June, one of the better fishing months in Southeast NC; lighter winds (hopefully), warm days and so many kinds of fish to target. Precipitation anybody’s guess, some June’s super dry; some Junes are monsoon! Here are some of the fish I like to target during June around Southeast NC.
Redfish are in their summer trend by June and the trick to summer Reds is to find the fish that have not been pressured too much. For this I like to use search type lures. Top water lures in the shallow waters earlier mornings and afternoons will produce Redfish. I prefer MirrOlure Top dog Jr or Top Pup’s with a great ‘walk the dog action with sound,’ fishing these along marsh grass edges with oyster rocks. Slow rolling swimbaits like a Berkley Powerbait CullShad in 5” size. *See here: https://alnk.to/44Vxvaq rigged on Eagle Claw L11118G-6/0 swimbait hooks. Also using a SlobberKnocker (chatter bait) *see here https://alnk.to/dpvDLgu in two to five feet of water has produced some nice Reds. Working grubs like Berkley Gulp or Powerbait Bonga Shrimp *See here https://alnk.to/d3Cc7VS later in the day will also produce Reds for you, fishing deeper holes and docks (fishing deeper with the sun high). Keep in mind just because you find the Redfish, does not always mean they will bite. Hey someone could have pressured those same fish the day before or just before you got there. Covering area will help you find the active and less pressured fish.
Everybody loves to catch a Flounder; they are really getting their act together by June. Keep in mind you can fish for Flounder, but the season is closed in NC; you must release all flounder. *NC Flounder season is September 1st to the 14th 2026. You can find Flounder just about anywhere when June rolls in. In southeast NC, I look for bigger Flounder around deeper channel drop-offs and structure; in waters of five to fifth-teen feet plus deep. The local inlets and cuts; south Topsail, Rich’s, Mason’s, Masonboro, Carolina Beach and snow’s cut are always a good place to find some bigger size Flounders. Last but certainly not least, are the artificial reefs, ledges, and hard/live bottoms from one to ten miles off the beach, these areas always hold very nice Flounder in June.
Once you have found some Flounder you need to know how to catch’em. If you want to go the artificial root, try bigger baits; this will greatly help you catch bigger size Flounder. I prefer Berkley Gulp five- and six-inch Jerkshad in colors pearl white, chart pepper neon and Fire tiger. *See here https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp Also, I am really liking all the new Crome series Gulp baits. Rigging the jerkshad on 1/4oz to 3/8oz for inshore and on 3/4oz to 1oz Fusion jig heads https://alnk.to/gzWrmtO or Berkley Fusion bucktails *See here https://alnk.to/cHMQmfL in 1oz, 1.5oz or 2oz for ocean fishing. I really like the new Gulp Dragon Tail as a trailer on a Bucktail. *See here: https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx Another great Flounder lure is the Berkley Gulp four-inch shrimp pattern; this bait is great for cast up and down inshore drop-offs in creek channels. *See here: https://alnk.to/58q5o7A I rig these baits on Fusion jig heads in sizes 1/4oz to 3/8oz for inshore; in colors red, gray, and white *See here: https://alnk.to/gzWrmtO Leaders; inshore thirty- or forty-pound, ocean fishing forty- or fifty-pound Berkley Pro Spec fluorocarbon leader. *See Leaders here https://alnk.to/5jkYCU5 Keep your eyes peeled, there are quite a few tagged flounder out there. Some even have $100 Red tags!! 😉
If you would like to go with live bait for the Flounders, try mud minnows, small mullets, or small menhaden as live bait. Rig these live baits on Carolina rigs with an Eagle Claw L42 #1 or 1/0 hooks, eight to fourteen inches of thirty-to-forty-pound fluorocarbon as leader. I prefer egg sinkers as my weight, the secret to how much weight you use is ‘as much as you need to stay on the bottom but as least as you can get away with.’ You need to be on the bottom for Flounder but going lighter will always get you more bites!
