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Landing your first
false albacore is an experience you never forget. I was fishing
off of North Carolina's Crystal Coast when the albie hit like
a ton of bricks and nearly jerked the rod right out of my hand.
As the fight ensued, I distinctly remember feeling that I might
as well have been trying to land a tractor trailer with my 9-weight.
That crazy lunker just kept going and going. I hadn't seen so
little backing on my reel since it was spooled up on the day I
bought it.
Eventually he tired, and I brought him to hand. As I sat on the
edge of the boat after throwing him back in the water like a spear,
I felt like I really needed a cigarette-which is surprising, because
I don't smoke.
After a short breather I was at it again, and by the end of the
day I knew I'd be back in Beaufort and fishing off Harkers Island
again soon
Each fall countless fly anglers and guides descend on southeastern
co ast of North Carolina to battle these salty speed demons. False
albacore are worthless in the kitchen, so commercial anglers want
nothing to do with them. As a result they generally show up in
huge numbers in the fall and crash bait to their hearts' content.
They're tremendously strong and will readily take flies if presented
in the proper manner.
Accuracy is key, and more important than distance. Don't waste
your time false casting; instead, consistently place your fly
35 feet or so directly to the side of the school. This often produces
excellent results. Once the fish strikes, strip strike him one
time and then keep your line tight without delivering too much
pressure.
These fish can break you off in no time flat, so let them run.
On my last fishing trip in Beaufort with Captain Gary Dubiel of
Spec Fever Guide Service, I broke off six flies and two fly lines
before I got into the swing of things. I'm lucky Captain Gary
didn't push me overboard.
One common misconception about fishing near Harkers Island is
that you need a boat to be successful. This is pure bunk. Yes,
boating keeps your options open and allows to you try-and I do
emphasize try-to follow the schools of fish. But even in this
case, shorebound anglers can be successful if they plan well.
Several year-round ferries service the Cape Lookout area and Shackleford
Banks. Generally speaking, these ferries provide a great service
to anglers-and for relative peanuts: For a mere $15, they'll ferry
anglers to any number of areas, drop them off with all their gear,
and pick them up later in the day.
Once on Cape Lookout you can connect with Cape Lookout Conch Tours;
they'll ferry you by vehicle to various fishing spots including
the tip of the Cape near the lighthouse. This prime spot has a
deep drop-off and reaches well into the Atlantic Ocean, making
it a great place to cast a line. The drawback is that you'll need
to carry everything out with you for the day.
Anglers are best served by stocking up at their local fly shop
or visiting Cape Lookout Fly Shop in nearby Atlantic Beach. Talking
to Captain Joe Shute, a longtime guide and committed angler who
has forgotten more about albie fishing than most anglers will
ever know, is also a good idea.
Be forewarned: Landing a false albacore is not just exhausting.
It's addictive.
Cape Lookout Fly Shop
Atlantic Beach, NC
www.captjoes.com
(252) 240-1427
Crystal Coast Visitors Center
www.crystalcoastnc.org
(800) 786-6962.
Captain Gary Dubiel
Spec Fever Guide Service
Oriental, NC
www.specfever.com
(252) 249-1520
Beau Beasley (www.beaubeasley.com)
is the fly fishing columnist for the Angler Magazine. His new
book Fly Fishing the Mid-Atlantic: A No Nonsense Guide to Top
Waters is due out next spring. You can order your autographed
copy from the author's web-site.
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