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SouthEAST Outer Banks, North Carolina
Known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, North Carolina’s storied Outer Banks con- sists of a narrow band of sand butting against the raw power of the Gulf Stream. The resulting weather and waves have been the doom of many ships and a boon for kayak anglers. Local guide Rob Alderman (
www.outerbankskayakfishing.com) covers the ocean and sound from the Virginia line to Ocracoke Island. “That’s 120 miles of coast,” he points out. Alderman splits his time between stalking sea trout, flounder and redfish in the sounds and charging the surf to chase cobia, bull reds, sharks and mackerel on the seaside. Fishing is best spring through fall with shoulder seasons the hottest. Winter can be white hot for striped bass when the wandering fish migrate past the northern Outer Banks. On the inevitable lay day, these islands offer the best surfing, kite surfing and wind surfing on the East Coast. Or climb one of the local lighthouses for a breathtaking view of the Graveyard.
Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina, is one of the fastest growing cities in America. With the Eno River flowing through town and pristine mountain streams and crystal clear lakes a short drive away, obviously many people are moving to the area for the fishing. Local guide and outfitter Gary Ribet (
www.froggywaters.com) describes the whole region as a kayak fishing destination. “There are too many op- tions to focus on just one river or lake,” he explains. Ribet recommends the Eno River for largemouth bass in the fall. White and black crappie school up in the spring providing fast action and great table fare. For a unique challenge, target Roanoke bass that love the clear, rocky shallows. Summer is a great time to get out of the city and head to the mountains of Stokes County north of Durham. Smallmouth bass are the star of the seven major rivers running through the rural county. Summer fish can be fooled with soft-plastics and topwater poppers. Accessing any of these rivers is made easy via a wide network of state and local parks. Shuttles run most of the routes so a kayak angler can just float and fish.
Panama City Beach, Florida
White sand beaches and emerald green water make Pan- ama City Beach the picture of a perfect shoreline. A few miles away, expansive wetlands creep with redfish, sea trout and flounder. Captain Linda Cavitt (www.facebook. com/
linda.cavitt) patrols the waters on a standup paddle- board. “The SUP has a shallow draft for skinny water and it’s easy to beach launch for nearshore fishing,” she ex- plains. A SUP also offers a stable platform to stand and fish, helpful for sight-casting to cobia or redfish. To fish the gulf, Cavitt launches from the west end of the beach to avoid boat traffic. Inshore expeditions start from any of the many kayak launches. “Get a map of local launches online or at a local outfitter,” Cavitt recommends, “look for bayous draining on the low tide.” Offshore, Cavitt chases schools of bait and diving birds with a cigar min- now rigged on a wire leader. “That’s all you need to get started," she says. Panama City is a famous tourist trap, so accommodations are varied and plentiful. Offseason is the best time to visit for cool deals and hot fishing.
48 PADDLING MAGAZINE
PHOTO:
FROGGYWATERSUTDOORS.COM
PHOTO: LINDA CAVITT
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