The month of February brings some of the coldest conditions of the year for those wanting to get out and fish. Therefore February fishing requires a little bit of planning.
Most of the fishing during this month around the Harkers Island/Cape Lookout area is going to be for a select few species, mainly speckled trout, red drum and, for those in the know, tautaug. Fishing for specs and reds is going to be mainly either up in the heads of the local creeks and rivers or out along the beaches from Atlantic Beach to the shores of Shackleford Island and Cape Lookout. As for me, I prefer the beach fishing with chest waders and working along the inside sloughs of Shackleford Island. My preferred method is to use either scented soft baits, such as the Salty Bay Baits and Calcutta Flash Foil Shad or hard baits such as MirrOlures. For soft baits, I like the Salty Bay Cigar Minnow in the Smoking Shad or Pearl, the new Red Devil in the shrimp pattern and the Calcutta Flash Foil Shad. For hard baits, I’ll be using the MirrOlures MR27, MR17 and MR18 Heavydine in the Mardigras Gras and 808 color schemes. MirrOlure also has a new Paul Brown Soft Dine out that is a sinking bait and has proven to be deadly. For this kind of fishing, I usually pack a small box with just the tackle I described. You don’t want to have to carry too much and these baits will cover your nees well.
If you’re looking for something a little different, try winter fishing for tautaug out around the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty or the Morehead City Port Wall. They feed best on shrimp and I have caught some really nice ones at the rock jetty on a Cajun Thunder popping cork with bait shrimp. Use a short leader and throw right up against or onto the rocks as these fish live and feed in this habitat and don’t venture far from it.
For those anglers who have put their gear away for the winter and may now be looking into some new gear, I have been working the fishing and boating shows for the past month, as well as field testing some new gear and tackle. Looking for a new rod? Star Rods will have their new Plasma out for the spring. I have tested this rod extensively this past fall and it is by far one of the best new products introduced for the new year. it has the new (SIC) silicone carbide guides, which reduce line friction to almost nothing, meaning longer casts and less wear on your line, which makes it last longer as well as cast a lot smoother. Lure for lure with a similar rod, I got about 15-20 yards further on my casts.
MirrOlure has introduced the new Paul Brown Soft Dine in 13 colors and this bait is Just plain awesome! It’s a sinking twitch bait, modeled after the MR17 hard bait and well worth a try. Salty Bay Baits has the new Red Devil soft bait and a new shrimp will be out sometime in spring or summer. The Red Devil is a killer on the reds and comes in many colors. They also have a new lead head out called the Pencil Head, which is very light and comes in 1/16 and 1/8-ounce sizes.
For all you old drum fishermen, last year in late summer and early fall a lot of guys were catching these monsters on light tackle and popping corks! Well, Cajun Thunder has answered your call with a larger cork called the Magnum Popper for fishing large baits. This should be a really hot new tackle item for these old drum.
These are just a few of the new items that I have seen and used that will be out soon, so be on the lookout.
This month is also a great time of the year to go through your tackle and get rid of the old rusty stuff, put new hooks on lures that need it and get your reels all cleaned up and ready. Spring is just around the corner and you don’t want to be caught off guard!
Hope to see some of you on the water. If anyone is looking for spring charters, I am already starting to book up for Spanish, chopper blues, cobia and flounder, so give me a shout so you get the date you want.
Be safe and have a great month.
Capt. Noah Lynk.
