FISHING REPORT 04/17/2014

At least when the weather isn't that great this time of the year, you can still get out and catch some Sea Mullets. Last weekend, the fishing was very productive in the Turning Basin area back toward the Inlet. We had a few customers that caught over 200 mullets without trying real hard. We are seeing the bigger fish starting to show up as we've seen some this week in that 17″ range.

A lot of Gray Trout has moved into the area with tons of small fish. But we're hearing of a few nice keepers being caught. Anglers are having good luck in the same area as the mullets using the same rigs. But you can also jig a Stingsilver off the bottom along with Jig Fish Lures to catch them. 

We received reports of Bonita being caught this past weekend over on the east side and a few on the west side. Albacore are thick just off the east beach and are making their way to the west beach. 

We saw some great action with Redfish up around the Cape Lookout Shoals this past weekend with anglers catching them in the 24″ range to over slot fish. Casting Gulp Baits seems to be the best but they're so thick they were hitting just about anything you threw. Also, there's been some good action in the bays and creeks in the area. It’s looking like this year is going to be good for some “Topwater” action. 

A friend of mine got into some “Chopper Blue Fish” around the Cape on “Topwater” lures last Sunday. Also, there was a few caught around Fort Macon Park. They aren't here thick yet; but it will get better and better as the days pass. Catching one on Topwater can be some of the best fishing you can ever have. You can watch a 12lb Bluefish cruising on the surface just waiting to crush your “Top Water Plug” right before you hook-up.  We have in stock some bigger Strom Chug Bugs that work great on them. 

We're still seeing great Speckled Trout fishing in the creeks off the Neuse River and along Core Creek. There's good numbers of nice fish to be caught and released back. I've been talking to some anglers and they're telling me that the female trout are full of eggs. So, with the closure we should have a great spawn this year to really help our fishery in the future. Mirrolure 17MR’S and Soft Dines both are working great. Also, there's been a good “Topwater” bite going on. Try one of these to entice a hit: Heddon Spook Jr, Rapala Skitter Walk, Bomber or Popper are all great Topwater baits to cast. 

Well, last weekend our first Chopper Bluefish hit the beach area. Fort Macon had a school come through in the 10 to 12lb range with a few being caught. I've not heard of many this week but the ocean hasn't been very nice for anglers to get out and try. This weekend we're going to have North winds so anglers should have pretty good fishing along the Surf Zone. The easiest way to catch the Chopper Bluefish is with the Finger Mullet Float Rig. We have all colors in stock and will be happy to show you how to rig them up.

Well, the weather was good enough for boats to get offshore last weekend and most came back with nice fish. We weighed in Wahoo and saw some nice Black Fin Tuna. From the Big Rock down south toward the Swansboro Hole all produced fish. A good number of boats had limits and some caught Wahoo over 60lbs.  The boats fishing were pulling Medium Ballyhoo and lures. The “NEW” Blue Water Candy 8oz Jags are working well along with Braid Muller Lures. We just got a shipment of “CUSTOM” Islanders in Sailfish and Jr’s that are going to be some nice fish catchers. Come in and check them out.

We are getting good reports back from customers that both our Bionic and Baitmaster Ballyhoo are top notch, pulling great and holding up perfect. We have plenty of both in stock for the season!