July 15, 2008
Hello, I hope everybody is doing well. I can’t complain; fishing has had some consistence for the most part. The gas prices have too, there just too high! We can’t change the gas prices by snapping our fingers, so let’s talk fishing and worry about the gas after the fishing trip!
The summer trend of local fishing is really starting to show. One of my favorites has rally started to show this last week; the always fun Tarpon! I have only Tarpon fished once; last week. We saw a few fish and had a strike, and a jump but no hook up “that’s Tarpon fishing for ya”. Always good to see them around the boat; gets my blood pressure up every time!
We fish for Tarpon on the bottom using, live and fresh dead baits like; spots, bluefish and Menhaden. Rigging these baits on fish finder rigs, with three to five feet of 80 to 100 pound mono leaders. Circle hooks are the best bet for good hook ups and landings for Tarpon in hook sizes 7/0 to 9/0 depending what hook series you like. I have also had a fair share of Tarpon on my kite rig with live baits like greenies and menhaden. Nothing like seeing a Tarpon hit kite baits!
When the Tarpon start to show up, the sharks are already here! I’m not talking about one to three footers; I’m talking about four to seven plus footers, running fifty to two hundred pounds; on light tackle and fly rods. Don’t knock it til you have tried it! It’s a lot of fun most of the sharks come right up to the boat and take the bait or fly. We catch Lemon, Dusky, and Black tips and a few Hammerheads from time to time as well.
Best baits for the near shore sharks are, fresh and live Menhaden. When we use bait to catch the sharks we use spinning reels, with 300+ yards of thirty and forty pound Ugly braid super line. Rigging the baits; eight feet of 80 pound mono leader; some will wind on to the reel. Connected to a fifty pound swivel, then to Two to three foot of #9 SS wire and a 8/0 or 9/0 off set J hook. If you prefer Fly fishing, I like Striped bass flies in Menhaden patterns with 4/0 and 5/0 hook sizes. We use ten to twelve weight set ups; have lots of extra flies with you!
The Redfish are still picking good, you just have got to get out there and find some fish that have not been fished too much. Live, fresh cut bait and scented grubs have been the ticket. Spanish mackerel are biting as well, casting and trolling are best bets for these speedsters. Don’t forget that great hot summer fish the Sheephead, the hotter the better for those Sheephead. One-armed bandits seem to be one of best baits for me. Fish them around docks and bridges.
Thanks so much for reading this report, get out there and try some of these tactics you’ll catch’em!
Fishing gear we use;
Tarpon: Reels Pflueger Contender G15L, Rods Shakespeare Custom “USCB 1166 MH”
Sharks: Same as Tarpon and Penn spinning reels 560L Live Liner with Penn Torque jigging rod 7’ 20 to 50 braid.
Reds, Spanish and Sheephead: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy.
Good Luck,
Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
July 3, 2008
Hello Folks, I hope everybody is enjoying the summer so far. Fishing for the most part has been very good this year for me and my charters. We are starting to see more people on the water, in the last couple of weeks. Which I guess is a good thing, “tip”: if you want to beat the crowds; go earlier! To the fishing report!
The Redfish have really picked up in the last two weeks. My charters have had four fish on slow days to over fifth teen fish on better days. Live, fresh cut bait and scented grubs have been the ticket. You just have got to find the Reds to catch them. Fish the live and cut bait on Carolina rigs. Saltwater Assassin (Blurps) in colors good penny and molting seem to work well for the scented grubs. Most of the reds are in the water way on docks and in creek mouths.
Flounder fishing has also picked up too. We are getting some nice fish around Carolina beach and Masonboro inlets. Most of the flounders are hitting live bait, mullets and little menhaden. We are fishing the live bait on Carolina rigs, but using a little heavier egg sinker for the strong currents in these areas. Don’t forget to take your time when Flounder fishing, it takes time to catch a door mat! We have caught some smaller; but keeper flounder in some of the creeks using grubs.
