Hello from very cool Southeast North Carolina! I said it last week but, I really mean it this week; fall is REALLY showing this week! Very cool temps and lots of wind, but Fishing is good and getting better every day with the fall weather!
The Speckled trout are really starting to show and we are seeing some bigger fish around the area. The best trout bites lately have been on hard baits. Mirrolures in patterns 17MR in colors; pink, chartreuse and bone have been very productive for us. We are also catching some of the trout in deeper water with grubs. The best grub colors for us have been; chart-diamond, greenback shiner, chicken on a chain and silver mullet. In the Shrimp pattern colors; clear, bone-diamond and root beer. Rig the grubs and shrimp patterns on a red or black jig head for best results.
Red fishing is starting to change around the area; the Reds are starting to move around some with the cooler weather. On lighter wind and sunny days we're finding fish on the oyster flats. When we find these fish we are using rattling corks with finger mullets to catch them. We've also caught some Reds in the ICW around docks and boat landings. Carolina rigs with finger mullet are working well for the dock Reds. On days when I'm using just using lures to catch Reds, we've caught Reds on Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in the shrimp pattern, color good penny and pearl.
We are still catching Flounder around the inlets and in the creeks. Most of the fish in the creeks are running a little smaller but there are some keepers still. The Flounder around inlets are running a little bigger than the inshore fish. Most of the Flounder are eating Mullet and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. We have caught some Flounder on Artificial baits as well. We have had the best luck with Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in molting and pearl colors. In none scented grubs; colors like chicken on a chain, chart-diamond and morning glory are working well for the Flounders.
Gary trout have been biting well this last week. We are seeing the grays around the inlets and just off the beach on live bottom and small ledges. We are catching most of the Grays the same way we've been catching the Flounder; Carolinas rigs and live bait. My favorite live bait for Grays is finger mullet. If you would rather use lures, small jigging spoons and grubs will work just fine. I like to put a shot of scent on my grubs; "Bang's" shrimp, crab, and Taxes tea are some of my favorites.
Lots of Bluefish are showing up all most everywhere; creeks, ICW, inlets and the ocean. Blues are easy and fun to catch; bright lures, silver, gold and pink are my favorite colors "go bright"! We are casting jigs and spoons around the inlets and/or when the birds are working the surface. They are also fun on a light fly rod and one of the few fish that are easy to catch on a fly rod!
The Fishing gear we use:
Reds, Trout, Blues and Flounder: Reels Penn Sargus and Conquer spinning in sizes 2000 and 4000. Rods: All Star ASR inshore series 7' med action and Ugly stick lites 6'6" and 7' Med & Med-Heavy. Fourteen pound Berkley Fireline Crystal.
In other fishing news: The 2009 Cape Fear Red-Trout Celebrity Classic to benefit Cystic fibrosis was held this last weekend 10-15 to 10-17. I really enjoy fishing this tournament year after year. It's fun and there are a lot of very talented guides that fish this tournament. I had the pleasure fishing with Adam Meyer and Liz Bielski with Charter Lakes Insurance group again this year. I'm very happy to announce that team Charter Lakes took: Runner-up Grand Champion Angler, Lady Angler Grand Champion and the Largest Trout divisions. Liz caught more fish than Adam again this year, congrats Liz, great job! I look forward to fishing this tournament again next year.
Don't forget take a kid fishing and good fishing to ya,
Captain Jot Owens
Ranger boats and
Pure Fishing Pro staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
