I’m very happy that fall is really starting show here in eastern North Carolina. This is by far my favorite time of the year for outdoors and fishing in North Carolina. As the air temps Fall the fishing action just heats up more and more every day. I just hope we don’t get to much rain this fall!
We’ve done a lot of Flounder fishing the last couple of weeks, with some pretty good days of fishing. 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. If you would rather use artificial bait, I would try a Saltwater Assassin Blurp grub in molting color. Rig the Blurp on a red or black jig head for best results.
We have found most of the Flounder in the creeks in mixed size but higher numbers. Fishing the drop of the main channel in the creeks, this is where we have found the most fish. The bigger Flounder seem to be around the inlets and just off the beach. There seems to be less action and Flounder but, they are very nice Flounder; in the three the over six pound range.
There have been some very good Spanish Mack runs lately. Most of the Spanish hit Clark spoons on number one planners, a few fish hit on top as well. We did get a few on Marie jigs and fly’s; casting when the Spanish get on top feeding. The Spanish were very nice in size; most fish were two to some over four pounds “nice fall size”. There has also been some False Albacore mixed in with the Spanish. They were biting just off the beach to about two miles off the beach. I don’t know how much longer they will be here with this cooler air moving in; will just have to see!
There are still fair amounts of good ole’ Redfish around, some in the creeks and some in the ocean. In the creeks and waterway top water plugs and live baits are doing the trick. We are fishing top water early in the morning and late afternoon when the sun in low. Rattle and popping corks with live mullets have been working great too. The ocean Redfish is eating; live bait and scented shrimp and or shad grubs. Extra scent never hurts when Red fishing!
The Trout are starting to show up around the area. We’ve caught Trout from right around Wrightsville Beach to down in the Cape Fear River. Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water. The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart Diamond, Pump Seed/Chart tail, chicken on a chain and sliver mullet on red jig heads. Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and white back-white belly.
As water temps drop the Trout fishing will get better and better. The last couple of seasons have been the best Trout fishing I have ever seen around Wrightsville Beach, it seems to get better every year; with lots of big trout. I do a great deal of Trout charters in November, if you would like to go book soon for I will book up fast!
There are some Bull Reds in the ocean on hard bottoms and around the inlets. You never know when you might hook one of these big fish might bite. When we try to catch these Bulls, we use fresh cut or live menhaden. We use fish finder rigs with 9/0, 10/0 and 11/0 circle hooks, keep your drag tight and the circle hooks will do there job.
The Fishing gear we use:
Reds, Trout and Flounder: Reels Penn Sargus spinning in sizes 2000 and 4000. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy. 20 pound Ugly Braid. Bull Redfish: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: forty pound Spider wire Ultracast.
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
Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington NC Fishing Charters
Posted in Fishing Reports on August 18th, 2011
Hello folks, I hope everyone is well and enjoying the cooler weather we have had lately. I have not really liked the stiff Northeast wind from it, but I like the cool morning temps. The cooler weather has really started to change the fishing in good way! The fall mullet run has started and with that the fishing has really picked up in the last few weeks! Let’s go over all that in this fishing report>>>
Flounder have been a big part of our charters lately. We are catching numbers and there size is getting better too! We’ve caught a few Flounder in the last two weeks over five pounds. Most of the action is coming off grubs, in shrimp and sea shad patterns. The shrimp pattern is a new one I’ve just started to use. It’s made by Berkley power bait and it’s a 3” Rattle Shrimp in colors watermelon red gltr & pearl white. I think these are going to be a big hit for Flounder, Redfish and trout. In the sea shad’s Saltwater Assassin’s in colors chicken on a chain and chart-diamond. We’re rigging the sea shads with 1/4oz red jig heads.
We are also catching the Flounder on Carolina rigs with live mullets. Now that the mullets are everywhere it’s very easy to catch all you need for a day of fishing. The Carolina rigs we are using for Flounder fishing are very simple. Hook is a EC L42 1/0, leader fifth teen to twenty inches of forty pound mono and an ¾ to one oz egg sinker. We are pulling the rigs across the bottom very slowly; so that the rig stays on the bottom. If it comes off the bottom; slow down your pull or go with a heavier egg sinker. Take your time; it takes patience to catch Flounder!
