5/7/13 BIG FLOUNDER Fishing Report Topsail Beach & Wrightsville Beach *ProFishNC Charters
BIG Spring Flounder
Fishing for: and more importantly; CATCHING BIG Flounder is by far one of my favorite types of angling due to what I term the “Recipe For Success”.
In successful Flounder Fishing, once you have obtained the knowledge (some call it “secrets” and speaking in terms of the What, Where, When, Why, How) combined with the on the water experience you can successfully target LARGE Flounder on a consistent basis.
When Flounder Fishing, portion of the “Recipe” is Variable & the other is Consistent.
Variable includes but not limited to: Seasons, Water Temp, Bait Type & Current Diet, Weather, Water Clarity, Depth, Turbidity, Salinity, DO Levels (the percentage of dissolved oxygen in the water influences the fishes feeding patterns), cloud cover, Jighead &/or Sinker Weight and Much More…
Constant includes but not limited to: Reaction Time to Initial Bite, Rod Angle & Hook Setting Angle < (VERY VERY IMPORTANT), Presentation of the Specific Bait you are using, Leader Material & Color (Hint: PINK Fluorocarbon as pink disappears in the water column about 2ft under the surface giving your bait a “naked presentation”), Jigheads (1st choice.. Blue Water Candy or 2nd choice.. Cotee) and Much More…
What (Gear):
Big Backwater Flattie 5/7/13
a) Pink & White 3/8 oz Jigheads: Pink (Blue Water Candy), White (Cotee)
b) “Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet” GREY w/ Pepper Flake (Secret: I scented the already scented GULP with ProCure Mullet)
c) Pink Yo-Zuri 20 & 30lb Fluorocarbon
d) 15 & 20 lb PowerPro Braided Line
e) 7ft Graphite Rods
f) 2500 – 4000 Series Reels (I use Shimano, Penn & Okuma)
Where (Geographically):
Backwaters of Wrightsville Beach, Figure Eight Island & South Topsail Beach
Both in the Inland Creeks West of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Mid-Waterway Flats & Channels
When (Weather Forecast & Tide-Wise):
Decided on 8am due to Tides, Weather Forecast & Duration of Fishing Trip
Fished the Last 3 hours of Outgoing and First 3 hours of Incoming (6hrs of Fishing)
5/7/13 One of Many Nice Speckled Trout!
Weather Forecasted for PM Showers & Storms
(TIP: For Optimal Success when Flounder Fishing Fish the Lower Tides in the Backwaters and the Higher Tides around the Creek Mouths and Inlets)
WHY (Water Temp, Bait Movement, Time of Year)
When the Spring Water Temp Rises to around 63 degrees, the Flounder move into the Backwaters & Flats to Feed after the Spawn and GORGE on the baitfish & shrimp both in Fry and Juvenile stages.
How:
Mimic the Size, Color and Action of the Baitfish & Shrimp the Flounder are feeding on for the time of year (Stay in the Flounder Strike-Zone… bottom to 24 inches up the water column). This time of year I use the Smaller Artificial Presentation (3” baits now… whereas in the Heat of the Summer and into the Fall I bump up to 5 – 6” Baits) to produce that Reactionary Strike of the Big Flounder.
Choose the Correct Color for the Season! In the Spring when using artificial baits, I use Grey and White Variations (Grey Pepper Flake, Pearl White, etc)… Reason, when the Water Temp are in the 60’s & 70’s the Baitfish have more of a lighter tent… as the water warm the baitfish and shrimp become brighter from Flashy Yellow, Silver to Copper. KNOW your Bait Color and Presentation for the Time of Year!
Tight-Lines!
Capt. Trevor Smith
(910) 547-0000
http://www.FishingChartersNC.com