One fish that is always on my hot weather list is the Sheephead. The Sheephead are a good challenge to catch and they fight hard, but they are also good to eat! All you need is some fiddler crabs or sand fleas for bait. A medium/heavy action spinning or casting rod with Spiderwire twenty- or thirty-pound braid for line will help you bring in that big Sheephead in. Tie on a short carolina or knocker rig with forty- or fifty-pound fluorocarbon leader and a small live bait J hook (sharp/strong). Also, I have had good luck rigging up a carolina Treat jig with a fiddler crab. Drop that fiddler crab down beside a piling on the carolina rig and when you feel that little bump; set the hook and hold on! PS: they are great eating in the two-to-six-pound range!
The Spanish mackerel fishing can be pretty good in June, the bigger fish start to show this month. These fish are a lot of fun to see busting the surface of the water and even more fun to see on the end of your line! Casting small spoons like (Big Nic Spanish Candy lures) or using fly gear in weights seven to nine can make for a great challenge on light tackle. High speed spinning reels really help my clients get more bites. *See here: https://alnk.to/4XzGUs0 Look for Spanish to be hanging around near shore artificial reefs, ledges, and inlets. Trolling Clark spoons or small deep driver lures can be the key to success some days for the Spanish mackerel and even small king mackerel. When using the Clark spoons, I would recommend the pink flash or regular silver spoons in sizes #00, #0 and #1; the pink flash series has really helped me put more fish in the boat. You might come over a few false albacore and bluefish mixed in with the Spanish from time to time.
Last but never least; Cobia fishing is in full swing by early June and should be good until late June. So far this year it has been hit or miss for me, kind of like last year. I look for Cobia around inlets, shoals, and bait schools; near shore/offshore reefs and ledges are also a good place to look too. With the water being clear most of the time in June it should easier see those brown logs swimming in the water. I like to throw big jigs, swim baits and live baits to the Cobia. Color really does not seem to matter, but (go bright); Berkley Fusion Bucktails https://alnk.to/cHMQmfL in 1.5oz to 2oz, but I always add a Berkley Gulp 5-inch grub *see here https://alnk.to/h6JZVIF When I am not sight casting for them, we are fishing around inlets, shoals, and near shore artificial reefs. I float fish, bottom fish, and kite fish in these areas with live menhaden, spots, and mullet as bait. You can chum if you like, but the sharks and Rays will come in numbers!
Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/aLMHDdf Slammer IV https://alnk.to/cm1wsrU or Authority https://alnk.to/dpw4ln1 series spinning reels 2500, 3000 & 3500 sizes for the Redfish, Spanish, sheephead and Flounder. Cobia: PENN Slammer IV or Authority 5500 & 6500 spinning reels or PENN 15LW, 20LW, 25NLD Fathom casting reels. https://alnk.to/cb6LtHq Rods PENN Battalion II or the Fenwick HMG Inshore series; 7’ medium and med/heavy for the Redfish, sheephead and Flounder *See here: https://alnk.to/biuF0uB Cobia Rods: PENN Rampage https://alnk.to/4BFWHOm or Carnage III Jigging https://alnk.to/5ujYd7y series 50 to 100 class casting and spinning. Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in ten and fifth-teen, twenty (ocean flounder) pound braid and Berkley Pro Spec Chrome mono in twenty and thirty pound for the Cobia; it is great line! Leader material Berkley Pro Spec Fluorocarbon 30 to 40 pound for inshore and 80-pound Cobia fishing. Tackle storage Plano Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 or Guide series tackle bags https://alnk.to/cwTYwWT with Plano EDGE stowaway boxes. https://alnk.to/aWEPmIu
PS: NC Flounder season is September 1st to the 14th. Booking Trips NOW!!
Stay cool and enjoy your summer fishing! Thanks for reading!
Capt. Jot Owens
910-233-4239
Posted in Fishing Reports on June 3rd, 2026
Southeast NC fishing in May, when the fishing really gets cranked up! Many different species of fish start to show up and it is when I feel like summer fishing is really getting started. Spring has been pretty good fishing so far, now if we can just get the weather to cooperate a little more!
