Sometimes a guide needs a break from the trout and seeks new angling adventures. Altamont Anglers' guide Jay Dodd suggested a visit to his old friend Charles Brown, who owns and operates the Old Core Sound Guide Service at Harker's Island, North Carolina. Charles had called to alert Jay to the arrival of the Little Tuny, or False Albacore (AKA Fat Alberts, or Albies). These powerful fish are a perfect match for the fly fisher, providing great sight-fishing as they "bust" schools of bait fish on the surface. Just follow the birds, get close to the top-water melee of marauding Albies, cast, strip, and hold on!! It only took one call and Jay had enlisted Altamont Anglers staffers Drake and Teo Whitlock for the long drive to the coast...

Teo holds the Albie while Charles holds the broken 10-weight and, in the background, Jay fights one of his own

How strong are Fat Alberts? Well, we fight them with 10-weight rods and are very careful to clear line after the initial hook-set to avoid burning flesh and broken gear. But even after that first blistering run, Albies fight hard--you can see Jay being given a work-out from his fish in the background--and even at the end of a fight, with the fish at the boat, the danger is always there of that last, unexpected surge. In this case, the surge resulted in an exploded 10-weight rod!

Drake and Charles with another "double" dose of Fat Alberts

The speed with which Little Tuny maraud bait balls means that the captain and his clients have to work quickly, and as a team: find the birds, get into casting range of the bait-ball, now boiling with Albies, and get your fly into the melee before birds, baits and Albies disappear--it happens fast, and commonly results in multiple simultaneous hook-ups. It's not uncommon to have doubles, as you can see in the photos.

Charles hoists another Fat Albert for Teo (as usuall, Jay's fighting one of his own in the back of the boat)

Captain Charles Brown is not the only charter boat captain you'll see around Cape Lookout with fly rods on board, but he might be the only one out there with more than the required "6-pack" license, the minimum requirement by the Coast Guard for charter captains: when he's not guiding clients, Charles plies his trade at sea, where his 200-Ton Master Near-Shore captain's license finds him aboard tankers--his work-cycle of three weeks at sea and three weeks off allows him to devote half his time to clients and fishing. The skills and knowledge he brings to the business assure your safety and comfort while he's at the helm.

Jay finally boats that Albie, and hoists it for camera--apparently Teo has landed a bag of Oberto...nice trophy.

But this seamanship does not tell the whole story of his knowledge: Charles was born and raised right off of Harker's Island, is an avid waterman and "ducker" (though, sadly, he no longer guides duck hunters) whose intimate knowledge of the estuaries make him the top guide for Cape Lookout, Drum Inlet, Pamlico Sound and the surrounding waters.

the well-equiped center console aboard Charles Brown's 24-foot Venture Bay boat

Charles' 24' Venture Bay boat, with its center-console layout and snag-free decks is a perfect fly-rodder's boat, offering great stability for casting without the concerns for fouling lines and snagups that are typical of many charter boats. The boat travels comfortably at speed and stays dry, which is a challenge in the waters around Cape Lookout.

But no boat can stop the wind from blowing, and when it just makes a fly rod ridiculous, it's nice to have an arsenal of conventional tackle to turn to--and keep on fishing!

Teo enjoys the stability provided by Capt. Charles' custom-made leaning bars

Charles customized his casting platform with a terrific leaning bar, which minimizes the hazards of wind, waves and inexperienced landlubbers like ourselves, making it less of an adventure when obeying the first rule of saltwater fly fishing ("stay in the boat...").

Capt. Brown's Venture Bay rests at the dock after a good day's work

 

 

 

If you're interested in fishing from this handsome Venture Bay boat, Give Capt. Charles Brown a call. Reach him at (252)-728-2422, or visit their website, the Old Core Sound Guide Service for more info and contact links.

Be sure to tell him the Altamont Anglers sent you!

(Altamont Anglers operates on Pisgah National Forest Rivers under USDA Forest Service Permit #PIS6560)