Fishing Report 04/05/2018
Inshore / Nearshore:
We’ve been seeing some good Redfish action at the Cape Lookout Shoals this week. Our charter fleet ran a few trips this week catching 20+ a trip. Most of the action has been around the Shark Island area in crystal-clear water. Once you locate the schools of fish it’s been pretty easy to catch them fishing with Berkley Gulp and Live Mud Minnows. One of our guys ran a backwater trip also and got into some good schools on the shallow flats in the backwater bays. So right now, we have fish still in the ocean plus some that’s moved back into the marsh.
This is the first week we have seen signs of Bluefish making their way to the beach. There’s been a few right along the beach but most of the fish are hanging 8 miles off the beach as of right now. But we have a strong SW blow coming this Saturday so there’s a good chance that will push some of these schools closer to the beach next week. Also, the Albacore are right in the same area as the Blues, hanging just off the beach waiting for the warmer water to push in. A few schools are closer in around the Shoals at Cape Lookout over the last few days they have been hanging 2 to 3 miles out. Good thing is when you find them they are eating very well. Anglers are having the best luck on the Glass Minnow jig we have in the shop. Again, it has to be one of the best lures we have seen for casting to Blues, Albacore and Spanish when they show up in next few weeks.
Also, we have ran a few Sea Bass trips this week with good catches of fish, haven’t had to go too far either, most of the action has been in the 8-mile range off the beaches. Some of the best action has been over on the East Side of Cape Lookout on the nearshore reefs and hard bottom areas.
Last weekend, a few anglers caught some Old Drum off Cape Lookout in deeper water. The fish weren’t feeding up on top but you could mark them deep and drop a Spro Bucktail down to get a bite. One of the Charter guys did run across of school this week working the surface over on the East Side of Cape Lookout and landed a few.
Still getting a lot of calls about Sea Mullets, we have seen some in the Turning Basin area back toward the inlet area. The “Gitter Man” has fish just about every day this week, catching about 10 -12 in a few hour trips. So, they aren’t hot and heavy yet but if these water temps keep coming up we should see a good push of fish move in soon. Last week, we were in the high 50’s and today the water is low 60’s in the Turning Basin so it’s getting very close to that magic number. What we’ve seen so far, Sam’s Gitters Spec Rigs have been working the best tipped with bait shrimp. Funny, as I was writing this report I just got a call from a customer that’s fishing today in the Turning Basin and seeing a lot better action, catching 2 or 3 a drift so they should end up with the best catch I’ve heard of so far.
Seeing a few Sheepshead and Black Drum being caught over around the Port area, mostly around the Beaufort High-Rise Bridge and Rail Road Track. Anglers are having the best luck fishing bait shrimp on the bottom or live minnows, we have seen a few keeper Flounder from the same area. Not seen any Gray Trout yet but with the water hitting 60 over the last few days it won’t be long when they’ll be moving into the inlet.
Pier / Surf:
Starting to see some fish finally, now don’t get to excited (lol) because it’s still on the slow side. We did hear yesterday of some Sea Mullet being caught off the Oceanana Pier, talked to one customer this morning that said he saw quite a few nice sized ones come over the rail. Plus, this morning 1 ½ lb ones were being caught. Other than that, on the piers there’s been Skates, Sharks and a few Black Drum when they come through. Some anglers did see a small run of Puffer Fish the other day so they are also starting to move along the beaches. Most anglers are having the best luck on bait shrimp fished off the bottom and cut mullet for the larger fish. Now, with the good numbers of Bluefish just off the beaches I don’t think it will be long before we start seeing them being caught off the piers. Nothing better than some Got-Cha plug action when the Bluefish first arrive they are always super hungry and feeding like crazy when they first show up. Also, the best ones you will eat all year, that cold water Bluefish is to me the best tasting of the year.
