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Random Quote: If you pop a beer at the dock at 6 am they call you a sportsman, do it at home and they call you a drunk.
I'm looking for something new, with a touch of salt to it.
Never been there, but looks to be less than two hours from home and maybe less built up than Wilmington (which I have not fished either, but drove through it on the way to Kure beach).
Anyway, supposed to be brackish water (like my old Potomac river stomping grounds), so wondered how the fishing is over there, where the best ramps are, what types of fish might live there, etc.
How big is the water, is my 20' CC too big or is there plenty of room to roam? Water depths? Which Navionics chart, a hotspots or one of the salt water ones?
If I wanted to spend a weekend, any recommended hotels with safe parking for trailer boats?
Where is the freshwater/saltwater boundary for licenses?
__________________ 2009 NauticStar 2200 Bay Tournament Edition with 175 hp Suzuki 4-stroke
You have quite a few questions, I am not sure I can help with all of them.
With this cold snap, it is possible that the stripers will start congregating around the Washington Waterfront. I caught one trolling on Sat and have heard reports of others being caught. They are not huge, many under the size limit (18 inches) but fun to catch. My son and I also caught some flounders (one keeper) while drifting the Washington Waterfront and casting with chartruse Gulp minnows. I have seen boats farther east of the Waterfront, possibly targeting trout. however, I would say your best bet now is stripers around structure (bridges, waterfront) in early AM and before dark. you could go both up and downriver and find fish. Use silver/blue back Mann's stretch 15's or rattletraps - bucktails/hyperstrypers (white, chartruse, blue white) also work.
I have a 20 CC and that is plenty - not too big or small. Use your depthfinder and look for marks and just look for other boats. There is a lot of space out there.
I think you can use your Coastal license, but you need to check there, I just busy a joint inland/salt license to be safe.
Best Ramp IMO is at Trantors Creek - you should be able to find it on the NCDMF website. It is right off of 264 on Clarks Neck Rd (I think that is the name). Basically head back west at the first stoplight entering Washington (intersection with a gas station/strip mall and Holiday Inn express, I think). This hotel at this intersection would work and if you want you could stay in Greenville at a Best Western on Business 264 right next to the Tar River (about 18 m from Trantors Creek). Lot of choices
Thank you all for the detailed information, will have to give it a shot.
How is it in Summer, do the bluefish run up that far? Croaker (as in 14-16", not bait)? Since you are getting flounder, it sounds a little saltier than the mid Potomac, so should be an interesting mix of fish out there.
Are the ramps very busy this time of year on weekends? I have a t-top and noticed at least one bridge that could be iffy on the chart, are the other blue lines across the river also bridges?
Any fish eating advisories for out there? Since it is Pamlico I don't think so, but maybe the locals know something not on the NC Wildlife site.
__________________ 2009 NauticStar 2200 Bay Tournament Edition with 175 hp Suzuki 4-stroke
I put in at Tranters Creek and Twin Lakes all the time. Tranters is much better, and free. If you have a t-top you will not get under the bridge at the Washington City Ramp. Ramps shouldnt be busy at all. Most of the time I would say the brackish water just gets started at Washington. More fresh water as you get into the Tar River. More salty towards Aurora and Bath.
I really dont fish much around there except occasionally troll for stripers, so I cant help you much with the fishing part. Just ski/swim/drink beer at the river and fish at the beach.
__________________ 215CC KenCraft Challenger 200 Evinrude Ocean Pro
I agree with the others regarding the ramps. Tranters creek is nice and deep - the Washington City ramp is real shallow. Parking is nicer at Tranters creek, too. There's a decent amount of baitfish and small bass (mostly under 18") around now.
Washington, NC Fishing??? 
