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Random Quote: Hey, when I want your opinion I'll give it to you!
I have a new boat (Scout 185) and may be interested in fishing the artificial reefs 5-7 miles out near Masonboro Inlet. Much lake experience no sea legs. I would like some advice from more salty members.
Try the Liberty Ship-AR370 about 3 miles out of Masonboro. There are usually lots of boats out there. Also, 5 mile boxcars-AR372 about 5 miles out. You can get the GPS numbers from a chart or from the NC Dept. of Marine Fisheries website. Be careful going out in an 18 footer. The seas can change in a hurry and Masonboro can get nasty with the right wind and tide combination.
Thank's for the Info. I plan on checking out the sound side of Wrightsville beach and maybe checking out the Inlet a little before attempting to go out. I also plan to get a little local help the first few times out. What is a good source of info on wave heights and small boat capabilities?
Interested but nervous.
I started out with an 18 foot boat, so I know where you're coming from. My first few trips out into the big water were pretty nerve wracking, but after you do it a few times, you'll get comfortable doing it. You can get wave and wind forecasts from the National Weather Service website or radio, but I wouldn't depend on it too much. There have been many times when they have forecast 2-3ft. and it would be 4-5 or worse. The best thing to do is just go to the inlet and check things out. If it's nice, there will be other boats out there. If you're after blues and spanish, you can fish right on the beach. My advice would be: check the water conditions, make sure your VHF is working, team up with a buddy-boat, or fish within sight of other boats until you get used to it. After time, you'll feel comfortable going farther out.
18 feet... no sweat. I have a 14 and a 17 ft Mckee Craft, both of which have gone out of M'boro many times. Just got a 25 Parker that will be used heavily. I have a slight addiction to catching anything that swims!
Things to remember...
-High pressure weather systems usually mean pretty falt seas
-ALWAYS take a VHF Radio
-ALWAYS have more than the required amount of safety gear, i.e flares
-when tuning in to the weather station on your vhf, pay close attention to the period(distance between waves) as well as the wave/swell height. 2ft seas that are 2 seconds apart will beat the hell out of you while 6 ft swells that are 10 seconds apart aren't so bad
-the buddy system isn't just for sixth graders on a field trip...it could save you a** in case of a problem
-you might know this already but salt water will shorten the life of everything on your boat so clean it well and flush the motor after every trip
As far as the fishing goes, you are in a great spot. I relocated from W'ville beach to OI Beach 50 miles south so I am familiar with SE NC. Go to one of the local fishing shops and get a chart with near shore reefs on it. You need a GPS to use the chart. THT is an excellent source of info for what is biting and where. Also, check out the inshore fishing in your area, Trout, Flounder, Drum. On a good day, they can be just as much fun and inshore fishing as a general rule is a lot cheaper than the offshore stuff.
Good luck. :thumbsup:
__________________ Mac Solo
1985 25' Parker Sou'Wester---2005 F250 Yamaha
Whats wrong with 3 boats? I have a 19 ft. John Boat and a 26 ft. offshore boat. It is a matter of your of what is important to you. Buy a little house and have more and bigger boats!!! Also your wife can learn to drive a big truck, mine did, a nice Surburban. Life is short. Get with it!
Get yourself a Maps Unique chart - will run you about $50 and available at most tackle shops around Wilmington & Wrightsville. They also have a web site, but not sure of the address.
Monitor 68 & 69 on the vhf when fishing.
For weather, also check out coastwx.com*. Rob is a metoerologist & fisherman. You will find that his forecasts are usu. more accurate than NWS.
THT is the Mac Daddy, but for fishing info, also check out ncwaterman.com .
I'm still a long way from rich and with my ever growing addiction to salt water, I'll probably never make there! Its more about wise shopping and proper maintenance than it is about available funds. Between the three boats (1984 14ft McKee, 1998 17ft McKee, 1985 25ft Parker) only the 17 McKee was purchased new and all told we probably have less than $35,000 in initial investment and maintenance/repair costs between the three! Many offshore guys will spend that much or more on power for their boats because they want to go fast and they're afraid to do any of their own motor work so they buy something brand new and trade it in when the warranty expires. That is what I would consider rich (or foolish?).
Anyway, two questions for you. I see you are from the Myrtle Beach area. Have you had any luck with the Kings so far this year? Check out my thread on the Carolinas forum "King Macs out of OIB." We had a decent run of luck over the extended Memorial Day weekend at the Little River Inshore, the Sherman, and the Jungle. Second question. Is that 9.9 kicker on your rig enough power for slow trolling live bait for King Macs? Our 25 Parker has a 200 Mariner on it that seems to be pushing us a little to fast when we are slow trolling and we are considering picking up a used motor to add as a kicker trolling motor to our rig (about 4000 lbs including hull, motor, fuel and gear). Any advice?
__________________ Mac Solo
1985 25' Parker Sou'Wester---2005 F250 Yamaha
originalsin - 6/3/2005 9:47 AM
Anyway, two questions for you. I see you are from the Myrtle Beach area. Have you had any luck with the Kings so far this year? Second question. Is that 9.9 kicker on your rig enough power for slow trolling live bait for King Macs? Our 25 Parker has a 200 Mariner on it that seems to be pushing us a little to fast when we are slow trolling and we are considering picking up a used motor to add as a kicker trolling motor to our rig (about 4000 lbs including hull, motor, fuel and gear). Any advice?
I don't fish out of little river anymore due to the fact that gas has gotten so high and I like to fish so far from shore. I keep my boat in the racks in Southport NC. I mostly fish 100/400,Blackjack and Steeples iam not really into Kingfish but I catch a bunch of them dragging ballyhoo. They mostly end up being cat food or chum.
As for the trolling motor I bought a new 2005 Tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke. It will push my boat about 5kts.Which works well for all the rigs I like to drag. I wish I would have gotten a 15 hp 2 stroke, that's what was on it most of its life and It would do about 9kts but I do like not having to mix oil for the new motor. But if you do get a kicker get a electric start model I have used mine to bring my batteries up after letting them run down.
__________________
1989 ProLine ,1989 johnson-225 ,2005 Tohatsu-9.8 troll 140gal tank
How far are the places you listed out of S'port and what kind of fish are you targeting (wahoo, dolphin, tuna?) I've been fishing offshore for several years but only recently have I had my own boat to use so I'm still in the learning phases. What kind of range would I need to make it to the areas you are fishing and fish all day?
__________________ Mac Solo
1985 25' Parker Sou'Wester---2005 F250 Yamaha
Blackjack is 53 nautical miles, 100/400 is a little less , steeples is a little more from Southport. I will pull baits from one live bottom site to the other going with any color or temp breaks along the way. If the temps look better farther offshore I wont hesitate to go out past the 125 fathom line .I mostly like to meat fish, Tuna is what I really like to catch but have all ways done well with mahi,wahoos,sails and marlin.
My fuel Range falls into the 1/3 out 1/3 in and 1/3 for safety - I seem to burn about 78 to 84 gallons of gas on the run in and out. I get about 1.3 miles to the gallon with a 1989 225. The trolling motor is a fuel economy and safety item. All bait is pulled under its power, 3 years ago I fragged the lower unit on my 225 and came in 50 NM on my old 15 hp trolling motor. It took forever but a tow boat wouldn't have been able to pull me any faster anyway.
But I can say this and allot of others cant. ( My craft has always made it home under its own power )
__________________
1989 ProLine ,1989 johnson-225 ,2005 Tohatsu-9.8 troll 140gal tank
Fishing at Wrightsville Beach 
