Fishing Report 09/07/2018

 

Don’t forget our Speckled Trout Challenge has started but you can still sign up at any time to fish. We have been getting good numbers of entries over the last week, so if you’re going to be trout fishing this fall it’s just a $50. entry fee. You never know when that big fish might bite and it could be a lot of cash. Come by the shop to register or you can call in over the phone! 

 

 

We have been blessed with some beautiful weather over the past couple of weeks and fishing's been great. Looks like this weekend's going to continue to be nice so the fishing should be even better. We're already seeing fish get into their fall feeding modes and when that happens it’s the best fishing of the year in our area.

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

Spanish Fishing has been great this week, the fish are starting to get into what I like to call fall prep, they start getting into huge schools and feed like crazy. Now's, the time for you to enjoy some of the best Spanish action of the year, we only have a good solid 6 weeks more and these fish will start to make their move south for the up-coming winter to warmer waters. We've been seeing action really all over the place from Cape Lookout down the beaches to Emerald Isle. The best action has been around Cape Lookout the last few days, the water is crystal clear in that area and is full of bait, the Spanish are taking full advantage of the food source. But just yesterday, one of charter boats got into some huge schools of fish feeding just right outside of Beaufort Inlet, cutting the water getting hook ups on just about every cast. As far as lures, what we have been having the best luck on has been the Spanish Candy Jigs, Jig Fish, Glass Minnow Jigs, Diamond Jigs, Clarkspoon Jigs are all working very well.  

Also, the anglers trolling have been catching nice fish along the beaches and along the Cape Lookout Shoals. The custom Bowed–up Spoons, Clarkspoons, Squid Chains and Mackerel Trees all have been working well. As far as the bigger fish they're all over the AR reefs feeding up also, trolling Live Baits or trolling Dead Cigar Minnows on Dead Bait Rigs or Mac a Hoos have been getting quite a bit of action. We have been weighing quite a few fish over the 6lb range over the past week, just a matter of getting to the reefs to where the fish are.

The Albacore have pushed in along the beaches also in huge numbers, Cape Lookout seems to be the best area and there's been no shortage of fish. The season on these fish is really just getting started, unlike the Spanish they'll hang around until November or longer before moving back offshore. We had a boat out yesterday just on a sight seeing tour and they ran across a huge school of fish, had only one rod on the boat and everyone still caught all they wanted to play with. Looking for birds working the water is usually a good way to locate feeding Albacore. As far as the lures, we have the best luck on the Albie Snax, Epoxy Jigs and Spanish Candies Jigs; we all have these lures in the shop ready to go.

Bluefish, also in same patterns as the Spanish and Albacore, all schooled up getting into the fall feeding mode, last few days we've been seeing a run of Chopper Bluefish showing back up around the Cape Lookout area. These Choppers won't stay in the area like they do in the Spring since they're coming back through but we should see them for a few weeks. Same as in the Spring, these fish will crush a Top-water Chugger and just about anything else you put in front of them.

King Mackerel fishing has fired back up, just like back in July we've been weighing huge fish for this time of the year. We are on the verge of the best Mackerel fishing of the season, which might be really really good this year because we have already seen some great action this summer in this heat. Not heard yet, but I'd say any day the fish are going to start schooling up in huge numbers at the North West Places, when this happens it's game on; all the fish you want to catch. Lots of times you can only fish a couple of rods the action is so fast. As of now, what we have been weighing has been coming from AR315 and over on the East Side of Cape Lookout area. Trolling Live Baits will get you some action, but it’s that time of the year when you can catch just as many fish on Dead Cigar Minnows, we have both 3 and 5 lbs of them at the shop. Rig them up on Dead Bait Rigs, Pirate Plugs or Mac a Hoos and you will catch some fish, we also have all of these lures in-stock ready for the fall bite that’s coming on.

