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May 11, 2017

Fisherman's Post Carolina's Saltwater Newspaper May 11, 2017 Fishing Reports

Fisherman's Post
Carolina's Saltwater NewspaperMay 11, 2017
Fishing Reports May 11, 2017 

Read this report on the Fisherman's Post website, CLICK HERE
Austin, of East Coast Sports, reports that surf fishing has picked up over the past week. Anglers are reporting catches of sea mullet while fishing on the bottom with fresh shrimp. High tide and low light periods have produced the best catches. A few black drum are also showing up with the mullet.
Bluefish are biting cut mullet fished on the bottom with both fish finder and Sea Striker bluefish rigs. The majority of the fish have been school size in the 2 lb. range. There are still a few choppers around, but the majority have moved on. Casting metal jigs from the shore is producing a few blues, especially while fishing towards the south end of the island.
Red drum are in good numbers back in the marsh, and then on flats during high tides. The fish are taking a variety of artificials, and Gulp shrimp and jerk shads on 3/8 oz. Blue Water Candy jigheads have been working well. Rapala Skitterwalks and Super Spooks are getting bites while fished along grass shorelines.
The reds are readily taking live mud minnows and cut bait fished along the bottom with Carolina rigs. Docks and oyster bars are holding good numbers of fish.
Flounder fishing has picked up considerably over the past couple days. Gulp jerk shads and live mud minnows are both producing fish.
Speckled trout fishing has been up and down lately. The most consistent fishing has been with the smaller versions of Super Spooks and Skitterwalks. Early morning hours have been the most productive time to target trout, and this pattern will continue throughout the summer months.
Black drum and a few sheepshead are being found around bridges and deeper waterway docks. Fresh shrimp is needed for the black drum, and fiddler crabs and urchins are getting the sheepshead to bite.
Nearshore boaters are reporting good catches of king mackerel while trolling cigar minnows on dead bait rigs and Yo-Zuri plugs. Spanish are beginning to show up, and the best action has been with both Clarkspoons behind #1 and #2 planers and the small size Yo-Zuri deep diving plugs.
Gag grouper are biting well starting in the 10 mile range, along with sea bass and a few grunts. Cobia are showing up, and most of the fish have been spotted holding near pods of menhaden. Cut bait and Bowed-Up cobia jigs are getting bites.
Gulf Stream boaters are reporting catches of mahi and wahoo. The majority of catches are coming on skirted ballyhoo and assorted lures, and look for the mahi action to get better in the next few weeks.
Chadwick, of South End Anglers, reports that red drum fishing along the marsh has picked up considerably over the past week. The reds are patrolling flats during high tide and otherwise cruising grass shorelines in search of baitfish. MirrOlure Poppa Mullet and Z-Man jerk shads are getting these fish to bite. Oyster bars and docks are holding good numbers of fish on both sides of the tide. Most of the bites are coming on fresh cut menhaden and live mud minnows.
Flounder are beginning to show up in better numbers, as they’re holding near the inlet and some of the creek mouths. Z-Man MinnowZ on 1/4 oz. Fathom jigheads and live mud minnows on Carolina rigs are getting the flatfish to bite.
Spanish mackerel have shown up in good numbers around the inlet and along nearshore wrecks. Trolling with Yo-Zuri plugs and Clarkspoons behind planers have accounted for most of the action. Surface feeding fish have been present during the evening on an outgoing tide near the inlet.
Bottom fishing in the 5-15 mile range has been decent, with grouper, sea bass, and porgies in the mix. Squid baits and metal jigs are how most fish are being caught.
School-sized king mackerel are falling for Rapala deep diving plugs in the same range.

Jim, of Plan 9 Charters, reports that king mackerel, spanish, bonito, and bluefish have all been biting. They’ve all been mixed in the 3-7 mile range. Large Yo-Zuri deep divers and oversized Clarkspoons pulled behind #1 and #2 planers are fooling these fish. The spanish and bluefish were preferring smaller-sized spoons. Most of the kings were “snakes” (up to 32”). There were, however, some  nice-sized kings being caught, too.

Mike, of Native Son Guide Service, reports that larger spanish have shown up. Pulling #1 and #2 planers and assorted colors of Clarkspoons has been the best for the spanish. King mackerel have migrated closer to shore, but the weather has limited the days to get out there. Dead cigar minnows on Blue Water Candy dead bait rigs around live bottom has been effective. Drone spoons and planers have proved successful while trying to cover more water.
Cobia are in the area, so keep a large bucktail or jerk shad handy while fishing nearshore.
The trout bite has slowed down, but early morning or late evening is producing nice fish. There hasn’t been big numbers, but the quality has been great. The red drum bite has also slowed a little, but look for the fishing to pick up once the mullet migrate back into the sound.
Elizabeth, of Jolly Roger Pier, reports that a few spanish are being caught on Gotcha plugs, and there are also good numbers of school-sized bluefish eating plugs. The bite will improve as the water clears back up.
Bottom fishermen are seeing catches of sea mullet and croakers, mostly after sunset and during high tide. Fresh shrimp on the bottom has been the ticket.

