Fishing Report 02/17/2018

 

We sure have been enjoying some warmer weather over the last week, but there was still a few chilly days. It looks like the rest of the week into the weekend temps are going to be in the 60’s and mid to high 60’s all next week. A couple weeks like this, we'll begin to see some FISH show back up!

 

 Inshore / Nearshore:

I haven’t seen any yet it’s still a little early but wanted to talk about it anyway because last year we had this same kind of warm up and it didn’t take long when the Sea Mullets moved in. Water temps already have been on the rise over the past week so things are getting ready to start happening if this warm trend continues. Don’t know about you but we are ready for some fresh Sea Mullet for dinner, one of the best fish in the ocean to eat.  When they show up more than likely they’ll be in 50 to 60’ of water somewhere in the Inlet area. Trust me, I have one of the best mullet fisherman tracking them so we’ll have the info when they make their appearance.  It’s pretty easy fishing just come by the shop and pick up some of our custom made “Sam’s Gitter’s Spec Rigs” plus good bait shrimp and you’ll be ready to go. So keep in mind it could be in the next week or so or it could be later into March, but I just wanted to touch base on this topic since we’re getting close to some Sea Mullet action.

 Something else to mention is Bluefish, again last year around this time when we hit a week or so of temps in the 60’s the Bluefish moved in ready to feed, along with some Albacore.  The first sign of them will be up around Cape Lookout as they move in from the warmer water offshore. Then they’ll move right on down the beaches toward the Beaufort Inlet area.  Again, we haven’t seen any yet it’s just time to start thinking about them because if it stays warm the week after next I expect these fish will start to make a showing.

Now, anglers have caught good numbers of Redfish over the last week in the ocean areas, Cape Lookout Rock Jetty, Cape Shoals, Shackleford Banks all have been holding schools of Reds. Those fishing are having the best luck using Live Minnows, Bait Shrimp, Z-Man Plastics and Berkley Gulp Baits. Tim, from the shop has been fishing the rocks just about every week with good success, he’s been having really good luck on the float rig fishing right over the rocks. Also, there’s been good schools of fish in the backwater flats and creeks to catch. Since we are talking about Drum, we also are seeing Black Drum at the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty, High Rise Bridges and Docks along the waterway. Bait Shrimp on the bottom has been the best bait to get these fish to bite.

Happy to report Nick from the shop went out last week scouting creeks looking for fish and found some Speckled Trout action, nice fish in the 15 to 18” range. He caught quite few by moving around from creek to creek, so that’s a great sign after the freeze we had back in January. Also, I received reports on the Neuse River area, seems that anglers are also seeing signs of Speckled Trout again as the water temps are on the rise. So from what we’re seeing right now the Speckled Trout are already bouncing back.

Still seeing some Sheepshead that wintered over in the area being caught at the Cape Lookout Jetty and the High-Rise Bridges fishing Bait Shrimp on the bottom or frozen Sand Fleas has been working the best.

Still plenty of Sea Bass to catch but it’s been hard over the last two weeks to get that far off the beach to fish. We’ve been having some wind from the warm air that’s been blowing in making the ocean rough. It’s looking like we might get some stable weather next week to get on off the beach.

 

Piers / Surf:

No doubt it’s been kind of slow, but some surf anglers fishing the Cape Lookout Shoals have been finding a pretty steady Red Drum bite. Plus, I heard of a few being caught at the Radio Island Beach also. Then some Black Drum working along the Surf at Atlantic Beach too, most have been using Bait Shrimp on the bottom for the best action. It won’t be long now when surf anglers will start seeing some Bluefish showing up.

 

Offshore:

There’s not much to report, as we sit and wait for a weather window to get out to the Wahoo and bottom fishing grounds. The wind just hasn’t allowed us to get out to see what’s going on. The only boats I’ve heard of going this week was some of the Commercial Trigger Fish boats which have been having good luck in that 40-mile range on the ledges and hard bottom areas. But it won’t be long now, last year we were catching Wahoo around the Swansboro Hole pretty steady by mid- March and it was really good late March going into April.