As the weather stabilizes and the temps go up in May I see more days where I can get out in the ocean. I love to look for those high speed, good eating and so much fun to catch Atlantic bonito in earlier/mid-May and Spanish mackerel all month long. These fish are a lot of fun to see busting the surface of the water and even more fun to see on the end of your line! Casting spoons (Big Nic Spanish Candy lures) in sizes 1/2oz up to the 1.5oz (Capt. Jot edition), using high-speed spinning reels has really got my clients more bites! *See here https://linktr.ee/capt_jot_owens I have really become a fan myself of casting a high-speed low-profile bait-caster reels when casting to Bonito and Spanish. I use a PENN Fathom high-speed 300 reel. *See here https://alnk.to/gVMHXSX You can also use fly gear in weights seven to nine, this can make for a great challenge on fly tackle. Look for these fish to be hanging around near shore artificial reefs, ledges, and inlets. You might come over a few false albacore and bluefish mixed in with the bonito and Spanish from time to time; sometimes too many bluefish are mixed in! *We have already seen a good number of small King mackerel mixed in this year. Check your fish carefully for undersize Kings!!
Redfish and May go hand and hand, this month is a favorite for casting artificial lures to Reds. Redfish really start to settle down in their summer spots by early/mid-May. I prefer inshore water temps of 70 degrees or higher for the shallow water bite to start. Casting Berkley Gulp Turbo shrimp in three-inch size on light jig heads is my go-to lures for May redfish. *See here: https://alnk.to/fSi93CW My go to colors are pearl white, pink belly, flamingo chrome and molting. Another Redfish lure I like is the Berkley Powerbait CullShad in 5” in colors Cold beer, silver flash and Dark night (stained waters) fishing shallow waters of one to five foot. *See here: https://alnk.to/44Vxvaq I rig the CullShad on Eagle Claw 1/8oz & 1/4oz swimbait hooks. Catching redfish on top water lures is so much fun; casting plugs like MirrOlure’s top pup or top dog jr. You can also cast popping or rattling corks in these shallow areas with a Berkley Gulp four-inch turbo shrimp on a 1/8oz jig head which will catch the Redfish in shallow waters. If you would rather go the bait route; try some fresh cut or live Mullet or Menhaden on a light Carolina rig. Using Eagle Claw L42 1/0 hooks to make up a Carolina rig. Try fishing fresh cut bait around docks on the ICW or along creek mouths when the tide is moving, in five to ten feet of water.
By mid-May the cobia start to show up around southeast NC; one of my favorites! I forecast that the cobia will be here early this season. I look for cobia around inlets, shoals, and bait schools; near shore/offshore reefs and ledges are all good places to look. When the water is clear it will be easier to see those brown logs in the water. I throw big jigs like (Berkley Fusion 19 bucktails) *See here: https://alnk.to/cHMQmfL or live bait to the Cobia. Color really does not seem to matter but go bright; I always put a Gulp six-inch grub on the bucktail for Cobia. *See here: https://alnk.to/6TBItPv If I am casting live bait to Cobia, I use a TroKar TK5 AP 8/0 or 9/0 bait saver series circle hook with at least three feet of sixty-pound Pro Spec fluorocarbon leader. *See here: https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2 When I am not sight casting for Cobia we are fishing around inlets, shoals and near shore artificial reefs. I float fish, bottom fish, and kite fish in these areas with live menhaden, pinfish, or mullet as bait. Sometimes a great bonus fish when fishing for Cobia that would be a nice bull Redfish or later in the season a Tarpon (And yes, the Tarpon will be early again this season!) You can chum for Cobia if you like, but the sharks and rays will come, and they will come in numbers!
