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

Swansboro Fishing has been good!!

The fishing in Swansboro has been pretty consistent. The key has been getting some pretty weather and the fishing will be good. The hottest bite has been the kings. We have easily been limiting out on every trip with kings in the 10#-15# range. We have also had some bigger fish in the 20#-40# range mixed in with teenagers. One trip we were able to land 3 fish that were NC citations (over 30 lbs.). We have been landing most of the kings with 4"-5" peanut pogeys. The bigger kings have be smoking 1lb-2lb blue fish. For the smaller baits I have been using double #4 treble hooks with #5 Malin hardwire. For the blue fish I have been using (4)-#4 treble hooks with #7 Malin hardwire. We have not had to venture more than 3-5 miles out to find success. The Red Drum have also been biting well. All though I am not finding the inshore schools we were in the warmer months there have still been good numbers of fish scattered throughout the marsh. Most of these fish are still hitting topwaters but we are having the best luck with Catch 2000's, Strike King's Redfish Magic and Shadalicous, and gulp baits. The flounder bite has been reliable with big numbers of keeper size fish. I have been finding most of these fish along structure in the inshore waters. These fish have been attacking live mullets, pogeys, shrimp, pinfish. Gulp baits and other soft plastics have also been producing good numbers of flatfish. Most deeper channels with drop offs and oysterbars are holding good numbers of flounder. We had a 6.9 lb hammer a live pinfish on a creek mouth with an out going tide late last week. I have still been waiting on a consistent speckled trout bite to arrive here in our area. I have some good days and then a couple of bad days. I have been picking a few specks off in the marshes behind all the barrier islands but I have yet to have big number days. Most of the fish being caught have been good size fish ranging 2-4 lbs. The best baits so far have been the 52TTHP (Pink Mirrolure), Gulp jerkshads (smelt), and Strike King's Glass minnow. The best bet for early fall specks is floating live shrimp,finger mullet, or pinfish. My bigger fish have come on finger mullets and pinfish.