Guide to stress-free fishing

ORIENTAL | Washington Irving once said, “There is absolutely something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind.”

By Crystal Garrett

Capt. Gary Dubiel knows this well. As owner and operator of Spec Fever Guide Service in Oriental, Dubiel learned at an early age the peace that can come from being out in nature with a fishing rod in hand. His father and grandfathers taught him as a youngster how to cast a line. It was the time his family spent with him that sparked his passion, and is now leading him to educate others on angling.

After graduating from college in Pennsylvania as a registered nurse, Dubiel spent 30 years in the health care field, mainly working in critical care medicine.

“At times, it was very stressful,” he said. 

Early in his career, Dubiel worked with patients who needed open heart surgery and heart transplants. The hours and work was taxing and relentless. 

“I felt at times there was no relief from it. With constant emergencies, along with trying to help worried patients and families, it was definitely stressful,” he said.

As draining as his job could be, Dubiel had one constant stress-reliever he could rely on – fishing.

“It was always an escape,” he said. “I always wanted to do something that I had more control over.”

It was in the 1980s after moving to the Outer Banks that Dubiel came up with the idea to start a business where he would charter boats for anglers. At the time, he said, the style of chartering he did was in its infancy.

Since those early days, Dubiel was made a name for himself. Through his business, Spec Fever, a light tackle and fly rod charter service – fishing the Neuse River out of Oriental and New Bern, along with the Pamlico Sound, Cape Lookout National Seashore, the Crystal Coast, Roanoke River and Harkers Island – Dubiel runs between 160 to 230 trips a year.

Not only does he offer guide services, but he has challenged traditional methods of fishing.

Dubiel recently pioneered the use of large popping cork rigs for giant red drum on the Neuse River and Pamlico Sound. And the angler community has taken notice.

“A lot of fishermen get trapped in a box,” he said. “I always think there’s a better way to do something.”

Traditionally, red drum fishing was always conducted with low light bait fishery, and always during the day, Dubiel said. But his use of large popping cork rigs has produced noticeable results.

Not only was he featured on a “Popping Cork Drum” show on NBC Sports, which will re-air Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. on UNC-TV, but he has appeared numerous times on TV. Some of the programs Dubiel has appeared on include “Fly Fish TV Magazine,” “Carolina Outdoor Journal,” “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing,” “ North Carolina Weekend,” “Down East Outdoors,” and “Victory Fishing.” He was also on “Fishing Road Trip,” which aired on The Discovery Channel in Europe.

In addition to appearing on TV and providing charter fishing services, Dubiel has had numerous speaking appearances at everywhere from the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival and the Saltwater Sportsman National Seminar Series to The Fisherman’s Post Fishing Schools and the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

He was an assistant instructor at the Clouser’s Saltwater Fly Fishing School and has taught at numerous public and private fly casting classes.

While it’s exciting to be featured on TV and speak at seminars, Dubiel, an International Game Fish Association Fly Rod world record holder, enjoys using his 50 years of experience as an angler to teach others on his guided fishing tours.

He has fond memories of fishing with his family, and he helps others create those same memories.

“During the latter part of the holiday season, I had four trips with young boys and their fathers, and some with their grandfathers,” he said. “To take them out and help a young child who has never caught a fish catch one is exciting. When children and adults accomplish something they haven’t before, it’s very rewarding.”

In fact, he received an e-mail from one of his clients recently thanking him for helping to get three generations of one family together for a good time. That family made memories together, and it all started with a stroll on the water and fishing rods.

To be a part of that experience was a gift, Dubiel said.

After all, it’s those same memories with his father and grandfathers that led him to a career he loves.