Fall Is One of My Favorite Times to Fish If you've always wanted to try an offshore fishing charter but aren't sure what to expect, fall on the Crystal Coast might be one of the best times to give it a shot. The summer crowds begin to thin, the air temperatures become much more comfortable, and the fishing can be outstanding. You don't need to own a pile of fishing gear or know the difference between a trolling plug and a slow-pitch jig. That's our job. You just need to show up ready for an experience. Leaving Beaufort Inlet this time of year gives us a tremendous variety of options. Offshore, we're looking for wahoo and tuna as cooler fall conditions begin to arrive. Nearshore, king mackerel and false albacore—or "albies"—can provide some incredibly exciting action without having to make the longer run offshore. That's one of the great things about fishing here. You don't necessarily have to travel 50 miles into the ocean to have a great day. For families, kids and people experiencing saltwater fishing for the first time, a nearshore trip can be a great introduction. Kings can absolutely scream line off a reel, and a hooked albie will quickly show a new angler just how hard a fish can pull. What Happens When We Go Offshore? Offshore fishing is an adventure. We may spend part of the day trolling productive water, temperature changes and structure looking for Wahoo and Tuna. Conditions determine where we go and how we fish, and being willing to change the game plan is a big part of consistently finding opportunities for our anglers. When trolling slows down, one of my favorite options is Slow Pitch Jigging. We commonly drop specialized metal jigs into 250–500 feet of water. Instead of simply dropping a big weight and waiting, the angler works the jig through the water column to imitate injured or fleeing bait. And just about anything can eat it. We've caught mahi, king mackerel, amberjack, barracuda, vermilion snapper, grouper and plenty of other species while jigging. For somebody who has never fished deep water before, it's a completely different experience. You drop a relatively small piece of metal hundreds of feet beneath the boat, start working it back toward the surface and suddenly the rod loads up. Even beginners can catch AMAZING fish with this technique. Now the fun starts—and you really don't know what's on the other end. Bottom fishing also gives us the opportunity for a mixed bag of species. That's especially fun for kids and beginners because every drop can produce something completely different. And beginners are absolutely welcome. One misconception about charter fishing is that you need experience before stepping on the boat. You don't. Some of my favorite trips are with people who have never done this before. We can teach you how to use the equipment, work the jig, fight the fish and enjoy the experience without making it complicated. Fishing is supposed to be fun. Fall gives us comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds and multiple fisheries to choose from. We can chase kings and albies nearshore, head offshore looking for wahoo and tuna, or drop into deep water and see what decides to eat a jig. You never really know what the ocean is going to give you. And honestly, that's exactly why we keep going back. May all you captains have full schedules, all you fishermen have full freezers, and all you first-timers discover what you've been missing. Captain Shane Gentry
Nanny's Revenge Fishing Charter
Morehead City, North Carolina