Another fish that really starts to show up around the inshore creeks, inlets and near shore reefs of Southeast North Carolina is the good’ole Bluefish. During later April through May, you can catch some bigger Bluefish too; like ten pounds plus big! These blues will hit Berkley Gulp six-inch jerkshad *See here: https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp and Berkley CullShad *See here: https://alnk.to/44Vxvaq lures in bright colors, I rig both of these lures on TroKar 1/4oz swim bait hooks TK170. Hard baits like big poppers and MirrOlure Top Dog’s work well too for the big Blues. Do not forget the steal leaders for these fish or they will get a free lure from you every time! Try light single strand wire in sizes #2, #3 or #4 will keep your lure on the end of your line and not in a bluefish’s pocket! I catch Blues in the one-to-fifteen-pound range during April, (some years there are more than others and sometimes only a few of the bigger ones show up.
Tackle run down: Reels PENN Slammer IV https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j & Battle IV https://alnk.to/dAnHgs1 series Spinning reels 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000 sizes. High spinning reels *see here https://linktr.ee/capt_jot_owens & Authority spinning reels in the High-Speed series 2500 or Fathom 300 high-speed low-profile bait-casters https://alnk.to/gVMHXSX for Bonito & Spanish mackerel casting. Rods: Fenwick HMG Inshore series rods https://alnk.to/biuF0uB 7’ Medium class 8-to-17-pound test rods for Redfish, Inshore flounder, Bonito etc. Ocean Flounder 7’ Med/Hvy class 12-to-25-pound test. Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in ten and fifth-teen pound braid. Cobia Reels PENN Fathom II 20LW *See here: https://alnk.to/gKQ67P2 casting, Slammer IV or SpinFisher VI spinning 5500 or 6500 spinning reels, with a PENN Rampage or Carnage III Jigging rods 50-to-100-pound class. Tackle Bags/storage I prefer the Plano Guide series (3700) size *See here: https://alnk.to/cwTYwWT and Z-series (3600 or 3700) size tackle bags *See here: https://alnk.to/d3Eftpw with NEW, much lighter in weight and waterproof StowAway’s!! https://alnk.to/2QA3HPH
Thanks for reading, Happy Summer, Get outside and good fishing to you!
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
Posted in Fishing Reports on April 30th, 2026
North Carolina springs can be anything but predictable, sometimes that is about the same for spring fishing around these parts. So far, we’ve had a pretty good winter temperature wise (especially later winter); I think we are about two (+/-) weeks ahead on spring temps and fishing. Fishing wise here is what I look to target during April around Southeast NC area waters.
The Atlantic Bonito (good eating) and False Albacore (I do not recommend eating but fun to catch) are going to showing up now just offshore of Wrightsville, Carolina, and Topsail beaches in the one-to-ten-mile range. Trolling Clark spoons on planners or small deep driver lures can be the key to success some days for the Bonito and False Albacore. When using the Clark spoons, I would recommend the pink flash spoon in sizes #0 and #1; the pink flash series has really helped me put more fish in the boat. A bird rig on top with a Clark spoon about five to six feet behind it or a small daisy chain (squids) from Bluewater candy in colors blue, silver or pink have worked very well for me on top too.
I prefer casting over trolling myself. I love to look for those high speed, good eating and so much fun to catch Atlantic bonito and later in the month the Spanish mackerel. These fish are a lot of fun to see busting the surface of the water and even more fun to see on the end of your line! Casting spoons like Big Nic Spanish Candy lures in sizes 1/2oz up to the 1.5oz (Capt. Jot edition) sizes in colors pink, blue, green or Capt. Jot Custom color (blue/pink). I use a thirty-pound fluorocarbon leader at two to three foot long when casting these lures (no swivel). Using high-speed spinning reels has really helped my customers get more bites. *See here: https://alnk.to/4BFOrsT I have really become a fan of casting a high-speed low-profile bait-caster reel when casting to Bonito and Spanish. I use a PENN Fathom high-speed 300 reel. *See here: https://alnk.to/gVMHXSX You can also use fly gear in weights eight to nine, this can make for a great challenge on fly tackle. Look for these fish to be hanging around near shore artificial reefs, ledges, and inlets. And the Spanish Mackerel will mix in any day now!
