Fishing Report 08/23/2018

As I dropped my little one off to school this morning all I could think about is “WOW”; where did the summer go? I have to say May and June was some of the best fishing we had seen in a long time, weighing 50lb King Mackerel was just unreal for that time of the year. Once, we hit the middle of July it was two weeks of solid rain and August has been full of wind. Just today, we're seeing the first signs of the season changing with the north winds starting to blow, so that only means one thing Fall Fishing is just right around the corner.

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

Spanish fishing has been decent when you can get to the fish, we have only had a few days over the last 3 weeks to even get in the ocean. What we're seeing on the forecast for this weekend we are finally going to see some 5-10mph winds so should be some good fishing. Places to look will be around the inlets, Cape Lookout area has been good when weather allows and at all the AR Reefs. Trolling Clarkspoons, Bowed-Up Spoons and Spanish Busters, for casting Spanish Candies and Glass Minnows jigs will get the job done. If you are looking for the larger fish I would be heading to AR315 or AR285, live baiting Finger Mullet or pulling Mac A Hoos with a dead Cigar Minnow. We do have Live Finger Mullet in-stock ready for action.

Our Charter Fleet has been doing a lot of Flounder fishing over the last few weeks and seeing some good results. The Railroad Tracks, Port area and the Docks along the waterway all have been holding fish. We also have been having some luck drifting the channel around Middle Marsh area. But the best action we've been seeing has been around fishing structure, fish it enough and you will run across some fish. Live minnows is what we have been having the best luck on fishing the inside waters, we have both Mud Minnows and Mullet Minnows in-stock at the shop. As far as the reef fishing the Flounder are still there just been tough to get to them, but when weather is good like we're going to see this weekend the fishing has been great. Jigging Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with 4″ Berkley Gulp Shrimp has been producing limits of fish over the last two weeks. AR 315, AR285 and AR320 would all be good places to fish, they all have been holding fish.

The Old Drum fishing up on the Neuse River has been decent over the last week, for sure an up and down season so far. One day they are feeding like crazy, next day like there's no fish even in the river, just this week the water is starting to get back to normal from the rain event we had at the first of of the month. Fish have been all over the river from close to New Bern Bridge all the way down to Cedar Island area. For the day time anglers, we've been seeing the best luck on DOA Airhead lures and Z-Man 6″ SwimmerZ rigged under the Blabber Mouth Corks, we have all the lures in-stock at the shop ready for action. As far as the night time anglers the ole Fresh Mullet has been the go to bait. We have been keeping a good supply of mullet in-stock at the shop, we get it right off the boat so we know when it comes in, it's absolutely the freshest you can get which makes a huge difference when fishing for these beasts.

Not seen too much action on the King Mackerel in the last few weeks, we have been weighing a few fish at the shop but no numbers yet, but keep in mind the weather hasn't been too good. I have a feeling this weekend we'll have some good fish come in to be weighed. The last few fish we weighed was caught over on the East Side of Cape Lookout, all the normal places over there are holding fish. Also, seeing a few at AR 315 and a few in the Shipping Channel. Mac A Hoos rigged up with Cigar Minnows have been working well, along with the Blue Water Candy Dead Bait Rigs. We do have 3lbs and 5lbs in the Cigar Minnows as I know lots of you were looking for the 3lb bag. If you like to King Macklerel fish keep in mind the Atlantic Beach King Mackerel Tournament is open for registration. Again this year, we are the Official Weigh Station of that event so we are looking forward to seeing some big fish on the scales come October. We have sign up forms at the shop so come on by and get in on the action and don't miss out on the $10K guaranteed 1st Place purse.

We are still seeing plenty of Sheepshead around the area, not weighed in any monsters in the last week or so but seeing some nice 5lb fish being caught. Live Sea Urchins and Fiddler Crabs have been working best, which we do have both in-stock. Same areas have been holding fish, Docks, Bridges, Port area; really anywhere you can find structure you might find Sheepshead. You can catch them anywhere from 3' of water to 30' of water, with lots of different ways to catch these fish.

Hard to believe it's time to starting thinking about our 11th Annual Speckled Trout Challenge, sign up forms will be ready to go this weekend. As far of Speckled Trout fishing, it's been kind of slow. We did weigh a nice 3lb fish that was caught the other day but that's been pretty much it over the last few weeks. Just been hot and anglers aren't thinking about trout yet. But you just wait, we start to get some of those Northeast blows trout anglers will start getting in the mood. We are already starting to plan for the season, making sure we have plenty of room for Live Shrimp and I just ordered a pile of Custom Mirrolures that should be here in just a few weeks. We've already received most of the new Z-Man lures in plastics that were released at I-Cast this summer so make sure you come check them out, the new 4″ Jerkshad is going to be a good one come this fall. 　

 

Piers / Surf:

Surf has been plain rough over the last few weeks, with not much action to talk about. Even, the piers have been on the slow side of things. We are in that slow part of the summer when it comes to Surf Fishing, but we are on the verge of our season changing and things will begin to happen with Fall fishing approaching. Going to see some north winds over the next few days which will make the Surf Zone nice and I have a feeling bring the Spanish closer in so anglers can catch them casting Spanish Candies from the beach. The most active action we have been seeing has been some nice Red Drum working along the Surf, customers that have been coming by buying fresh mullet has been seeing pretty good action. Also, I heard of a few Sea Mullets being caught at night on bait shrimp.

Got word from one of our Charter Captains the Albacore have made a showing off Cape Lookout today, they saw great action with quite a few schools willing to play. It's crazy how the north winds blow and these fish just show up out of nowhere ready to eat. Casting Spanish Candies Jigs from the shop was getting the job done.

 

Offshore:

It's Wahoo season and so far the bite has been pretty good when anglers can get to the grounds. Seeing fish from the North East corner of the Big Rock down to the Swansboro Hole. I have a feeling this weekend we are going to see quite a few be caught, weather's looking good. We just got a new shipment of Bait Master Ballyhoo in this week just for the up coming Wahoo season, we always make sure we have the best bait possible for trolling. Probably to if you are out trolling there's still going to be a few Dolphin in the mix along with some Billfish. So, from here on out right through November it's Wahoo time go fishing and bring one to the scales.

Bottom fishing has been solid, we got the first weekend in on the Red Snapper season, but last weekend winds kept boats tied to the docks and the Snappers safe. Now it's just back to Groupers, Sea Bass, Grunts, Amber Jacks and Silver Snappers. Most of charter fleet has been having good luck on the East Side of the Cape and seeing good action out around the 14 Bouy out to the 90ft Drop. We do have Squid Wings back in-stock as most of you know, and it's looking good for the rest of the season if you are looking for some.