264 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



This is a fine month for angling in the Ocracoke section. Boats in all 

 sections are insufficient. 



OCTOBER. Present: amberjack, channel bass, sea bass, striped bass, blue- 

 fish, bonito, cabio, cero, croaker, dolphin, flounder, common mullet, sea 

 mullet, pompano, sailfish, sheepshead, spot, tarpon, spotted sea trout, wahoo 

 (rare). Anglers are vainly trying for blue marlin and bluefin tuna. White 

 marlin are said to be present. 



Shrimpers and oyster boats are in use. Net and line fishing is going on 

 for sea bass, channel bass, striped bass, bluefish (using small boats), sea 

 mullet, pompano, spotted trout, spot, sheepshead. Motor boats are servicing 

 the mullet fisheries. There is flounder spearing. When good, this is probably 

 the finest angling month for the whole coast, but the weather is beginning 

 to be tricky. 



It is also one of the months in which commercial boats are in very full 

 use. Outside, offshore angling includes amberjack, sea bass, bluefish, bonito, 

 cero, cabio, dolphin, sailfish, wahoo. Inshore and surf angling is excellent 

 for channel bass, striped bass, some bluefish, sea mullet, pompano and sea 

 trout. Tarpon are present but seldom take the hook. 



NOVEMBER. Present: channel bass, sea bass, striped bass, bluefish, cero, 

 croaker, flounder, common mullet, sea mullet, sailfish, spot, spotted sea trout. 

 Sailfish and white marlin are said to be present in the early part of the 

 month, in the southern area. 



Shrimpers and oyster boats are in use. The sea bass fishery is serviced by 

 motor vessels and power boats. Some winter trawling, chiefly by out-of- 

 state boats, is going on for channel bass, bluefish, flounder, croaker, sea 

 mullet, spotted trout. There is also a pound net fishery for channel bass, 

 and seining for the common mullet. 



When weather permits, there is outside angling for sea bass, cero, and 

 sailfish. Channel bass and striped bass are the principal inshore and inside fish. 

 Because of the weather, this is a poor month for anglers, although the early 

 part of it is sometimes fairly good, particularly in the more southern areas. 

 There are sufficient boats available for the amount of angling done in this 

 month. 



DECEMBER. Present: channel bass (offshore), sea bass, striped bass, blue- 

 fish, croaker, flounder, common mullet, sheepshead, spotted sea trout. 



Shrimpers and oyster boats are in use. There is a winter trawl as in 

 November, net fisheries for channel bass, and seines for the common mullet. 



A very small amount of angling is available, chiefly for striped bass, and 

 more usually inland than marine. 



Spring and fall are the best angling seasons in the State, particularly the 

 months of April, May, early June, September and October. Given favorable 

 weather, November may also be a good month in the more southern areas. 



