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This week’s Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report takes host Luke Barton south to the Outer Banks for an offshore report with Capt. Clint Carpenter of Good to Go Sportfishing, then returns to Hampton Roads for a special boat-upgrade conversation with James Anderson of DEKit Hampton Roads.
Capt. Clint breaks down an offshore summer pattern where the tuna bite has been inconsistent out of Oregon Inlet, but mahi and billfish have taken over as the most dependable targets. He explains how he is getting reluctant mahi to bite around grass and floating structure, what he watches when navigating Oregon Inlet, why matching the hatch remains one of his most important tuna lessons, and how Good to Go is building a complete charter experience around fishing, food, photography, and fresh catch-and-cook meals. James Anderson then explains the differences between marine decking materials, how DEKit foam and Evercor perform on fishing boats, what boat owners should know about light amplification, and why scanning, surface preparation, CAD design, and installation quality matter as much as the material itself.
Conditions Recap
Offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet has shifted as summer has progressed. Capt. Clint said tuna fishing has been tougher than he would like, with a few productive stretches followed by a slowdown and much of the better tuna action setting up farther north. That has pushed Good to Go Sportfishing toward mahi and billfish, which have become the current offshore standouts.
The marlin bite has been especially strong. Capt. Clint said the action began south of Oregon Inlet and has worked its way into water straight out front and north toward Virginia Beach. Blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish are all in the mix, with mahi providing another opportunity when crews find the right water and structure.
There has also been plenty of grass offshore, including lines as close as roughly 15 to 16 miles from the beach as well as much farther out. The challenge is that many of the mahi are visible but not feeding with their normal aggression. Instead of simply pulling up to a school, tossing squid, and loading the box, anglers may have to slow down, change presentations, and trigger fish that are following bait without committing.
Navigation conditions through Oregon Inlet remain something Capt. Clint treats seriously every trip. Shoaling and shifting sand can change after storms, so local experience, current information, reliable equipment, and a careful inspection of the boat before leaving the dock remain critical parts of the offshore routine.
Outer Banks Offshore Report With Capt. Clint Carpenter
Good to Go Sportfishing operates from Shallowbag Bay Marina in Manteo, North Carolina, with Capt. Clint running a 48-foot Viking as his primary offshore boat along with a 44-foot Ocean Yacht. He also keeps a 21-foot shallow-water skiff for waterfowl hunting, a pursuit that takes him back to his roots on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Capt. Clint grew up fishing the Eastern Shore backwaters for species like drum and trout rather than running offshore. His offshore obsession started around 2010 after accepting an open spot on a late-night trip with anglers he had never met. From there, he worked his way through a long progression of boats, fixing, improving, and selling them as he moved toward larger and more capable offshore platforms.
Tuna remains his favorite style of fishing. He described the chaos of six, eight, or even more rods going off at once as one of the most exciting experiences in offshore fishing. Even though tuna have been less consistent recently, that experience continues to shape the way he approaches every offshore day: find the right water, understand what the fish are feeding on, and keep adjusting until something works.
The 44-foot Ocean Yacht is outfitted with DEKit Evercor marine decking. Capt. Clint said the cork-composite material has handled the demands of charter fishing, fish on the deck, and regular trips with his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Gage, while continuing to look good under heavy use.
How Capt. Clint Is Catching Picky Mahi
Capt. Clint said the summer mahi pattern has required more patience than the classic scenario where anglers pull up to fish around grass or structure, toss pieces of squid into the water, and immediately start catching. There are plenty of mahi around, but many have not been willing to feed aggressively.
When only one or two fish respond to squid, he starts changing the presentation. Small flashy jigs, paddle-tail style baits, spoons, and other moving lures can trigger the predatory or territorial response of fish that are not actively trying to feed. Instead of sitting still beside the structure, he will slowly work around it and make repeated passes.
For larger mahi, one of his preferred presentations is a pink ballyhoo rigged on a circle hook. He will slow the boat down to roughly one-engine idle and bump around the grass, debris, or other structure holding fish. Each pass may only produce a couple of bites, but the method can steadily pull fish from a school that would otherwise ignore a stationary bait.
