Banner photo by Polly Dean.
Harkers Island, North Carolina
On The Fly Saltwater
March 2025
By Jimmy Jacobs
When it comes to targeting saltwater game fish on the fly, the first problem is always finding the fish. These species tend to be nomadic in nature, with most being constantly on the move.
If you are a fly caster in an area that offers angling opportunities, but you are without the benefit of a boat, that can be a problem. There are also times when you have just a window of a couple of hours to fish, so hiring a guide is not practical either.
On the other hand, virtually all destinations on the southeast Atlantic Coast and Gulf shores have some boat ramps, parks or other access points. Those options, however, often offer very limited or no room for maneuver while casting.
When faced with such situations, you have to do a bit of research to find access that provides enough space and variety of habitat to make it worth investing some time in fishing.
Redfish are a year-round possibility at Straits Landing. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
The On The Fly South crew recently was confronted by just such a situation. We were at Cape Lookout, North Carolina on a false albacore trip, when the weather on the open water was too blustery for fishing. After a bit of research on Google Earth, we pinpointed a possible location that looked like it offered some shore-bound possibilities. So, we headed to nearby Harkers Island.
On the mainland side of the bridge carrying Harkers Island Road to the isle, the Straits Landing Boating Access Area is on the west side of the highway. As the name implies, there is a paved, two-lane boat ramp at the location, but the site offers much more for the shore-bound angler.
As mentioned earlier, you are looking for a site that offers differing situations that can hold fish. Straits Landing fits that description well. To the left (west) of the boat ramp a portion of the public area has a low seawall on which you can walk. In front of it is some marsh grass and shells that are dry on the low tide, but flood with incoming water. That, of course, is ideal for attracting redfish to the fiddler crabs that scurry about the mud.
The beach area adjacent to the boat ramp. Photo by Polly Dean.
Moving east toward the boat ramp, a small sandy beach is ideal for launching a kayak and provides a limited wading option. On the other side of the ramp, you can walk out onto a portion of the causeway that was part of the old drawbridge that now has mostly been removed.
After crossing a remaining portion of the span, you reach a small island. The Straits Fishing Pier is located to the left (east) as you reach this island. Before walking out on the pier, you might try casting to its pilings from the sandy area to the right of the pier.
The entrance to the fishing pier. Try a few casts along its pilings. Photo by Polly Dean.
The pier has low railings and runs back toward the mainland, paralleling the bridge you just walked across. That portion allows casting back toward the bridge pilings. The T-shaped end of the pier faces a channel that drops from a couple of feet to a dept of around 4 feet, which is within castable reach.
The Straits Fishing Pier is low enough to accommodate fly casting. Photo by Polly Dean.
On the opposite side of the island from the pier, it is possible to climb down to another sandy beach area for some casting. Or, you can continue walking out to the end of the island, which is lined with rock riprap. The water here drops from a foot down to 8-foot depths.
The beach on the opposite side of the island from the fishing pier. Photo by Polly Dean.
A final option for fishing this location takes you back to the boat ramp area. There you can walk across Harkers Island Road to the east side of the new highway bridge and down to the water. This area is a quite shallow flat of only 1 foot to 2 feet deep, leading out to where the channel drops to 10 to 20 feet. The bottom is fairly hard sand, providing a good wading option.
Wading out to the channel. Photo by Polly Dean.
Fishing any of these mentioned places offers the possibility of tangling with seatrout or flounder from May to December, with the best time being April to November. Additionally, redfish show up year-round, with the prime months being May to December. And you can expect to run into some bluefish at any time of the year.
Flounder are another likely catch at Straits Landing. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
If you have a kayak at your disposal, your angling possibilities increase. That vessel can give you better access to all of the Straits Landing area. Additionally, by paddling west and staying along the east shore of the North River, about a mile upriver is Goose Bay. This shallow cove is just past Black Hammock Point and averages just 1 to 2 feet in depth. It is noted for offering some sight-casting to cruising redfish year-round.
With a bit of research either online or in person, it is possible to locate spots like Straits Landing that can save a fishing day or offer a couple of hours of casting in productive waters anytime.
