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Atlantic Drift Fall Fishing from Atlantic Drift on Vimeo.

ENTER TO WIN ONE OF THE BIGGEST GIVEAWAYS OF THE YEAR! WE ARE GIVING YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A 45 QUART YETI TUNDRA COOLER FULL OF ATLANTIC DRIFT GEAR, PLUS A CUSTOM MADE AD SEADEK . THIS IS A RETAIL VALUE OF OVER $700. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO WIN, FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW AND FILL OUT THE INFORMATION FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN.

Rules and Ways to Enter:

Start by filling out your full name, email, and how you would use this package in on the giveaway page.

1. Facebook - Like & Share our post regarding this giveaway on your page for 1 Entry.
2. Instagram - Follow our page, Like & Repost the picture regarding this giveaway with the #ADYETIGIVEAWAY for 1 Entry
3. Twitter - Follow our page and Retweet the giveaway photo for 1 Entry.
4. Make any purchase on Atlantic-Drift.com over $30 and receive 5 Entries. 
5. Make any purchase over $100 for 15 Entries.

The contest will run until Labor Day and we will no longer take entries after midnight, 9/5/16. We will select one winner at random and email them with the winning details. Be sure to fill out all the information below so we can contact you. Good luck!

Congratulations to April Piland for winning the YETI giveaway.  April entered with over 20 entries by purchasing over $100 and entering on Facebook and Twitter.  April, email us at info@atlantic-drift.com and we will get your prize package on the way.  Thank you for all the participation, we will be doing another one soon!

Here's to the weekend.  Happy Friday everyone, enjoy an Old Milwaukee and catch a Blue.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing the Atlantic Drift guys for a few years now.  What’s great about the AD crew is that they actually live the lifestyle of their brand.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard ‘sorry for the early email, we are heading out to the water’.  It’s great, because they are essentially doing product development for their entire line.

They asked me to give my opinion on their new Beaufort button down shirt.  Before we get started, let’s talk about the rise of offshore wear over the last ten years.  Columbia and Ex Officio have really gotten a foothold on this market, and do a good job with the performance fishing gear.  The problem is that the look is just that: very functional.  There is a lot of velcro, loops, vents, and SPF built into every shirt…  While this is great for the intended purpose, it doesn’t really work for everyday wear.  A fishing shirt at dinner 400 miles from any sort of water looks weird.  Period.

Atlantic Drift is in the thick of this industry, and seemed to have solved that problem with their Beaufort button down.  From a distance, the shirt looks like any other button down that you have in the closet:

This shirt fits into any business casual environment.  Pair it with a pair of khakis and loafers and you are ready for a day at the office.  In addition, the shirt is packed with little tricks that will keep you cool and protected from a long day on the water.  The shirt is a very comfortable blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton, so it’s very breathable.  The chest is mesh-lined so it won’t stick to your body.  There are a bunch of hidden features:  the collar has hidden buttons, there is a hidden zipper front pocket, and a hidden sunglass loop.  Think of this as the “Inspector Gadget” of fishing shirts.

From a fit perspective, it is NOT boxy.  I wear a Medium, and I would say that it is consistent with a Brooks Brothers Slim Fit medium, or a J. Crew Medium.  There is plenty of room to move, but it is NOT boxy.  The style of the shirt is a really nice plaid (there are four plaids available) that works on the water, but really turns it into a versatile shirt with a more prominent spot in the rotation.  The logo is small and tasteful.

Mine has survived a trip to Lake Martin, as well as a full Saturday of errands followed directly by an afternoon at the pool and an evening cooking out.  It cleans up nice, too.  Wash it as you would anything else, but hang to dry.  Give it a quick iron and you are ready to rock.  I’ve got a new workhorse in the arsenal.

Thanks Red Clay Soul!  keep up the great work.

-Atlantic Drift

Another great year at the Hatteras Marlin Club is in the books.  We had the privilege of spending June 14th through the 20th at the HMC for the 3rd straight year and got to fish with our good friends of the Outlaw.  The fishing was good, the weather was great, and the tournament was a huge success.  We ended up releasing a Blue Marlin and 2 White Marlin's for a 4th place finish. 

It was a full house this year with 46 boats competing in 3 days of fishing. Congrats to all the anglers and especially the crews of Desperado, Retriever and Islander who took the top three spots in that order! Congrats also to our top female angler, Jessie Wilson, top male angler, George Venters and our top youth angler, Charles Gaddy!  Big thanks to everyone at the club who hosted an awesome week.  We can't wait to get back down there next year.  This video doesn't do justice for the week that was had, but to recap the fishing from the Outlaw here is a short video we put together.  

