Well Folks, fall is trying to show and then it gets warm and wet! A real roller coaster of weather: one day with hot temps, breezy and wet; very next day cool and sunshine! Hey that’s what gets those fall fish biting so we can’t complain too much. With that said let’s talk fall fishing!
I’ve had some very good Spanish mackerel runs lately, most of the action has been a little off the beach in thirty to fifty feet of water (clearer water). Most of the Spanish are hitting Clark spoons on number one planners; a few nicer fish have hit live bait on top as well. I have also caught some on Fly’s and Hogy epoxy jigs casting when the Spanish get on top to feed. The Spanish are very nice in size; most fish are two to some over four pounds “nice fall size”. There has been a good amount of False Albacore mixing in as well, which are always fun on light tackle.
The Flounder fishing has been good for the most of the year, on some trips I’ve caught over eight keeper fish. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. I have caught most of the Flounder on artificial baits and it seems that most of the bigger flounder are hitting bigger artificial baits. I’ve had the best luck with Berkley Gulp five and six inch jerkshad in colors pearl white and chart-pepper neon. I’m rigging these jerkshad on a red or black jig heads with forty pound fluorocarbon leaders for best results. I’m working the jerkshad slow, making sure the lure stays close to the bottom.
Redfish schools are starting to show up in the surf. You can find these schools of twenty to over a thousand Redfish around inlets, outer sand bars and jetties. Once you find these schools there pretty easy to catch if the weather is calm. I cast 1/4oz to 1/2oz jig heads with five inch Berkley Gulp jerkshad or four inch Berkley Gulp Ripple mullet; in colors new penny or pearl white. Be very careful in the surf if you’re in a boat, you really have got to watch the waves and try not to run over the school with your boat!
I’ve caught some bigger bull Redfish on hard/live bottoms just off the beach and around the local inlets. I’m catching Reds in the 24 to over 38 inch range, some days their over the slot some days there in the slot. Most of the Reds are hitting live mullets and fresh menhaden on Carolina rigs; using heavier egg sinkers with circle hooks 6/0 to 9/0. Don’t forget to keep your drag tight when using circle hook so the hook will do its job.
One tip I can give you when fishing for Bull Reds, is don’t use to light of tackle for these bigger Reds. If you fight them to long, there is a chance you can tire them out to much and kill them. Try a med/heavy rod and a reel with at least thirty pound mono or braid, this will help you get the fish in quicker; with a better chance of a good release. I see it over and over again; anglers using to light of tackle and they “release” a floating dead Redfish. Check to see if the Red has a tag in its back; there are a fair amount of tagged Bull Reds out there.
And last but Not least, Speckled Trout are starting to show and bite! The Speckled trout fishing has gotten better and better around this area every year! It looks like it will be the same this year as well; especially since we have seen a lot of fish already this year and there is plenty of bait around; “I Can’t wait, I love Trout fishing”! The best trout bites should be on grubs and hard baits, but good ‘ole live shrimp will work just as well too.
The best grubs I’ve luck with are Berkley Gulp three inch shrimp in colors pearl white, new penny, and new penny flick/chart tail. I also catch a good amount of trout on Saltwater Assassin’s four inch sea-shad in colors greenback shiner, chicken on a chain, copper head and silver mullet. I Rig the grubs and shrimp patterns on a red or black jig heads and I always use fluorocarbon leader for trout fishing!
Hard lures that seem to be bring the trout to the boat are Mirrolure’s 17MR, Catch 2000 Jr, 52M and 18MR lures in colors pink, chartreuse, and white. Most of the trout we have caught have been in the creeks and main channels connecting to the ICW and inlets as well as the Cape Fear River.
The Fishing gear I use:
Reds, Trout and Flounder: Reels PENN Battle II’s and Conflict spinning in sizes 2000, 2500 and 3000 Rods: PENN Battalion 6’6” and 7’ Med/light and Med. Line: Spiderwire Ultracast in 10, 15 and 20 pound. Bull Redfish reels: PENN Spinfisher V 5500 and PENN Fathom 15. Rods: PENN Rampage Jigging rods in 30 to 80 pound class. . Line: thirty pound Berkley Big Game mono.
*Are you on Facebook? Check out my page Capt. Jot Owens/Jot It Down Fishing Charters LLC for lots of good info on local fishing, fishing tips, detailed live reports, photos, videos and tackle giveaways; yes free stuff!
Thanks for reading my reports, if you have any questions or comments just let me know. Don’t’ forget to take a kid fishing!
Capt. Jot Owens
PENN Tackle Elite Staff
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139