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