HMC Tournament 2015 with Atlantic Drift from Atlantic Drift on Vimeo.

Hatteras Marlin Club 

• Boat: Outlaw
• Capt: Ken Miller
• Crew: Ken Miller III, Will Huntley, Chris Turner, Ron Lowe, Nathan Propst
• Mate: April Piland 

It's that time of year again.  We are giving away the one of the best coolers known to man, and this year we have stepped it up a notch.  Here is your chance to win a 45 Quart YETI Cooler with custom Atlantic Drift Seadek full of great AD products.  Retail value of over $800.  We are giving away this prize package on our Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram page.  There are many ways to enter and you have the opportunity to earn multiple entries each day.  Here is how to enter:

1 Entry on Facebook:

1. Go to facebook.com/atlanticdrift and like our page.
2. Share the giveaway post picture on your page.
3. You can do this once a day until the contest ends.
4. Sign up for our email newsletter here on our website.
5. Enter everything at Facebook Giveaway.

1 Entry on Twitter:

1. Go to twitter.com/atlantic_drift and follow us.
2. Tweet: "I just entered to win the @Atlantic_Drift #YETI 45 Summer Giveaway #atlanticdrift" to receive 1 entry. You can do this 1 time everyday until the contest ends
3. You also need to sign up for our email newsletter.

1 Entry on Instagram:

1. Go to our Instagram account and follow us: @atlanticdrift
2. Repost our giveaway picture with the caption:  @atlanticdrift is giving away a $800 YETI Cooler package!  One lucky winner will receive a 45 Quart YETI Cooler, Custom Atlantic Drift Seadek, and $400 worth of AD products.  Follow them and post this picture for your chance to win.  #AtlanticDrift #ADYETICoolerGiveaway
3. Tag 3 friends on our post for a bonus entry.
4. Be sure to use the hash tags and tag us in your post to make sure we see your entry.

Earn 5 Additional Entries here on our website:

1. Purchase $30 or more on atlantic-drift.com and we will give you 5 extra entries to win!  Use the promo code YETI for 15% Off.  

We will select the winner via a random electronic drawing and make the announcement on Monday, July 13th. This is one you don't want to miss, so head over there now before it's too late.  

 Comment on this blog with how you would use your Atlantic Drift YETI if you won the contest for an additional entry.

Good Luck!

This footage is too good for us not to share.  Congrats to Miss Wy out of Georgetown, SC for catching and releasing this monster of a Blue Marlin.  Caught from a 53-Foot Scarborough by Capt. 

Matt Wilkinson and crew: Owner - Ed Holder, Mates - Stokely Holder, Mike Turbeville and Lee Prickett on the wire, & Angler - Chris Keel.  More details at Facebook.com/MissWy

Hoping to see much more footage like this the rest of the Summer. 

Miss Wy - May 18, 2015 from Lee Prickett on Vimeo.

NC Ducks Unlimited Band the Billfish Tournament from Thomas Spencer on Vimeo.

YETI Coolers specialize in manufacturing the best ice chest known to man.  Built to last with rugged durability.  These bad boys are certified grizzly proof and will keep ice longer than any other cooler on the market.  Perfect for all outdoor activities, including boating, hunting, fishing, tailgating, camping and rafting.

Here is your chance to win a custom Atlantic Drift Yeti Roadie20 full of great AD products.  Retail value of over $400.  We are giving away this prize package on our Facebook/Twitter page.  The giveaway is going on now at facebook.com/atlanticdrift and all you have to do is share this contest with your friends to enter or check out our giveaway page to earn additional entries: GIVEAWAY .  You can also rack up 5 additional entires by making a $25+ purchase on the website with the promo code "YETI".  For all of those who do not have Facebook, you can Tweet: "I just entered to win the 4th of July @Atlantic_Drift #YETI Giveaway" to receive 1 entry. You can do this 1 time everyday until the contest ends. We will select the winner via a random electronic drawing and make the announcement on Thursday, July 3rd at 12pm. This is one you don't want to miss, so head over there now before it's too late.  

Comment on this blog with how you would use your Atlantic Drift YETI if you won the contest for an additional entry.

Good Luck!

Lee Tolliver The Virginian-Pilot © May 11, 2014

Brynner Parks let out a deep sigh of relief as he peeled his fingers off the helm.

He throttled down the diesel engines on his sportfishing boat and contemplated the best way to describe another day of fishing out of Oregon Inlet.

It didn’t have much to do with catching fish.

“I tell everybody when I pull back into the slip that I did my job,” said Parks, a charter captain for nearly 40 years who now runs the Smoker. “I got you home.”

Just that makes for a successful day.

“Fishing is a bonus,” Parks said with a laugh. “It really is.”

