Been there. OBX is fun and challenging for the reward. They don't like us Florida boys much up there in the winter. I imagine it would be the same down here if an open season was put into place even with a high permit cost. Its the allure, like tournaments, that attract fisherman. I fished on a 31 contender in gail force winds, 27 degree temps, and 8' seas breaking over the transom outside of Morehead. For some reason, I would do it all over again. Must of been the 369# core bluefin we cought. Question, when its rough...really rough, and you raise a fish(sailfish, marlin, bluefin, sword, whatever) is it me, or does it seem to calm down?