Fishing Report 06/05/2014

 

 
We had our “1st Carolina Redfish Series Tournament” last Saturday held here out of the shop. We had a great turnout for the first event with teams bringing some very nice fish to the scales. We even had a 9-year-old fish on a team that finished in 6th Place. I was very surprised at the weights and the amount of fish that were weighed.
 
 
Team Chasin Tails Outdoors was on the other side of things this time around with Dad and I measuring the fish; usually we're the ones having our fish measured. Yes, we would have liked to be fishing but it was fun to be involved in the other side of things. Checking out boats that morning, checking in boats that afternoon, then measuring the fish gave me the opportunity to see just how excited the anglers were to fish in the tournament.
 
The top 5 had over 12lbs each and I never measured a fish under 20 inches, so that proves we have some fish in our area. We had teams fish in Swansboro, the Neuse River and the winners fished within 5 miles of the shop. Topwaters, Redfish Magic’s, Popping Corks and Berkley Gulp were the talk at the docks of being the hot lures.
 
We want to thank everyone that fished in the tournament and to the everyone that came out to our live weigh-in supporting the anglers bringing their fish to the scales. I'll say; I'm looking forward to hosting more Redfish events in the future that's for sure. Our next one here at the shop is September 27th, the third one in the Carolina Redfish Series.
 
 
 
1st Place –  Dave Bernstein & Daniel Griffee 12.95lbs
 
 
2nd Place – Lee Padrick & Dwayne Smith 12.94lbs
 

 

3rd Place – Ronnie Wiggins & Jermey Jones 12.74lbs
 
 
 
    
Inshore: 
 
We're still seeing Cobia come through the area, so they aren't gone. We usually catch them until mid to late June. Usually this time of the season we'll weigh in smaller fish but we did weigh some in last weekend that were over 50lbs. So, over the next few weeks you'll have a chance of catching that big one. Over the last week, we've seen more fish being caught on the inside in Bouge Sound, behind Shackleford Banks and at the Cape Lookout area. Most of these fish are being caught bottom fishing with Fresh Shad and Live Eels; which we still have both In-Stock.
   
 We're still getting reports of Cobia being caught south of us along the beaches. We just haven't had any good weather for sight fishing this year. This weekend looks good with light winds so that might give anglers some sight fishing opportunities. Still, the Savage Eels are leading the pack with the best artificial bait we've seen this year –  then Live Eels – then Bucktails. A lot of the guys trolling for Spanish have been seeing Cobia just swimming along the surface cruising, so be ready because you never know when you might run across one. 

The Flounder action has really picked up “GREAT” this week. Tim from the shop had two very good days this week (Monday and Tuesday) with limits from AR315. I also, heard of some good catches from the 330 area last weekend. You just can't beat using Spro Bucktails in the 2oz size tipped with Berkley Gulp 4” Shrimp and Swimming Mullet. It's a good ideal to take along a few dozen of Live Mud Minnows to put out on the bottom while you're jigging Bucktails. We're also seeing a few from the inside waters around the Hi Rise Bridges and the Port Wall area but the numbers are still in the ocean. 

Sheepshead fishing has turned on this week. I've been waiting to see some fish over 5lbs and the last two days we've weighed in some nice ones. Yesterday, we weighed one over 9lbs. So, I'd say “Sheepshead Season” is here and will be good now through the summer. Most of the action so far has been around the High Rise Bridges and Port Wall area, which are always the best places to fish. But don’t pass up the docks along the ICW because they get less pressure and can hold good numbers of fish. Live Sea Urchins and Live Fiddler Crabs are going to be the best options for bait and we have both In-Stock for the summer. 

Spanish fishing is still good with anglers having no problem catching limits of nice fish. Anglers trolling the beaches with Clarkspoons, trolling weights and planers seem to be picking up the most fish. Mackerel Trees and Squid Rigs pulled behind the birds are working well also. We even had one of our charter boats catch quite a few casting small Jig Fish lures last weekend. The casting action will get better and better as we get more into summer. They're also picking up Bluefish and to our surprise there's still some Bonito being caught by boats trolling for Spanish. 

 

Piers / Surf: 

Spanish and Bluefish are being caught off the end of the piers using Got-cha plugs. Late afternoons and early mornings are the best time for action. Still people are seeing Cobia off the pier with another one was caught last week. Other than that it’s been a mixed bag from Spots, Sea Mullets, Sharks, Croakers, Flounder, Red Drum and Black Drum. This time of the year you just never know what you might catch. Bait Shrimp, Squid, Mullet, Live Minnows and Bloodworms are all good choices for bait. Fishing off the bottom will produce the best results.

 
 As for the Surf Zone – you're going to have pretty much the same action as you going to see off the piers. I've even heard of a few Spanish being caught by anglers casting spoons off the beach. 

 

Offshore: 

Great Dolphin action going on right now but they haven't moved inshore yet so the action is still out to the Big Rock area. Paul from the shop went out Monday just shy of the 14 Buoy to see if any fish had moved in without much luck. I'd say within the next few weeks we'll start to see Dolphin in that 20-mile range.

 
The Gulf Stream fishing for Dolphin has been great with lots of fish being caught. Blue Water Candy Sea Witch Rigs, C&H Rattle Jets and Billy Bait Jet Heads all are working very well. Small and Medium Ballyhoo is working the best as far as which size, your preference.
 
There's still some Wahoo out there as we weighed the biggest we've seen this year at 78lbs caught out in the Blue Water. That size is usually a fish you see in the fall for this area but it goes to show; they're out there.
 
The Big Rock starts Monday and is shaping up to be a good event this year. A lot of the boats have been releasing good numbers of Blue Marlin over the past week. In the Cape Fear Tournament last week there was an 800 lbs plus that was caught. We could see some big fish this year brought to the scales. Keep a look on our Facebook Page next week, as we'll be watching all the action and will let you know when a fish is on the way to the docks to be weighed. 
 
 
 
Braggin Board: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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