Winter Time Mixed Bag

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Winter time has always been one of my favorite times of year to fish. A lot of people think that fishing in Eastern NC is a warm weather event but there is always some good fishing going on year around. Some of the best Redfishing is on tap during the months of Nov.-March. We typically have schools of 100-1000 reds cruising the crystal clear surf zones of the barrier islands. These fish are easily picked off using softplastics and on the warmer days topwaters. But if fishing in the surf is not your cup of tea well there will be plenty of schools of fish in the backwaters also. Some of the schools of Redfish will filter back into the flats behind the barrier islands. This type of fishing is super exciting while sight casting to 100-300 fish in 8-10" of water.

Also available during the winter months is trophy speckled trout fishing in the Neuse and New Rivers. You can expect to land good numbers of specks with the chance at the once in a lifetime trophy of 6-10 lb fish. Most of these fish are caught using scented softplastics on ligh jigheads and also the Mirrolure MR17 and MR27. The Rivers are not the only specks available through the winter months. We will be running charters to the famous Cape Lookout Rock Jetties. Usually we will be using live shrimp or mud minnows and you can expect to land big numbers of fish ranging from 1lb - 2lbs. This is a fast action fishing and a great way to take a few fish home for the freezer.

My favorite type of winter fishing in for striped bass in the Neuse River. The reason it is my favorite is you will typically land stripers, redfish, flounder, speckled trout, and large mouth bass. This is a great way to spend a cool winter day casting to the banks of the river waiting to feel that strike and not know what you will catch.

So don't let the cool weather fool you there will be plenty of hot fishing action on tap for the winter and Hall'em In Charters will be glad to guide you. We have plenty of open dates around the holidays so give Capt. Robert Hall a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Lots of Rain

Well we have had over 20" of rain in the last month which is usually the recipe for dismal fishing but ironically it has been pretty consistent. We have had some slow days but the trout bite has been pretty good through all the diverse weather. We are landing good numbers of fish ranging from 1-2lbs with the occasional 4-5lb fish. We have been finding most fish in the cleaner water out by the inlets. Also the Hwy. 24 creeks have been holding fish as well. Most fish have been caught on soft plastics on weighted jigheads. The powerbait shrimp plastics also gulp baits have been the best bet.

There are huge schools of Redfish in the surfzone. The fish have been easy to spot while cruising the surf zone. We have been landing huge numbers of fish on topwaters and just about anything that moves. This type of fish is easy but is also extremely dangerous. An unexpected swell can tip your boat so be sure to keep one person at the helm at all times.

There are also still some false albies around. Most fish are being caught around the cape but there are still some fish hanging around bogue inlet. If you want to get in on some good wintertime fishing please give Capt. Robert Hall a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Fall fishing is here!!!

The cooler temps have arrived along with the awesome fall bite. Every thing seems to have fired up with dropping water temps. Finally the speckled trout have started to bite with better numbers of big fish. We have been landing fish from 2-5lb behind all the barrier islands and in the deep channels by the inlets. Most fish have been landed with live shrimp under a slip cork/float or a live pinfish/mullet on carolina rigs. We have also been triggering strikes from specks using scented soft plastics by Gulp or Trigger X on jigheads and 52M Mirrolures.

The Red Drum have continued to bite well in the marshes. We are still finding good numbers of fish in the marshes behind all the barrier islands and also in all the bays inside the River and creeks. Most of the fish have been running from middle slot to upper slot. Live mullets and shrimp beneath rattle corks seem to do the trick. You will also find success using the same baits used for the Specks.

The king mackeral bite was super hot close the beach and there are still a few there but it seems they have moved a bit further out now. Your best bet is to get out around the 12-18 mile range and you should bump into some thick well fed fish. Keep your eyes open out there because there have been tons of false albies. We have had some awesome days this early fall catching these little tunnies on light tackle. You do not need anything fancy to entice these fish any thing flashy that remotely resembles a glass minnow will work.