Another fish that really starts to show up around the inshore creeks and inlets of Southeast North Carolina is the good’ole Bluefish and during April you can catch some bigger Bluefish too; like ten pounds plus big! These blues will hit Berkley Gulp six-inch jerkshad *See here: https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp and Berkley CullShad *See here: https://alnk.to/44Vxvaq lures in bright colors, I rig both of these lures on TroKar 1/4oz swim bait hooks *see here: TroKar TK170 Hard baits like big poppers and MirrOlure Top Dog’s work well too for the big Blues. Don’t forget the steal leaders for these fish or they will get a free lure form you every time! Try light single strand wire in sizes #2, #3 or #4 will keep your lure on the end of your line and not in a bluefish’s pocket! I catch Blues in the one-to-fifteen-pound range during April, (some years there are more than others and sometimes only a few show up).
There is one fish that a lot of anglers overlook in April and that is the Black Drum. What I love about these fish is you can catch them in good numbers this time of year and there great to eat! On top of all that they are also easy to catch; use a light Carolina rig with an Eagle claw L42 #1 size hook. I make my own rigs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon leader material. I prefer as fresh as I can get shrimp for black drum fishing. Fish these rigs around docks, oyster rocks and inlets for Black Drum; you might even get a Redfish mixed in as well. If you catch one, it’s a good idea to stay a little longer; these fish are typically in groups.
Cape Fear River Striped Bass can bite very well into April, but the fish move around a lot more during April, you’ll find them at one spot one day and the next day they have moved on. In April the Stripers will start to move into shallower waters, I look for the Stripers in three to ten feet of water in the early spring. This is when you need to also shallow up your presentation, go lighter with you tackle. I prefer Berkley Powerbait CullShad in salt & freshwater colors; *Saltwater colors: https://alnk.to/44Vxvaq Freshwater colors: https://alnk.to/9T9W6Dc Rigging the grass pig lures on TroKar TK170 swim bait hooks should put a Striper on the end of your line. Look for Cape Fear River Stripers around mud-flat edges, bulk-heads and shallow reed-grass edges on sunny warmer days. *Remember Cape Fear River Striped Bass are Catch & Release fishing only.
Also, in the Cape Fear River I really enjoy heading to Lock & Dam #1 or #2 on the Cape Fear River during April to catch large American shad on light tackle and Fly tackle. Casting shad darts in bright colors and shad flies is the way to catch these shad. I use a double shad dart rig; this makes it easier to cast the light darts and sometimes you get two shad at the same time! The shad run in the one to a few over four pounds; super fun on fly and light tackle setups “poor man’s Tarpon”!
Tackle run down: PENN Slammer IV (high speed Bonito) *See here: https://alnk.to/4BFOrsT & Battle IV Spinning reels (1000 & 2000 shad fishing), 2500 & 3000 sizes for Stripers, Black drum & Redfish *See here: https://alnk.to/dAnHgs1 Rods: Fenwick HMG Inshore 7’ medium action *See here: https://alnk.to/90AwwR1 Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in (six-pound shad fishing) ten- and fifteen-pound other species. Berkley Pro Spec fluorocarbon leader material for all my leaders. *see here: https://alnk.to/eONCcq8 Tackle Storage I prefer Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with EDGE https://alnk.to/eZH8FjA boxes inside.
*Check out the new Plano GoNow waterproof storage Boxes. *See here: https://alnk.to/a47kjKe
Thanks for reading and good spring fishing to you!
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Posted in Fishing Reports on April 6th, 2026
March is a month of watching the weather forecast and like the weather the fishing can be the same too. So far “warmish” weather, but in March that can change quickly!! Yeah, you know the NC weather roller-coaster!! Same with the fishing; One day slow fishing the next they are jumping in the boat! Here are the species I like to target during March around Southeast NC area waters.
In March the Redfish finally start to move around a little more than they have all winter. Not that they do not move around in the winter; they just start to show up in place’s they like during warmer times of the year. This is the time of the year you need to get out and find where the Redfish are going and are showing up. In the cooler months I have seen crustacean patterns work better for Redfish; since these baits are a little easier to catch, than say baits like fish pattern lures.
