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.