Fishing Report 09/10/2015

 

 

Hard to believe summer has passed and our kids are back in school, where did the summer go? But, on a higher note fall fishing is just around the corner. We've already seen some good North winds over the last few weeks that's already jump started fall fishing. 

 

INSHORE:

Over the Labor Day Weekend, the Spanish fishing was great, lots of fish were schooled up around the Inlets feeding on mullets moving out with the North winds. Just outside the Inlet in front of Fort Macon seemed to be the Hot Spot but there were schools of feeding fish all the way back into the Turning Basin area. Also, the Cape Lookout area has good numbers of fish from the Rock Jetty to the Shoals. Anglers are trolling Clarkspoons, Squid Rigs, Mackerel Trees and Drone Spoons on #1 planers or trolling weights with all working very well. Plus, anglers are having very good luck casting jigs on light spinning gear, Jig Fish Lures, Glass Minnow Jigs, Diamond Jigs and Epoxy Jigs is the key to casting into the schooling Spanish. We just got in a new jig this week that is only 3″ long but is weighted like a 1oz jig. So, you can cast it a mile and I really feel like this jig is going to work great for staying away from the schools of feeding fish resulting more hook-ups.

As for the larger fish, they have also been biting very well over the last week in the Inlet, around Cape Lookout Jetty and AR 315 all have been the Hot Spot to live bait a Live Finger Mullet. We do have a good supply of Live Finger Mullet In-stock, along with live bait rigs to go with them.

In the mix with the Spanish schools are small schools of Jacks, Bluefish and Albacore that will be around in the same areas. Reports are the best action with these fish seem to be up at the Cape Lookout Shoals. The same lures as you use for Spanish fishing will get the job done without any problems. We did just receive a new shipment of the Epoxy Jigs for the Albacore anglers; it has to be one of the best lures you can use when  casting to them. They're so close to a glass minnow the Alb's just can't resist hitting them.

I've been getting a lot of calls about the King Mackerel bite with the SKA coming to town this weekend, good numbers of boats up from Florida have been in the shop this week pre-fishing. But what we're seeing and hearing the bite has still been slow. I know that's not what you want to hear right before a tournament but it's what it is. I'm thinking things will change over the next few days, we are going to be having some pretty good South West winds blowing which we really haven't had in a few weeks. When we were seeing SW winds the fish were biting a lot better, so maybe that will trigger some action or push some fish back in from offshore. So, hopefully; the fishing will turn on for all the tournament anglers and we will see a great event.

Flounder fishing has been good this week, crew member Tim from the shop has some friends in town and all they have been doing is Flounder fishing. Monday, they brought back 12 keepers, then yesterday the same with a 6.47lb fish. Tim is finding the best action at the Port Wall and at AR 315. He's reporting those are the two areas that seem to be holding the most fish and the best keeper size fish. Live Finger Mullet, Live Mud Minnows and Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with 4″ Berkley Gulp Shrimp is the key to catching fish. We do have Live Finger Mullet in-stock along with Live Mud Minnows. Also, I've been weighing some fish that has been caught along the docks in Taylor’s Creek and along the ICW Waterway. Anglers are having the best luck on Live Mud Minnows fished right along the pilings using a Flounder Rig.

Old Drum fishing is pretty much at its peak right now in the Neuse River. We'll probably see a few more weeks of action but over the last week it’s been very good for anglers fishing artificial lures and dead bait. Kind of rule of thumb; they will start making their way back toward the ocean when we get our 2nd big NE blow with a good cool down, which usually happens around the first week of October.

We had a group come in the shop on Sunday morning to pick up some Fresh Mullet headed to the river and was back by lunch with wore out arms. The best action seems to be the mouth of Adams Creek back down river toward Turnagain Bay. Also, there's been some good action on around toward the Cedar Island side. Looks like the early morning and late evening bite has been best but I know of anglers picking up fish all throughout the day. We are still keeping plenty of Fresh Mullet in-stock and have a good supply coming for the weekend, also along with all the lures you need for artificial fishing. Come by the shop and we can show you what's working the best.

Spot and Sea Mullet when will they arrive?  I've been getting a lot of calls, so I looked back through some reports from last year. What I found out, the last week of this month they started showing up in good numbers, then by the first week in October they were here in full force. I did have a customer come by the shop this week and told me they caught 60 the other day. So, in the next 2 weeks we'll start to see fish push in, I like to judge it by the weather. It seems year after year once we get our first good cold front it’s time to start fishing for the Spots and Sea Mullets. Areas to look are going to be Beaufort Inlet back to the Turning Basin and Beaufort Draw Bridge in Gallant’s Channel. Bloodworms, Shrimp, Fishbites tipped on Sam’s Gitter Spec-Rigs will get the job done without any problem.
 

 

PIERS/SURF: 

Well, the crowds are gone from the beaches and now’s the time to start hitting the Surf. We are about 3 weeks away until Atlantic Beach is open for 4-wheel drive vehicles. You can get your pass by going to the AB Town Hall at the Police Station. The Piers have been seeing good Spanish and Bluefish action over the last week on Got-cha Plugs. Also, there's been a few King Mackerel caught from some of the piers south of us. Plus, a few Flounder have been caught along the beach on Live Mud Minnows and Live Mullet Minnows. A few Red Drum were caught this past week and what I've seen they are out of the slot but very fun to catch if you can hang into one.

As far as the bottom fishing, still a mix bag from Sea Mullet, Spot, Croaker, Hog Fish, Puffer Fish, Blue Fish and Pompano. It won't be long at all when we'll see the Sea Mullet and Spot bite pick up as they make their way back down the beaches. Like I said above, we should start seeing a good push of fish toward the end of the month.

 

 

OFFSHORE: 

Wahoo has been the talk!  We're pretty much in full swing into the best bite of the year, which should last until November. What we need is some good weather to make it happen. A few boats did make it out this week and came back with some fish. The best action seems to be 90ft Drop out to the Big Rock, Northeast Corner and the Swansboro Hole. Cow Bells, Blue Water Candy Jags, Jag-Hoo’s, Super Smokers, Smokers, Wahoo Bombs and Sea Witch Rigs are the ticket. Most anglers pulling Ballyhoo are going with the Medium/Large baits for the best action on the Wahoo. We have a good supply of Ballyhoo still in stock for the fall bite.

Some of the boats that went last week before the winds picked up got into some nice Dolphin action. I had one customer come back with 14 or more plus I talked to a few others that had the same luck. This time of year we'll have a few weeks where you can find some good action as the fish are starting to push their way back down south.

As for the bottom fishing Capt. Chris and Josh one of our crew went out the other day before Josh had to head back to school this week and caught Grouper, Sea Bass, Snappers and Cobia. As we get more toward fall into the winter is some of the best action you'll find off the bottom ledges because the fish school back up making them easier to catch. 

 

 

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