Ocean

Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina is a town designed for family-oriented fun along the gorgeous Atlantic coast. Stretching seven miles long and sitting on North Carolina’s southern coastline, this island has the ideal family beach environment for playing in the water or building dreams in the sand. Whether this is your children’s first time seeing the ocean or an annual trip to the coast, everyone is sure to be awestruck by the sheer beauty that is Ocean Isle Beach.

The seven miles of pristine, sandy beaches that run their way along the island are the perfect place for a young one to dig in the sand or to wade into the ocean for the first time. The beaches have a low traffic flow, do not have bright lights, and are generally an all-around great family area. You will find family water slides, numerous beach activities, miniature golf, and plenty of swimming near the beach. The island has some of the best swimming conditions on the North Carolina coast due to the gentle surf that typically does not have strong currents and a water temperature that averages about 10 degrees warmer than the beaches of the Outer Banks region.

If you have golfers in your family who simply cannot bear to part with their clubs on vacation, then Ocean Isle Beach has something to accommodate their vacation needs. There is a wide selection of courses that are tucked along the Intracoastal Waterway, situated near marshes, and nestled between meadows and pine forests. Make your way to the Ocean Ridge Plantation-Tiger’s Eye Golf Links for what has been voted one of the top 100 public courses in the country and the best overall course on the Grand Strand. The semi-private Brick Landing Plantation is also a great 18-hole option that offers an on-site pro and a pro shop just in case you hook one too many balls out of play and out of sight.

After a long day on the links or in the sand, a convenient, laid-back restaurant is exactly what you need to unwind and relax. There are a few great places to eat on the island, each offering spectacular views of the ocean or the waterway. Head out to any one of them in the early evening to catch sight of the breathtaking sunset while enjoying a delicious meal with the family. One place to try is the Giggling Mackerel Seafood Grille, which offers indoor and outdoor seating on the water and the freshest seafood caught by a local captain.

Deep sea fishing is a popular activity out of Ocean Isle Beach, meaning there are numerous captains available to take you into the ocean for yellowfin tuna, sailfish, grouper, amberjack, and barracuda. Head out for a half day or a full day with a company such as Follow Me Charters and try for the catch of a lifetime. It is a great way to spend some time with the kids and introduce them to the exciting sport of fishing, but remember that it can get quite rocky so use a patch or take a motion sickness pill before heading out.

If you need some time indoors, the Museum of Coastal Carolina is an excellent option if you or anyone in your family is interested in the coastal history of the Carolina’s. There are displays of various marine life, antique fishing equipment, shark teeth, and numerous other natural history oriented-exhibits. The programs are educational, yet entertaining, and everyone will enjoy the Reef Room, which is a walk through exhibit that allows visitors to feel as if they are walking underwater amidst the fish, plants, and other aquatic life of the Atlantic.

When you vacation in Ocean Isle Beach, you need accommodations that will allow you to venture to the beach at your own leisure while also enjoying the beauty of this amazing town. The best way to get the most out of your spectacular surroundings is by staying in an Ocean Isle Beach vacation rental that sits directly on the water and has an unimpeded view of the ocean. Relax on the porch and watch as the setting sun casts a radiant glow over the water. Stare at the magnificent waves making their way towards the sand, and then retire to your private room so you can rest before another active and busy day around town. You really can achieve the vacation you imagined, so begin your search for Ocean Isle Beach vacation rentals today to find the one that has all the amenities you need at a price you can afford.

HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Ocean Isle Beach vacation rentals for your next trip to Coastal North Carolina.

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Why Night Fishing Beats Day Fishing Any Day of the Week

Without a doubt, night fishing is better than day fishing for many reasons.

One of the biggest reasons is the size of the fish you can catch at night. In almost every circumstance, you will catch bigger fish at night than you can during the day. There are several reasons for this. Bigger fish tend to feed at night. Maybe the reason these fish were able to get so big is because they were smart enough to not eat during the day when dinner may include a fisherman’s hook inside it.

I like to think the big fish just sit around all day and take bets on which little fish is going to get caught by a fisherman. Ok, maybe that is a little far fetched, but it’s fun to imagine.

Bigger fish also seem to feed on baitfish in more shallow water than during the day.

Since the fish are less likely to associate night time to fishermen, they tend to take the bait with less resistance and hesitation. Almost like they are thinking to themselves “There is no way this is a fisherman’s bait, it midnight for crying out loud”. This results in better hooking of the fish.

Maybe it’s the fact that fish are more likely to feed based on sound and vibration at night, unlike the day when they can also use vision.

Since you will be catching bigger fish at night, you can also use bigger bait. Personally, I find it easier to use bigger lures anyway, so it works out better for me at the same time.

You don’t have to worry about all the other boats zipping around you at night, like you do during the day. This alone is enough to make some fishermen want to only fish at night. The peaceful serenity at night is hard to beat.

If you fish at night in the summertime, you will also appreciate the cooler weather compared to fishing during the day.

If you have never been night fishing before, you need to get out there and try it at least once. You may never want to fish during the day again!

Daniel Eggertsen is a long time fishermen, as well as President and Founder of Evening Secret Fishing (http://www.eveningsecretfishing.com/specialsecret/night-day.php)

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The Best Type Of Line For Night Fishing

Here is a topic that is often debated between night fishermen. Depending on how you like to fish at night, here is what you should look for in general:

If you are going to be fishing with a blacklight, you will want to be sure you spool up a clear blue fluorescent line. The clear blue is especially made to work well with blacklight night fishing, so it is highly recommended.

When you go night fishing, never use a line that is less than 20lb test. 20lb is the minimum weight you should even think about. You won’t be dealing with those wimpy “day fish”.

Ideally, if you are blacklight fishing, you will want to use the 20lb clear blue fluorescent line. When the blacklight hits that line, you will be amazed at how well that line shows up.
Of course, if you do not need to watch your line closely (such as when you are using a spinnerbait) then the color is not as important.

Why do you need a minimum of 20lb test line?

Simple, the fish you will be catching at night are going to be bigger! Sometimes we catch fish twice the size as those we caught during the day at the same spot.

The bigger fish feed at night, so while your buddies are catching the little guys during the day, you can come in and take the ‘monsters’ at night.

Berkley makes a good clear blue line for night fishing. You should probably get a spool before you plan a night fishing trip. It is called the Berkley Trilene XT Fluorescent Clear Blue. You can pick up a pony spool for about $2.50 and a filler spool for under $6.00.

If you are not blacklight fishing, the color is not as important as the strength of the line. Just make sure it is strong enough to handle the big boys you may come across out there at night.

Daniel Eggertsen is a long time fishermen, as well as President and Founder of Evening Secret Fishing - (http://www.eveningsecretfishing.com/specialsecret/night-line.php)

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