Flounder fishing has been on point this past week, fish are stacking up at the AR Reefs. Nick, from the shop, Kc and his dad went out jigging the other day and brought back limits of nice fish, leaving them biting. Jigging Spro 2oz Buckatils tipped with Gulp 4” Shrimp was getting the job done, just can’t beat that combo when it comes to ocean fishing for Flounder.  Also, we've still been seeing some nice fish being caught around the Port area, some big ones at that, weighed a few over that 6lb mark and that huge one the other week that went over 12lbs. It’s getting about that time when the Flounder will start stacking up around the wall and bridges getting ready to make their move back toward the ocean waters. Trout Man, from the shop always says come October is some of the best Flounder fishing you will see around the Wall, he's been fishing that wall for 30 years so he's a master at it for sure. As far as the inshore waters, anglers have been having the best luck on Live Finger Mullet which we do have in-stock at the shop, along with Live Mud Minnows.

It’s getting that time of year for Gray Trout, Sea Mullets and Spots, we have already seen a good push of Gray Trout in the inlet area, over the last week seeing good numbers of them. 

Last week, Sam went looking for Sea Mullets and did catch a nice mess of fish, so that's the sign we are on the verge of the fall run. He found the best action around the inlet area in the deeper water, catching them on Sam's Gitter Rigs we have in the shop. Local made by the man that lives to catch Sea Mullets, so bottom line these rigs work very well. 

Heard of a few Spots being caught, but no big numbers yet, did hear yesterday there's been some caught off some the piers at Surf City and north of us the run has started. So, rule to thumb in our area, we usually start to see our Spot run start late this month running through October. We have plenty of Fishbites and Live Bloodworms in-stock so when the fish show up we will have what you need to fill your cooler.

Red Drum action has been decent in the area, most anglers have been fishing for the Old Drum in the Neuse River. We've still been seeing plenty of fish to catch, for sure this year has been up and down. It started off very strong early then fell off with all the rain but now seems like the Old Drum are acting on their normal pattern. We should see these fish hang around until we start to get some hard-North East blows, old timers always say that 2^nd hard Nor’easter is when the fish will start to make their way back toward the ocean. We still are keeping plenty of Fresh Mullet in-stock at the shop, we get this mullet right from the boats so you can’t get it any fresher, makes a huge difference when catching these fish. Also, we have been having great luck with the Z-Man SwimmerZ and DOA Airheads rigged under a Blabber Mouth Popping Cork that we have in the shop. So, you still have time to get out and catch these beasts, we haven't even seen our first hard north blow yet, so right now the fish are stable doing their thing.

 

Piers / Surf:

We have been seeing some Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish action along the Surf Zone this week, had one customer that caught a 27″ Spanish yesterday. Casting Spanish Candies, Heavy Jigs and Jig Fish Jigs all have been working well. Seems like the best action has been on the higher tides as the fish move in closer to the beach allowing you to reach them. Piers are also starting to see some Spanish action again, I've  noticed the Gotcha-Plugs have been leaving the shop the last few days so that means the fish are starting to bite. It’s only going to get better over the next few weeks as these fish start to school up and begin their fall feed.

Also, Surf anglers are seeing some nice Red Drum working the beaches, most of the action seems to be more up toward the Fort Macon area. Fishing fresh mullet from the shop seems to be working the best for the anglers, also heard of a few off the pier. Over the last week pier anglers are starting to see some nice over slot fish come through, had a customer the other day catch one that went over 20lbs.

 

Offshore:

Wahoo has been the fish to be fishing for, we’re pretty much getting into full swing with the best bite of the year, which should last until November. Over the last week with the good weather boats have been doing very well on the Hoos and we have been putting some big ones on the scales. We weighed a few last weekend that went over the 60lb range. The best action seems to be 90' 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 Bait Master Ballyhoo still in stock for the fall bite also have Planer Rod / Combos rigged and ready to go in the shop. A Planer Rod can make a huge difference in putting Wahoo’s in the boat.

The bottom guys are still having some luck but most of the action has been around the 14 Buoy out to the 90' Drop for the Groupers. Sea Bass can be caught in areas like North West Places and Atlas Tanker. Also, there's good numbers of Silver Snappers being caught along the bottom. We have plenty of Squid Wings, Spanish Sardines, Cigar Minnows and Boston Mackerel in stock for your bottom fishing.