Fishing Report 12/15/2016

 

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It’s that time of the year when we go to every two weeks on the fishing reports, hard to believe 2017 is knocking on the door. I think this fall went by quicker than ever because we were all wrapped up in some of the best fishing we’ve seen in years. But just because we’re into winter now and getting ready for Christmas fishing has still been pretty good when the weather allows.  We’ve been seeing some cold weather but so far this winter temperatures have been very up and down. One day it’s in the 40’s and next to be in the high 60’s like they are calling for this coming up weekend.

 

Inshore/Nearshore:

Speckled Trout fishing has been pretty much the name of the game over the last week or so.  The crowds seem to be gone since after Thanksgiving but the ones that’s still fishing are seeing pretty good action. From what we’re seeing most of the action’s been more toward the Neuse River area but I know of some anglers that have been fishing around the Haystacks, Radio Island, Bogue Sound, Shackleford Banks and the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty still getting nice limits of fish. Not saying the action was like it was back in October and November as you could catch a 2lb trout just about anywhere you went. The water has got cold so, the fish are feeding different now; you have to fish slower. What we’ve been seeing over the last two weeks Mirrolure’s in the 17MR and 18MR size along with Live Mud Minnows have been working well. Nick, from the shop fished yesterday around the Neuse and last week and caught fish just about all day, with a lot of small fish but had no problem getting limits of 3 to 4lb fish.  Also, there’s still some Gray Trout around, good number of fish have been hanging around Radio Island area along with the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty.  I’m sure also you could pick up a few drifting the Turning Basin area on the bottom.

Also, we’ve been seeing some nice Redfish action along Shackleford Banks, Shark Island and Cape Lookout Jetty. Some customer came by the shop this past weekend and said they got into a school of Redfish along Shackleford and caught them until they were tired of catching them, also hearing the same thing down around Bear Island, Bogue Inlet area and Shark Island have large schools of fish. When looking for them along the Surf Zone in the winter it’s all about finding good weather windows, you need a light wind out of the north to really be able to find them. The water is clear as it will get so, if the sun’s out and the wind’s down if you run across a school it’s pretty hard to miss them.  Berkley Gulp baits and Z-Man baits are what we have the best luck with when fishing the Surf Zone Redfish.  We’re still seeing schools of fish in some of the creeks in the backwaters but they’ve been hard to get them to bite.  So, Live Mud Minnows have been helping anglers in getting the fish to bite. Also, you might run across some Black Drum if you’re fishing the docks in the creeks or at Cape Lookout Rock Jetty fishing. Bait Shrimp on the bottom will usually get the best results.

Still some Sea Mullets around to catch, last week our Sea Mullet master, Sam had a great catch around the 18 and 19 buoy around the Coast Guard Station in 30 to 40ft of water. Fishing Sam’s Gitter’s Spec Rigs on the bottom with Bait Shrimp and Fishbites have been working the best. Also, you’re more than likely going to run across Hog Fish, Puffer Fish and a few Gray Trout while fishing for the mullets.

We weighed in some nice King Mackerel this past weekend; it’s pretty simple to get into the fish you’ll just have to run north, when I say north I mean up off Hatteras Island. Yea, it seems like a long ways when you think about it but boats do it a lot this time of the year. That’s where the fish are so that’s where you have to go to get action. Not saying you might not pick any up over on the East Side of the Cape but I haven’t heard of much action.

 

Surf Zone:

Not seeing many anglers fishing the beach in the last week or so. But the few that have are seeing a few Red Drum, Black Drum and Speckled Trout. The Drum action hasn’t been in one spot, most of the ones I know that have been caught are around Fort Macon area caught on mullet. For the Speckled Trout -Radio Island beach has been the best spot along with a few anglers going over to Shackleford Banks. Mirrolures have been working the best since the water is cold and you can fish them a lot slower than other lures which make them more productive this time of the year.

 

 Offshore:

We finally got a good weather window last Sunday and a few boats made it out, they did come back with a few Wahoo and Blackfin. Also, I saw some good bottom fishing coming from the bottom fishing grounds. Like I say time after time, it’s all about watching the fronts and finding good days this time of the year to make it out. 

 

 

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