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SUBJECT: # 19666: Oregon Inlet: Think i'm lost
Submitted by shmerlok (151.198.139.79) from NORTH CAROLINA on 4/4/2001 9:21:00 PM
Can i get a nineteen foot searay(boat) out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center out to the sea by Oregon Inlet.. Will this take a master? How much time and how many miles through the maze?.. Your help will be appreciated... thanks
- 4/4/2001 10:06:00 PM
Submitted by
Fishead6 (208.60.233.6) from NORTH CAROLINA says Searay
Had one of those. Doubt I'd take it out of there except in the flattest calm conditions. I think Oregon Inlet is one of the longest, most changable inlets on the east coast. I'd be absolutely anal about choosing the perfect day before I'd chance that boat in that inlet. I've taken too much water over the bow in our searay in much less sea than the best Oregon Inlet day will dish out. I think it's 4-5 miles total and about 30-45 minutes travel. I've done it in a bigger boat, in much rougher conditions than you'd want to be there in. P.S., My wife was there and thought we were nuts going out.Hope this helps.
- 4/5/2001 8:13:00 AM
Submitted by
Thom (198.99.246.1) from WEST VIRGINIA says Huhhhhhh?
I don't know about the Searay but in general you can take a 19' boat out of Oregon Inlet to fish off the beach a great number of days out of the year. The trip from the fishing center over to the inlet is not far and the channels not a bit hard to follow. If you go through the crack (a mile and a half) you'll be at the bridge in 10 minutes and if you follow the proscribed channel (five miles) you'll be there in 20 minutes. The inlet itself is much over a quarter mile long - as you likely already know. So, having said that I can tell you that the most frightened I have ever been in a boat was within 100 yards of that bridge out in the inlet. At any rate while it certainly isn't a place to take lightly sometimes for much of the time it is perfectly nagigatable for our very small craft - pick you days!Thom
- 4/5/2001 8:32:00 AM
Submitted by
Rick (206.156.86.225) from NORTH CAROLINA says Thom- Tell us how to navigate the "Crack".
Thom, From your posts I know you fish O.I. I assume the "Crack" is the privately marked channel that runs parallel to the bridge. Where off the publicly marked channel do you pick it up, from the Fishing Center end? Do the "bouys" mark the middle, left or right side? If left or right, going out or coming in? Thanks
- 4/5/2001 9:16:00 AM
Submitted by
rogn (208.236.173.72) from MARYLAND says Oregon Inlet
Over the years I've been out through OI dozens of times in an old 20' Mako(powered by Johnson) and never been scared once, however coming back in has been a different story on a couple of occasions. Still if you check the weather, maintain respect, and dont over extend you should do OK. But avoid NE winds on a falling tide.
- 4/5/2001 10:09:00 AM
Submitted by
Thom (198.99.246.1) from WEST VIRGINIA says Rick
Yep, its the privately marked channel. Stay to the east (ocean) side of it and don't get to far away from those floats - the water gets awfully skinny in a big hurry. By the way - I haven't seen a drop of Oregon Inlet since last November and all it takes is one storm to change everything so you need to hear from someone else who's down that way. What was the "crack" last fall could very well be the "new island" today.At any rate your best bet is to follow one of the big boats out and back, but with respect. Want to hear one of my pet rants? Well, here it comes anyway; the Captains of the Charter fleets that surround Oregon Inlet are the best there are. The boats are as good as any you'll find anywhere as well. There is one thing that I keep in mind as we share the same water. Those guys are out there to make a living, and a very hard living at that. I am out there to have some fun. When I get down to listing priorities making a living ranks above having fun. I have a great deal of respect for most of those working guys and for that reason I do not get in the way of the big boats. Its also why I get on the radio and let them know what I'm doing when I plan to follow one in or out. I think the workings of the world tend to go a lot smoother when folks know what each other are doing. Besides that if you listen to the radio much you come to understand that many of the Charter guys tend to feel the same way about small outboard boats as the Big Rig guys feel out the 4-wheelers out on the highway. There's a lot of good reasons for that distain of course and its a fire I don't intend to add fuel to, not if I can help it. Letting them know my intentions and then keeping good distance may go a ways toward that aim of mine .....
Thom
- 4/5/2001 10:40:00 AM
Submitted by
Mike (198.26.132.101) from NORTH CAROLINA says O.i.
Just ran the shortcut out to the inlet 3 weeks ago. The Shortcut is still well marked by private bouys. Stay tight to the ocean side of them and you'll be in 6-10 feet of water the whole ride. stray 30 feet off and you may find yourself beached. Enjoy the trip. I have gone out of the inlet in a 18 footer numerous times, listen to what everyone tells you. When the tide is running it can be a real bear. Pick your days and enjoy.
- 4/5/2001 5:15:00 PM
Submitted by
Lewis Harrison (165.247.121.18) from VIRGINIA says Oregon Inlet
Its been a few years, but I've been through it in a 13' Boston Whaler. It was a nice day outside, the inlet still had some 4-5' waves. I do hold a great deal of respect for its power, but if you have a good day and know your boat, a 19' boat is plenty adequate.
- 4/5/2001 10:32:00 PM
Submitted by
Just Fishin (24.7.185.143) from VIRGINIA says 19ft boat...
I would say if you know the inlet well AND have a nice weather day, it would not be a problem. The inlet is known for being nasty...there is a reason all of the charter boats are 50 footers...I would be cautious...when I was a kid I saw a 19ft boat get pitchpoled in what was Beach Haven Inlet in NJ. These guys were inexperienced and it was pretty rough (5-6 foot breakers)...not a good combo.
Glenn