Crystal Coast Fishing Report 9/23/09

All I can say is there is Red Drum (Redfish) everywhere. We are catching fish in every shallow bay from Harkers Island to Browns Inlet. With the flooded tides lately most fish have been caught on spinnerbaits and scented softplastics on jigheads but we are still catching fish on topwaters. We have also been catch tons of fish on live shrimp and mullets under Rattle corks.

The good news is the Speckled Trout have shown up. We have been landing good numbers of fish in all the creek mouths behind the barrier islands. We have been finding some good fish around structure along the I.C.W. Most trout have been landed on live shrimp and mullets but the specks will also strike scented soft plastics by Trigger X and Gulp. The MR 17 or 27 by Mirrolure will also temp a speck into a bite.

If you want to get on some of this hot action give us a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Crystal Coast Fishing Report 9/14/09

The Red Drum bit continues to be stellar. The 5"-6" of rain we had Labor day have not slowed them down one bit. We are still finding fish in the marshed behind the barrier islands along with some fish on the rocks up the White Oak River and Queens Creek. Fish have been falling for Topwaters and spinnerbaits and also live finger mullet and shrimp.

The speckled trout bite has also made a showing with good numbers of fish in the marshes behind the barrier islands. The first hour of the falling tide have been best with most fish caught on live shrimp. The trout will also strike scented soft plastics and Mirrolure's MR17 and MR 27.

The big spanish bite has picked back up with some nice 2-6# fish landed at some of the nearshore structure and live bottoms. These fish have been smashing small pogies and mullets on the surface. The kings are there they are just a bit lock jaw but I expect them to fire up any day now.

If you are in the Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Swansboro, Morehead City area book a fishing charters with Hall'em In Charters (we have plety of open dates) call Capt. Robert Hall at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Crystal Coast Fishing Report 9/7/09

Red Drum, Redfish, Puppy Drum or whatever else you like to call them have been on fire. The bite seems to be getting hotter and hotter as we move into the late summer. We have still been finding good schools of fish in the marshes behind Emerald Isle and Bear Island. There are also loads of fish scattered through out all the bays inside of Queens Creek and the White Oak River.

Most fish have been falling for topwaters and gold spoons as well as scented soft plastics. But live shrimp and cut mullet have also gotten the job done.

Speckled trout are starting to show up in all the usual places. I havent had any big numbers of fish yet but the bite continues to improve as we get closer to fall. Most trout have been around oyster bars and creek mouths on the first half of the falling tide. Live shrimp and finger mullets have been the best baits for trout. Also scented soft plastics and MR-17 suspending twitch baits will entice a strike.

The flounder bite has cooled quite a bit. There have been a good numbers of fish landed but very few keeper size. I anticipate the flounder bite to heat back up once the water temps start to fall.

Your best bet for keeper size flatfish will be working structure along the ICW and inside the River and Creeks. You will find some nice fish in the same areas with the specks.

The king and spanish bite has been dismal. The weather has played a huge role in shutting the

mackeral bite down. Once most of the tropical weather pushes through and the mullets and pogies continue thier journey towards the ocean this bite will fire back up.

I have plenty of openings for the month of September. So if you want to book your fishing charters while you are in Emerald Isle, Swansboro, Atlantic Beach, or Morehead City give Capt. Robert Hall a call @ (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com .

Crystal Coast Fishing Report 8/31/09

Well it has been an interesting two weeks. I have had some motor issues but I have still been able to run a few charters of my clients boats. Mostly I have been fishing inshore because the recent tropical storms have had the swell up the last couple of weeks.

Red drum continue to bite better and better as we get into the fall. I have been finding large schools of fish in the marshes behind Emerald Isle, Bear, and Browns islands. We have been landing these fish on Mirrolure's Topdawgs, Catch 2000 and MR 27. The Reds have also been falling for soft plastics on jig heads and gold spoons. Live bait will also trigger these drum into biting. A live shrimp or mullet under a rattle cork will get the job done.

