There are so many ways to spend your free time on the North Carolina coast: Hikers scale the dunes at Jockey's Ridge State Park; Birders make field trips to observe Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, and red-cockaded woodpeckers; History buffs delve into the lore of famous former residents, from Blackbeard to the Wright Brothers. Some, however, are blind to the state's multiple charms—single-minded individuals whose fancy, regardless of season, remains fixed upon fish.

Fishermen at sunset on the Outer Banks
Photo: NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development

Whether you dream of bass or bluefish, flounder or drum, the North Carolina coast presents a strong lure for anglers of every stripe. Each fall, they line the piers (sometimes elbow to elbow) to battle with aggressive stripers or pyrotechnic tarpon in the waters below. Bass fishermen (and women) cast their lines into classic coastal blackwater rivers, tannin stained from their swampy drainage. In North Carolina, you'll find a variety of species in the blue waters of the state's coastal lakes, mile upon mile of sandy solitude for surf casting, and big-game fish in both the Atlantic and the sheltered sounds.

For the serious angler, the multiplicity of alternate outdoor activities means your non-fishing buddies, children, or significant other will have ample distractions on an autumn excursion to the North Carolina coast. Once they leave you to your fishing, here are a few GORP-picked piscatorial suggestions to get you hooked.