Wrightsville Beach, NC Fishing Forecast & info-November 2024
I know I say this just about every month that passes, but dang! Where did October Go?? The temps have been mild to say the least, I am hoping for some cooler weather soon. Speckled trout is the name of the game for myself most Novembers. With a few other species mixed in as well. Here is my November fishing forecast and info.
November for many years has been when I catch some of the biggest Speckled trout all year. Hard baits like MirrOlures have put some big trout in the boat for me and for many other anglers over the years. One key point to trout I have found is that most days Specks will bite, but what are they eating that day? This is when you need to know where to start; what lures to try? The series I prefer are the 17MR & 22MR (Catch 2000jr) suspending, 18MR, 51M and 52MR sinking baits.
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. 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 five 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). I prefer for my leaders Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2
If you have ever done any trout fishing at all you know that the grub/jig (soft plastic) lures work very well for Speckled trout especially when the water temps get below sixty degrees. Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me lately are Berkley Gulp three-inch shrimp and five-inch Jerkshad. Gulp comes in many colors, but here is a few that I like for trout in (shrimp pattern); sugar spice glow, pearl white, Key lime chrome and flamingo chrome *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A A brand NEW Gulp bait will hit stores very soon but is available now online is the Dragon Tail. This lure has so much action and comes in many great colors. Click this link here https://alnk.to/ge6QBpx to see the entire Dragon tail series. The dragon tail can be rigged so many ways, but I really like them on a lighter jig head (1/8oz). Its such a basic shaped lure, yet the action is crazy good! Check them out!
The newer Bonga series of lures really did well last trout season for me and they continue to work well this season so far. I like the Bonga shad in four-inch size. *See here https://alnk.to/9T9mW3i Also the Bonga shrimp for targeting larger Trout and Redfish has done well. *See here https://alnk.to/6TAugdn If you like trick/stick style trout lures, check out the Bonga stick in 5” size *See here https://alnk.to/4MBourN
I rig all my trout soft plastic lures on 1/16oz, 1/8oz and 1/4oz Fusion jigs heads *see here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg in colors red, gray, or white and I always use a fluorocarbon leader when trout fishing. I prefer Berkley Pro Spec twenty pound in clear, thirty pound if the blues show up in numbers. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2
Do not count out live bait if you enjoy fishing with it. Try live smaller mullets, mud minnows and live shrimp. In shallow waters of two to six feet I like to float these live baits with a cork and a small #6 treble hook. In deeper waters of six to ten plus I rig them on light Carolina rigs with a small #1 or #2 Eagle claw L42 offset circle hook. Just wait until you feel that trout take off with the bait and lightly set the hook, remember trout have very soft mouths fast hooks sets but with light power work best. Here again Pro Spec twenty-pound test fluorocarbon leaders. *See here https://alnk.to/aLJ9PR2
In November the Reds are not hard to catch when you find them, but sometimes finding them can be a challenge. Depending the weather, as in how cold or how warm it has been, will determine where the Redfish are. Colder weather the Reds will move more, warmer weather they are more likely to be in there late summer/early fall spots. My go to bait for the winter Redfish is scented grub like the Berkley Gulp jerkshad *see here https://alnk.to/3U1gTCB or shrimp *see here https://alnk.to/58q5o7A Redfish love these things. I rig Gulp baits with thirty-pound fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig heads like red or gray *see here https://alnk.to/28RH5yg should get the redfish to bite for you. Sometimes a light Carolina rig with a small piece of cut shrimp; for those stubborn fall/winter Redfish may help get a bite.
False Albacore and Bluefish can be great during November. You can cast or troll for them and fly fishing can be great as well. The Albacore and Blues will be around the inlets, up & down the beaches and near shore artificial reefs. Look for jumping Albacore and diving birds; that is where you need to fish. Casting small spoons like Big Nic Spanish candies on light spinning tackle will put some Albacore and Blues on your line. Keep your eye peeled in local tackle shops for my new 1.5oz Big Nic Spanish Candy in Capt. Jot custom color. One tip that has really helped my customers catch more of the Spanish, false albacore and Atlantic bonito is using high speed spinning reels. I did not think it would make such a difference but it really has, speeding up the presentation gets more bites! I really like the Slammer IV High speed *See here https://alnk.to/4BFOrsT spinning reel for this application.
Tackle run down: Slammer IV https://alnk.to/aWD5L7j & Authority https://alnk.to/fSgjdIK spinning reels 2500, 3000, 3500 sizes or PENN Low profile (bait-caster) * See here https://alnk.to/dAmWQIH 200 or 300 sizes for the Spanish mackerel/false albacore (High speed series), normal speed for Redfish. 2000 and 2500 Clash II spinning reels *see here https://alnk.to/cHNuD1x or New Battle IV series *see here https://alnk.to/eZHlnEs for Speckled trout. Fenwick HMG Inshore spinning 7’ medium for the Redfish. Fenwick Eagle series rods for Speckled trout in medium 7’. Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in ten and fifth-teen pound for light tackle fishing. 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.
*For a limited time get 10% off anything at https://alnk.to/cHNHLlT using my pro code: BERKCAPTJ10
Good November fishing to you, Stay warm or Cool and Happy Thanksgiving!
Capt. Jot Owens
910-233-4139