On warmer days the crustaceans and baitfish will move a little more; these are the days you need to be looking for Redfish in March. Working scented baits like Berkley Gulp in patterns two-or three-inch shrimp, also the new Turbo shrimp *see here
https://alnk.to/fSi93CW will get the Redfish to bite. The Turbo shrimp has the best action I’ve seen out of a Gulp bait in a while! I recommend working these lures slowly, the water is still pretty cool. The Redfish will not be moving too quickly nor will the bait.
Rigging the Gulp baits on light jig heads will help with this slow presentation. I use 1/8oz Fusion jig heads, one of the better built on the market. *See here
https://alnk.to/28RH5yg Find those banks where the sun can warm up shallows just a little more than other places. Look for dark bottom banks and places with less current these are the areas where the
water will be warmer and the Redfish will be more likely to be feeding. Remember to keep your eyes peeled in the shallow water areas for Reds, March can be a very good sight fishing month; just make sure you work the baits a little slower with a fluorocarbon leader (twenty pound) for those clear spring waters. I prefer Berkley Pro-spec Fluorocarbon. *See here
https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2 Oh and a great pair of Smith sunglasses will really help to see those, Reds!
March is another mouth when Cape Fear River Striped Bass fishing will pick up. The Striper size is very mixed during early spring. In March the Stripers will start to move in to shallower waters, I look for the Stripers in three to eight feet of water during early spring. This is when you need to also shallow up your presentation, go lighter with you tackle. I prefer Berkley PowerBait five-inch Cullshad *see here SW colors https://alnk.to/h6GNDA8 and FW colors https://alnk.to/9T9W6Dc . Gulp jerkshad in six-inch; I use colors pearl & chart pepper neon (Gulp), and Crazy chrome Violet. *See here https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp . Using a swimbait hook in sizes 6/0 or 7/0 in ¼ or 3/8 ounce should put a Striper on the end of your line. I prefer Trokar TK 170 swimbait hooks. *See here Trokar Magnum Weighted Swimbait Hook with Spring Bait Keeper – Eagle Claw You can also cast mid-water crank baits that dive three to eight feet, do not let the lure drag the bottom to much or you will lose your lure to a stump or log! Look for Cape Fear River Stripers around mud-flat edges, bulk-heads, creeks, and shallow reed-grass edges on sunny warmer days. CFR Stripers are closed to keep; catch and release only. Keep your eyes out for tagged Stripers, there are quite a few out there!
Do not count out a nice Speckled trout during the month of March! But what is a trout going to hit in March? This is when you need to know where to start; what lures to try? One of my favorites is the good’ole MirrOlure; it has been around a long time, and it is still catching fish, but if it is cold so work them SLOW! The patterns I prefer are the 17MR, 18MR, 52M and 52MR. Colors: MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go too colors in clearer area waters. MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, CFPR, CH, EC, HP. Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes. Best depths to use these lures; 17MR use these lures in two to six feet of water. 18MR, 52M & 52MR use these lures in four to fifth-teen plus feet of water.
Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me when the water temps are cool. Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp, five-inch Jerkshad and of course the new Turbo shrimp. Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, nuclear chicken, pink belly and flamingo chrome. See all Saltwater Gulp here: https://alnk.to/6mPofv6
The Berkley PowerBait Bonga saltwater series really impressed me last season and this one so far. I worked on this project, and I am really excited about these lures. There are three shapes in this series that I really like and come with a new saltwater scent: different from the regular PowerBait scent. I am really liking the Bonga Shad, Bonga Shrimp and Bonga Stick of this series! Electric chicken and sight flash colors have worked well for me lately. *See here https://alnk.to/cSIC5G1
I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz jigs heads in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2
There is another kind of fishing I like to try in March but there is no saltwater involved. I like to hit the upper Northeast Cape Fear River and Sutton Lake the do a little Large-mouth bass fishing. If you want to try something different try some bass fishing, they are a lot of fun to catch on lighter tackle. Most of the time I use heavy sink worms, Berkley Powerbait MaxScent “The General” *See here https://alnk.to/af1STVJ in colors black, cinnamon purple, green pumpkin watermelon and green pumpkin candy red. I rig these sinko style worms with a 6/0 Eagle Claw wide bend worm hook with no weight. Work these worms very slowly off banks and stump beds. If you like to fly fish, try slow sinking small minnow patterns along the grass flats in Sutton Lake on cloudy or foggy days.
Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs or Slammer IV https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j Spinning reels sizes 2500, 3000, 3500. Low profile bait-caster PENN Fathom 200 size https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH for the Redfish, Speckled trout, and Striped Bass. Fenwick HMG Inshore 7’ medium rods 8-to-15-pound class *see here https://alnk.to/4MClHmk and line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in ten or fifteen; Berkley Pro Spec Fluorocarbon leader for leaders; 20 pound for trout and 30 for all other species. Tackle Storage I prefer, Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with the NEW, much lighter in weight and waterproof StowAway’s!! https://alnk.to/2QA3HPH
Thanks for reading, Happy Spring, stay warm or cool and good fishing to you!
Capt. Jot Owens
910-233-4139
Posted in Fishing Reports on March 2nd, 2026
Well, if you have lived here all of your life, like myself you know we used to have winters like the one we are having this year. I’m not saying we got snow all the time especially eight to twenty plus inches like this most recent storm. But we had winter, a week or sometimes weeks with temperatures in the twenties even teens at night. Yes, it was common. With this said I remember in my early days as a fishing guide, just sitting around working, cleaning and studding up on fishing tackle with winters like this one. I have always said when it comes to winter fishing in NC. “Pick your Fishing days following weather patterns!” Especially during winter mouths! This winter more like pick your months! And with this said, not much has changed how February is to last month’s report/forecast (January) Here is a rundown of how a fish February around Southeast North Carolina, when weather conditions allow!
Cape Fear River Striped Bass are one of my favorites for winter fishing in our area. I look for the Stripers on drop offs, grass banks, around pilings and creek mouths. Working baits like Berkley Gulp six-inch jerkshad or the Berkley Powerbait CullShad should get you bites from Striped Bass and Redfish. I prefer chart pepper neon, Fire tiger and fool’s gold colors for the jerkshad *See here https://alnk.to/gKQ67Wp I use fresh water and saltwater CullShad colors for the Striped Bass fishing. Berkley Power Bait CullShad saltwater colors *See here https://alnk.to/h6GNDA8 and freshwater colors *see here https://alnk.to/9T9W6Dc I rig my jerkshad and CullShad lures on swimbait 7/0 TroKar TK-170 hooks, in 1/4oz or 3/8oz *see here TroKar TK170 Mid water crank baits work too, try lures that dive from three to eight feet deep for best results. If the crank bait starts to hit the bottom let it float up a bit or trust me, you will lose it to structure! The river is loaded with timber! Water temps I am looking for 55 to 45 degrees, but I have caught the stripers as low as 39. Do not forget that the Cape Fear River Striped Bass fishery is a closed fishery and is catch & release only; you must release all Striped Bass. Keep your eyes out for tagged Stripers there are a lot of tagged fish out there, some even have $100 Red Tags!!
There is one fish that can be caught easily (sometimes) during the winter months, if you find them! The Redfish bite can be some of the best of the year for catching numbers of fish; the deal breaker for this fishery is you have got to have good weather, calm seas, and bright sunny skies for the ocean schools. I find the winter ocean Reds around the inlets, sand bars, up and down the beaches in the surf line. I use Berkley Gulp paddleshad in colors black gold or black silver *see here https://alnk.to/c09aeMg also, the Berkley Gulp three- & four-inch Shrimp *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A work well too both rigged on 3/8oz jig heads. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg A MirrOlure Catch 2000Jr or 2000 lures work well for winter surf Redfish too.
