Fishing Report 10/22/2015

 

Looks like the water is starting to get back to normal and the fish seem to like it. This week, we've seen great fall weather along with some pretty good action. Fall fishing is into full swing!!!
 

Inshore/Nearshore:

I thought the Spanish were pretty much gone but yesterday, we saw some good action just outside the Inlet area feeding on glass minnows. So don’t count them out just yet, with the weather warming back up we should see these fish stay around through the weekend. The ones from yesterday were a nice class of fish in the 2 to 3lb range. The most I heard of was caught casting small glass minnow type jigs to them but I'm sure you can still pick up a few trolling Clarkspoons.

Now, the False Albacore fishing is just about as good as it's going to get and perfect timing for the Albacore Festival this weekend. Pretty much all you have to do is clear the Inlet and start looking for birds working the water. We are seeing them from the Inlet up to the Cape Lookout area. Casting small jigs in the 1/2oz to 1oz size is working great, We have another shipment of the Heavy Jigs in the small size ordered that should be here before the weekend that's been really working well because you can stay off the fish since they cast so well.

Bluefish have been all over the place this week from the Atlantic Beach Bridge and all around the Inlet, which the King Mackerel guys have enjoyed as it's making catching bait for the SKA Nationals pretty easy over the last few days. If you find them, they'll pretty much hit anything you toss out to them, they haven't been too picky.

We are seeing great signs of Speckled Trout in the area. We were somewhat concerned from the cold winter we had last year. But just this week, I've been talking to customers that have caught over 50 fish this week. We weighed some 5lb fish last week and then last night we weighed one that went over 7lbs so things are starting to pick up.

As far as areas the same ole spots year after year are holding fish: Harker’s Island area, Haystacks, Core Creek, School House Creek, Radio Island Jetty and already seeing some numbers of fish show up along the beaches. I did hear a rumor of some nice fish that were caught at the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty the other day but never saw any pictures but it's getting about that time for that area to turn on. Mirrolures, Betts Shrimp, DOA Shrimp, Gulp,

Yo-Zuri 3-D Minnows, Crazy Croaker, Z-Man Baits, Zoom Baits along with Live Mud Minnows and Live Shrimp all have been working well so far.

I've been getting a lot of calls about the Spot fishing, we've still have been seeing some nice fish this week. I know anglers caught them good on Tuesday of this week so we should still see some over the next week or so. Fish the same areas over at the Beaufort Draw Bridge will be the best place back toward the Inlet. Live Bloodworms and Fish Bite Bloodworms fished on bottom rigs will be the best choice for bait.

There's been a few Sea Mullet being caught but still a bit early for the good numbers to move in. Usually, they move in once the Spots move out. I know last year we had great action the first two weeks of November and looks like things are shaping up to be the same this year. Spec-Rigs tipped with fresh Bait Shrimp fished around the Dead Tree Hole back toward the Inlet then toward the Turning Basin will be the best areas.

The talk of the town this week is King Mackerel as the SKA Nationals are in town. It's the first time for them to come to our area with this event and we are truly enjoying all the teams being here. I hope they bring it back next year, everyone I've talked to seems to be very happy for it to be the area.

We have been weighing some nice fish this week but anglers are keeping tight lipped on where they are fishing. Last week, most of the Kings came from the East Side of the Cape, North but I have a feeling there will be some nice fish caught in this event on the West Side. With the Spanish showing back up thick yesterday, I have a feeling there'll be some big Kings right behind them. So, “GOOD LUCK” to all anglers fishing this weekend and catch a big one.

Flounder fishing has been great this week, some of the best we've seen all year. This week, we've weighed some really nice fish all the way up to 11lbs, the largest we've seen in the last few years. The Port Wall and the Coast Guard area seems to be where the fish are holding. Tim from the shop went out yesterday and caught 15 keepers with the largest over 9lbs all caught on Live Minnows while fishing the Port Wall area. Also, we have seen some nice fish coming down the beaches that are hanging right in the Surf. I know the Bouge Inlet area saw a huge run of them earlier this week with lots of fish being caught. I'm sure there's a few waiting to be caught around the reefs but this week seems most of the action has been on the inside and along the beach front.

I've not seen many Red Drum this year but since the cool down we have seen some fish beginning to show up around the Core Creek area and the best of the action has been along the beaches. I know the beaches south of us around Bouge have really been catching them good along with the Fort Macon area. I've not talked to anyone that's been up around Shark Island but I have a feeling some schools of fish are working the Shoals.
 

 

Piers / Surf:

Fishing from the beach has been great over the last week, if you like to SURF FISH now’s the time. We're seeing  good numbers of Flounder moving along the Surf Zone. We weighed one in yesterday that went just about 7lbs which is very good from the beach. Anglers are fishing Live Minnows right along the wash finding good action on the Flounder.

We have started to see some Speckled Trout moving along the beaches from the Oceanana Pier back up toward Fort Macon. Mirrolures have been the go to lures so far with some plastics working too. There's been some nice Red Drum being caught around Fort Macon Park this week with most being over slot but they're catching some slot fish. Most of the Red Drum action has been on Fresh Mullet which we have in-stock or finger mullet.

As far as the Pier anglers there's been plenty of Bluefish and still a few Spanish being caught by anglers plugging a Gotcha Plug or Casting Jig. As far as the bottom fish, Sea Mullets, Spots, Croakers, Puffers, Pompano and Bluefish are being caught. Most anglers are using Bait Shrimp, Mullet, Finger Mullet, Bloodworms and Squid.

The anglers still fishing over at the Beaufort Draw Bridge for Spots are catching good numbers of fish on Live Bloodworms and Fishbite Bloodworms. You should see the Spots along the beach and over at Beaufort area over the next week or so.

 

Offshore:

Wahoo Season is in full swing, with lots of fish being caught!! We have been weighing fish just about every day this week. Most boats aren't having any problem getting their limit when the weather allows. Most of the action has been from the Big Rock down toward the Swansboro Hole and a few have been caught over on the East Side of the Cape. Anglers are also catching a few Black Fin Tuna in the mix with the Hoo’s. The Wahoo should stay around like this for the next month or so.

Bottom fishing is also getting into full swing as the water is cooling down with Grouper, Sea Bass, Trigger Fish and Snappers. What we have been hearing most of the action has been in the 35 mile range on the ledges. 

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