Has anyone been up to the Morehead city area to Tuna fish in the Jan-Mar time frame? We have taken the boat to Venice, LA the last two years but are staying home this winter. Looks like the fishing is pretty good up that way. Anyway its a 5 hour drive meaning I can fish the next day. Totally weather dependent but being so close thats fine.
Is it worth it? Any experts on this site? Anyone done it?
I would like to be a part of a group that makes that kind of trip, something I have never done is to target the big Bluefin. If you are considering a trip and need serious bodies please keep me in mind
PM, Courtland, on this site! He goes up there almost every year and post’s about his trips! He also, checks for CF members that want to fill slots.
Morehead is hit or miss on the bluefin, although I know quite a few of the commercial boats fish from there. Just met a guy last week that will be commercial fishing from there this winter and has been for years and he is super fishy. Fish are not true giants typically, as a #500 fish in NC is considered big, but now a days most fish over 73" are called “giants”.
The fish I usually target are more accessible out of Hatteras or Oregon Inlet. The biggest on spin gear we have gotten was right at #400. Most fish up there seem to be mid 60" fish, 150-250#. Perfect size for light gear. Although the new NC state record of #805 was caught out of OI last year.
The weather is MUCH more reliable out of Morehead and I think that is why guys scratch out the winter there instead of taking the beating out of Hatteras or OI. Fishing is good from Mid January-late March. The fish have already moved south of NJ, so who knows when they will show. Sometimes it seems that they don’t round the corner to Morehead, but the commercial guys aren’t going to tell you one way or the other.
If you go there, I have a good friend in Masonboro, the Harbour Master. He knows everything that is going on. I’ll forward his info to you.
Courtland I knew I could count on you! Your the MAN!
Awesome info, thank you! My Buddy has a place in Morehead and I am somewhat familiar with the area. Thats the only thing keeping us there. I don’t think my rig will fit on the ferries so I would still launch at Morehead then run the sound to O.I. if we have to. Driving around just made it a long trip.
We are looking at a late Jan trip. Is it a popular fishery like Venice? Or will we be the only crazies around that time of year? Would love to have some experts or local knowledge come along. We have everything else…
The fish size sounds good. I really enjoyed catching Yellowfin on spinning reals off the rigs in Venice. They were typically 30#ers with a 70 - 80#er being landed every couple of trips. Was glad to have the big reals for those. Everything we did was live bait and chum slicks. Sounds like trolling islanders is popular.
Either way sounds fun and a bit closer to home! Some pictures from our Venice trips. These are some of the rough days 
quote:
Originally posted by Fishman 77Awesome info, thank you! My Buddy has a place in Morehead and I am somewhat familiar with the area. Thats the only thing keeping us there. I don’t think my rig will fit on the ferries so I would still launch at Morehead then run the sound to O.I. if we have to. Driving around just made it a long trip.
We are looking at a late Jan trip. Is it a popular fishery like Venice? Or will we be the only crazies around that time of year? Would love to have some experts or local knowledge come along. We have everything else…
Most guys are going to wait to hear that the fish are there before they go out. The commercials will start trying by mid December. The first recreational fish 2 years ago was first week of February, last year was third week of January. I would assume the same crew has booked a week or two earlier this year. The weather is just so questionable that you really need to go whenever there is a window. You can sort of follow the fish down the coast by reports on other forums. Once they show up off of Virginia Beach they could be in Hatteras/OI any day.
I have caught yellowfin every month up there as well. Don’t know unless you go. On a nice day you will definitely have company. Once the fish show for real, the entire fleet will be working one area, you won’t be alone. Tons of blackfin, pompano and cobia on that south shore/Morehead area as well to keep you busy.
Made the trip to OI in the end of Jan and again in the end of Feb. We got skimmed on the bluefins trolling but we saw the guys that were jigging catching fish. We did catch a couple nice yellowfins but if we go this year there will definitely be jigging and casting gear onboard. We would troll right over fish and mark them usually 60-70 ft down. Huge schools, it would take 30-40 secs sometimes to get all the way over the school. And don’t worry about being alone. It was packed both trips.
BTW, I meant to say the fish have moved south TO New Jersey, not past it. The yellowfin seem to have moved out of the canyons but the inshore bluefin should just be getting going.
Fisherman, I am also thinking about a NC trip this winter. When are you guys going? If possible maybe we can buddy boat. No plans on my end are definant. Just a thought. Got a new to me boat and itching to get it bloody.
I went out of hatteras 2 years ago in Feb. We caught 3 jigging. I would definately go to hatteras not morehead.