Fishing is exceptional in Currituck County due to the miles of ocean shoreline and the 30-mile wide Currituck Sound, which has the surprising distinction of being able to accommodate both freshwater and saltwater species.

Renowned for its largemouth bass fishing, the Currituck Sound is historically one of the most famous fishing regions of coastal North Carolina, and was one of the first areas of the Outer Banks that was designated as a "tourist destination," solely because of its fishing and waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Modern visitors will find similarly exceptional conditions, but will want to keep the following in mind for ensuring the best possible Currituck fishing trips.

Fishing Charters

Local Charter Boats

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Currituck County is home to a handful of inshore charter businesses which embark on guided fishing and hunting trips through the Currituck Sound. Half day and full day options are typically available in the $300 - $800 range, depending on party size and type of trip, and parties of 1-6 can generally be accommodated. Advanced reservations are required, although parties of 1-2 can often "hop aboard" an unfilled fishing charter at the last minute.

Popular inshore fishing charters which serve the Currituck Sound region include the Carolina Sunrise, East Carolina Charters, Albemarle Fishing Charters, Island Girl Charters and Outer Banks Charter Fishing Adventures.

Visitors to Currituck County can also find offshore charters available in the town of Wanchese, located approximately 20-30 miles away, the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, located about 30-40 miles away, and in Hatteras Village, which is a good 60-70 miles away but is a scenic trip that covers the length of Hatteras Island. These offshore charters take patrons out 10-18 miles to the Gulf Stream, where big game catches including wahoo, marlin, dolphin, amberjack and snapper are waiting.

Offshore fishing trips are generally more expensive, and are priced in the $450 - $1,200 range, depending on the trip (half day or full day) and the party size, but are the optimal way to reel in a big game or sport catch that weighs in at 20 lbs. or more.

Note that you do NOT need a fishing license to take a charter fishing trip, as the captain's license covers all parties aboard.

Regardless of whether you embark on an inshore exploration of the Currituck Sound, or an offshore trip to the Gulf Stream, be sure to have the following items handy.

  • Sunscreen
  • Small cooler for water, beverages and snacks
  • Camera
  • Plastic containers or waterproof baggies for camera, phone, and other electronic equipment
  • Dramamine, especially for offshore charter trips with winds greater than 10 mph
  • Bug spray for Currituck Sound and inshore trips
  • Bathing suit or extra T-shirt and shorts in case you get wet
  • Cash tip for the first mate or captain. (Tipping is customary for a charter trip.)

Licensing

Licenses are required for both "freshwater" fishing in the Currituck Sound as well as surf fishing along the Atlantic Ocean-facing beaches. Licenses are available via the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and range from $10-18 for a 10 day temporary visitor's license to $30-36 for an annual license. Licenses are required for all anglers over the age of 16, and lifetime fishing licenses are also available for NC residents and frequent visitors.

Currituck County is unique in that the type of license required is dependent on whether you fish in fresh or saltwaters, but both the NCWRC website and local tackle shops can point anglers in the right direction when it comes to purchasing the required license for a targeted area.

An NC fishing license can be purchased online on the NCWRC's website at http://www.ncwildlife.org/, by telephone at 1-888-248-6834, or at a number of local tackle shops.

Where to purchase a fishing license in Currituck County:

  • TW's Bait & Tackle, 815B Ocean Trail, Corolla, NC 27927
  • Currituck Sports, 4306 Caratoke Hwy, Barco, NC
  • East Coast Home & Garden, 512 Caratoke Hwy, Moyock, NC
  • Midway Marina & Motel, 157 Coinjock Development Rd, Coinjock, NC 27923
  • Stewart's Hunting Lodge, 773 Bells Island Rd. Currituck, NC
  • Jones Grocery & Supply, 385 Knotts Island Rd. Knotts Island, NC

Surf Fishing Regulations

The Wildlife Resources Commission determines the minimum length and bag limit for all species of fish caught in the Atlantic Ocean or the Currituck Sound, and the limits vary greatly by species. A complete list of current regulations can be found online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/recreational-fishing-size-and-bag-limits, and anglers are required to possess a fishing license at all times in Currituck County.

