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I will be going to nags head the week of Aug. 9 with the family. We have always fished out of Hatteras inlet for dolphin and hoos. How far out of Oregon inlet do you have to go to get to the dolphin and blue water? I have been out of Oregon inlet before when all I had was a 19ft flat bottom boat; but I just messed around the beach. I have a 21ft Parker with a 225 four stroke yamaha. So i will pick my days carefully. I just hate the thoughts of the hour drive each morning. Also is the tuna still around then?
About 35 miles to the 100 fathom line and the gulf stream. Sometimes you can get lucky and find a weedline and dolphin within 15 miles, but it's not typical.
Tuna are still around now, but prolly not for very long. By august you're gonna be down to dolphin and billfishing.
there are VERY few days where that kind of boat will get you to the point. It is a 35 mile run from oregon inlet and the weather can change from 2-4 ft seas to 6-8 in a matter of minutes. even if it is 2-4, when you get to the stream i have seen it change to 4-6 when you reach bluewater. be very careful. You are better off getting on a charter as a makeup and having a good time in a 50 ft Paul Mann.
if you do decide to go, look at rutgers water temps. usually at the 630 or 650 line you will see a temp break. you will find weedlines during the summer. like they said before, follow the charter fleet and stay on channel 80.
__________________ "Off the Hook"
Grady White 360
Triple Yamaha 250
Pirate's Cove, Manteo, NC
I have been to "The Point" 5 times this year alone on a 22' CC single engine, and I live in Wake Forest. The weather can change as can conditions, but that can happen anytime you are dealing with the ocean. Just ask the guys in the Jolly Mon tournament last year. Go early in the morning, do your appropriate research, see who is going out, and stick to the fishing spots where other boats are always on the horizon and you will be fine. If you go to OIFC in the morning and not many charters are heading out and the parking lot is empty of 2 and 3 axle trailers then it is probably in your best interest to keep it in the sound. Common sense is the most useful tool. If it feels shaky to you then don't go, but don't let one guys bad experience scare you off. OI is a great inlet to get out of and catch great fish. And these other guys are right, if you find a weed line or a good temp break 10 miles out you can catch fish all day long. IMHO.
I have been to "The Point " a few times in my boat, which is about the same size as yours. Even on a calm day, just the boat wakes from all the big boats going out keep you on your toes. Just a tip that it might not be calm, even on a calm day. Be careful.
Check out this thread on Tidal Fish. Man and his son are lucky to be alive. And he was in a big heavy 24' CC thats made like a bomb shelter. This is a very dangerous inlet, can be deceiving until its to late. Not trying to talk anyone out of going in a small boat , just be very careful. Scary.
there are VERY few days where that kind of boat will get you to the point. It is a 35 mile run from oregon inlet and the weather can change from 2-4 ft seas to 6-8 in a matter of minutes. even if it is 2-4, when you get to the stream i have seen it change to 4-6 when you reach bluewater. be very careful. You are better off getting on a charter as a makeup and having a good time in a 50 ft Paul Mann.
if you do decide to go, look at rutgers water temps. usually at the 630 or 650 line you will see a temp break. you will find weedlines during the summer. like they said before, follow the charter fleet and stay on channel 80.
Whatever,
I've run OI 30+ times in the last 2 years on small boats less than 26 feet. There are MANY days they can get you there and back. Will it change from 2-4 to 6-8 in minutes, yes, during a thunderstorm. If the 20 mile forecast is 3-5, just don't go.
Will it change from 2-4 at 250 feet to 4-6 or 6-8 at the stream, hell yes on a NE blow in the stream.
Point is, with the proper gear, the proper planning, and a quality maintained boat, OI is safe and passable for small boats getting to the gulfstream and doing some fishing. If he watches the weather forecast, does his maintenance and feels comfortable going that far in the ocean.
Just saying it's doable.
And as far as the guy saying stay away from the charters and don't follow them out, that's ridiculous. Maintain a good 500 feet from them on all sides, but definately follow them out. It's everyone's ocean.
That Tidalfish story....well, that's just evolution at work in the real world.
Check out this thread on Tidal Fish. Man and his son are lucky to be alive. And he was in a big heavy 24' CC thats made like a bomb shelter. This is a very dangerous inlet, can be deceiving until its to late. Not trying to talk anyone out of going in a small boat , just be very careful. Scary.
It's a dangerous inlet if you don't know what you are doing. I see alot of people leave OI and HI that don't know squat. If you jump behind the charter boys in a small boat in the dark with a NE wind and a falling tide..... you don't know what you are doing. Never shoot an inlet in a small boat without seeing it first unless you know it very well.... especially if you have the worst possible wind for that inlet.... especially OI or HI.
I have 60-70 trips through those inlets in a small boat in the last 3-4 years. I learned the hard way as well. Now... I can tell you before I head out what the inlet will be like. Learn the winds and tides and don't depend on the big boys leading you through.
Personaly I like to go in or out without another boat in the inlet. This way I can go at my own speed. Did head out in June with 2-4 ft seas light west winds and had to pass a super slow 30'+ boat, no problems just amazed that I had 2 18'-19'cc tucked behind me right in my wake, we have a 23'wa and guys were on top of me. I followed a boat in once that went a touch slower than I like and I would rather adjust speed to sea condition not boat traffic. Hit the OI 17 out of a possible 19 days last year. This year 3 out 6 for the OI with 1 day not leaving the dock and a second trip making a short day due to rough conditions in sound. The day with 2' - 4' was a great day with the 10sec dominant period, Ran 30mph to the AR45.
