Looking ahead to next weekend's weather forecase - they are currently predicting SW winds at 10-15 MPH off Hatteras. I know SW winds are not good coming out of the channel - especially with an outgoing tide. Question is, what is tolerable?

i would not reccommend predicting the weather for hatteras more than 24 hours in advanced. never works for us.i know that ENE is nasty with an outgoing tide and wind out of any direction over 20mph is no fun

I agree with previous post. Long range weather forecast for Hatteras is nearly useless.
As far as wind exposure is concerned. 15 knots is rough-depending on the direction - if its north it will stand up the gulf stream -if south -no problem at all, but fishable. 20 knots is likely marginal, depending on the size of your boat of course. The charter boats will routinely fish 20 or even 25.They are big and experts at it however, and we are not - particularly in that arena.
Keep in mind getting out through the inlet to fish is one thing, but you have to get back through. Fishing in marginal conditions is a bit risky down there, as things can deteoriate pretty quickly. The sharp water temp breaks, although great for finding fish, make it very difficult to predict the forecast wind severity, so radical forecast change, when you need it the least, is more likely to happen down there than here.

Gradyman good respond for the weather another thing when they say its going to blow 10mph count on 15 - 20mph, I have a 45 foot boat and call me chicken but don't wish to fish in anything over 15, its just not worth it; having the boat rolling all over spray everywhere have the crew getting sick, Give me a little chop but forget it when it hits 20!!!

I didn't state my question very well.

I have never been out of hatteras, but have been told that with a SW wind and an outgoing tide you get standing waves in the channel.

Question is, when should you stay home? I have a 23' SeaCraft - How much wind does it take to make it dangerous?

you are right on the 20 kts -it can be really mean. The thing I find about Hatteras is that if you wait for really good conditions, you are not going to be doing much fishing. Often, if its marginal, I just go down there and just wait, watch and work on my boat-you can sometimes just sneak it in if the forecast is a little off. I did just that on 4/23. When its rough, I try to troll down sea and surprisingly seem to get most of my strikes on a down sea tack. I had rather wrassle with the conditions down there in April and May because there are good numbers of good- sized fish as opposed to making long runs up here just to catch a few footballs. Begining June, I come out of there because the weather is just too harsh to deal with and there is good fishing up here.

If its forecast for over 15 kts. stay home, fish the sound or head for the bar-they do that a lot down there.

I Cobia Fish the Inlet area if its too rough,also have been known to Surf Cast for some Drum.Going offshore is a bonus down there.

If its forecast for over 15 kts. stay home, fish the sound or head for the bar-they do that a lot down there.




Thanks

Charlie,

Mike and I might be taking his boat down this weekend. If the inshore forecast stayed the same for SAt as it is now...3-5...we would probably go. That's the edge on Mike's boat. If you go, when are you planning on going and are you staying the night???

--Don

I just looked - right now it's Saturday 4-6, Sunday 3-5. My crew for the weekend has fallen apart - mostly because of the weather. I'm still thinking about stripers, but the weather here don't look all that good.

When are you guys going down? If you need a 3rd to share expenses, shoot me an email.