Captain Joe Tunstall - Chopper Bluefish on the Fly
Details
There are few sights in saltwater fly fishing that get the heart going faster than pulling up in the boat and seeing acres of chopper bluefish pushing bait to the surface. You grab the heavy mono or wire leader, tie on something flashy, and start casting into the chaos. Strip, hook up, and hang on. When the blues are in, it can be fish after fish until your arm finally gives out.
That kind of fishing does not happen by accident. It takes someone who truly knows the water.
That is why we are excited to welcome Captain Joe Tunstall of Carolina Traditions Guide Co. to our March meeting.
Joe is a Crystal Coast native who has spent more than 30 years fishing the waters of coastal North Carolina. Over the years he has worked across the Eastern Seaboard as a professional waterman and USCG licensed master, building the kind of knowledge that only comes from serious time on the water. He has a deep understanding of the fisheries he pursues and a natural sense for where fish will be and why.
Whether it is bluefish blitzing bait, redfish in the marsh, trout in the creeks, or false albacore screaming line near Cape Lookout, Joe has a knack for putting anglers on memorable days. He runs both a 23' C-Hawk and a 16' Hewes Flats Skiff, allowing him to fish everything from backwater marshes to nearshore reefs and shoals.
More than anything though, Joe is simply a great person to spend a day fishing with. His knowledge of coastal waters runs deep, shaped by generations of family history in the tidewater region dating back to the early days of the Virginia Colony. That heritage, combined with decades on the water, gives him a perspective on these fisheries that few guides can match.
At this meeting Joe will walk us through one of the most exciting fisheries we have access to along the North Carolina coast: chopper bluefish on the fly.
If you have ever wanted to experience the chaos of a bluefish blitz or learn how to prepare for this kind of fishing, this will be a great night to join us.