Terry, of Surf City Pier, reports that black drum and sea mullet are being caught on the bottom on both fresh shrimp and Fishbites. Bluefish in the 1-3 lb. range are being caught on plugs throughout the day. Spanish are beginning to show up, and there have been some bigger fish landed already.

Tyler, of Seaview Fishing Pier, reports that black drum and sea mullet are biting. Fresh shrimp and Fishbites are getting most of the action from the bottom fish. Plug casters are seeing decent catches of bluefish and the occasional spanish.

Bill Dance Fishing - Missing on Hard Plugs

May 6, 2017

RFA is Encouraging Its Members to Take Action on E15!

Recreational Fishing Alliance  
Contact:  Jim Donofrio / 888-564-6732  

For Immediate Release
May 5, 2017


RFA is Encouraging Its Members to Take Action on E15!

RFA is asking all fishermen that fish on a boat with an outboard engine to participate in the Action Alert being circulated by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).  Please read the alert from NMMA below and take action by clicking the link provided. 


ACTION ALERT!!
We need your help TODAY!  Let your Senator know that adding more E15 in the marketplace is unacceptable for the 12 million boats and millions of other off-road engine equipment in the marketplace. 
A deal is being pushed in the Senate that would overturn a rule on methane emissions in exchange for the ability to push more E15 into your gas pumps nationwide. This backroom deal by pro-corn Senators, would put millions of boaters at risk. We know that E15 is destructive to marine engines and the 97% of boaters who fill up at gas stations. With more E15 in the fuel supply, the risk of misfueling your marine equipment increases and the ability to find ethanol free fuel will diminish. Politicians should not be gambling on recreational boating and putting more consumers at risk. 

It's time to tell Congress no more E15, and once and for all, fix the broken Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Let your Senator and Representative know that boaters and the boating industry won't stand for more E15 and want the RFS fixed now. 

Click here to take action now, and urge your Senator to say NO more E15.

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About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues.
The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org


May 4, 2017

New bluefish release category added to N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: May 4, 2017
Phone: 252-726-7021

New bluefish release category added to N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament

MOREHEAD CITY – Anglers can soon be recognized for releasing large bluefish.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Saltwater Fishing Tournament, known commonly as the Citation Program, will add a bluefish release category beginning May 15. Anglers can receive a citation (certificate) for the release of a bluefish that measures 34 inches or longer.

Currently, citations are given only to anglers who catch and keep a bluefish that weighs at least 15 pounds.

The new release category brings the total number of release species in the program to 20. The release category is meant to encourage anglers to practice catch and release.

The Saltwater Fishing Tournament recognizes exceptional catches of North Carolina’s most popular sport fish.
The tournament runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 each year and is open to any angler, except those who captain or work on a for-hire vessel or those who sell their fish.

To qualify for a citation, the fish must be caught on hook and line, landed without the use of electric or hydraulic equipment and meet the program size requirements. Landed fish must be weighed at an official weigh station and then recorded on an official application form. For released fish, the angler or mate must touch the fish or the leader, measure the fish and release it, then the angler and a witness must fill out and sign an application at an official weigh station.
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Click here for more information on the N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament.

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1601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699




Patricia Smith
Public Information Officer
Division of Marine Fisheries

May 1, 2017

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Guides still available




The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries maintains 42 ocean artificial reefs and 20 estuarine reefs, 14 of which serve as oyster sanctuaries. Ocean reefs are located from ½ mile to 38 miles from shore and are situated so that they can be reached from every maintained inlet in the state. The estuarine sites are found in Pamlico Sound and its tributaries, the Chowan River and the New River. Estuarine reefs are designated with yellow class four or five buoys noting the reef site, a N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries sign, and a phone number. Oyster Sanctuaries are designated with white, class-four buoys or three-pile dolphin markers that identify the site as an oyster sanctuary.

MOREHEAD CITY – Anglers who fish on North Carolina’s artificial reefs can still get the new North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Guide, published this past August.

Artificial reef guides are still available for free on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Headquarters in Morehead City and at other division offices in Wilmington, Washington, Elizabeth City and Manteo (find addresses and phone numbers for these offices here).

Individuals may pick a book up in-person between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday a.m. 
(excluding holidays). The division limits distribution of the guide to one book per person.

The 131-page, full-color guide is printed on waterproof paper and provides detailed information about each of the state’s 62 reefs. It includes diagrams of each site showing all reef material, GPS coordinates and material deployment dates.

As a supplement to the paper guide, the division has posted an online interactive reef guide here. This web application offers all the features of the paper guide, with the addition of side-scan sonar imagery, which creates a picture of the ocean floor, for each reef. The web guide also includes mapping tools for measuring distance, searching and custom printing.

Artificial reefs are manmade underwater structures, built to promote marine life in areas with otherwise featureless bottom. North Carolina builds reefs to support healthy fish populations, create accessible fishing and diving opportunities, and in some places, restore degraded habitat for oysters.

The reef guide and web application were funded by a $176,000 award from the North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License Grant Program.

For more information, contact Amy Comer, with the division’s Artificial Reef Program, at 252-808-8054 orAmy.Comer@ncdenr.gov.

Download a photo of the reef guide here.