Swansboro December 5, 2005
Capt. Jeff Cronk, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that the speckled trout population has made a major comeback with the highest catches in over 10 years for this area. Day trips are producing between 150 and 200 speckled trout ranging from 3/4 lb. to 4 lbs. each, and mixed in the catch are some red drum from 16 to 28″ and small flounder between 1 and 2 lbs. These fish will slowly migrate south along our beaches with small concentrations of fish also migrating up our local river to winter. So typically as we move into late Dec. and Jan. you need to target waters upriver to continue to be successful catching the specks. Also, downsize your baits to 2 to 3″ baits and work them slowly.
The red drum are slowly moving through their migration patterns. The masses of large fish (10+ lbs.) are heading south and offshore. The smaller fish (from undersize pups to 10 lbs.) are heading south along the surf stopping and feeding hard around the inlets and inlet shoals along the way. The local population of reds (from juveniles to several pounds) are moving up the local rivers and mainland creeks of the sounds, and there will be some mixed size fish that remain in the deep water near the inlets and ICW for the winter. which tend to move into the shallow bays of the sounds and creeks protected by the North Winds where the bay temps can rise as much as 10 degrees higher than the deeper water during the warm winter days with high sunlight…. Currently we are wearing out the reds in the surf zone. These fish are striking most soft plastic artificials (i.e. Calcutta swim shad, zoom super-flukes on 1/2 oz lead heads, and Berkley Gulp Shrimp/Minnows). If the fish get finicky, live mullet or cut mullet will work.
The summer flounder are migrating slowly offshore and can be easily targeted through Dec. by following them offshore. Typically you will catch flounder in the 5 to 10 mile range throughout November and December… Places to target will be the live bottoms like Lost Rock, ledges, and artificial reefs like AR 330, AR 345, as well as wrecks like the Hutton and WR 13. Most of the smaller southern flounder tend to migrate upriver and upstream mimicking the migration pattern of the bait (small shad, mullet, shrimp, and other small finfish) They can be targeted through December, then the bite halts till March as the water temps get below their feeding/functioning range. They enter a sort-of hibernation state as their metabolism slows and they bury themselves up in the soft muddy bottoms up the rivers. There will be southern and summer flounder caught in the deeper water near the inlets and near-by feeder creeks and channels as well as the ICW throughout November and slowing in December.
The bluefish can withstand colder temps. more than most fish, but they are major migrators. Expect to catch blues throughout Nov. and Dec. on the internal waters and along live bottoms, wrecks, etc from the beach out. By January we tend to see very few bluefish along our area of the coast, although some big fish might be present mixed in with the schools of stripers coming down from up north as well as offshore in the deeper waters.
Although we are seeing stripers in northern NC (Oregon Inlet and such) as early as November, we typically begin to see good runs of stripers around Cape Lookout around the 2nd week of December. The concentrations will last until around mid-January. Then the water temps typically get very cold driving these fish farther offshore. Although, there have been good schools of stripers spotted along the face of Cape Lookout National Seashore in late Jan. and Feb. on warm days. The best window of opportunity for the average boater is still mid-Dec. to mid-January around Cape Lookout to MHC.
Capt. Stanman, of Capt. Stanman Fishing Charters, reports that November brought some large kings to the East Side, with 30 Minute Rock giving up some kings in the 40 lb. class. Live menhaden was the best bait for the lafger kings, and dead cigar minnows, flying fish, and ballyhoo tended to catch the smaller ones. Currently the bite is off and on, and this will last until the water temps drop to around 60-62 degrees.
The rockfish will typically start around the third week of December. Fish tend to average about 15 to 20 lbs. Last year they were plentiful off Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout Shoals until the menhaden boats showed up. Once the boats came in they were gone the next day.
The menhaden will be a key for the stripers and bluefin seasons. Word from Hatteras was that the menhaden were scarce this fall, which could affect the fisheries as they move to our areas.
A few anglers will go bottom fishing out of Bogue Inlet in December and January. A typical trip is about 30 miles.
The yellowfin bite is on all winter long, if the winds will let you out. About the middle of March the yellowfin numbers improve and stay good until the middle of May.
Dale, at The Reel Outdoors, reports that the speckled trout bite has been incredible in the sound. You can find fish in just about every trout hole. Most are 11-12″, but there are some 13-15″ mixed in.
Several nice flounder have recently been caught by surf fishermen targeting the whitewater zone. They’re using Gulp shrimp, and finding fish in 16-18″ range.
There’s also lots of puppy drum, blowfish, and mullet off the surf. The black drum have been small.
The stripers are slowly moving closer to the area year by year. Last year they had a few caught in the area, and they hope this repeats itself.
Guys will bring in grouper all winter long, with the trips going from 20-50 miles out.
There will also be a few flounder to catch all winter, if you hit White Oak River and the sound.
Mike, at Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that they’ve been seeing lots of black drum and puppy drum. The trout bite had slowed by the end of November. Good numbers of sea mullet continued to come over the rails. The spot bite slowed down after the first week of November, but they continued to pick at a few (including a 1 lb. 1 oz. spot on Thanksgiving day).
