We are planning on running out of Carolina Beach Inlet on Tuesday. We plan on targeting black bass. Most likely will be heading to wrecks and ledges starting in 60 feet of water, probably will shoot mostly for 80-105 feet.
If anyone else is planning on heading out, would not mind a buddy boat. If the weather holds, should be a decent day.
We will be in a Steiger Craft 256 DV Miami, putting in at Snows Cut Landing.
According to reefcast it does not look like a very nice day to me.
At Wr4 so ~85ft per reefcast
I am seeing 20kt wind calming down to 5kt at noon, ramp back up to 20kt by end of day
5 foot seas at 6 seconds calming to ~2ft at 6 seconds by noon, ramp back up to 4 ft at 5 by end of day.
At 60 ft or dredge wreck I am seeing about a foot less, but similar forecast.
From what I see, you have about 3-4 hours of decent ocean from about 11am-2/3pm
With the west wind, you should see decent water nearshore but getting increasingly worse on the way out.
Things may change between now (sat) and tuesday though. Keep your eyes on it.
Tight lines
-Bobby
What would your recommendation be for Tuesday? I wont even begin to act like I know what I am doing offshore. I have only been fishing out to 30 miles for the last couple years. We have had good results reading the weather so far, but eventually luck runs out. So far worst we have been in was 3-5 foot seas (according to noaa) and we caught fish, but in the skifff it was slow going and we were beat up. I swear those seas looked like 10 footers, haha. Not sure what to expect when in a deeper V boat.
Just antsy to get the new boat offshore.
Looking at reefcast, I echo the above sentiments. There's a lovely looking 'calm' period on tuesday flanked by two soup sandwiches. They usually get the pattern right, but often times miss the timing (meaning that lull could be up much earlier or later. Winds look to be out of the NW throughout the progression, so this would be my prediction of what you'd get if the forecast held perfectly.
Wake up - head out to blustery winds, but coming off land and sorta at your back, so bumpy seas, but a decent ride out. The wind will lessen as the day goes on. Stop to fish and it would be tolerable but bumpy. Turn around to come in and you're heading into a washing machine that will be building the whole ride. In a 25' boat you'll get the crap bounced out of you and heaven forbid that 20 kt wind comes earlier than expected.
In a 40-50' boat, I'd be more inclined to give it a shot. In a small craft, if the forecast is off a hair or underestimates what's coming, to put it lightly, you'll be screwed.
I'd wait until sunday afternoon and check the forecasts again. My usual take is as follows:
A week out is a guess. I put minimal credence into it.
5 days the pattern is starting to shape up, but wild changes are still possible.
3 days I usually trust the pattern, but accept the timing might shift
1 day out I put a lot more faith into it, still accepting that a 6 hour shift (early or late) is plausible.
In a 25' boat, if I was headed offshore, especially in winter, I'd want that window to be pretty good such that if things are worse than expected, or earlier/later than expected, I'm not gonna be in trouble, and the current forecast (as of Sat PM) says you'd be in trouble. Bear in mind - it's completely possible, you bail and it could turn out to be a gorgeous day; that happens. But I'd rather sit on the hill on a pretty day, then gamble and get caught in a $hitstorm, so I tend to err on the side of caution. Can always go fish another day.
I hope the forecast settles down and you can go though.
i can prob buddy up on tuesday morn for a few hours t go to the dredge wrecks for some sea bass if it is a bust there we can slip over to the 10 mile box cars ive pulled some keepers from there also this year
Well said Bilzo, I agree.
ill be leaving the slip around 7:30 next to snows cut ramp . ill be on channel 82 ill answer to sameday . we will be heading to the dredge wrecks first . 25 grady cuddy with twin yamahas . other wrecks we will be hitting with weather permitting 10 mile box cars , school house wreck , 23 mile rock , all good sea bass spots .
i wish y'all good luck, light winds, flat seas, and hungry BSB's. Let us know how you do!
Last week the 211/077 and working offshore was good