Some Sheephead and black drum are biting around docks and bulkheads. There has been a few very nice black drum caught lately, some fish over twenty pounds reported “that’s a good pull”! These fish are hitting fiddler crabs, live shrimp and fresh shrimp. The rigs we are using are small Carolina rigs with small very strong hooks. Sheephead and smaller black drum make great table fare.
The Spanish mackerel are still picking good most days. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick.
Thanks for taking the time to read this report. Have a great 4th of July, get out there on the water and have good time. Just be careful of all that boat traffic! Fishing gear used: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning reels 6035 and 6040 size. Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med and med hvy action. Line Ugly braid 20# and 30#
Captain Jot Owens
910-233-4139
www.captainjot.com
June 16, 2008
Well Folks, the temps are up, the gas prices are up, but thank God the fishing is up too! I don’t know what to tell ya about the gas prices, but one thing you can do is; slow down a little bit. The boat that is, you do need to keep going fishing though! Ok enough about gas, let’s talk fishing!
The Spanish mackerel are still going strong; we have caught 30 to 40 plus Spanish on most of our charters in the last couple of weeks. I’m happy to congratulate my charter on June the 7th for taking 3rd place in the Seapath Marina Spanish mackerel tournament.
Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. The colors that seem to be working are pink and green in sizes seven & fourteen gram.
Cobia have really started to show around the shoals, inlets and near shore reefs. My charters have caught four and released two in the last two weeks, the biggest being 61 pounds. We are catching most of the Cobia on small bluefish and grass shad “greenies”. We are fishing these baits on the bottom, light lining and balloon fishing. Cobia fishing takes time; they don’t just jump in the boat. If you want to catch a nice Cobia put in some nice time, you’ll get one sooner or later!
We are seeing a few King mackerel starting to show up; most of the kings are just off the beach to twenty miles or so. Slow trolling live or dead bait or fast trolling spoons and witches with strips seems to be working. Most of the kings are on live bottom and ledges with bait fish holding close by. There are some Mahi as well mixed in with the kings in some of the areas too. A real nice near shore treat the ole Mahi!
Thanks for taking the time to read this report. Get out there and go fishing, don’t worry so much about the gas prices. Just slow down a bit and have a good time on the water! Go fishing to ya always!
Fishing gear used: Fishing gear used: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning reels 6035 and 6040 size. Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med and med hvy action. *Cobia Rigs: Pflueger Contender G15L reels and Ugly Stick Custom’s # USCB 1166 MH Great Cobia and Tarpon Rod! 30 pound Cajun lightin’ line.
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
June 3, 2008
Hello folks, is it hot enough for ya?? Summer has really started to show and feel around eastern North Carolina. The good thing is it’s a good reason to get out on the water to cool off and do some fishing! Don’t forget your sunscreen and polarized sunglasses on those bright sunny days; they can be a life saver! Let’s talk fishing.
The Spanish mackerel have still been biting good to great on most days. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. The colors that seem to be working are pink, green and blue in sizes seven & fourteen gram. (Hint): keep it to smaller lures when the weather gets hot!
My charters are starting to catch a few Flounder; we are seeing a few fish inshore as well on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size. Live bait and grubs are the best bet. Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs. I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well. I’m starting to see a few Mullet and Menhaden around the creeks and small channels.
I’ve seen a few Cobia around the inlets and near shore reefs. Live bait fishing is the best bet for these great fighting fish. Fishing live baits on top as well as on the bottom will get you the best chance at catching a Cobia. I prefer bluefish, mullet and menhaden for bait; what ever is easier to get. To catch a Cobia you’ve got to put your time in, sometimes you catch one right away most of the time you don’t. That’s why they call it fishing!
We are seeing a few more Redfish around, most fish have been in the water way and around some of the inlets. As more live bait shows up, more Reds will come out of the ocean and in to the sounds. This is starting to happen, the fishing should pick up in the next few weeks. The Reds we are getting are hitting fresh cut, bait live and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.
Thanks for taking the time to read this report. Get out on the water and take a kid fishing! Don’t forget to take Dad fishing soon; father’s day is just around the corner! Good fishing to ya!