His reasoning comes from years of watching mahi react to commotion. Even when fish would not eat consistently, putting the boat in gear or stirring up the water often caused them to circle back and investigate. That observation led to experimenting with moving lures and slow-trolled baits until he found presentations that could turn curiosity into strikes.
Tuna Fishing, Match the Hatch, and Offshore Safety
Capt. Clint’s biggest tuna tip is simple: match the hatch. If the bite is slow and the crew catches a tuna, he recommends checking the fish’s stomach to see what it has been eating. Whether the forage is squid, shad, or another baitfish, he wants the lure or bait in the spread to resemble both the profile and size of the real forage.
He also cautioned anglers against choosing tackle only because it looks impressive on the shelf. Every serious angler eventually builds a collection of lures that caught the fisherman more effectively than they caught fish. His advice is to let the baitfish and the tuna dictate what belongs in the spread.
That same practical mindset carries into safety. Oregon Inlet can change quickly, especially after storms that move sand and create new shoaling. Capt. Clint relies on experience and repetition, but he also treats every departure as a fresh check. Before offshore trips, he spends time in the engine room looking for leaks, loose hardware, fluid in the bilge, or anything else that could become a serious problem when crossing the bar or running beneath the bridge.
He also emphasized that every boat needs a safety briefing and plan built around its own layout and equipment. Charter captains may carry similar safety gear, but where that equipment is stored, how passengers should react, and how a crew handles an emergency can vary from boat to boat.
The Good to Go Charter Experience
Good to Go is also trying to make the offshore trip more complete than a standard ride out, fish hard, and return to the dock. The boats have full galley capabilities, and food service can be added so guests do not have to spend part of their vacation planning meals for the trip. Depending on the group, that can include breakfast, fruit, and a cooked lunch while offshore.
After the trip, Good to Go works with Salt & Cypress Kitchen + Cocktails at Shallowbag Bay Marina for a catch-and-cook experience. Fish can be cleaned after the charter and taken to the restaurant, where the group can finish the day with a meal built around fish they caught only hours earlier.
Capt. Clint is also adding a professional photography option for groups that want the day documented. Full-day trips, walk-on opportunities, available dates, and add-on experiences can be found through the Good to Go Sportfishing website.
Bluefin Season and Tournament Plans
Looking toward winter, Capt. Clint expects Good to Go to move heavily into giant bluefin tuna once January arrives. The operation plans to commercial fish during the commercial season and then transition into charter trips as regulations and the fishery allow.
He also discussed plans for two bluefin-focused events at Shallowbag Bay. The January concept is built around giant bluefin and the largest qualifying fish, while a March event is expected to use a multi-fish or aggregate format if the giant category is closed by then. Capt. Clint stressed that the final format will have to follow the NOAA regulations in effect at the time.
The March event is planned as a benefit for Battle-Scarred Outdoors, a North Carolina nonprofit that provides hunting, fishing, and other outdoor experiences for veterans and first responders. The broader goal is to create winter activity for the Outer Banks fishing community while also using the fishery to support a worthwhile cause.
Marine Flooring With James Anderson of DEKit Hampton Roads
In the second half of the episode, Luke sits down with James Anderson of DEKit Hampton Roads. James spent about 25 years in shipbuilding and ship repair before building a welding and fabrication business and eventually adding marine flooring as another service. What started as a small part of the business quickly became the majority of his workload.
James said his decision to work with DEKit came after comparing products and speaking with installers about both the strengths and weaknesses of different foam decking options. One of the differences that stood out to him was the toughness of DEKit’s cross-linked PE/EVA closed-cell foam and the company’s willingness to discuss issues such as light amplification rather than pretending foam has no limitations.
DEKit PE/EVA foam decking is designed to add traction, cushioning, and a more comfortable surface underfoot compared with bare fiberglass. In the episode, Luke described fishing barefoot for a full day on DEKit and noticing less foot and lower-back fatigue, along with the ability to rinse fish blood and grime from the deck without the material feeling saturated.