Oregon Inlet was in bad shape a few weeks ago, and earlier in the year, and late last year. It has been often through the years. Skippers deal with shoaling, ever-changing channel locations, river-rapid tides and howling winds. They can rarely relax while navigating parts of the inlet whose reputation for danger has earned names such as Hell’s Gate.

“It’ll make you pucker,” Capt. Chris Stine said on the Bi-Op-Sea.

But coastal cowboys brave the conditions to keep doing what they love.

They couldn’t pay the bills if they didn’t.

“We evaluate it ourselves all the time, and we know what we’re doing,” Parks said, as other captains pulled into their Oregon Inlet Fishing Center slips sporting the same “whew” facial expressions. “It can be dangerous and sometimes treacherous, but I wouldn’t call it scary.

“I know people are talking about the inlet. But we’re open for business and going fishing. And fishing is starting to get pretty good.”

So is the inlet.

Over the past week, Army Corps of Engineers dredges have been trying to clear the way for hundreds of boats that depart daily underneath the Bonner Bridge.

Charter boats, private watercraft and commercial vessels from the fishing center, Pirate’s Cove Marina and Wanchese, N.C., annually pump billions of dollars into the Outer Banks economy, which means the captains have to deal with sometimes hazardous conditions.

“I’ve gotta make a living, man,” said Capt. Billy Maxwell of Tuna Fever.

Local knowledge is the biggest advantage Oregon Inlet captains have. After storms, Maxwell and David Swain of the High Return head to the inlet in a skiff with a depth finder and a long pole marked with 1-foot increments to test the water. They place poly balls – large floating markers – decorated with reflective tape alongside the natural channels, using large brake drums to anchor them to the bottom.

“You hit (the poly balls) with a spotlight, and that channel gets lit up like Dulles Airport,” Maxwell said.

The Corps helps as much as it can.

Three dredges are working the area, and aerial photographs with depth numbers are provided weekly.

“We’ve got better water than we’ve had in months,” Capt. Danny Wadsworth, who runs the Point Runner, said this week. “It’s just not very wide. It doesn’t leave any room for error.”

And errors happen – even for highly experienced skippers. Conditions often make navigating the channel a precision operation.

“You run in and out of this inlet enough, you’re going to bump,” Maxwell said, referring to when a boat touches the bottom.

On Tuesday, it happened to Dennis Endee, a skipper of 20 years who runs the A-Salt Weapon out of Pirate’s Cove. His 56-foot Paul Mann scraped on the way out.

“It’s the first time I’ve hit right there,” said Endee, who bent a rudder and is looking at a couple thousand dollars to fix it. “The current swept me a little to the north of the narrow channel they have cleared, and that was it.”

Endee’s boat was pulled out of the water at Bayliss Boatworks in Wanchese, where owner John Bayliss said he has a boat suffering from nearly $100,000 in damage.

Endee said such incidents cause more hurt to the inlet’s reputation.

“And economically, that’s horrifying,” the New Jersey native said. “The number of boats that don’t bother to come in here for a few nights or for a tournament is staggering, and it’s costing the area an awful lot of money.

“They just need to fix this problem, and it’s an easy fix.”

Captains say a rock jetty on the north side would keep sand from sweeping into the inlet. The plan was approved decades ago and financed. Environmental lawsuits tied up the project in courts.

“I’ve been up and down this entire East Coast,” Endee said, “and every inlet other than Oregon and Hatteras are jettied. … It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Until things get fixed, captains will continue to exit and enter the Atlantic Ocean and its fertile fishing grounds through a swirling world of sand and sloughs.

The other option is to run to Hatteras Inlet, a costly round trip of about 100 miles.

“Hatteras isn’t in much better shape right now,” Maxwell said. “And that eats up any money you can make on a trip.”

Sitting in a chair in the fishing center, Maxwell looked at weekly charts provided by the Corps and marveled at the ever-changing waterway. He glanced at the clock and realized the day’s fleet should be approaching the inlet. Reaching for the VHF radio, he called out and asked how much water incoming skippers had.

“About 10 feet,” Parks barked back. “But it sure is narrow.”

Fishing center General Manager Minta Meekins stood nearby and slowly shook her head.

“I’ve got lots of respect for these guys,” said Meekins, who has worked at the center for nearly 40 years, some 15 in charge. “They just do what they have to do. Sometimes, it amazes me that they go out.”

But they almost always do.

Lee Tolliver, 757-222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

Join us and our friends from Olly Oxen and The Sporting Gent as we celebrate the arrival of Spring at our Inaugural Crawfish Boil this Saturday, April 5th, from 2-6 PM in the beautiful Charlotte, NC.