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Country Girl Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Gulf Stream
An amazing experience awaits those who venture to the Gulf
Stream . This swift flow of water passes offshore the Outer
Banks daily on its journey north. The salty ribbon of warm blue
sea is a fishing hotspot for a variety of species. Its steadfast
flow is continually pushing sea life along its path including
fish, microscopic plants and animals and gulfweed. The floating
weed makes a great habitat for baitfish. Bigger species come to
the Gulf Stream to feed. Its bathwater conditions, which change
with the season, range from 74 degrees in the winter to 83
degrees in the summer. Sharks can inhabit the stream year round.
Pilot whales migrate through May through October. Billfish flock
to the stream in large numbers during the warmer months.
Porpoises work the edge of the stream when surrounding waters
are warmer and are found in the stream during colder months.
Captains report that billfish seem to stay out of the swiftest
part of the current. Tunas traverse the current in any
direction. Visitors to the Gulf Stream can see incredible beauty
including its brilliant blue water and fantastic flying fish.
One local captain calls the Gulf Stream the "Eighth Wonder of
the World."
Nature
Experience the wind in your face as the Country Girl moves
through vast ocean waters. Witness sunrises with no
obstructions. Watch the rhythm of waves. See the rainbow colors
of fish glitter just below the surface. Catch the acrobatics of
dolphin and the majesty of a school of whales. A jumping marlin
is a breathtaking vision. Sea turtles and sunfish float within
view. Rare, ocean-going birds fly overhead, creating a rewarding
experience for bird watchers. Yes, the Outer Banks is a nature
lover's paradise. With its close proximately to the warm Gulf
Stream water and where currents collide, the area hosts myriad
species to delight visitors. Located along the Atlantic flyway
and the dividing line for north/south species, the area is
filled with nature's glories.
Crew
Our experienced crew includes Captain Allan Foreman who has 35
years experience as a captain. He holds a masters license with
unlimited tonnage. Captain Allan grew up in nearby Elizabeth
City and spent his summers at the family cottage on the Outer
Banks. He was about 7 years-old when he first went inlet fishing
with his grandfather. He started running charters in 1972 after
graduating from college. As the former owner of Pirate's Cove
Marina, Captain Allan's boat, the Crystal Dawn headboat, was the
first to fish out of what has grown into Pirate's Cove Yacht
Club. He sold the marina in 1982 and kept the Crystal Dawn,
which he ran from 1980-1984. The original Country Girl was a
fifty footer licensed to carry 22 people. He had the current
Country Girl built in 1990 by Captain Buddy Cannady. He has run
hundreds of pelagic bird watching tours to the Gulf Stream since
1975. He created the Crystal Dawn Corporation in 1977, which
operates the Crystal Dawn and the Country Girl out of Pirate's
Cove today. Captain Allan is the famed Big Al of Big Al's Soda
Fountain and Grill in Manteo. While visiting Big Al's, don't be
surprised to find yourself eating fresh fish caught aboard his
beloved Country Girl. It will give you another chance to chat
with this personable captain who is a regular dinner customer!
Joining Captain Allan aboard the Country Girls are mates Charles
Foreman and Kyle Fisher. These experienced pros are there to
make your trip comfortable, answer your questions and cheer you
on once you hook up!
Headboat
A headboat gets its name because it charges by the head. These
boats also are called party boats and are designed to carry
large parties. This allows ticket prices to be reasonable.
Because it can carry more people, a headboat trip is a great way
to experience an offshore trip at an affordable price.
Assist
Experienced mates accompany the Country Girl captain on every
trip. They are available to offer all degrees of assistance from
cheering you on to helping you boat your fish. They can instruct
you on tackle, bait and the marine environment with special
knowledge of fish that are caught in these waters. They'll let
you know the legal size and of current catch limits.
Safety
Safety is our primary concern. Foresight, experience and
preparation are our watchwords. Captain Foreman's many years of
experience aid him in deciding whether to leave the dock on days
where weather is a concern. His expertise in dealing with
changeable weather, maneuvering his charter boat and
understanding the local waters put him in good steed to maintain
safety. Charter boat captains also stay in touch with one
another both on the water and off. This includes fishing around
other vessels, keeping radio contact and talking after hours of
weather, fishing trends and more. This comradery further
enhances the safety of the trips. The Country Girl also is
outfitted with Coast Guard approved safety devices including a
ship-to-shore radio, life jackets and life boats that regularly
are inspected. We never crowd our boat despite being licensed to
carry more anglers. Elbow room when dealing with tackle and open
air decks enhances safety. We guide you in proper footwear to
avoid slips and limit our trips to anglers age 15 and older
unless the youth has enough offshore experience.
Life Jackets
Life jackets are stored on board and are easily accessible. You
are not required to wear one, but they are available if you
choose to do so.
Tackle and Bait
All bait and tackle are provided including Penn Senator 4/0
reels with 50# test (for wreck fishing trips). You can bring
your own rig if it is comparable to what we supply. Depending on
the trip, we use squid or ballyhoo as bait. We store your fish
while on board on ice in an insulated fish box. Be sure to keep
a cooler in your car to store fish when you leave. Ice is
available at the marina as is an afternoon fish cleaning
service.
Food and drink
Fresh air certainly brings out the appetite. Make sure you pack
plenty of food for a day-long trip. Pack it in a medium size
cooler. Huge coolers are not permitted. Beer is welcome so long
as it is consumed responsibly and in cans only. Glass is not
allowed on board.
Attire
Just like any outdoor adventure, you dress for the weather.
Remember, though, that Outer Banks weather is changeable. We
recommend that you dress in layers - even in the winter. The
wind blowing across the Gulf Stream can be warm even on an
otherwise cold day. Always take along a slicker for protection
against rain. Wear deck shoes or tennis shoes with soles in good
repair.
Weather-permitting
We smile when we talk about weather on the Outer Banks. "It
changes," is the most definitive thing we can say. But if you
have fished long enough as our captain has, you get a pretty
good handle on deciding whether to leave the docks or cancel a
trip due to weather conditions. We do fish in the rain. But we
will not take chances by fishing in weather that is dangerous. A
weather system can pass quickly. We like to wait until the last
minute to cancel to give you every opportunity to fish. A
complete refund will be given if the boat doesn't depart due to
not meeting minimum ticket sales, weather conditions (to be
determined by the captain) or mechanical problems. If possible,
we will contact you in advance. Cash ticket sales are refunded
at the office. Charges automatically will be refunded. We do not
mail receipts. |