The flounder bite contiunes to be strong in the internal waters. We have been landing lots of fish with a good keeper ratio. Most of our nicer fish have been staging around structure in the ICW and river. The best bait for these flatfish have been finger mullets on carolina rigs. Live shrimp are also a dynomite flounder bait but it is hard to keep the pinfish at bay.

We have landed some trout but the big numbers have yet to show. I expect as we get into Sept. for the trout bite to pick up. The big spanish and kings are located close to the inlet mouth. Slow trolling live baits on double treble hook rigs should get some awesome surface strikes.

If you are wanting to get in on some incredible fall time action book your charter call Capt. Robert Hall at (910)330-6999 or email hallemincharters@yahoo.com . We run fishing charters out of Swansboro, Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, and Morehead City.

Crystal Coast Fishing Report 8/17/09

It has been a while since my last report but that means the fishing has been super good. There is plenty of bait around and preadators to eat them. We have been finding big schools of finger mullets cruising the waterway early in the morning. There have been plenty of shrimp in Queens creek and the White Oak River. There continues to be massive schools of pogies in the waterways and creeks inside.

The fishing has been very good. We have been finding good numbers of Redfish (puppy drum) in the marshes and around the docks and structure in the ICW. We have been landing most of these fish on topwaters (Mirrolure Topdawg 21 or 808 color) in the morning and gold spoons and spinner baits (Strike King Redfish Magic Pearl). They have also been falling for scented soft plastics such as gulps and trigger X. Live baits such as shrimp and mullets is also a great way to target these reds. You should find good success by using a live bait under a rattle cork or behind a light weighted carolina rig. Just remember when fishing for reds always use circle hooks so the fish stands a lesser chance of swallowing the hook.

The speckled trout bite has cooled some in the Swansboro area we are still finding a few specks around all the oyster bars and grass flats behind the barrier islands such as Emerald Isle, Bear, and Browns. You can also find these fish staging at creek mouths along the ICW on an out going tide. The bait of choice for speckled trout is live shrimp under slip cork rig. A live mullet on a caroling rig is typically what your bigger specks will fall for. Artificals that will work are Mirrolure's MR 17 and MR 27 in the 21 and 808 colors. Scented soft plastics such as gulps and Trigger X shrimp or jerk shads on light jig heads will also temp a speck strike.

Flounder have really made a strong showing the last couple of weeks. We have been landing big numbers of fish at the nearshore structures and live bottoms. Alot of throw backs but good numbers of keeper size fish mixed in. In the ocean we have been bouncing white 2oz. bucktails tipped with 4" gulp shrimp. We also have been catching them with live mullets rigged on Carolina rigs with 1-1/2 oz egg sinkers. Inshore the bite has been similar with good numbers of fish with some being keepers. Live mullets on carolina rigs seem to be your best bet inside the inlets.

The nearshore fishing has seemed to cool down a bit. We have been finding a few big Spanish mackerel and a few kings mixed in with them but the bite has been slow. The water temps have stayed in the 82-85 degrees range and that is a little warm. There have been some big schools of Amberjacks in the 5-14 mile range. They have been feeding hard and have been easy to temp a strike from.

If you are in the Emerald Isle, Atlantic beach, or Swanboro area and you want to get on some of the best fishing North Carolina has to offer give Capt. Robert Hall a call at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Fishing has been hot!!!

Nearshore: The fishing has been pretty good lately. We have had a awesome Mahi bite close to the beach. We have been landing good numbers of fish in the 5-10 mile range. Most of these fish have been 5-10lbs with an occasional 12-15 lber. We have been slow trolling live baits on the surface. Along with the dolphin we have been getting consistent strikes from snake kings. Most of the kings have been in the 5-10lb range we did have one earlier this week that would go around 15lbs. I expect the size of kings to get larger as we get more into the summer. There also have been huge numbers of Amberjacks on all the ledges and wrecks. These fish are absolutely one the the strongest fish near shore. The Spanish bite has cooled down a bit but limits of fish are still pretty easy to get in the morning. We are also starting to see the bigger spanish move in on the near shore live bottoms and artificial reefs. The flounder fishing has been good in the ocean as well.

