North Carolina

The Outer Banks, barrier islands off the coast of northeastern North Carolina, have long provided inhabitants with ready access to clean water and bountiful wild fisheries. In the 1930s, these locals recognized they could make a living full time by taking out paying parties of sport anglers. At this time, entrepreneurs built oceanfront piers to get these sport fishermen closer to migrating schools of fish. An act of Congress preserved the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which promoted the pastime of surf fishing. As the industry of charter fishing developed, captains working out of Hatteras and Oregon Inlet ventured farther into the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Gulf Stream, the home of the ultimate fishing trophy, the blue marlin. This book chronicles the history of sport fishing on the Outer Banks. Whether fishing is a livelihood or a pastime, fishermen and fisherwomen invest in more than just catching. They commune with a seascape that is both inspiring and potentially dangerous. And what locals and visitors alike have found on this sliver of sand is simple: paradise on earth.

From the sweltering summer heat to the biting winter chill, thousands of dedicated anglers flock to North Carolina's piers to cast lines into the salty depths, hoping to reel in anything from whiting and shark to the highly prized sheepshead, red drum and even the elusive king mackerel. Fishing pier enthusiast Al Baird recounts the history of these wind-worn structures, from the incredible story of the oldest pier in North Carolina to the tales of the destructive hurricanes that ripped through the Outer Banks. Discover how seaside towns have grown and changed while their piers remain the same, as Baird recounts the memories and accomplishments of the men and women who have visited and loved these slowly disappearing landmarks.

The Southern Surfcaster will change the way you think and what you thought you knew about saltwater fishing.

Increase your knowledge of fishing and develop into a more confident saltwater fisherman with The Southern Surfcaster. Many of the old-school methods of fishing are updated for modern practicality. Explore creative techniques and the latest strategies that have transformed the sport over the last decade.