[redfish07]

This is my first post on this forum, so be gentle.
I'll be coming down from Wisconsin to spend some time kayaking and surf fishing around Hammocks Beach State Park. I've never been to the area before, so if anyone has any suggestions as to what bait to use, or where to fish, it would be greatly appreciated.
I've also heard that there is camping on a small island called Bear Island. Has anyone camped there?

Tight lines all!

 

[lefty]

Welcome aboard! I'm guessing you paddle a Redfish?

Yes you can camp on Bear Island. Details are here: Division of Parks and Recreation--Hammocks Beach State Park
My wife and a girlfriend took the daughters camping several years ago -- make that "many" years ago... They took the ferry over instead of paddling. I'm looking forward ("one of these days") to paddling over for a campout... Gotta get myself into better camping shape first... I'm still fond of having the van handy.

Don't forget to drop us a line and get yourself on the paddle-fishers map!
http://www.ncangler.com/index.php?page=yakermap

 

[Topsail Angler]

Hammocks Beach State Park is on Bear Island and as Lefty said, you can camp there.

For surf fishing you can't beat fresh shrimp, cut mullet and sand fleas (mole crabs). Also live bait like finger mullet on a Carolina rig work well.

 

[sinker man]

Since you are gonna be yakking over & staying overnight I'm thinking that Ice will be at a premium. Fishbites or Gulp bloodworms might be a little easier to keep without ice. There should be plenty of sandfleas on the beach. See Topsail Anglers latest blog for a little heads up on using them.
The surf should still have plenty of spot and whiting. You can catch them on the fishbites and whiting like the sand fleas as well. You can sacrifice a spot or two for cutbait. Really all you need is the belly portion for most fishing. I like to cut strips about 1/2" to 5/8" wide and and 2"-3" long from the bellies and and eat the rest. I have been known to make a makeshift grill out of wire leader material and driftwood and cook them on the spot (wrapped in foil). You need to check the regs. before you try that there.
All you need for most fish is a 10 lb test spinning outfit with a 2 hook bottom fishing rig and a 2 oz pyramid sinker. #6 aberdeen hooks for the fishbites. #4 or #2 kahle hooks for the strips of cutbait and sandfleas. You might want to bring a couple of egg sinkers in the 1 & 1 1/2 oz size and for fishing strip baits on a carolina rig. and some 30# leader material to make up some leaders.
A couple of small metal lures with lots of flash would also be very nice to have. 1 oz chrome Mann-O-Lures, 1-2 oz kastmasters, Stingsilvers And Hopkins spoons are great as are the thicker Krocodile spoons in that size range. If you see fish chasing minnows the best way to catch them is on a spoon with a 30 LB mono or flourocarbon Leader. Generally it needs to be rigged and ready before they arrive.

 

[rangergreg281]

There are 14 primitive campsites on Bear Island. They are $9 per night. All campsites have water spigots for your use. Hope you enjoy your stay in our beautiful parks!

 

[Dave B.]

This is my first post on this forum, so be gentle.

Man.. this site's Powder puff... only people here that get beat up is Sundrop and me! (and maybe Lefty and the Bananorist Rob..)

No worries.. good crowd and lot's of folks here love their fishin!... jump in both feet!

Welcome!

 

[backlash]

Welocme aboard.

 

[redfish07]

Thank you all for the great info.
I'm looking forward to spending a week in the briny water, lord knows I spend enough in fresh water.

I understand that the ferry to Bear Island only runs on the weekends in the fall. Is that correct?

I don't know much about blood worms. Are they available from bait shops? How do you rig them?

Thanks again to everyone.

 

[rangergreg281]

Thank you all for the great info.
I'm looking forward to spending a week in the briny water, lord knows I spend enough in fresh water.

I understand that the ferry to Bear Island only runs on the weekends in the fall. Is that correct?

I don't know much about blood worms. Are they available from bait shops? How do you rig them?