Fishing gear used: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning reels 6035 and 6040 size. Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med and med hvy action. All Stars’ Coastal inshore series Trout/Redfish Special 7’ code# CC TR2-S Great inshore rod!! Line Ugly braid 20# and 30# www.allstarrods.com
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
May 20, 2008
Hello from Southeast North Carolina, I hope everybody is having a good fishing season so far this year! I’ve had a good one so far myself; the new Ranger boat has been a real treat to fish this season! The fishing is picking up nicely as well. On that note let’s talk fishing!
The real winner for me lately has been the Spanish mackerel. My charters have done real good the last few trips, with catches of thirty or more Spanish in a half day. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in silver and pink flash. I really like the pink flash series, these spoons have worked very well for my charters.
There has also been plenty of blue fish up and down the beach as well. We have also caught a hand full of chopper blues too. These choppers are running in the six to over fifth teen pound range. The choppers are biting big poppers and mid water stick baits. Color really does not seem to matter to those big blues, just a lot of action from the lure!
Bottom fishing just off the beach has produced some nice Black bass, grunts and small Grouper, of course on the lighter wind days! Jigs and squid are the trick, fishing the squid on simple two hook bottom rigs. Jig fishing using two to five once jigs in colors pink, green and red/white. We are fishing mostly hard and live bottom areas for the bottom fish.
The flounder bite is picking up some too; we are starting to see a few fish inshore as well on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size. Live bait and grubs are the best bet. Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs. I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well.
Red fish have been hit or miss for me lately, some days we get a few some days we don’t. This should change when more live bait shows up in the creeks and channels. What Reds we are getting are hitting fresh bait and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.
Thanks so much for reading this report. If you get a chance check out some of Xtools new products at www.xtools.us Arnette has some great new sunglasses out this year for the guys and gals, check them out at www.arnette.com Lets go fishing, give me a call>>>!
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
May 9, 2008
Hello everybody, I hope spring is treating you good. The weather has really warmed up around here; we are getting more good weather fishing days. There has been a lot more days with lighter winds and sunny sky’s. This good weather has lead to good fishing trips. One thing that I have seen is a lot of fish that are early this year, showing up two to four weeks earlier than usual.
Fishing has changed a lot since my last report in a good way. The Bonita bit well this and last week, we caught them trolling and casting. Spanish mackerel have showed up this week as well. The lures that we’re trolling with and have worked well for us are; Clark spoons and Yo-Zuri crystal minnow deep divers. The YoZuri’s have worked the best on the Bonita’s and big Spanish mackerel.
A few King mackerel have also showed up this week, they are not real big but a lot of fun on light tackle! The kings are also biting the Yo-Zuri’s. The colors that are working the best have been Pink and Clown. We are trolling the crystal minnows two to three knots. The good thing about trolling this Yo-Zuri is you can use light tackle which makes it a lot of fun.
The Red fish, Flounder and Speckled trout are biting too. The trout bite is starting to slow down around Wrightsville but it is going strong in the river. Reds and Flounder are biting around docks and in the creeks. Most of the Reds and Flounder are hitting grubs and live bait. Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs are working well to get these fish, in colors good penny and molting. Blurps are scented grubs like many other scented grubs on the market, but they won’t dry out on your hook and they have great action!
There is lots of Blues around the inlet; they will bite just about any spoons or jigs. There are a few big ones around too, don’t forget use some good leader when your fishing for them. I have herd some talk about a few COBIA showing up around. Let’s not get to ahead of our self this season now, but “I’m keeping my eye out for them”.
Gear used: Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med action. Line: Ugly Braid fifth teen and twenty pound test. Keep your eyes out for Penn’s new jigging rods. I have used a few of them and they have a really good feel to them. Thanks for reading this report. Give me a call lets go fishing, School will be out soon, time to book that fishing trip!
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
April 25, 2008
Hello folks, I hope y’all are enjoying the warmer temps as much as I am! Summer is starting to show it self around eastern North Carolina. Lighter winds and warmer temps have been the story and that means good fishing! Finally three and four day windows of good temps and light winds. Enough about the weather lets talk fishing!
