generally offers the best wading and surf fishing opportunities, while Ocracoke Inlet produces some of the best boat action. As described last month, strips of squid or croaker on flounder rigs will produce results when live minnows are hard to find. Expect to see the biggest pompano of the season, caught from the surf and shoals on shrimp and sand fleas. Sea mullets also take shrimp and sand fleas, so those baits can account for some of the best eating fish found in the surf. Successful anglers are fishing close to the beach with light tackle, making these hard fighters fun to catch.

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