FEBRUARY
CRYSTAL COAST INSHORE FISHING REPORT
I would first like to wish every one a Happy New Year. It is now 2008 and it looks to be another great fishing year. We are now in the middle of winter and the water temps are hovering around 45-52 degrees. Most anglers have winterized their boats and put up their gear for the winter. However, most anglers do not realize the month of February can be some of the best action for Redfish they will experience all year. There will be big schools of redfish along the surf zone and in the backwaters all winter long. When you can get the right conditions with offshore winds and minimal swell, you can fish along the beach front of Bear and Browns Islands. These fish usually range from 22”-32”. You can see the fish cruising just about on the sand. I like to use ½ oz. unpainted jig heads with a heavy gauge hook. I normally tip the jig with a 4in. Berkley Gulp shrimp. I also will use MirrOlure Catch 2000 suspending stick bait. They will eat just about anything. I like to use the bigger heavier baits because they tend to cast a lot better against the wind. You have to use extreme care when fishing like this because you have to get your boat very close to the beach and sometimes a rough wave will come out of nowhere and ruin your day. If the conditions are not right for the surf zone, there will be plenty of Reds behind Emerald Isle, Bear Island, and Browns Island. These fish tend to run a little smaller ranging from 17”-27”. I will usually find redfish milling around in the many bays around our area. I use similar size bait such as a 1/8-1/16 oz. jig head with a smaller gulp like the 3” gulp shrimp or jerk shad. I down size the MirrOlure to Catch 2000 Jr. The best way to locate these fish is to ease into a bay with your trolling motor or pole and look for fish pushing wakes and swirls.
Redfish are not the only inshore fish on tap for the Crystal Coast. You will still be able to find some speckled trout around the Swansboro and Emerald Isle areas. You will notice the fish to be a little smaller but with a little patience you will be able to limit out on specks. These fish in our area will usually range from 1-3lbs. I key in on specks after a few days of warmer weather. This type of weather put these fish in a mood to feed. I fish for these fish in the Hwy 24 creeks and also in the marshes behind Bear and Browns Islands. There will also be some nicer fish in Queens and Bear Creeks along with the White Oak River. I use 1/8-1/16 oz. unpainted jig heads tipped with Berkley gulp swimming mullets and jerk shads. My favorite color to use is the smelt color. If you are looking for that trophy speck, you should fish in the New or Neuse Rivers. To receive a NC citation for a speckled trout, it has to weigh 5lbs or a live release of a fish with a min. length of 24”. On an average day trip, we will land any where from 5-10 specks ranging from 1-3lbs with the chance for that 5-8 pounder. I use the same set up with gulp or the power bait shrimp. I also use a MirrOlure TTHP or 52 M in the 808 color. The Cape Lookout Jetty will probably be your best bet for a banner day on January speckled trout. If I can give any advice, it would be to get there early and have a live well full of mud minnows. I fish the mud minnows on a split shot rig or barrel weight rig. I also use light gauge circle hooks.
Along with the trout, expect to land a good number of stripers in the Neuse River. These fish are the smaller version of the ocean stripers but are just as fun on light tackle. These fish can be caught on gulps and mirrolures. On the warmer days you may be able to convince them to take a topwater plug. So get out there and take advantage of the awesome fishing available during the month of February. If you ever have any questions, feel free to give me a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yaoo.com.
Captain Robert Hall
Hall’em In Charters, Inc.
http://www.hallemincharters.com/
(910)330-6999
CRYSTAL COAST INSHORE FISHING REPORT
I would first like to wish every one a Happy New Year. It is now 2008 and it looks to be another great fishing year. We are now in the middle of winter and the water temps are hovering around 45-52 degrees. Most anglers have winterized their boats and put up their gear for the winter. However, most anglers do not realize the month of February can be some of the best action for Redfish they will experience all year. There will be big schools of redfish along the surf zone and in the backwaters all winter long. When you can get the right conditions with offshore winds and minimal swell, you can fish along the beach front of Bear and Browns Islands. These fish usually range from 22”-32”. You can see the fish cruising just about on the sand. I like to use ½ oz. unpainted jig heads with a heavy gauge hook. I normally tip the jig with a 4in. Berkley Gulp shrimp. I also will use MirrOlure Catch 2000 suspending stick bait. They will eat just about anything. I like to use the bigger heavier baits because they tend to cast a lot better against the wind. You have to use extreme care when fishing like this because you have to get your boat very close to the beach and sometimes a rough wave will come out of nowhere and ruin your day. If the conditions are not right for the surf zone, there will be plenty of Reds behind Emerald Isle, Bear Island, and Browns Island. These fish tend to run a little smaller ranging from 17”-27”. I will usually find redfish milling around in the many bays around our area. I use similar size bait such as a 1/8-1/16 oz. jig head with a smaller gulp like the 3” gulp shrimp or jerk shad. I down size the MirrOlure to Catch 2000 Jr. The best way to locate these fish is to ease into a bay with your trolling motor or pole and look for fish pushing wakes and swirls.
Redfish are not the only inshore fish on tap for the Crystal Coast. You will still be able to find some speckled trout around the Swansboro and Emerald Isle areas. You will notice the fish to be a little smaller but with a little patience you will be able to limit out on specks. These fish in our area will usually range from 1-3lbs. I key in on specks after a few days of warmer weather. This type of weather put these fish in a mood to feed. I fish for these fish in the Hwy 24 creeks and also in the marshes behind Bear and Browns Islands. There will also be some nicer fish in Queens and Bear Creeks along with the White Oak River. I use 1/8-1/16 oz. unpainted jig heads tipped with Berkley gulp swimming mullets and jerk shads. My favorite color to use is the smelt color. If you are looking for that trophy speck, you should fish in the New or Neuse Rivers. To receive a NC citation for a speckled trout, it has to weigh 5lbs or a live release of a fish with a min. length of 24”. On an average day trip, we will land any where from 5-10 specks ranging from 1-3lbs with the chance for that 5-8 pounder. I use the same set up with gulp or the power bait shrimp. I also use a MirrOlure TTHP or 52 M in the 808 color. The Cape Lookout Jetty will probably be your best bet for a banner day on January speckled trout. If I can give any advice, it would be to get there early and have a live well full of mud minnows. I fish the mud minnows on a split shot rig or barrel weight rig. I also use light gauge circle hooks.
Along with the trout, expect to land a good number of stripers in the Neuse River. These fish are the smaller version of the ocean stripers but are just as fun on light tackle. These fish can be caught on gulps and mirrolures. On the warmer days you may be able to convince them to take a topwater plug. So get out there and take advantage of the awesome fishing available during the month of February. If you ever have any questions, feel free to give me a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yaoo.com.
Captain Robert Hall
Hall’em In Charters, Inc.
http://www.hallemincharters.com/
(910)330-6999
No comments:
Post a Comment