We have had some great Trout fishing lately, fishing south of Wrightsville beach. On good days we are catching over fifth teen trout with three to six flounder mixed in too. On Thursday 4-17, my charter caught sixteen trout and six flounder. That same day one of the trout was 27” and weighted six and a half pounds, a very nice spring trout. The trout was released alive and in good health.
We’ve been catching the trout on live shrimp and shrimp grubs. The rig we are using for the live shrimp is a float rig, fishing two to four feet deep. The shrimp grubs that seem to work the best are Saltwater Assassin (Shrimp Cocktails) in colors (Drunk monkey and Natural glow). We’ve also caught a few with a Kiwk rattling cork and a grub shrimp.
The Red fish bite has been “hit or miss” some days we go out and wack’em some days we don’t. Live bait, fresh shrimp and scented grubs have been the ticket. You just have got to find the Reds to catch them. Fish the live and cut bait on Carolina rigs. Saltwater Assassin (Blurps) in colors good penny and molting seem to work well for the scented grubs. Most of the reds are in the water way on docks and in creek mouths.
In the ocean on the nice days, the blues are biting well. Sometimes you get a few Bonita’s mixed in as well. Clark spoons in size’s one, two and three trolled behind number one planners are the trolling ticket. Casting and jigging spoons works well too around near shore artificial wrecks. Pink colored lures seem to work the best for my charters. It will not be long we will see some Spanish mackerel; I’m looking forward to that!
Gear used: Pflueger Medalist 6040 and 6035 spinning reels with 12 and 20 pound Ugly Braid line. Rods: Ugly stick lite’s in med action 7’.in length. Thanks for taking a look at this report! Get out on the water and take a kid fishing. Or better give me a call and I’ll take ya!
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
April 15, 2008
Good day to everyone. The weather is starting to finally get right; we are having more warm days than cooler ones. The forecast has warmer days for the rest of the week, a little cool today though! Wind wise a little better everyday, we’ve finally started to get out on the ocean and chase those Bonita’s around. Let’s talk about that.
Those high speed Bonita’s are showing up, good numbers should show up any day now. The Bluefish are mixed in with them too. We’re catching them by trolling and casting. The trolling rigs that we’re using are; a number one planner with thirty to forty feet of forty pound mono leader. Tied to the leader is a Clark spoon in size’s 0, 1 and 2, I like to use the gold and pink flash Clark spoons. Troll them about five to six knots.
If you would like to try casting or jigging for the Bonita’s, I use Maria jigs. They do have a price tag on them, but when the bite is tough these jigs will pay off! Maria’s that I have the best luck with are size’s seven and fourteen grams. The fourteens are easier to cast. Colors to use; green, blue and pink seem to work the best for me.
The Speckled trout have decided to bite from time to time the last few weeks. Most fish are coming out of creeks and channels around the waterway and inlets. Best bet for the trout so far has been grubs, working the grubs slow in holes and drop-offs. The grubs I like in the spring mouths are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”. Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, and salt/pep shad. I like to use shrimp (Bang) scent in the spring too, this helps because there is not much bait in the water yet. I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in the cool spring mouths it can really help.
Redfish are schooling good in the surf and the ICW, when we get a nice day we get out and get’em. They are pretty easy to catch; you just got to find them. That part can be a bit harder, trust me! A sunny, light wind day and good polarized sunglasses are the keys to catching these Reds. Grubs seen to be the easy go to bait for the Reds. Saltwater Assassin (Blurps) in pearl and molting colors work very well. You can use jigs heads, 1/4 and 3/8 for casting. Color of the jig heads is not a big deal red and black work just fine. Hold on tight, they fight great even in cool water!
We are catching a few Flounder as well. The flounder are biting while we are fishing for Reds and the Trout. Grubs work just fine to get these guys. Gear used: Reel Pflueger Infusion 7635SS and 7640ss, Rod: Ugly Stick Lite 7′0″ Med light and Med act. Line: Ugly Braid in 15 and 20 pound test. Thanks for taking the time to read this report, get out there and go fishing! If you would like to go with me check out my web page www.captainjot.com and or give me a call 910-233-4139.
