The weather is getting nicer and nicer here in southeast North Carolina. Warmer days mean warmer water temps, and that could only mean one thing; Spring fishing! In my opinion we are running about two weeks ahead in water temps. I fished on Thursday 3/13, the water temp in the water way (ICW) was 59.5` to 61.2` and in the ocean was 58.5` to 59.4`.
These temps are about 4 to 5 degrees warmer than last year this same time. So what does this mean? I hope an early and longer fishing season this year. We will just have to see what happens; hopefully it will mean better fishing. So far so Good! To the fishing report
Just off the beach, in the three the fifteen mile range there is some bottom fish. We fished the Liberty ship wreck on 3/13. We caught some very nice Black sea Bass and Ring tail porgies. The fish were mixed in size; from 8 to 15 plus inches.
You can find these fish and also Jolt head porgies, Dog sharks, and Tautogs. They are hanging on ledges and artificial reefs just off the beach. These fish are not too hard to catch once you find them. Cut bait is the way to go on these fish, Squid seems to work the best and it stays on the hook better. If you would rather go artificial, jigs and jig spoons, two to five oz. any colors will work “go bright”.
Inshore fishing is picking up as well. Redfish, Speckled trout and Flounder are biting. You just have to get out on the water and put some time in to find them. In the spring you need to slow down your presentation and add some scent to your lures. Doing these things will help you catch more fish.
The Redfish are hitting grubs, cut bait and live bait. Live bait is just starting to show up around this area, most of it is small in size. Grubs that have been working well: Saltwater Assassin’s (Blurps) in colors molting, good penny and pearl. Cut bait to use, fresh shrimp and fresh mullet. Rig the cut bait, Carolina rig style.
Flounder and Speckled trout fishing is just starting to pick up. We have been catching most of the Flounder and trout on grubs. Assassin Sea shads in colors S&P. PH/CHART.TL and CHART-DIAMOND are working well. Those color “codes” came right off the back of the packages. Red or black jig heads seem to be the best. One good trick I use is some (Bang) shrimp scent to spray on my grubs. This scent works great for Flounder and trout fishing.
In other fishing news, Xtools and Pflueger have come out with some new products for this year. Xtools has come out with over nine new products from Xtoolkits to RodXRacks. You can check them all out at www.xtools.us Pflueger has made a very nice saltwater bait caster, (Patriarch) check it out and other new products at www.pfluegerfishing.com
Thanks for reading this report! We are booking up quickly for the season so give me a call and let’s go fishing. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing as well!!
Good fishing to ya,
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139