I recently put forth a strong case that Fall Belongs to the Southern Coast. While I gave some detailed reasons why this should be our season, the beauty of the waves in the fall was not one of them.
It was not an oversight, I just thought the waves deserved more detailed attention than I could give them in the other post. When you walk the beaches as much as I do, you come to really appreciate those special moments when the light, clouds, and sky cooperate to make a beautiful picture like the one in this post. Fish got mentioned in the other post, but not in the detailed way that would interest fishermen. Thus the need for this post.
As it turns out when I go back through the years, October has more than its fair share of really nice waves. It is hard to correct for my preference for fall beach walks when compared to ones done in the heat of summer. However, there is no arguing many of my beach trips in October result in some wonderful photos. Excursions when I capture some images of great waves are as much a treat as ones where I catch some fish.
I would be misleading my readers if I pretended that the opportunities for amazing beach walks end magically as the October calendar slides by us. I have enjoyed some spectacular walks in November and even December. There is something about the light in the fall that makes for great pictures. The sun is a little less of a problem in the fall than it is in the summer when it can wash all the colors out of even the nicest waves.
So if beautiful waves, fantastic weather and uncrowded beaches do not get you thinking about a trip to the beach, then you are either married to your work or you are someone who loves to fish and has already planned their fall fishing vacation at the coast.
The Crystal Coast is the home fishing base for my North Carolina natives. There is a good reason for that. Fall fishing down here can be pretty good. You can catch everything from our state fish, the red drum, to trout and flounder. Sometimes you can catch fish that are so nice that even those of us who fish a lot are surprised.
I am often seduced by the White Oak River that empties into Bogue Sound near Swansboro. Just a few minutes paddling out Raymond's Gut from our house into the river, I can sometimes catch wonderful fish. One evening last November, I caught this cooler filled with a couple of trout and a beautiful drum. The drum was about twenty-two inches long. Last weekend within sight of our house just off the White Oak River, I caught this doormat of a flounder that weighed in at three pounds, five point six ounces. Fish like these are what fishermen dream about and they were all caught on artificial lures.
I catch fish most of the summer, but it is far easier to come home with fish in the cooler in the fall. Sometimes the fall brings exciting fishing like the day that I had with some bluefish or the amazing fall guided fishing trip that I enjoyed many years ago in Beaufort.
The thing is that you cannot catch fish if you do not put a line in the water. More importantly even if you do not catch fish, the beautiful waves will likely make your trip a success.
October is a great time to join us on our beaches or even paddle our rivers. With luck you will find some fish and I can almost guarantee some unforgettable waves.
You can find a good start on trip planning with our free online travel guide to Emerald Isle.