Capt. Jot Owens
Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, NC
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
April 8, 2008
Hello everybody, I hope spring is treating you well! Not to bad around here, two days warm then one day cool. Hey that’s spring for ya around the Carolina coast! One day breezy, two days calm sometime it’s the other way around! That’s why I love the Carolina coast we have real seasons around here! Enough about weather, to the fishing report we go!
On some of the windier days when it’s been hard to get out on the coast to fish we’ve been doing a little bit of fresh water fishing. The large mouth Bass have been biting well. Most trips we are catching nine to over fifth teen bass a day. The size of the Bass are running one to over five pounds, most fish are two to three pounds. Bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”. Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.
On the coast fishing has been a little hit or miss for the most part. Some days we go out and get over ten Redfish some days it’s less. The best bait for the Reds lately has been fresh shrimp or live mud minnows. I have had the most luck rigging the shrimp and minnows on Carolina rigs. We are using EC L 42 style hooks in number “one” size. The Reds are running in the sixteen to twenty-five inch range with a few bigger ones mixed in from time to time.
If you would like to go the artificial root, I would recommend using scented grubs. The best bet is to use Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in Colors Molting and good penny. These Blurps are really well scented to put out one great scent trail. Those Reds will find them, trust me! Jigs heads for the grubs in ¼ to 3/8 oz, colors red and black seem to be the trick. Work’em slow around docks and drop-offs on grass lines.
There are a few trout and flounder around as well, they are not very big, but some times you can pull out a keeper. Mud minnows and grubs are the ticket for these fish. Rig the minnows on Carolina rigs, go light on the leader fifth teen to twenty pound line. Grub colors that we’re using; Chart. Diamond and Silver mullet with red head jigs. Work’em slow on shore lines and drop off on the grass lines.
Gear used for the last few trips: Pflueger Medalist and Infusion SS spinning reels in size 6035 great for trout and light Red fishing. Rods: Ugly Stick Lite. Med act 7’ Line used Ugly Braid fifth teen and twenty pound test. Thanks for reading this report, if you have any questions or comments drop me a line at www.captainjot.com
Thanks again,
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
PS: Booking up FAST>>>>>>>>>
Posted in Fishing Report on April 8th, 2008 | No Comments »March 26, 2008
Hello to all, I hope everyone is having a good spring so far! The weather around here has been nice for the most part; we just had a front push by and brought cooler temps in for a day or two. It’s already starting to warm back up and the forecast is for warmer and warmer days to come. Let’s get to the fishing report. “What you came for”!
The Redfish have been biting fair to great. Good numbers are being caught, anywhere from five fish to over twenty on better days. The Redfish are hitting grubs, cut bait and live bait. . Grubs that have been working well: Saltwater Assassin’s (Blurps) in colors molting and good penny. The best cut bait so far has been fresh shrimp. Most of the local fish markets are starting get some fresh shrimp. Rig the shrimp Carolina style using a number one Eagle claw L42 hook.
We are catching a few Speckled trout from time to time. The trout are small with a few nice ones mixed in. Grubs have been the best bet for the trout; we’re using Saltwater Assassin sea shad and shrimp patterns. Colors that have worked lately; Elec. Chicken and Chart Diamond. Don’t forget those never fell; Mirrolures, in colors silver mullet and white on white. The water is still cool so don’t forget to work the lures a little slower.
There has been a few bluefish starting to show up around the inlets. These guys are a little early but that is good thing. I hope the Bonita’s are not far behind them! If you have ever caught a Bonita on light tackle or Fly rod you know just how fast they are and how much fun it is to catch them. If you have not ever caught one, you need to give it a try. This is one of my favorites to catch hands down and they are not bad to eat as well.
If you get a chance take a look at Xtool’s and Pflueger’s new gear. They have come out with some new products for this year. Xtools has come out with over nine new products from Xtoolkits to RodXRacks. You can check them all out at www.xtools.us Pflueger has made a very nice saltwater bait caster, (Patriarch) check it out and other new products at www.pfluegerfishing.com
Thanks for taking a look at this report. We are booking up quickly for the season so give me a call to book your next fishing trip. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing as well!!
See ya soon,
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
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