Fishing Report 04/23/2015
Registration is now OPEN!!!
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We're all stocked up on Custom Hand Tied Bucktails, Rigs, Eels, Rods, Reels plus LIVE EELS closer to May. So. anything you need for this COBIA Season – we have you covered!!!
Inshore:
A few boats have made it over to the East Side of the Cape during this past week and again found pretty good action from AR 285 out. There's good numbers of Sea Bass, Albacore, Bonito and a few Flounder being pulled up. I did hear some good news about the Bonito this week with reports that good numbers have shown up at the Diver Rock south of us. So, that's a sign it won't be long before they're schooling around AR 315 just off our beach.
We're seeing good numbers of Bluefish moving in along the beach and around the Inlet. Last week, good schools of Blues were just off the Fort Macon Rock Jetty. Also, there's plenty up around the Cape. I've not seen any Chopper Bluefish yet but with the southwest winds we've had this week it wouldn't surprise me to see some caught any day.
Sea Mullets are still being caught but we've seen a shift in areas from where fish were hanging. The last two days there seems to be more fish along the beach. I know yesterday, the Oceanana Pier caught them just about all day and quite a few over the 1lb mark. I've not heard of anyone trying the Dead Tree Hole area but I'd think it might be loaded with mullets now. We're still seeing nice fish being caught in the Turning Basin area but if you give it a try and don’t get any action like we were seeing last week make a move toward the inlet or even drift along the beach. I would still be using “Sam’s Gitters Spec-Rigs” tipped with Bait Shrimp or Fishbites.
I've been getting a lot of calls about the Flounder fishing this week. It's still kind of slow at the AR315, AR320 and AR330. Most of action is still over on the East Side at places like AR285 and out from that area. The Spro 2oz Jig in White and Glow tipped with Berkley Gulp 4” White Shrimp works the best for the Ocean fish. Last week was the first week, I started to hear about some Flounder being caught inshore. There's no huge numbers but a few were caught off the sand bars and in the creeks on Live Mud Minnows. It’s getting about the time when you can start catching them around the Docks along the ICW.
If you just want something to catch, Gray Trout is the answer. There's more Gray Trout in the area than I've seen in awhile, most are on the small side but there's plenty to catch. Last weekend, we started to see a nice class of fish begin to move in. I know around the Atlantic Beach Bridge and Beaufort Bridge is where the bigger fish are hanging. Jigging Sting-Silvers and Jig Fish Lures will get you plenty of action.
Still no Cobia yet, that I've seen caught along the beach but this week some bait has shown up along the beach so it's not going to be long before they are here feeding on the bait. Last year, we weighed the first fish; the first week of May. So, really it could be any day when one is caught. We are stocked up on Custom Cobia Bucktails, I even have some new models this year, “hand tied feather jigs” that are working really well in Florida already this year. We have one tied with Emu Feathers and from what I here a Cobia rarely turns one down. So, make sure you check out the new “Meat Head Bucktails” we just received. YES, we are going to carry “Live Eels” again this year, just waiting on the fish to show up and we will get them in the tanks ready for action.
Nick, part of the crew here at the shop checked around the Atlantic Beach Bridge the end of last week for Sheepshead and to his surprise found pretty good numbers. He only fished an hour or so and caught 10 Sheepshead on frozen sand fleas. Most were on the small side but it’s a good sign they are on their way in. In the next week or so, we'll be getting our first shipment of Fiddler Crabs and it won't be long after we'll have Sea Urchins back in stock.
Piers / Surf:
The Surf and Pier fishing is getting pretty good right now. If you like to fish from the beach now's the time over the next few weeks. Sea Mullet fishing has been great off the pier during the last two days. Bait Shrimp and Fishbites is working the best on the Sea Mullets. At times, Blue Fish have been coming through in good numbers with plenty to catch. Puffer fish is still coming through and we are seeing some very nice sized fish. Also, Black Drum has been making their way through and working along the beaches. We're still waiting on the Chopper Bluefish which could be any day as last year there were already a few caught. With the southwest and west winds we've had this week I wouldn't be surprised if there's not one caught in the next few days. Finger Mullet, Cut Mullet, Sand Fleas and Squid all have been working along with the Bait Shrimp and Fishbites.
Offshore:
Getting better every time boats can get out, last week we saw good numbers of Dolphin plus good numbers of Gaffers being caught. There's been Black Fin and Yellow Fin caught too. Wahoo fishing still remains good also, so I'd say just a good mix of fish right now in the Bluewater. Most of the action has been from the Big Rock down south towards the Swansboro Hole. Anglers trolling Medium and Large Ballyhoo are putting fish in the boat. There's still been good numbers of Trigger Fish and Sea Bass caught this week from the few boats that have made it out. We're just a week out and “Grouper Season” will be back open and we should see some really good action.
So, the fish have shown up, now we just need some good weather windows for anglers to get out and catch some fish!
Braggin Board:
Phone: 252-240-FISH (3474)
709 Atlantic Beach Caseway, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
