Making Wonderful Memories in the Water

Moments That Got Me Hooked on Fishing

By Capt. Andy Ennis

One of my favorite things about running a fishing charter business here in North Carolina is being there to witness and take part in someone’s first fish or catch. I suppose it’s because I still hold such beautiful memories of my time as a young angler, discovering my love for fishing and all the fascinating stuff the sport involves. Having gone through a lot as a kid, I’ve experienced the benefits of growing up in the great outdoors. It was such a lifesaver for me to have fishing as an outlet, so involving kids in fishing and outdoor activities is something I strive to take part in. If you’re looking to take your kids out for a day of fishing during their summer vacation, book a trip with me, and I assure you that they will all fall in love with the sport even before the day ends. I love hosting anglers of all levels on my boat — look at some of my posts on our Facebook page!

Whenever I see kids and teens falling in love with fishing while landing their first catch, I can’t help but reminisce about my experiences as a young angler. One of my great memories is one that took place in Wrightsville Beach. It was 1993, and I was still a teenager. I tagged along with my grandma when she went to Wrightsville. She wanted to shop at a local store called Redix. It was the first time I had been allowed to take our Jon boat out by myself. We had just put a trailer hitch on the family station wagon, and in true Griswold fashion, we hooked the boat to the Oldsmobile. The plan was for me to go on the boat to go flounder fishing in the sound while grandma shopped. But, of course, like any rebellious teen, I had my own plans. Sure, fishing for flounder was good, but I wanted to head out in the inlet to find myself a king! So, behind my elders’ backs, I packed along a boat rod and some frozen cigar minnows. 

I had it all planned out. I waited for my grandma to get out of sight before launching the boat. It was so exciting — I can still remember the day like it was yesterday. The air was beautifully warm, muggy, and still. Not a hint of wind — which I was sure was a sign that my king was just out there, waiting for my cast. I headed straight to the Liberty Shipwreck, a known hotspot for king mackerel and other prime catch like Spanish mackerel, bluefish, cobia, and other bottom-feeders. You could still see it from shore, so it isn’t that far off.

Once I arrived, I rigged my first bait and let the line out. Oh, the goosebumps ran up and down my spine as I let my line out and trolled around the wreck for a good while. I got a short strike, so I grabbed another minnow and set back out. After a few more passes around the buoy, my Daiwa 30H started screaming. Excitedly, I took the boat out of gear, grabbed my rod, and waited for the fish to make its initial run. I’d always done it that way when I was fishing for king mackerel.

But then, lo and behold, when the fish first jumped, boy was I ever so shocked. I looked around to see if I had just imagined things or if it was someone else’s fish. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even recognize the fish at first because I’d never hooked a sailfish before. Yes, it was a sailfish, a 30-pound one at that! The fish jumped several times before I finally had the sense to put the boat in gear and start. I knew I had to land the fish quickly if I were ever to land it.

Never in a hundred years did I expect it, but yes, I was able to land a sailfish on a wire leader and treble hooks. What’s funny, though, is that I had no way of gathering proof of this experience. I realized this as soon as I landed the fish. First, well, because I wasn’t even supposed to be in the ocean in the first place — remember, the deal was for me to catch some flounder. Next, I didn’t have a camera on me — it was 1993! It was the coolest thing I’d ever done in my life, and there was no way to prove it to anyone. I have never shared that story until now.

I still get as excited about fishing and learning more about the sport as I did when I was a young angler. About 15 years ago, when I first moved to the Outer Banks, I wanted to see what the fishing was like in the area. However, I had just sold my boat to afford the move, so I had to borrow one from a friend — just a nice skiff with no electronics on it at all. That didn’t deter me from exploring even beyond the spots I’d been told about. I remember spending hours on end riding and casting until I was able to hit plenty of spots that I still fish to this day! One of the most exciting parts of that journey was learning that in the Outer Banks inshore waters, speckled trout is king! You can find plenty of them almost everywhere, and they make decent table fare, too. 

There are not a lot of speckled trout trophies out there, though, because out of a thousand trout fry, you can only get four to grow over 20 inches. You’ll usually find them in the ocean in early spring, and then the big females heading into the inshore as the waters turn warm. In the summer, schools of male trout will be drumming it up — it’s not uncommon to catch up to a hundred of them in one spot during this time. Trust me — I’ve been fishing in this area for more than a decade, and I started without the aid of electronics!

If you want to discover the beauty of fishing in the Outer Banks, book a fishing trip with me, and we’ll head out to all my secret fishing spots. You can find more information about my fishing charter on my website and Facebook page. Let’s make some amazing memories together next time you’re in my area!