Changing Homeports for Winter: In Search of Tuna Out of Oregon Inlet

By Jim Field

Oregon Inlet Journal Entry #1: On October 23, 2009, Dan and I cast off lines from our slip at Teach's Lair Marina, entered Pamlico Bay (see photo above of marina channel, taken in August by my daughter, Ollie), navigated Hatteras Inlet, and set out on a one-day transit to Oregon Inlet, and more specifically, Pirate's Cove Marina in Manteo, NC. We were moving the Sea Ya Bea north for the winter with one purpose in mind: to position ourselves to catch hordes of fall yellowfin tuna in the rich fishing grounds ESE of Oregon Inlet.

Like most mid-Atlantic sportfishermen, for years we've read--with amazement and envy--the fishing reports coming out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (OIFC). Day trips routinely return to the Center with limits of tuna--as if a guaranteed outcome. Admittedly, these Captains are the best: if they're not catching on a given day, then no one is. Conversely, they always seem to find the fish, even when it's slow for everyone else (i.e., the weekend amateurs). In contrast to the tuna scene off OI, however, for the past few years the yellowfins haven't showed up off Hatteras Inlet--down near the Rockpile--for inexplicable reasons. As such, we decided to move to where the tuna are, and winter this year in Pirate's Cove, signing a 6-month lease, taking us to the end of March.

Mindful of fewer daylight hours to work with, and the need for us to navigate, for the first time (!!), from the OI bridge to Pirate's Cove, a transit of roughly seven miles, we nevertheless wanted to fish our way north, and make the trip more than a holiday cruise. For starters, we set course for the 230 Rocks, and trolled ENE across all the good structure. No luck.

Next, we diverted WNW for the Tower, the plan being to back the stern up close to the structure, and vertical jig for amberjacks--our beloved "reef donkeys." (See photos--this thing is massive!) Again, no luck, despite lots of hits on the fishfinder. Ever the optimists, we next decided to troll ENE towards The Point, and along the way caught 2 respectable king mackerels. Finally, south of the Point, around the 425 (Loran) line, we ran into OIFC charters and caught two nice yellowfins. Good fishing; great day!

Around 3:45, we picked up reluctantly (as always!) and headed for the barn, thinking we still had ample daylight to navigate the inland passages. Once in the inlet, we passed the dredge working the channel (in perpetuity), passed under the bridge, steered hard right, and followed the buoys around the crescent track to the turnoff for OIFC. At this point, we were in virgin waters for us. Optimistically, we had hoped to follow a boat through the upcoming channel--which we've subsequently learned is referred to as "The Crack"--but, as luck would have it, there weren't any headed our way. With no other option, we moved ahead at 5 knots and hovered close to the channel markers, and pretty much figured things out--which is to say that we didn't run aground. Afer what seemed like an eternity, two huge boats headed to Pirate's Cove closed in on us; we let one pass ahead; and we finished the final straight-away passage doing 28 knots until right on the bridge.

All in all, we managed to pull off a succesful trip, shifting home ports without any issues and catching a few good fish as well. Darkness soon closed in after we moored. A quick clean up followed; then dinner with beers; then off to a bunk onboard.

The catch: yellowfin tunas left, king mackerels right


Dan holding the king mackerels


With the boat now within easy striking distance of OI tuna, upon departing the next morning for home, we were obviously "stoked" to return as soon as possible for the next outing, which we figured was guaranteed to produce tuna in large quantities. After all, we were in position; the fish were nearby; all we had to do was get the lines in the water, and Bingo! Right?

Well, stay alert for Oregon Inlet Journal Entry #2. Hint: you can't count on anything in life--and particularly in fishing. Bummer.