Fishing Report 06/23/2016

 

We're getting excited about our “Customer Appreciation Day” coming up this Saturday here at the shop. We'll have some great food to eat and some very knowledgeable Charter Captains that will be giving free seminars between 11am – 3 pm. It's not every day you'll find information given out like this for free. We look forward to this event each year; it’s our way to say “thank you” and express our appreciation for supporting our local business. 

 
 
Well, fishing has been somewhat slow this week; not because fish aren't biting but because since Tuesday we have been seeing a lot of wind. So much wind that boats haven't been able to make it out to the ocean where most of the action has been; it’s even been hard to fish the backwaters over the last few days. But, it looks like the winds after today are going to get better for the next week or so, now we can get back to catching some fish. 

 

Inshore / Nearshore: 
Flounder action this week has all been coming from the inside waters since the choppy seas we've been seeing in the ocean. But what we've seen so far this week, it's been kind of a surprise with some decent action. Most anglers are having the best luck drift fishing the ICW and behind Shackleford Banks with Live Mud Minnows and Berkley Gulp Baits.
 
Last year, we saw tons of small fish caught in these areas with keepers far and few between but so far this year it's been different with keepers being caught. Our charters boats had a few Flounder trips this week and had no problem catching keeper fish for the dinner table. Now for the larger fish, you'll need to fish around the Port Wall, Bridges and Docks. We haven't weighed a lot of big fish but we've weighed a few over the 5lb mark during the last week. Live Minnows would be my choice of bait when fishing structure for the larger fish. 
 
This week a lot of anglers have been Sheepshead fishing because of the wind and we are starting to see some good action. Nick, from the shop fished yesterday in the wind for the “Convicts” and had no problem finding fish. He caught nothing huge but brought home some nice sized ones for the dinner table. The Port Wall, Bridges and Docks will all be go to places when looking for the Sheepshead. I'd say the bridges in the area have been producing the most action. Live Fiddler Crabs and Live Sea Urchins are the best baits and we have plenty of both “In-Stock” ready to go, so you won't have to waste time catching bait given you more time fishing. 
 
Red Drum fishing started off slow this year. I thought, we were going to have another off year but over the last week we've been seeing some good action. I just hope, it stays true through the rest of summer and into the fall. Most of the action has been around the Haystack's area plus going into Core Creek. Also, we're starting to see some action coming from the docks along the ICW.  Anglers having the best luck are fishing Live Mud Minnows and Cut Bait on the bottom. But there's been some Top-water action and plastic action also for anglers wanting to fish artificial. 
 
Also, we've been seeing some Speckled Trout in the mix with the Red Drum fishing. We've weighed some very nice fish over the last few weeks for this time of the year. Plus, you can have some good action at night under the lights with both Gray Trout and Speckled Trout at the AB Bridge on Live Shrimp float fishing. 
We saw some great Spanish action last weekend and Monday but it's slowed down a little over the last few days. I'm not saying the fish aren't biting it’s just been way too rough to get out and troll for them. Before the wind came in anglers were have good action along Cape Lookout plus up and down the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons along with Planers, Bird Squid Rigs and Mackerel Trees were all working good. Even with the high winds, we've been seeing some action trolling behind Shackleford Banks and inside the Hook at Cape Lookout. You'll find as many fish on the inside as the ocean but at times out can really put them in the cooler. This weekend, the action should really pick back up because Saturday the winds will be out of the north making the beaches pretty flat and great for fishing. 
 
Be on the lookout if you are fishing in the ocean for the Shrimp Boats because there has been some crazy Shark action behind the boats when they're shrimping. It’s been like a buffet for the sharks and their taking full advantage of the free meal. Our charter boats have had no problem hanging into 150lb plus fish. 
  
Also, a big fish you can hang into just off the beach is Amberjacks. Capt. Nick went out to AR330 on Monday and caught all he wanted. Dropping bucktails or menhaden to the bottom will usually let you know pretty quick if the fish are home. If you can get them chummed up to the top you can have some crazy Top-water action on these huge fish. 

 

Piers / Surf: 
Spanish and Bluefish off the end of the piers are being caught on Got-Cha Plugs early and late in the day when the wind allows. This weekend’s weather should be pretty decent for plugging or King Fishing if the pier allows. 
 
Bottom fishing has been a mixed bag with Sea Mullets, Pompano, Hog Fish, Skates, Blue Fish, Jacks, Croakers; not a lot of any but just that summertime mixed bag.  There's been a few Flounder caught along the beach using Live Mud Minnows and a few anglers have been having some luck with the Sheepshead being caught on Live Fiddler Crabs. 

 

Offshore: 
There's been some Dolphin caught around the North West Places, 14 Buoy out to the Big Rock area. The fish have been pretty scattered here lately as they've made their way closer inshore.  A lot of the boats fished last week but all were chasing that Blue Marlin fishing the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. So, with the weather improving for this weekend I'm sure some boats will make their way out to the Blue Water to see what they can find on the meat fish. 
 
Bottom fishing has been good with the Groupers, we've seen some very nice catches in the 100' water range in the last week. Also, bottom fisherman are catching Trigger Fish, Sea Bass and Snappers. So, there's some decent fishing out in the Blue Water – we just need the winds to lay down so anglers can get back at it. 
 
 
 
 
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