Offshore:
Most of us are just waiting on a good weather pattern so we can get to fishing in the Bluewater. Last Sunday was the prettiest day we’ve seen all year and a few boats headed out. We did weigh a few nice Wahoo that went over the 50lb range. Also, some boats had a few nice Blackfin Tuna and have even caught a few Yellow Fin so far this season. From what we are seeing now most of the fish have been from the Rise south down toward the Swansboro Hole and even further south. I did talk to one customer the other day that was out bottom fishing and he heard one boat caught a few Wahoo at the Big Rock. Come see us for all your Wahoo fishing needs, we have all the lures rigged and ready along with plenty of fresh Ballyhoo ready for action. We also have Planer Rod Combos rigged and ready to go.
Bottom fishing has been very good this week, the best catches we’ve seen has been on out. Some of the boats went 30-40 miles out around the 90ft Drop this week and caught plenty of fish. B-Liners, Snappers, Triggers and plenty of nice sized Sea Bass. Seems if you are willing to go on out there’s more fish and better fishing. The nearshore ledges mostly have produced Sea Bass with some Snappers holding on them.
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RULES:
– Entry must sign up at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors or over the phone by an official weigh master. Official weigh master are any employees of Chasin Tails Outdoors and Tournament Director is Capt. Matt Lamb.
– Entry fee of $250.00 per boat, paid by cash or entry fee of $255.00 paid by debit/credit card, this is a 100% Payout back to the anglers.
– There is no sign up dead line – you can enter at any time during March 30th – June 14th.
– TWT Entry Fee $50.00 – Optional – Winner takes all pot.
– This is a boat format tournament – each boat entered will have to designate an official Captain and co-Captain (optional) for each boat entered. One of the two has to be present to weigh a fish to sign off on boat weigh sheet to be kept on file at Chasin Tails Outdoors as the official weigh card for that boat.
– Each boat entered can only be registered once.
– There are no restrictions as to the number of people allowed aboard each boat during the competition hours.
– Any Official weigh master reserves the right to refuse entry from any applicant, if needed.
– Entry must abide by official guidelines set by NC Marine Fisheries on minimum length requirements to be eligible.
– Fish must be caught in North Carolina waters. No boundaries.
– Entry must have entered 3 days prior to weighing in a fish.
– Prize money will be awarded solely on the basis of weight. Entry may weigh in additional fish to replace prior weight.
– Entry can win only one prize within the payout.
– In the event of a tie; winner will be determined by the following: weigh master will log fish by date, weight; weigh in time earliest will be winner.
– Fish must be weighed by official weigh master at Chasin’ Tails Outdoors. Weight will be logged and initialed by weigh master and registered entry.
– Fish will be weighed on a certified tournament pro hanging digital scale.
– Fish must be caught on rod/reel, hook and line only, no spear fishing or free gaffing allowed.
– Entry can fish anytime during challenge dates, May 1st – June 17th.
– Live or artificial bait is allowed.
– Weigh master can disqualify fish due to (net marks, spear marks, etc.).
– Fish must be freshly caught (24 hours limit) to weigh fish in. The weigh master will cut the tail of the fish when weighed in.
– Fish can only be caught by one boat entered in the event. Cannot weigh in fish caught by someone else. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
– Violation of any rule may result in automatic disqualification. The weigh master shall be the sole judge and their decision is final. The weigh master reserves the right to examine internally and externally any fish weighed. Fish will be gutted if any questions by weigh master.
– Top five places will be subject to lie detector test or polygraph by certified tester.
– The tournament director reserves the right to make the sole determination as to whether any of the challenge rules have been violated. Any questions concerning the rules and regulations should be directed to Matt Lamb, head tournament director. Tournament Director has the right to change any rule at any time if needed.
– Scales will be open during regular business hours. (NO EXCEPTIONS) fish can be brought by water or by land to the scales.
– Decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal and are not reviewable by any court of law.
Phone: 252-240-FISH (3474)
709 Atlantic Beach Caseway, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
