Saltwater Fishing
4:28 Sec.
I still remember the first time I fished the Outer Banks like it was yesterday. I met up with four of my college buddies from my days at the University of North Carolina. We had decided that, since we were getting a bit older, we should come together annually and enjoy the North Carolina coast. While none of us claimed to be great anglers, a couple of the guys were actually pretty handy with a rod and reel, even in a challenging environment like the Outer Banks. The drive down felt endless: nothing but two-lane roads, stretches of marsh, and the smell of saltwater sneaking in through the windows. By the time I crossed the Bonner Bridge and rolled onto Hatteras, I could feel it in my chest, that excitement you only get when you know the ocean is just over the dunes. We set up on the beach before sunrise that first day. Rods planted in the sand spikes, lines cast just past the breakers. The tide was pushing in, and the water was alive. You could see mullet flashing in the waves, and every now and then the surface exploded with bluefish chasing bait. For a while, I wasn’t sure we’d even see any action. It’s a doubt seasoned anglers rarely get, but when your fishing days are infrequent, it’s always the first thought that creeps in. Still, I wasn’t too worried, I was standing in one of the most beautiful places on earth. A place with a history of everything from pirates to TV shows, and a reputation as one of the best fishing locations in the world. That alone was enough to make for a great weekend, even if I didn’t catch a single fish.
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