Nags Head Beach Trip - July 2023 - Part I

 

Boys down at the water's edge

Packing and traveling and unpacking for a week at a beach house is exhausting. We didn't end up getting over to the beach until after 12pm on our first full day.  The beach was quite populous with umbrellas and chairs! Finally, found a spot for our set up. 

I went down to the water to watch the boys, turned around and saw this big menacing cloud staring back at me! Brent's text confirmed that we needed to head back in - he was kind enough to come back with the truck to pick us up from the beach access! (It was only a 3 block walk!)

The view from our front balcony confirmed we would be getting some serious storms!!

What to do at the beach while it's raining? Play games provided in the house and watch Jaws! Haha yup - Jaws was playing on the tv and we thought it was an excellent time to introduce the boys to this 1975 classic the day before we were scheduled to go out into open ocean to fish. :) 

These big Jenga blocks were a fan favorite. 

Getting up at 5am is EARLY!   But, it is beautiful. 

A little tricky getting out of the inlet, but once we did, we were all business catching our first fish! We caught a pompano - a very flat looking fish. Brent didn't know what it was at the time, so opted to throw it back in. 

Karma worked well for us - not too long after, we were hooked up again!

We caught a keeper!!! 

It's a............. 

Ribbonfish!! Not for eating, but it's the secret weapon to catch BIG King Mackerel in the fall! 

So many jellyfish!!

We moved a bit further out - still in sight of land - about 3-4 miles offshore. We were hunting Spanish Mackerel - and we found them!!

Caught them mid-jump!

Brock reeling in a Spanish Mackerel!!

We were ON the fish! Every time we caught one, we threw the lines back out to get another!

Kade reeling in a fish!

So many bites!! (And all on one fishing pole!!)

We ended up with 10 Spanish Mackerel and 1 Ribbon Fish that day! I'm sure Brent could have continued on, but the boys were starting to fade (fishing is hard work!). 

The best part - we had the staff at the Marina filet them up for us - they were so small, it would have taken Brent a long time (and the flies are ridiculous when you start cutting fish). Totally worth the $20! 

A great day on the water!!