For hard commercial use or boats with areas where reflected sunlight can create concentrated heat, James also discussed DEKit Evercor. Evercor uses a natural cork-based composite and is intended as a more durable alternative where the owner wants the appearance and traction of a premium marine surface without relying on traditional foam throughout the boat.
Light Amplification, Cleaning, and Choosing the Right Decking
One of James’s biggest points was that boat owners need to understand light amplification before installing foam. Curved gelcoat, glass, plexiglass, and other reflective surfaces can focus sunlight into a small area and create enough heat to damage foam. The problem may only occur during a specific part of the day, but a reflection that stays focused on the same panel for hours can eventually leave a burn or hardened section.
That is why James walks the boat before recommending a material. If light amplification is minor, the owner may simply need to understand where it occurs. If it is severe, he may recommend a different material such as Evercor for the affected areas rather than installing foam where he expects it to fail.
For routine maintenance, James said many fishing-day messes can be handled with a hose, regular boat soap, or a cleaner such as Simple Green. His biggest advice is not to let fish blood or other contamination sit on the deck any longer than necessary. Rinsing the surface during the day keeps cleanup easier when the boat returns to the dock.
Digital Scanning, CAD Design, and Installation
DEKit Hampton Roads operates as a mobile service, so most boats do not have to be trailered to a shop. James uses a Proliner digital measuring system to scan each boat, then transfers the measurements into CAD for the final layout. He prefers scanning each individual boat rather than assuming two production boats are dimensionally identical.
That design stage is where owners can personalize the layout. Boat names, business logos, fish rulers, patterns, console toppers, helm pads, and other details can be incorporated before the panels are cut. James specifically likes thicker 13-millimeter material at the helm for anglers and captains who spend long hours on their feet, and he said console toppers with routed pockets are an overlooked upgrade that can keep phones, tackle, and snacks from sliding around underway.
Surface preparation is another major part of the process. Before installation, James asks owners to wash the boat with blue Dawn dish soap and a stiff-bristle brush to strip waxes and coatings that may interfere with adhesion. His crew then performs its own cleaning and preparation before laying panels. He also watches the gelcoat for retained moisture and will wait until the surface is ready rather than trapping moisture beneath the decking.
Once the design is approved and production begins, James said a typical project is often around a three-week process from scan to installation, depending on design changes, material availability, and the production schedule. He also keeps the digital maps of completed boats, which makes it easier to reproduce a single panel later if one is damaged by a fish, tool, or other accident.
How Long Can DEKit Last?
James estimated that the useful life of a DEKit installation can range from roughly six to 10 years depending on how the boat is used and stored. A heavily fished commercial boat that lives outside may reach the replacement stage sooner, while a recreational boat that is covered and protected from constant sun exposure can stay in good condition much longer.
He also emphasized that replacement does not necessarily mean starting over. Because the original boat scan and panel map are retained, individual worn or damaged panels can be reproduced instead of replacing an entire deck. DEKit Hampton Roads also performs repair work on existing marine flooring when the material itself is still serviceable but adhesion or installation problems need to be corrected.
For a quote or scan, James said boat owners can contact DEKit Hampton Roads at 434-378-8004. More information about DEKit materials, designs, and marine flooring options is available at DEKit.com.
Looking Ahead
For anglers running out of Oregon Inlet, the near-term offshore focus is mahi and billfish while the tuna bite remains less consistent. Clean water, grass, floating debris, and concentrated bait are worth investigating, but anglers should be prepared to work for mahi that may not immediately respond to chunked squid. Slow-trolled ballyhoo, small flashy artificials, and repeated passes around productive structure can keep the day moving when fish are reluctant to feed.
Capt. Clint also expects bluefin tuna to become a major part of the Good to Go calendar once winter arrives. Anglers interested in current availability, walk-on opportunities, or future bluefin trips can check Good to Go Sportfishing.
For boat owners, James’s advice is to think about the project before the scan. Look through design ideas, decide how the boat is actually used, and consider where cushioning, traction, rulers, console pads, or a tougher product such as Evercor would create the most value. A well-planned layout can make the boat more comfortable and functional while still giving it a custom look.