What's Biting

What's biting in Currituck County is dependent on where an angler fishes, as well as the time of year. The Currituck Sound is known for its freshwater catches, including largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish and crabs, while the ocean-facing beaches are home to a range of saltwater species.

Generally, anglers can be on the lookout for the following saltwater species during their respected seasons:

  • Winter: Bluefish, clams, oysters, bay scallops, flounder, spotted sea trout, and striped bass
  • Spring: Bluefish, clams, croaker, flounder, gray trout, king mackerels, red drum, sea mullets, spotted sea trout, and striped bass
  • Summer:Bluefish, clams, cobia, crabs, soft-shell crabs, flounder, grouper, king mackerel, sea bass, sharks, Spanish mackerel, spotted sea trout, tarpon, and pompano
  • Fall: Bluefish, gray trout, clams, oysters, false albacore, grouper, king mackerel, oysters, red drum, sea mullet, sharks, flounder, spotted sea trout, spots, and striped bass

Keep in mind that the ocean waters will produce very different results than the neighboring Currituck Sound, as the sound waters are considered almost freshwater.

Tournaments

The Outer Banks regions which border Currituck County are home to a wealth of fishing tournaments, with prizes in the $1,000, $10,000 and even $100,000 range.

The biggest of these tournament is the Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament, an offshore fishing tournament based in the southern Outer Banks that covers the bulk of the NC Gulf Stream-bordering region.

The town of Manteo is also home to several tournaments, including the historic Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament and the Alice Kelly Tournament, an offshore fishing competition strictly reserved for female anglers.

Further down the beach, fall Currituck County visitors can take part in the annual Red Drum tournament on Hatteras Island, a surf fishing competition that's been going strong for more than 60 years.

The local marinas, including the Pirates Cove Marina in Manteo and the Coinjock Marina in Currituck County, are good resources for information on upcoming fishing tournaments that take place on the beach, the local Outer Banks piers, and offshore, and anglers should note that a number of tournaments may require advance sign-ups or a formal invitation, and should plan accordingly.

 

Brindley Beach Vacations

Brindley Beach Vacations

Brindley Beach Vacations offers premier real estate and property management services on the entire Outer Banks. Representing more than 600 vacation rental homes, Brindley Beach caters to all regions from the south beaches of Hatteras Island, Frisco, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, to Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and north to Southern Shores, Duck, and Corolla, as well as the 4WD area of Carova Beach. As a result, vacationers will find a wide range of homes or lots to choose from, from sunny condos with a host of amenities to massive sandcastles on the edge of the beach.

Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream

Big Buck's Homemade Ice Cream

Serving our customers on the Outer Banks since 1994, Big Buck's ice Cream is dedicated serving you “The Best.” We offer a full line of super-premium ice cream products, smoothies, chocolates, and custom-made ice cream cakes! 2 locations are open all year: Duck  and Manteo, at The Waterfront Shops.

 

We offer a full line of Espresso Drinks from Hot Vanilla Cappuccinos and Hot Chocolate to Iced Caramel Lattes & Frozen Mochas, all made to order. Big Buck’s fresh fruit smoothies are lactose-free and made to order. Also offering lactose-free sorbets made from the best fruits available. Old time favorites are sure to please! Choose from a delicious collection of milkshakes, sundaes and banana splits.

 

Savor the moment with our Homemade Chocolate! Chocolates are made daily in each location. We offer a large selection from Dark to Milk to White. Milk Chocolate Oreos & Almond Toffee, Dark Chocolate Berries and Cherries Clusters & Hand-dipped Peppermint Patties with a Drizzle of White Chocolate, Extra-Dark Sea Salt Caramels & our famous homemade caramel chocolate pretzels oh & don’t forget the ever-popular caramel pecan turtle, just to name a few treats!

