Fishing Reports 06/18/2015

 

Inshore:

Again, fishing has been good along the beaches and inlets, we've been seeing plenty of Spanish and Blue Fish. The bigger Spanish have been moving in over the last week with us weighing fish over the 6lbs range. From what we've seen, the Cape Lookout area and AR reefs are holding the bigger fish. Trolling Clarkspoons, Mackerel Trees, Bird Rigs always work good but the “NEW – Showtime Squid Rigs” we just got in (which one of our own here at the store designed) is working very well. Most anglers have been using #1 and #2 planers along with trolling weights to get their lures down.

First thing in the morning to around 8am and again later in the day is the time for the best action but anglers are still catching them right in the heat of the day too. Also, anglers are getting some action by casting small lures in the 1/2oz size around the inlets.

King Mackerel has moved in better over the last week, I know of a few anglers that had some great luck in the Shipping Channel this week. Trolling live baits on live bait rigs plus Cigar Minnows on Blue Water Dead Bait Rigs and Pirate Plugs all have been working well. Also, anglers are catching a few Dolphin nearshore using the same baits and trolling C & H Rattle Jets, Bubblers with small Ballyhoo.

We've been seeing some good Sheepshead action and again yesterday we weighed one over the 10lb mark and most of the anglers that's been by have had plenty of fish in their coolers. AB Bridge, Beaufort Bridge, Harker’s Island Bridge and the Port Wall all are good areas to fish. Live Fiddler Crabs and Live Sea Urchins have been working the best. We have a good supply of both in stock.

A few nice Flounder have come to the scales this week from the backwaters and AR reefs. The bite hasn't been as good as it was over the last few weeks but fish are still here it's just been somewhat slower.

One problem we've been facing this week, there has been barges and Navy ships docked at the Port all week. We did weigh a few nice Flounder that were caught around the Coast Guard Station. Live Mud Minnows and Berkley Gulp have been working the best for the backwaters. I heard some fish are moving into the Neuse River now, as some of the guys fishing the Redfish event last Saturday said they caught some nice Flounder while casting for Reds in the river.

As far as the ocean AR – 315, 285, 320 and 330 will all be good places to try fishing with Spro 2oz Bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp 4” White Shrimp.

The Ambler Jack fishing has been good at AR 330 and AR 285 with pretty much all the action you want. It’s not on fire everyday but there's plenty of AJ’s holding on the reefs. Most anglers that have been going out are chumming the fish up off the reefs and casting big Topwaters to them. When I say Topwaters, you have to have plugs that will handle these fish. Also, you can catch them off the bottom with Dead Menhaden and Sardines. If you haven't tried this type of fishing and want something that’s going to pull AJ’s will take care of that for you. Also, have a Cobia rod rigged up ready to go because this week we have weighed a few Cobia caught while anglers were fishing for AJ’s. They have been coming off the reefs with the jacks and you have to be ready to get them when you see them.

Redfishing is still a bit up and down, seems if you know where there are some fish hanging they'll bite pretty good. The problem has been finding them, I know last week, we had a few more move in since the live shrimp have really filled up the creeks. What we saw in the Carolina Redfish Series last week most all of the fish weighed were from the AB Bridge south. But again, the winners fished around Morehead City, so there's fish in the marsh it’s just a matter of running across them. Most anglers have been getting good action on Topwater Lures, Berkley Gulp and Live Mud Minnows.
 

 

Piers / Surf:

Spanish and Blue Fish has been the name of the game off the piers early in the mornings and late evenings. Anglers are plugging Got-cha Plugs and we just received a shipment of the clear Pole Kat Plugs that always have been a good one for our area on the Spanish.

As far as the bottom fishing goes it’s got hot and looks like we have got into that summertime mixed action. Fishermen are seeing a mixed bag: Sea Mullets, Spots, Croakers, Bluefish and a few Drum, not a lot of any one kind. Fishing Bait Shrimp, Bloodworms, Fish Bites, Mullet and Squid off the bottom will get you some action.

 

Offshore:

Dolphin bite has been pretty steady with some action just off the beach. I know over on the East Side of the Cape anglers are catching good numbers of fish just 3 to 4 miles out. Also, there's been a few caught at the Sea Buoy at the end of the Shipping Channel. The bigger fish are still hanging from the 14 Buoy out to the 90ft Drop. I know some of the big boats had a good catch of Dolphin out pass the 90ft Drop yesterday. There's been a good number of Black Fin Tunas caught right at the break also this week. Trolling Medium and Small Ballyhoo with Sea Witches and C&H Lures have been working well.

The bottom boats have been seeing good action on Trigger Fish, Sea Bass, Grouper, AJ’s, and Snappers. 

 

 

 

Official Results: 4th Annual Cobia Challenge

 

1st Place: Dylan Rhudy 88lbs

(Winnings – $2,000.+ Star Rod & Penn Reel)

 

 

2nd Place: Alex Chandler 68lbs

(Winnings – $1,200. + Star Rod Combo)

 

 

3rd Place: Steven Chadwick 67lbs

(Winnings – $800. + Ugly Stick Combo)

 

 

4th Place: Jeff Radford 60lbs

(Winnings- Tsuimina Rod + Tackle Package) 

 

 

5th Place: Adam Corey 57lbs

(Winnings – Calcutta Aluminum Pliers + Tackle Package) 

 

 

6th Place: Bryan Wokasch 57lbs

(Winnings- Calcutta Aluminum Pliers + Tackle Package) 

 

 

7th Place: John Kinstrey 54lbs

(Winnings- Penn Tackle Bag + Tackle Package) 

 

 

8th Place: Chuck Hansen 52 1/2lbs

(Winnings- Calcutta Pliers + Tackle Package) 

 

 

9th Place: Zach Davenport 50lbs

(Winnings- Calcutta Pliers + Tackle Package) 

 

 

10th Place: Michael Kohan 48lbs

(Winnings- Calcutta Pliers + Tackle Package)

 

April Wild Card – (No Fish Weighed)

May Wild Card – 54lbs (Winner : John Kinstrey – 54lbs)  

June Wild Card – 49lbs (Winner : Steven Chadwick – 65lbs) 

 

We want to thank everyone that fished this year… also to all that followed the event. This year was our biggest year yet!!! We're already working on more sponsors for next year's event with even more prizes… Spread the word because we hope to make the “5th Annual Cobia Challenge” in the spring 2016 the best so far. 

 

Remember our Sponsors next time you're shopping… as they're supporting this event…

so we can give nice prizes all the way to 10th Place.

 Which makes it a pretty good deal when the entry fee is only $50.