We go out of OI every chance we get. If people would watch the weather forecast for a few days instead of one day , look at the Buoy information, think about what they are doing they will be fine. The ones that get in trouble are the ones that go out because they feel it is the only chance they will have. If it looks iffy stay inshore and go founder pounding. All you have to do is use a little common sense.
I went out of OI the same day the Topaz went out but I waited till 10am to go through the inlet. The forecast for the day said it was going to be heavy seas with the wind out of the NE in the morning turning around to the SW somewhere around 11am and laying down. Also it had been blowing NE for a few days prior to that day. It was 4ft rollers about 8 second period and almost glass smooth when I went out of the inlet. Anyone that runs OI knows that 4-5 footers with a stiff NE wind is a no go in a small boat. All you have to do is use a little common sense.
There is no issue following the charter boats out. Most are very friendly, and as long as you give them plenty of room, you'll be OK. Once you get to the fishing grounds, keep plenty of distance between you and them. If you find fish, call them and you'll be surpried how fast you will make new friends.
2 years ago we were fishing the OBX Fun & Fish event, it was a very foggy day and some boats did not have radar on their boats and were unfamilar with Oregon Inlet, I remember several of the charter captains calling the smaller boats at the end of the day and seeing if they wanted to follow them in. Show them respect and they will do the same.
There is no issue following the charter boats out. Most are very friendly, and as long as you give them plenty of room, you'll be OK. Once you get to the fishing grounds, keep plenty of distance between you and them. If you find fish, call them and you'll be surpried how fast you will make new friends.
2 years ago we were fishing the OBX Fun & Fish event, it was a very foggy day and some boats did not have radar on their boats and were unfamilar with Oregon Inlet, I remember several of the charter captains calling the smaller boats at the end of the day and seeing if they wanted to follow them in. Show them respect and they will do the same.
I agree 100%
__________________ "Off the Hook"
Grady White 360
Triple Yamaha 250
Pirate's Cove, Manteo, NC
I'm the guy from Tidal Fish (Governor) that got the a$$ whippin at OI....still workin on the repairs...about $750 into it to date now.
The 24 Topaz "Bomb Shelter"
"Evolution at work" Really? Me? That's a good one....Thank you.
"Evolution at work"
Having to ask if your boat is big enough?
If you have to ask that question should you be going? A captain with enough experience and skill knows, or thinks he knows, if his boat is big enough, my .02
Like most of these posts and fishermen giving their .02 I've fished out of that inlet 20+ times a year for the past 20 years. I've run to the point in a 21 MakoCC 20+ times. I've gone by myself in that boat and come back loaded with fish many times. I know it, I thought I did. I heard all the stories and continued to go. I saw a charter boat sunk up against a piling one trip. Running out one morning I listened to a guy on the radio hail the CG while his 32 Albemarle was sinking in the inlet. He had spun off both shafts when a wave pushed his stern up under power right about where I was and sunk. The CG saved them. I always asked myself how?
I've been in and out flat calm and everything in between if do-able. This day there was a 2-3 ft left over NE swell, outgoing tide, Variable winds. I've done that trip before, no problems. Never again.
If by some unlucky twist of fait, you had been me in your boat on my day, you would have been capsized..... I garanfrinkenteeya. That would have been your best case scenario on that day.
Good advice: Do your planning, get your boat in order and make sure all your life's loose ends are in order. Make sure you have insurance enough for all equipment and souls on board. Buy GOOD Lifejackets and Wear your lifejackets. Have an emergency plan and make sure all on board knows it. Have it all in order with the man upstairs if you're so inclined. You better have your sh!t together. I know first hand how and why people die there and how and why accidents happen there. In a small boat or any boat for that matter, when it's your turn, you will find that you have absolutely no say in the matter. Bad happens in the blink of an eye. Maw nature will win. You pays your money and you takes your chances.
Research the CG Station OI. Ask them how many calls they go out a year in that inlet. Ask how many have died and how many they've saved. Walk the docks at the OIFC and talk to the Captains. Ask the professionals. They will be your best source of information. There are no statistics on close calls like mine but I guarantee you that number is big.
Best advice: get a spot on a make up charter or charter the entire boat for the day. Spend the money to get you back to the dock. Go first class, sleep out and sleep in. Come back with some fish and good experience to share. Better than spending the money putting the pieces back together if you're "Lucky" that day in your own boat.
I'm unsure right now if I'll go it again....just don't know. Everytime I think about it I see a straight up 20' wall of water in front of my boat, I can taste the saltwater hear the crash and can see my cockpit up to the gunnels with ocean and see my son shivering in the cabin.
Rock On, Glad things turned out good after that ordeal I'v had sem expierences out of OI and HI we pray before we leave the inlet,
get back on that horse, good luck
__________________ Luhrs 250 Open Tournament 7.4 MP 350HP 3210/4210 Garmin Network 24HD Radar,22DS RayMarine ST6002 Auto pilot
Check out this thread on Tidal Fish. Man and his son are lucky to be alive. And he was in a big heavy 24' CC thats made like a bomb shelter. This is a very dangerous inlet, can be deceiving until its to late. Not trying to talk anyone out of going in a small boat , just be very careful. Scary.
can someone link or post this story. Or the guy it happened to, can you tell the story. They wanted my firstborn in order to register at that tidalfish siite. Finally I gave up my son and then they said that my email address was from a free account and that is a no no. I want to read the story but cannot deal with tidal fish any longer. It is too late.
Oregon Inlet 