My charters have had some great early Redfish morning and late afternoon bites. We are fishing mud flats and oyster flats in creeks and along the ICW. Top water plugs like the Rapala skitter-walk have done very well. Rattle and popping corks with live mullets have been working great! The best rattlin’ corks for me have been the Saltwater Assassin’s “Kwik-cork” this is one of the loudest corks on the market. When the water has been a little stained form rain water we are catching some Reds on spinner baits.
There are some Bull Reds starting to show up in the ocean on hard bottoms and around the inlets. You never know when you might hook one of these big fish might bite. When we try to catch these Bulls, we use fresh cut or live menhaden. We use fish finder rigs with 9/0, 10/0 and 11/0 circle hooks, keep your drag tight and the circle hooks will do there job.
There has been a few Trout starting to show up around. Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water. The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart. Diamond and sliver mullet and red jig heads. Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and green back white belly. South of Wrightsville we are having some very good days with the Specks. Fishing on good days has produced twenty or more specks! Fall weather will equal more good fishing!!
Thanks so much for reading this report, if you would like a guided fishing charter; give me call or drop me a line. Don’t forget take a kid fishing and good fishing to ya!
Fishing gear we use:
Gear used: Redfish, Flounder and trout: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7’0″ Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Bull Redfish: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: forty pound Spider wire Ultracast.
Captain Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Posted in Fishing Reports on August 18th, 2011
Ocean Bull Red
Nice Topwater Red
I hope everybody is doing well and catching a few fish! I have got to say I’m glad Bill did not make it up here, but his power was felt up this way. We’ve had some strong swells the last couple of days, which has kept me out of the ocean and in the back water areas. Before the swells we did some good ocean fishing for Flounder and Gray trout.
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.
How bout’ those Gray trout, the trout bite has really picked up the last couple of weeks. 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.
The Flounder and Trout are holding on near shore live “hard” bottom, wrecks, and ledges.
When we are Flounder and Gray trout fishing in the ocean, I prefer to use Carolina rigs with heavier egg sinkers. We use one, one&½ and two ounce egg or “river” sinkers. River sinkers are the ones that are flat or pan caked sinkers. We still use a L42 EC 1/0 hook and thirty to forty pound mono leader. This rig works well for many different kinds of fish you can catch on the hard bottoms just off the beach.
My charters have had some good early Redfish morning bites. We are fishing mud flats and oyster flats in creeks and along the ICW. Multi fish hook-ups are not uncommon at all! Top water plugs like the Rapala skitter-walk have done very well. Rattle and popping corks with live mullets and little menhaden have been working great! The best rattlin’ corks for me have been the Saltwater Assassin’s “Kwik-cork” this is one of the loudest corks on the market they work!
The Speckled trout have decided to bite from time to time the last few weeks south of Wrightsville Beach. Most fish are coming out of creeks and channels around the waterway and flats. 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 summer mouths when the water gets hot are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”. Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, and chicken on a chain. I like to use shrimp (Bang) scent to help those trout find that grub in dirty waters we get from some of the recent down pours! I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in dirty and stained water it can really help.
There are some Bull Reds starting to show up in the ocean on hard bottoms and around the inlets. You never know when you might hook one of these big fish might bite. When we try to catch these Bulls, we use fresh cut or live menhaden. We use fish finder rigs with 11/0 and 12/0 circle hooks, keep your drag tight and the circle hooks will do there job.
Speaking of Bull Reds, I’m heading up to Oriental, NC this week to try my luck at some of those Bull Reds and maybe just maybe a Pamlico Tarpon. I’ll give you a report when I get back.
Thanks so much for reading this report, if you would like a guided fishing charter; give me call or drop me a line. Don’t forget take a kid fishing and good fishing to ya!
Fishing gear we use:
Gear used: Redfish, Flounder and Gary trout: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7’0″ Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Bull Redfish and Tarpon Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: forty pound Spider wire Ultracast.
I have recently tried a new landing net that I saw at ICAST this summer and I really like this net. Super light weight, floats and yet is still very strong! The net is an EGO made by www.adventureproducts.com I use the clear rubber net in the large size product # 71157. This net is great for Flounder, Trout and Reds! Try one, trust me you will love it!!!
Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats &
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Posted in Fishing Reports on August 18th, 2011
Hello Folks, is this summer going by fast for you? It sure is for me, they say time flies when you’re having fun. I guess I’m having a fun summer, fishing that is. Hey thank God we are not paying four+ dollars a gallon of gas like last year at this time!! Let’s talk some good fishing!