During winter months I look for schooling Redfish on sunny, warmer, and light wind days. I find these schools on oyster rocks/flats, dark mud bottoms and shallow flats just off the ICW. The Reds will sun on these dark colored bottom areas for a little extra warm up; this is also where you will see some bait fish doing the same thing (warming up). Winter Reds are not hard to find, but sometimes when you find them they wont’s bite. My go to bait for the winter Redfish is scented grubs like the Berkley Gulp Dragon tail https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx or Gulp shrimp https://alnk.to/58q5o7A Redfish love these things. Rig grubs with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig heads like red or gray should get the redfish to bite for you. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg Work’em slow as to not spoke the Redfish. Sometimes a light Carolina rig with a small piece of cut shrimp; for that stubborn winter Redfish may help you get a bite. Hey, yes even I resort to bait sometimes…
There is one fish that a lot of anglers overlook during the winter months, the Black Drum. What I love about these fish is you can catch them in good numbers this time of year and there pretty darn good to eat! On top of all that they can be easy to catch; all you need is a little fresh (as you can get) shrimp. I use a light Carolina rig with an Eagle claw L42 #1 or #2 hook. Light meaning using as light as a sinker that you can get away with so as not to spook the drum. Fish around docks, oyster rock flats and inlets for these Black Drum; often you will catch Redfish and Sheepshead (smaller) mixed in as well.
You can find a good winter Speckled trout bite, but it takes the right weather pattern for good results. A few warmer days in a row and the bite tends to pick up. Here are some ways I like to target Speckled trout during the winter months. Colors; MirrOlure makes a lot of different colors but here are some of my go to colors around Southeast NC area waters. MirrOlure color codes: 11, 21, 26, 51, 704, 706, CFPR, CH, EC, HP. Any local tackle shop can help you with these color codes or at MirrOlure.com. I’m really loving the new 17MR Chameleon series!! *See here: NEW! Chameleon Series Mirrodine Fishing Depths to use these lures; 17MR & 22MR use these lures in two to six feet of water (suspending). 18MR, 51M & 52MR use these lures in four to fifth teen plus feet of water with current (sinking). If your lure is hitting the bottom go to a shallower running lure (suspending type). If the water is in the 50’s slow down your presentation. I am a firm believer in “you can work a MirrOlure to fast, you really can’t work them to slow.” Especially fishing colder water temps!
Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me when the water temps drop. Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp, five-inch Jerkshad and of course the new Dragon tail! Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, Sangria & Scooby. In the Dragon tail I really like the colors scooby, sangria, big money, and key lime chrome. See the Dragon tail here https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx
The Berkley PowerBait Bonga saltwater series really impressed me last season and this one so far. I worked on this project and I am really excited about these lures. There are three shapes in this series that I really like and come with a saltwater scent: different from the regular PowerBait scent. I am really liking the Bonga Shad, Bonga Shrimp and Bonga Stick of this series! *Check out the Bonga series here https://alnk.to/cSIC5G1
I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz jigs heads in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I use the Fusion 19 jig head series. *See here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2
Tackle run down: PENN Battle IV https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs and Slammer IV Spinning https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j reels in sizes 2000, 2500, 3000 & 3500. Low profile bait-caster PENN Fathom 200 size https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH, if that is your game! Redfish, Speckled trout, and Striped Bass Rods: Fenwick Inshore HMG 7’ medium action *See here https://alnk.to/biuF0uB (Redfish & Striped Bass), Also check out the New Fenwick Eagle Inshore series *See here https://alnk.to/1Y04qa8 line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in eight- or ten-pound test for Speckled trout fishing and ten and fifth-teen pound for Reds/Stripers. Tackle Storage I prefer Plano Guide Series *see here https://alnk.to/gKQItqB and Z-series https://alnk.to/9bu8in4 with EDGE https://alnk.to/eZH8FjA boxes inside.
Thanks for reading, Stay warm and good fishing to you!
Capt. Jot Owens
910-233-4139
Posted in Fishing Reports on February 2nd, 2026
