FISHING REPORT 10/21/2016

Fall Fishing has definitely arrived!!  Sorry, this week’s report is late but the fish are on “Fire” around the Rock Jetties, Surf, Creeks and Marshes.  Anglers are having a blast, so come on and FISH!

Anglers are really enjoying this nice fall weather even though the last few days have been a little warm.  But what they like best is the bite that’s going on: Inshore, Nearshore and Offshore. Unfortunately, we’re going to have some wind again this weekend on Saturday and a cool down which should set off the bite even more with better wind early next week.

 

Inshore/Nearshore

 

Speckled Trout and Redfish are the name of the game at Radio Island Rock Jetty from the Surf and boat.   Anglers are enjoying wading in the Surf or either fishing by boat and are having a blast catching their limit in nice Specks (2 to 3lbs) and Reds.  Right now Gotcha Grubs, H & R Grubs, Z-Man Baits, Z-Man Shrimp, Gulp Shrimp, Saltwater Assassin, Egret Baits, Vudu Shrimp and DOA Grubs are the ticket.  Not to say, Mirrolures in 17MR, 52MR, TT and STTR in Electric Chicken, MG and 808 are working too.

The creeks and marshes: Haystacks, Spooner’s Creek, Taylor’s Creek, North River, Harker’s Island, Core Creek and the creeks up the ICW are holding fish.  Live Shrimp fished under a Float Rig or Popping Cork will entice a good bite too.  Artificial baits – use the same as listed above but you can add a Popping Cork when fishing the marsh and creeks, Top-water early mornings or a Spinnerbait either Redfish Magic or Drumbeater for the Reds.

Cape Lookout – there’s been Speckled Trout and Redfish caught at the Cape this week around the Rock Jetty.  Anglers enjoyed a great bite on Albacore this week to casting small metal lures like Jigfish, PLine, Hogy Heavy Minnows and Kastmasters.  Some nice Spanish have been caught at the Cape with Bluefish in the mix. 

Spot/Sea Mullet/Gray Trout – other than the Gray Trout bite it’s been sporadic with the Spot and Mullet bite. Anglers have reported back to us that they’re there but it takes a while to catch a good mess.  Also, there’s nice Hogfish in the mix with the Spot and Sea Mullet.  Fresh Shrimp along with Live Bloodworms fished on a bottom rig will get you some Spot and Hogfish. Our custom tied Sam’s Gitter’s Spec Rigs tipped with Fresh Shrimp will get a bite on the mullets.

Flounder – Tim from the shop fished this week at the Port Wall and the Railroad Tracks catching 4 real nice Flounder weighing almost 5 lbs each caught on Live Finger Mullet.  He reported there’re plenty stacked on the Port Wall but you have to be patient when fishing there.  If you can find Live Finger Mullet that’s one of best baits fished on a Flounder Rig or you can just use dead Finger Mullet and have good luck too.  As far as artificial jig a Spro Bucktail tipped with 4” White Gulp Shrimp.

Kings- these guys have been in hiding since the storm but this week we did weigh a real nice one 57lbs and one 32 lbs, so they’re still around.  With the NC Troopers King Challenge (www.1042kmt.com) this weekend the guys were pretty much hush hush where it was caught.  The East side of the Cape mostly likely but places where you may want to try is the Shipping Channel, AR 315 and Dead Tree Hole on this side of the Cape.  We have Dead Cigar Minnows, Ribbonfish, Menhaden Oil and Chum for you King anglers along with accompanying rigs.

 

Piers/Surf

The end of the Oceanana Pier has had good luck this week with Bluefish and a few Spanish.  Albacore even came in close for the pier anglers to have a shot at them this week.  Casting Gotcha-Plugs and small metal lures got action.  Both the Oceanana and Bogue have reported Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum caught this week.  Live Shrimp and Live Mud Minnows are both a good bait to use.  Flounder been caught using Live Finger Mullet if you can locate any.  We are trying to keep them in stock but they go real fast every morning and it’s getting real close for them to move on.  Live Mud Minnows and Live Shrimp will get you a bite on Flounder, Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum off the piers.

Bottom fishing will give you a variety: Spot, Sea Mullet, Pompano, Hogfish, Puffers, Sharks and still some Pinfish. Fresh Shrimp, Bloodworms, Squid, Finger Mullet and Fresh Mullet all are good baits to use.

The Surf anglers are catching Speckled Trout using Mirrolures, Grubs and Live Shrimp.  Redfish, Bluefish, Flounder, Pompano and Black Drum will be giving you a shot at catching them.  We will have Fresh Mullet in stock for the weekend.

 

Offshore

The Offshore boats have been able to fish in the Bluewater this week with beautiful fall days.  We have weighed Wahoo 40lbs up with the largest 57lbs.  The Big Rock area was the place to be this week with Wahoo, Yellow Fin, Black Fin, Dolphin and Sailfish all on the bite using Medium and Small Ballyhoo. There was even Yellow Fin caught just yesterday so just maybe after Saturday’s wind they’ll still be out there.

Bottom Fishing remains good with Grouper, Snapper and Black Sea Bass. Our charter captain who specializes in bottom fishing guides had great luck this week bringing back some happy guys with a large cooler full.