May 13, 2017
May 11, 2017
Fisherman's Post Carolina's Saltwater Newspaper May 11, 2017 Fishing Reports
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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.
May 6, 2017
RFA is Encouraging Its Members to Take Action on E15!
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May 4, 2017
New bluefish release category added to N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament
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.
.
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 3, 2017
Carolina Fishing TV - Season2/12 - Topsail Island Redfish
Published on November 21, 2013 by Carolina Fishing TV
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 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.
(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.
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