The last couple of weeks the fishing has been pretty good just off the beach. The Spanish Mackerel have been biting very good most days and the fish are a really nice grade. Some fish over six pounds, that’s a good pull on light tackle! Early morning seems to be the best bite, but some fish have stayed around all day on some 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. We have also caught a few very nice Spanish on the fly rod too.
We are starting to catch Flounder pretty good; 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. Watch out when fishing in the ocean for the flounders; we’ve had some very nice fish eaten by Barracudas just under the boat. It’s not a fun thing!!
I’m still seeing a few Tarpon around the inlets and off the shoals; the Tarpon should stay around till mid September. We fish for Tarpon on the bottom using, live and fresh dead baits like; spots, bluefish and Menhaden. We rig 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. We’ve caught some very nice bluefish and Spanish while Tarpon fishing lately.
The Shark fishing is still going very strong most days. Very nice sharks in the forty to over two hundred pounds are mostly what we are seeing. We’ve been using light tackle and fly rods to catch these powerful sharks. When we use spinning reels we use; 300+ yards of thirty and forty pound Spider wire super line and a good fast tipped rod. They are a lot of fun on spinning tackle!
We’ve caught a few Reds this last two weeks, not as good as I would like it to be but still getting a hand full. One thing we have in this area is a lot of pressure on the Redfish. So how do you catch them when lots of other people are out there doing the same thing?? (Time) put it in, get out and look for them, don’t go to the same old spots you always go, go look for new spots. Put in the time and you will catch Reds! “Tip of the week”
Thanks so much for reading this report, and don’t forget to take a kid or someone new fishing! Good fishing to ya!
Fishing gear we use;
Gear used: Redfish, Flounder and Sheephead: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7’0″ Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Sharks and Tarpon Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting.
Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
Posted in Fishing Reports on August 18th, 2011
Hello, I hope everybody is doing well. I can’t complain; fishing has had some consistence for the most part. We’ve had some heavy storms lately in the afternoons. I’ve found that the areas where the rain has falling hard, the fishing is a little harder as well. Remember when water colors change you need to change your color patterns as well.
The summer trend of local fishing is really starting to show. One of my favorites has started to show this last week; the always fun Tarpon! I have only Tarpon fished once in the last two weeks. We saw a few fish, but no luck getting one. 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. We are 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 till 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 fifty pound Spider wire Ultracast braid. Rigging the baits; eight feet of 80 pound mono leader; some will wind on to the reel. Connected the 80 pound mono to a fifty pound swivel, then to Two to three foot of #9 SS wire and an 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 “Blurp” have been the ticket. When your fishing early don’t forget to try a good ole’ Rapala Skitter walk for some top water action with the Redfish. 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 guys. One-armed bandits seem to be one of best baits for me. Fish them around docks and bridges.
Gear used: Redfish, Spanish and Sheephead: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7’0″ Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Sharks and Tarpon: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: Spiderwire Ultracast in 30 to 50 pound.
ICAST News: I was in Orlando FL last week for ICAST: International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades. All the new tackle for 2010 is released here. I saw some really cool stuff that will be in the local tackle shops very soon. A few of my favorites were; Penn’s new lines of spinning reels. The new Penn Conquer spinning reel is my new favorite Redfish stopper, trust me it will stop’em! I was on the field research team for this reel and it really impressed me! This reel is made for super lines. Specifications: Sizes 2000, 4000, 5000 and 7000. Drags: 2000 12 lbs, 4000 19 lbs, 5000 22 lbs and 7000 32 lbs.
Next on the list that caught my eye, Penn’s new Torque spinning reels. If you like hardcore jigging, bottom fishing or catching big pelagic on spinning tackle this is the spinning reel for YOU!!! Specifications: Sizes TRQS5: 400 yards 30# braid, TRQS7: 470 yards 50# braid and TRQS9: 490 yards 80# braid. Drags “watch out” there hot: TRQS5: 38 lbs, TRQS7 41 lbs and TRQS9 50 lbs yes 50 lbs “that is a lot of drag for a spinning reel. The Torques comes in Black/gold and Gold/silver. Check them out soon at Pennreels.com
Thanks for taking the time to read this report, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!
Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
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Posted in Fishing Reports on August 18th, 2011