 

Belinda Pleva grew up serving ice cream out of her parent’s shop. She loved being part of what she calls “a happy business.” “I love it when people come into the shop and you hand them something, and it makes them smile,” Pleva says. “That moment when you hand an ice cream cone over to a little kid and their eyes just light up. That’s what I love about the ice cream business.”

 

In 1994, Pleva opened up her own ice cream and chocolate shop, Big Buck’s Ice Cream, in the brand-new Timbuk II Shopping Center in Corolla. Business was good, but something was missing.

 

“I was never satisfied with the ingredients in the ice creams and chocolates you could purchase back then. I wanted to serve my customers delicious flavors with ingredients they could actually pronounce,” Pleva says.

 

Pleva took a trip to Italy to study the gelaterias. She fell in love with the incredible flavors, and when she returned home to the Outer Banks, she began working tirelessly to perfect the flavors in her own ice cream.

 

Big Buck’s homemade ice cream combined the flavors of the Italian gelaterias and the richness of American ice cream. It quickly became a tourist favorite. After having the same unsatisfactory experience with the readymade chocolates she was selling, she also took a trip to Brussels to learn more about making handmade chocolates. Pleva brought the chocolate-making experience right back with her, and the result was the finest quality of chocolates on the Outer Banks.

 

After her huge success in the Corolla shop, Pleva was able to open up three more shops—one in Kitty Hawk, one in Manteo and one in Duck.

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Super Wings

Super Wings

Best store on the beach! Everything you need for your vacation. The newest ladies' and girls swimsuits, 20% off every day! Largest selection of beach supplies and the best deals on T-shirts, sweatshirts and mens, ladies, and kids, apparel, swimwear and resort wear. Get all your souvenirs, suntan lotions, beach towels, floats, kites, and more. The only 1 stop shop on the beach.

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The Cotton Gin

The Cotton Gin

For those traveling to the Outer Banks, The Cotton Gin is a beloved landmark with its large windmill and picturesque gardens. The Cotton Gin has stood in the same location since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing to a gift store with 4 locations. Visitors are treated to a unique shopping experience in our main store in Jarvisburg, as well as our beach stores in Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. Explore room after room filled with décor for your home and coastal fashions for both men and women. Discover the brands you really want, like, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, La Mer Luex, Simply Southern, Lindsay Phillips, Scout, Pandora, Kameleon, Brighton, Spartina, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide and Salt Life and Old Guys Rule - all under one roof!

 

Don’t forget the gourmet market, or shop our beautiful linens for your bedroom and bath. We also feature coastal books and fine art, or just a whimsical fun gift to bring home to family and friends. Stop by soon and don’t forget to try our estate grown wines in our stores or visit our vineyard and winery, Sanctuary Vineyards, located adjacent to the original Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

 

Most know The Cotton Gin as a must-stop shop for fine gifts, beachwear, souvenirs and so much more, but this retailer has a long-standing history within the Outer Banks. A local landmark that holds almost a century of memories, The Cotton Gin started from humble beginnings and continues to adapt to the times and tourists. Tommy Wright’s family has been in the Outer Banks for nearly 200 years. His great-great grandfather, Jacob Francis Wright, shipwrecked in Duck back in the early 1800s. Calling these barrier islands his new home, Wright and his family acclimated to their new environment.

 

Adaptation is a common theme for the Wright family. Tommy and his wife Candace, who continue to steer The Cotton Gin, have seen not only their business change with the times, but the Outer Banks as a vacation destination as well. A farm market in Jarvisburg eventually transformed and flourished into several retail locations dotting the Outer Banks.

 

“As the area changed and tourism took off in the 1960s, the family saw people coming for vacations, so they began to grow vegetables and things developed from there,” says Tommy Wright. The Wright family expanded upon the farm market and began to remodel a working cotton gin, later transforming the gin into The Cotton Gin general store in the late 1960s. While the additions to the farm store drew visitors, it was their encounters with the Wright family that kept people coming back year after year, which is something that remains true today.

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