I think winter is finally here, I’m already looking forward to spring! Cooler temps have invaded the southeast Carolina coast, rainy and cold one day; cold and sunny the next. Sometimes we get a lucky 60` day mixed in, “I like those”! Spring will be here before we know it.
The new boat is here!!! I got to see it for the first time today, she is beautiful. I am really looking forward to fishing one of the finest bay boats in the world. The Ranger Bay 22` is a truly fine fishing weapon, built to fish, fish and more fishing.
This will be one more very important weapon to catch those sneaky fish around here.
To the fishing report, a few Trout are biting. The key here is patience; take your time when the water gets cold. Cold water Trout fishing; slow jigging and slow retrieve will catch you more Trout. When the water cools down, I mostly fish Grubs and Mirrolures. It is easier to fish these lures slower, than other lures on the market. If you can get live bait, please use it!
The grubs I like in the winter mouths are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”. Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, and salt/pep shad. I like to use shrimp Bang scent in the winter too, this helps because there is not much bait in the water. I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in the cold winter it can really help. Mirrolures elect. ckin and chart and sliver belly colors. Work them SLOW!
Redfish are schooling well in the surf, if we can get a nice day to get out and get’em. They are pretty easy to catch; you just got to find them. That part can be a bit harder, trust me! A sunny, light wind day and good polarized sunglasses are the keys to catching these Reds.
Grubs seen to be the easy go to bait for surf Reds. Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in pearl color work very well. You need to use heavier jigs heads, ½ and 5/8 plus for casting. Color of the head is not a big deal Red, white and black all work just fine. Hold on tight, they fight great even in cold water!
Let’s not forget those Cape Fear River stripers; they should bite right on to the end of February. That is if it does not get to cold, so far so good. Most fish are eating shrimp jigs “Blurps” in pearl and molting have done well. Also Rattle traps and mid water diving plugs are catching a few too.
That is the report; keep an eye on the web page. As soon as I get photos of the new boat I will put hem on the web site. Thanks for reading this report, good fishing to ya!
Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139