Thanks again to everyone.

Yes I believe the ferry only runs on weekends in the fall but I would call the park office to verify the schedule. (910) 326-4881 Also, they should be able to answer all your questions about the park.

As far as bloodworms, I usually cut them up and put them on a top and bottom rig. Also, bloodworms do have suckers on them and can bite you until you cut them up.

 

[sinker man]

The ferry is a passenger ferry and they do not allow carts and wagons. If you plan on camping I'd plan on kayaking all the gear over. It is a much shorter trip over ground from the canoe/kayak trail. With either method of transportation you will be limited as to how much stuff you can bring. Try to time your trip to leave the mainland about 15-30 minutes after high tide at Bouge Inlet and you will have the current working for you and plenty of time to make the journey across while the water levels are high. Leaving at the wrong time can be a frustrating lesson. You don't want to be fighting the current and dragging your boat across sand and mud. Let mother nature do most of the heavy lifting for you.\
In order to fish you will need a 10 day Non-Resident License. they are available on line here: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
You will also want to know the size limits etc. try the links here: NCDMF - North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

 

[sinker man]

Bloodworms: live bloodworms will stay alive for as long as they are kept cool but I would recommend the synthetic versions by Berkley Gulp! or Fish Bites. Cut them into short sections and thread them onto your hook leaving the hook point and barb exposed. Fresh shrimp works good but "Fresh" is the key. Some of the stuff for sale isn't fresh and shrimp needs to stay on Ice until you use it.

 

[hip]

Hello red fish..... You might want to check distance and weather.Never been to bear but it may be a fer piece.

 

[hip]

?

Hammocks Beach State Park
My wife and a girlfriend took the daughters camping several years ago -- make that "many" years ago... They took the ferry over instead of paddling. I'm looking forward ("one of these days") to paddling over for a campout... Gotta get myself into better camping shape first... I'm still fond of having the van handy.

aaaaaall I know is Lefty's wife and his girl friend had to take the ferry????

 

[lefty]

It's around two miles. They've got a paddling route at least drawn out -- might be marked, for all I know. You will be working your way along cuts between marsh islands, so if you get a vigorous tide, as SinkerMan noted, you could get more exercise than you bargained for.

 

[lefty]

Lefty's wife and his girl friend had to take the ferry????

My wife IS my girlfriend, I'll have you know!!

It was HER girlfriend who accompanied her on that trip -- actually, the wife of our Best Man. And I think the daughters were maybe 7 or so... Sigh... the daughters are in high-school now...

 

[hip]

I AM SETING HERE IN AMACEMENT I bet RED FISH is to.You guys are the best.I'm not kiding you have left no stone un turned. I have never fished at the beach but now i am ready to go.LEFTY you are a good man .I know you had the directions for RED FISH

 

[sundrop]

Man.. this site's Powder puff... only people here that get beat up is Sundrop and me! (and maybe Lefty and the Bananorist Rob..)

No worries.. good crowd and lot's of folks here love their fishin!... jump in both feet!

Welcome!

Thanks for remembering me Dave!!

***Hope ya have a great time on you carolina getaway!!!!!! be sure and post how it went!

 

[Dave B.]

happy too Drop!

hey,, how bout that back peddlin Lefty's doin there... wife and girlfriend!!!??? what's that all about???

Just messin with ya Kevin.... we know ya snooker'd a girl once... hard for lightnin to strike twice! ha ha ha ha hah .... Maybe I need to wear a pair of them yaker biker pants too! ha ha haha.....

 

[sinker man]

It's funny how guys will let their wives have girlfriends but relinquish the right to have one themselves.

 

[Lori713]

My wife IS my girlfriend, I'll have you know!!

It was HER girlfriend who accompanied her on that trip -- actually, the wife of our Best Man. And I think the daughters were maybe 7 or so... Sigh... the daughters are in high-school now...

I'm glad you cleared that up... I was kinda wondering when I first read that one!