Fishing Report 02/01/2018

I think it’s safe to say, we're in the half way mark for winter 2018 with Groundhog Day coming up tomorrow. Let’s hope that rascal doesn't see his shallow or maybe it’s not a bad thing if he does since last year we saw temps in the 70’s during February. It only took about two weeks of that warm weather and we were catching Sea Mullets and Bluefish before March.

 

Inshore / Nearshore:

Over the last few weeks, we've been seeing good numbers of Redfish in the area, I think it’s safe to say the freeze didn't have much effect of our Red Drum. We have been finding schools of fish hanging along Shackleford Banks right along the beach in the crystal clear water along with a few schools hanging out around the Cape Lookout Shoals. Also, been finding some good action on the Red’s at the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty, if you can find the schools it’s been lights out, we have been mostly catching 20-30 fish a trip. Seems on the jetty, the high tide going out has been the best tide as low tide has been a much slower bite. As far as what we've been using, Bait Shrimp, Live Minnows, Berkley Gulp and Z-Man baits have been our main choices. A little key of advice if you are going to head out stop by the shop and pick up some Bait Shrimp and Minnows, these fish are cold and this has been a key to catching fish at times, now if you can get the school of fish fired up the artificials have been working. 

The ocean hasn't been the only place that's holding fish, some of our backwater creeks and bays also have schools of Red’s in them. Last weekend, one charter fleet guy found some big schools of fish that were feeding in less than a ft. of water on some mud flats, so don’t count out the backwater fishing just because the water has got cold.

Also, we've been seeing some Black Drum and Sheepshead hanging at the Cape Lookout Jetty, Bait Shrimp on the bottom plus been seeing a few hanging around the docks along the ICW and creeks. Not heard much from the High Rise Bridges in the last few weeks but I have a feeling some bait shrimp around the pilings just might catch some fish at both bridges.

Happy to report some anglers have been seeing a few Speckled Trout in the backwater creeks, nothing like they were seeing before the freeze but enough to give us hope that we will have a good spawn this spring with the closure until June.  

There's been plenty of good bottom fishing over on the east side around Atlas Tanker, 1700 Rock and other good bottoms in that area. Anglers are catching nice Sea Bass along with a few Snappers and Groupers which is closed so you have to turn them back until May.  Also, had a few reports of some Sea Bass around the North West Places and Big Ten / Little Ten.  Guys have been using Squid fished on the bottom and live Minnows and seeing a good Trigger Fish bite but most of the action has been 40 mile range on the ledges and live bottom areas, kind of got to be committed to head to Trigger Fish ground this time of the year.

 

Piers / Surf:

Not much to report about, the only things we have been hearing is a few anglers fishing at the Radio Island access picking up some Red Drum and Black Drum around the Rocks, if the weather is right you might have a chance of finding some fish along the Fort Macon Rocks.  I've not really talked to anyone that has fished it but we've been finding Red Drum in the shallows around the Cape Lookout Jetty so I don’t see why there wouldn't be some at the Fort Macon Rocks, it for sure would be a miss or hit, but who knows unless you try.

 

Offshore:

Starting to get some calls about Wahoo’s, we did see a few come to the scales about 3 weeks ago when we had a good weather window, so there's a few now around to catch. Most of those fish were caught out around the Big Rock.  I've looked backed from last year reports and what I'm seeing about mid-March toward the end of March is when the bite really fired up in our area.  When the season really kicks off the best areas will be around the Swasnboro Hole and the Rise area. We've been building planer rod combos and 50W combos for the shop so come on in and get ready. 

We got all fresh caught wintertime Ballyhoo from Baitmaster going to be coming our way in March; we make sure we have the best Ballyhoo possible for our customers.

There's been plenty of good bottom fishing over on the East Side around the Atlas Tanker, 1700 Rock and other good bottoms in that area. Anglers are catching nice Sea Bass along with a few Snappers and Groupers (which is closed) so you have to turn them back until May.  Also, had a few reports of some Sea Bass around the North West Places and Big Ten / Little Ten.  Guys have been using Squid fished on the bottom and live Minnows. Plus, been seeing a good Trigger Fish bite but most of that action has been in 40 mile range on the ledges and live bottom areas, kinda got to be committed to head to Trigger Fish ground this time of the year.