[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e have had a mild tropical storm season so far and with the El Nino having its affect that trend is likely to continue.
Most anglers consider October to the best month of the year for fishing on the coast of North Carolina. The fish are schooling and moving generally south in large numbers. Pier fishermen will have their many options during the month and the prospects will be very good. The good catches in September should carry over to October and have fisherman forgetting about slow summer.
The spot runs that started in September will continue through the first half of the month. There should be a fair number of yellow bellies caught. Spots with yellow on their bellies are highly prized they are generally bigger. They get the yellow color from the tannic acid when feeding in the creeks and sounds during the summer. Croaker, Sea mullet spadefish and pompano also will be caught in good numbers. The best baits are fresh shrimp, bloodworms, sand fleas and Fishbites.
October will be the end of the Spanish mackerel for the year but fishing for these fast swimmers will be good nearly all month. Gotcha plugs will be the main bait. If the water is too muddy look for the anglers to lite line a finger mullet to get their fish. Bluefish will also be decked using both of these methods.
King mackerel fishermen will have plenty of action at the end of the pier in October. The custom at most piers will be to use a two rod system with release clip that connects the fighting line to the anchor rod’s line. This will keep the live bait extended away from the pier. Live baits will include spot, mullet, pinfish grass shad the ever popular small bluefish.
Red drum both puppy drum and larger ones will also show up in good numbers. As drum get older they go from primarily crab and shellfish eaters to fish eaters. The ones on the ocean side will be larger so your best bait is use cut fish. Bunker, finger mullet are popular choices. See mullet heads also work wonders as bait for drum and large bluefish.
It has been a few years since the large Hatteras blues have shown up in the fall and base on September catch it is doubtful that they will this year either. But if they do October will be the month.
, Flounder fisherman will be parading up and down the planks looking for their next doormat. Live finger mullet or shrimp on a Carolina rig is a popular choice. Work the bait slowly looking for the slightest difference in tension. Set the hook with a long slow pull instead of a quick jerk.
Speckled trout will also reappear this month. Using a live minnow or a gulp bait or a Mirrowlure will be your best bet.