Spring Fever

Hello folks I hope everyone had a wonderful winter. I know it was a pretty cold here on the crystal coast. But the air and water temperatures have been rising quickly. I wanted to take a moment to let everyone know whats going on right now in our area. The Red Drum (redfish) have started to filter in the inlets we have been finding good schools of fish in the backwaters behind the barrier islands along with the North River. We have been landing most of these fish on gulp baits and spinner baits. I suspect it will not be long before they start smashin topwaters. There have been some trout around but they have been on the small side. With the warming water temps the trout bite in the New and Neuse river will improve. April and May are two of my favorite months to land trophy size speckled trout. The striped bass bite has been really good all winter long. There have been good numbers of fish in the Neuse river. They have been falling for topwaters in the mornings and suspending twich baits in the afternoons. I expect the bonito bite with start up really soon as the water temps continue to rise. April is also the month we start landing flounder on our nearshore structure. If you are in the Emerald Isle, Morehead City, Swansboro, or Jacksonville area give us a call to book your fishing charter. I have open dates now but they will start filling up fast so book your charter. Give us a call (910)-330-6999 or email: hallemincharters@yahoo.com

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 .