Well Folks, fall is really trying to show and then it gets warm and wet! A real roller coaster of weather: one day with hot temps, breezy and wet; very next day cool and sunshine! Hey that's what gets those fall fish biting so we can't complain too much. With that said lets talk fall fishing!
I've had some very good Spanish mackerel runs lately. Most of the Spanish are hitting Clark spoons on number one planners; a few nicer fish have hit live bait on top as well. I have also caught some on Fly's and SeaRock jigs casting when the Spanish get on top to feed. The Spanish are very nice in size; most fish are two to some over four pounds "nice fall size". They are biting around the inlets, just off the beach to about two miles off. The water has been very clear some days, so I've used fluorocarbon leaders on these days and it has really helped me get more bites. I don't know how much longer they will be here with the cooler air moving in; will just have to see!
The Flounder fishing has been good for the most part, on some trips I've caught over twelve keeper fish. Most of the Flounder are eating Mullet and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. I have caught some Flounder on artificial baits as well and it seems that most of the bigger flounder are hitting bigger artificial baits. I've had the best luck with Berkley Gulp five and six inch Jerkshad in colors pearl white and chart-pepper neon. I'm rigging these jerkshad on a red or black jig heads with forty pound fluorocarbon leaders for best results.
Redfish schools are starting to show up in the surf. You can find these schools of twenty to over a thousand Redfish around inlets, outer sand bars and jetties. Once you find these schools there pretty easy to catch if the weather is calm. I cast 1/4oz to 1/2oz jig heads with five inch Berkley Gulp jerkshad or four inch Berkley Gulp Ripple mullet; in colors new penny or pearl white. Be very careful in the surf if your in a boat, you really have got to watch the waves and try not to run over the school with your boat!
We've caught some bigger bull Redfish on hard/live bottoms just off the beach and around the local inlets. We are catching Reds in the 24 to over 38 inch range, some days their over the slot some days their in the slot. Most of the Reds are hitting mullets and fresh menhaden on Carolina rigs; using heavier egg sinkers with circle hooks 6/0 to 9/0. Don't forget to keep your drag tight when using circle hook so they will do there job.
One tip I can give you when fishing for Bull Reds, is don't use to light of tackle for these bigger Reds. If you fight them to long, there is a chance you can tire them out to much and kill them. Try a med/heavy rod and a reel with at least thirty pound mono or braid, this will help you get the fish in quicker; with a better chance of a good release. Check to see if the Red has a tag in its back; there are a fair amount of tagged Bull Reds out there.
And last but Not lest, Speckled Trout are starting to show and bite! The Speckled trout fishing has gotten better and better around this area every year! It looks like it will be the same this year as well; especially since we had such a mild winter; "I Can't wait, I love Trout fishing"! The best trout bites lately have been on grubs and hard baits, but we have caught some on the good 'ole live shrimp as well.
The best grubs I've had luck with lately are Berkley Gulp three inch shrimp in colors pearl white, new penny, and new penny flick/chart tail. I also have caught a good fair amount of trout on Saltwater Assassin's four inch sea-shad in colors greenback shiner, chicken on a chain and silver mullet. I Rig the grubs and shrimp patterns on a red or black jig heads and I always use fluorocarbon leader for trout fishing!
Hard lures that seem to be bringing the trout to the boat are Mirrolure's 17MR, Catch 2000 Jr, 52M and Sebile's Koolie minnow & Magic swimmer lures in colors pink, chartreuse, and white. Most of the trout we have caught have been in the creeks and main channels connecting to the ICW and inlets as well as the Cape Fear River.
The Fishing gear I use:
Reds, Trout and Flounder: Reels PENN Battle and Conquer spinning in sizes 2000, 3000 and 4000. Rods: PENN Legion 6'6" and 7' Med/light and Med. Line: Spiderwire Ultracast in 10, 15 and 20 pound. Bull Redfish: PENN Spinfisher V 5500 and PENN Torque 12. Rods: PENN Legion 1530S70 with the Spinfisher V 5500 and PENN Bluewater Carnage 700ML 20-40 class with the TRQ12. Line: thirty pound Berkley Big Game mono.
*Are you on Facebook? Check out my page Capt. Jot Owens/Jot It Down Fishing Charters LLC for lots of good info on local fishing, fishing tips, detailed live reports, photos, videos and tackle giveaways; yes free stuff!
Thanks for reading these reports, if you have any questions or comments just let me know. Don't' forget to take a kid fishing!
Capt. Jot Owens
PENN Tackle Elite Staff
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
