Fishing Report 05/22/2014

 

Well, it looks like we're going to have perfect weather for Memorial Day Weekend. As of now, they are calling for light winds Friday – Monday; which usually doesn't happen on a holiday weekend. We hope you all have a great Memorial Day Weekend and hope to see you soon!!! 

 

Cobia Report: 

As it goes, we haven't had the weather week like we had last week when the action was so great. We have weighed fish this week everyday when anglers could fish but not the numbers like last weekend. The wind has kept most boats fishing on the inside. We've weighed some nice size fish in the 50lb class caught behind Shackleford but it seems the majority are still in the ocean. It does look like we are going to get a 4-day weather break with light winds allowing anglers to really fish where they want too. Sight fishing should pick back up being we haven't had a good day for it since last week.

 
The bottom fisherman caught numbers of fish last weekend around Cape Lookout. I'm thinking this weekend with the good weather fish will be caught both east and west. So, when the good weather hits we should see some more good action. Last week we saw many fish in the 40 to 50lb  class with some larger in that 60 to 80lb range.
 
For sight fishing Bucktails, Savage Live Eels are working great. We made a special order on them this week and I've been told we'll have them by Friday back in stock. Also, we have stocked upped on Live Eels for the weekend; which are working “GREAT”. If you're going Cobia searching it's always a good ideal to take along some Live Eels (you know the old saying “don't leave home without it”). As far as the bottom action, Dead Menhaden and Live Eels are producing the best. For anglers bottom fishing putting out chum will help attract the fish too. So, if you catch a big one make sure you bring it to us for weighing, if it breaks the 40lb range you will receive a citation.
 

 

 
 
Inshore: 

Spanish fishing was pretty good last weekend but there hasn't been much action this week with the wind making it tough for anglers to fish. Trolling Clarkspoons seems to be the best for catching numbers of fish right now. The water hasn't warmed up enough for anglers to catch them by casting yet. You'll also run into some Bluefish action when fishing for the Spanish. We're still seeing some Bonito being caught around the reefs, I thought they had move on but we saw some good catches last weekend with anglers trolling Yo-Zuri DD’s around AR 315. 

Sheepshead fishing has really picked up over the last few weeks with good numbers being caught. I've not seen any huge fish yet but plenty of 3 lb fish are being caught. We finally got in a good stock of Live Sea Urchins and Live Fiddler Crabs for the weekend. So, if you're looking for Sheepshead bait we have you covered. 

Flounder fishing was good last weekend with the first one being weighed over 6lbs coming into the shop. The guy also had a few more nice ones in his cooler caught in the inside waters. Also, I've seen some limits of fish caught on the reefs from anglers fishing 2oz Spro Bucktails tipped with 4” Berkley Gulp Shrimp. Hopefully, we'll see more good action this weekend on the Flat Fish. We have plenty of nice sized Mud Minnows in stock as this load is some of the biggest we've trapped this year. 

Redfish – I saw pictures of some nice Redfish caught this week in the marsh areas. Redfish Magic’s, Gulp, Topwaters all are working well. What I've seen and heard from anglers scouting around for our upcoming event next weekend with the 1st of 3 in the “Carolina Redfish Series” there's Reds to be caught. The tournament is going to be held right out of our shop on May 31st.  The captains meeting, takeoff and weigh-in will all be held here. Crystal Coast Graphic’s just dropped off the weigh-in trailer so come on out and fish the event next weekend. 

 
 
 

 

 
Sea Mullets – A few Sea Mullets are still hanging around but most have moved on. But if you take some Spec-rigs tipped with Bait Shrimp out to the Turning Basin you'll probably catch a mix bag of Gray Trout, Sea Mullets, Croakers, Hog Fish, Sea Bass and Sharks.
 
Piers / Surf: 

On the days the ocean isn't rough and the water has good color the Piers are having some great Spanish and Blues action by plugging with Got-Cha Plugs. This weekend with the light north winds the water should clear up and the Spanish should move right back in. As for the bottom fishing it’s been a mix bag: Sea Mullets, Blue Fish, Black Drum, Hog Fish, Sheephead along with some nice Pompano are being caught. Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms, Finger Mullet and Cut Mullet are the bait to use for the best results to put some fish in your cooler. The new renovated Oceanana Pier House is now open for your convenience.

 
From the Surf Zone, the anglers are seeing the same kind of action as the piers. Hopefully, they'll finish up the dredging project that's going on near the inlet soon; so the water will clear up and the Fort Macon area will start to pick back up. Even with all the dredging and the dirty water anglers are still catching fish in the park area. 

 

Offshore: 

The weather wasn't perfect for the offshore anglers last weekend as Saturday was a blow-out but some made it out on Sunday and had good results. We weighed in the biggest Dolphin we've seen all season at 57 lbs; which is a good one for our area. It's looking like Sunday and Monday is going to be the best two days to fish offshore this weekend. There's good numbers of Dolphin around the Big Rock area with plenty of Gaffers if you get in the right zone. Blue Water Candy Sea Witch Rigs, Mahi Maulers, C&H Rattle Jets, Mold Craft, Color Heads Islander Sailfish and Jr’s all are working good. Most anglers are rigging up with Medium Ballyhoo and some are taking along some smalls.

 
We're still seeing some nice Wahoo in the mix but the Hoo’s have slowed down a bit. Boats are also seeing some Billfish action in the Blue Water as that's a good sign for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is just a few weeks away.
 
Bottom fishing is good with Sea Bass, Grouper, Snappers, Ring Tails, Amberjacks and Trigger Fish. Most of the best action is out past the 35-mile range but I've heard of some action coming from the Atlas Tanker. We have in stock: Squid Wings, Mackerel, Cigar Minnows and Menhaden all are working well. The Barefoot Squid Jigs, Decoy Jigs, Blue Water Candy Roscoe Jigs and Williamson Jigs are producing off the bottom too. 
 
 
 
Braggin Board: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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