Fishing Report 03/17/2014

 

 
 
 
 

 

Last year, we had a great sign-up in our Cobia Challenge which 1st Place angler took home over $1,000 in Cash, a Star Rod and Penn Reel.2nd Place angler took home over $500 and a Ugly Stick Tiger Light Rod. 3rd Place angler took home around $200 and a Tsumina Classic Series Cobia Rod. 4th – 10th took home tackle bags and tackle packages

 We are working with new sponsors this year to get the prizes even better for 2014.

 Sign Ups will be open April 1st with no sign up “Dead Line” but there is a 3 day waiting period when you sign up before weighing in a Cobia. This is in place to protect the anglers that have signed up and are in the event; so no one can catch a monster then decide to sign up and weigh in the fish.

 
You may fish anywhere in NC but the fish has to be weighed on our cerified weigh station scales. You have a 12 hour grace period to weigh in your fish. So, if you like to fish at night that covers you, just bring the fish in the next morning when we open.  You can fish by boat, land, or pier with Live Bait, Dead Bait or Artifical it doesn't matter as long as it's caught on “Hook and Line”.

 We'll have a ” Wild Card” fish each month for a random weight picked by us. The closest angler to that weight or that exact weight will win a Prize.

 So, for $50. each come join the fun. The best thing about this event it's anybody game. Cobia Fishing is being at the right place at the right time. You never know when your going to ride by a bait ball and the winning fish is swimming under you.
 
So, spread the word tell all your friends and let's make this the best year yet!!!
 
 
 
 
It looks like we're getting closer to Spring everyday… but it's raining and in the 40's right now. The rest of the week's forecast is looking pretty mild so I really think we're on our way to good fishing. Once, we get a good week of warm weather a lot is going to change. With just the few warm days we've had over the last two weeks the water has jumped into the mid 50’s. 
 
 
 
 Inshore: 
 
 We're already seeing some good effects from the Speckled Trout closure. Just over the last two weeks we've been hearing some great reports and have seen some good action. Tim here at the shop has been testing out a few creeks and having some great luck. His last trip this past Sunday he caught 5 Speck's with one being over 4lbs. I talked with a customer the other day that said he was having some good action on the trout up in the creeks. Reports from the anglers are that Live Mud Minnows under floats are producing the best action. That's what Tim is having the best luck on fishing right beside guys using artificial that aren't doing that much in landing a fish. The water is still cold, Live Bait makes a huge difference as it warms up. So, with no one being able to keep the trout right now; we should have a great spawn this spring making our fishery better for the future. Just remember Speckled Trout is closed so it’s all catch and release but it's still loads of fun. To me watching one swim off is just as good as eating one.
 
The Redfish action has been showing some good signs for the season. I've already talked to guys catching up to 30 fish a trip. They aren't all over the place but there's some around to catch. Warm days are going to be the best, as the flats will warm up and make the fish want to feed. You could run into a problem this time of the year though you'll find a huge school and get no response when casting into them. The water is cold and super clear so they're kind of “spooky”. But on the other hand you might find a school that's in the feeding mode and have a great time. Berkley Gulp will be a good choice plus Cut Mullet and Live Mud Minnows are always good this time of year too. I've heard of some creeks just full of smaller fish. They seem to be holding in deeper water and will be less spooky making them easy to catch.
 
There's been some action around the Port Wall with some Taugs, Sheepshead and some keeper Sea Bass being caught. The bait to use is Shrimp, Squid and we do have some Live Sea Urchins in-stock for the Sheepsheads.
 
I've not heard of any Sea Mullet yet but it's just around the corner. Last year it was late March and we started to see them move into the inlet and turning basin. I've heard of a few Puffer Fish around the area but no big numbers yet but they'll show up anyday. Bait Shrimp fished right along the bottom with get the job done along the beaches and up at Cape Lookout is always a great spot in the spring for puffers.
 
The Shad are starting to run inland with some good numbers being caught on the upper Neuse River. We do have some Shad Darts, Spoons and Curly Tails in–stock if anyone is heading that way to try their luck. I'm still getting reports on some good Rock Fish being caught along the banks of the Trent River and around the bridges in New Bern. 
 
 

 
 Surf/Pier:
 
There's not a lot going on yet but there are Spiny Dog fish to be caught along the beach. Squid and Cut Mullet fished on the bottom will get their attention. The Fort Macon Rocks has been holding some Red Drum but it has been hit or miss. The days that have been the best seem to be the warm sunny days as the rocks heat up some making the fish more active wanting to feed. Also, I heard of a few along the beach as well. Cut Mullet, Finger Mullet and Bait Shrimp will work the best for bait. You may catch a few Black Drum as well. As, we all anixously wait everyday will improve fishing in the Surf getting better and better as the month goes on. By the end of this month we should see some Sea Mullets and good numbers of Puffer Fish moving in for the Surf anglers to catch. 

 
 
 
 Offshore: 
 
 The bottom fishing has been good when the offshore boats can get out. The Capt. Stacy went out this week and had a good catch of Sea Bass, Trigger Fish and some Snappers. I've been hearing other boats are having great luck with nice sized Sea Bass and Trigger Fish as well. Also, there's some big Amber Jacks out there to catch on top water plugs or bait fishing. We just got a shipment of “Offshore Poppers” so, we are stocked up for the Amber Jacks. It's pretty cool seeing a 50lb fish crush a Top Water Popper. As far as trolling we have heard of a few Wahoo, Black Fin and Dolphin that have been caught. But it's still hit or miss in the Gulf Stream for trolling. The biggest thing is that the weather has been so up and down boats haven't got out enough to locate the fish but it won't be long and all that will change. I've received reports of some Blue Fin Tuna that's shown up off Hatteras and a few boats have been cashing in this week. I talked with a Marine Fishery guy the other day that was telling me he saw something big feeding like crazy just outside of the inlet: Blue Fin? Black Fin? Albacore? Who knows what it was? He could see that it was a very large fish busting bait. 
 
 
 
 I have fresh winter caught Ballyhoo on the way up from Florida!!! This year we're going to be stocking “BAIT MASTER & BIONIC“. My first shipment is scheduled to arrive this week and the rest at the end of the month. So no worries… we'll have plenty of Small, Medium, Large and Select by the case or pack ready for action from the best bait suppliers in the business. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carolina Redfish Series rules and sign up forms have been released! Registration is now OPEN! 
 
GO TO http://saltwaterfishingradio.com/carolina-redfish-series-tournament/ TO GET ALL THE INFO YOU NEED OR CALL THE SHOP AT 252-240-3474. 
 
 
 
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