Inshore: Inshore fishing has been consistent. We have been finding schools of Reds in the bays and backwaters. Most of these fish are falling for topwaters and soft plastics. Most of these fish have been in the middle slot with a few being in the upper slot. We have also been landing good numbers of speckled trout at first light. The trout have been hammering gulp jerkshads and strike king glass minnows. Along with artificals we have been catching specks and reds on live shrimp and menhaden. We have been find good numbers of sheepshead around all the structure on the internal waters. Sand fiddlers have been the trick for the sheepshead. The flounder bite continues to be stellar this year. I have been finding good size fish around structure up and down the ICW. Most trips have been landing keepers every time. If you are in the Emerald Isle, Swansboro, Morehead City areas and want to get on some hot inshore/near shore action give Capt. Robert Hall a call at (910)330-6999 or email us at hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Spanish and Flounder

The fish of late has been spanish. We have been getting easy limits on the days mother nature will let us out of Bogue inlet. We have been landing tons of fish in the 1lb-4lb range. We have been casting diamond jigs and stingsilvers to busting fish on the surface. Also we have been slow trolling small live baits landing the bigger fish. We have also been having good success on OO gold clark spoons. Some more good news has been the flounder starting to show up on some of the live bottoms and wrecks. We have been landing good numbers of keeper size fish using live baits and bucktails. The Redfish (puppy drum) have been hit or miss. We have found some schools of fish but they seem to move around alot instead of hang in one area. There are plenty of reds peppered through the marsh. We have been cathing most of the reds on Topdawgs, MR27, and Redfish magics. The bluewater is pushing in closer which means the Mahi will be close in the upcoming weeks. If you are wanting to book your Emerald Isle fishing charter I have plenty of open dates for the month of June. So if you want to get in on some hot fishing action you can book your charter by calling Capt. Robert Hall at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Fishing is good.

Well it is that time again. The Redfish have started to become more active. Fish are showing some interest in topwater baits and spinnerbaits. We have been landing good numbers of fish on the days when the wind gives us a chance. Some flounder have also started to show up around the inlets and nearshore structure. It shouldnt be to long before numbers of fish will begin to push in the inlets and into the marsh. There have been some trout caught in our area but they have been running a tad bit small. There are some nicer fish being caught in the Neuse and New Rivers. They have been killing the Spanish and Bonita south of us here so It will not be long before those fish will be here off our inlets. And right behind them will be one of my favorite fish which is the Cobia. So fishing is good if you want to get on some of this hot action book you charter with Hall'em In Charters. Call Capt. Robert Hall at (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

Happy New Year

First I would like to say Happy New Year. Well folks as you know It has been quite some time since I posted a report. On Dec. 11 my wife and I welcomed our first child Lauren Tyler Hall into the world. She weighed 6lbs 15 oz. and was 21 1/2" long. She is now doubt a keeper. She has stole the show since she arrived. My wife and I are so blessed and we thank all of you with your kind words and support. Now to the fishing part, the fishing has also been very good. The past January's have been epic fishing for Redfish (puppy drum) in the marsh and in the surf zone. Well the January has proved to be no different. We have been finding massive schools in the surf zone with 500-2000 fish in each school. These fish have been ranging from 25"-32". We have also been finding huge schools of fish in the marshes with 100-200 fish in each school. These fish have been running on the smaller side at about 18"-27" but still are a blast on light tackle. The trout bite has been extremly slow. I have had a few trips to the Neuse with very little activity. But I expect the bite to pick back up as we get into the spring months. I have not yet heard of any trout kills with the freezing temps. we have had so if that holds we should have another trophy trout spring. The fishing is good and I have plenty of openings so give me a call if you are interested. Call Capt. Robert Hall (910)330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com