Here in the Southeastern part of North Carolina in February is when most people have taken a break from hunting and are now starting to get their tackle and gear in order for the spring. But, those that are “in the know” will get that type work done in January because, unlike some geographical areas, our winters are milder that others and February is generally their March. Yes, the fish here in Southport, NC will actually start their advances towards the spring behavior in February, unless we have an unusually cold February, which is rare, but if so, then we will be on the March schedule like most.
What I like to fish for in February are the fish that are biting! This month can find me almost anywhere. I’ll hit the local inland lakes now for some crappie fishing. Some of the biggest crappies can be caught in winter months like February. Yellow perch are another cold water fish that bite well. Heck, they drill holes in five-foot thick ice up north and catch crappies and yellow perch, so you know they’ll bite here. We have some yellow perch in our area of the state that we can compare to almost anyone’s. Also, late February here in our area is when the big bream and shellcrackers start to get active.
Moving back to the salt now, speckled trout bite in February if we have a normal winter. Just fish slowly, work deep holes, and light currents, especially where bait is present. Just watch for little flips on the water where you are fishing, that’s a speckled trout’s dinner bell. Red drum can still be caught this month. I like the low tide, calm water and dark bottoms here. As for lures, there’s a ton of them. The best advice I can give you here is to fish with whatever lure or bait you like, just fish slow and have confidence. If you have confidence in a lure, you will fish it more thoroughly and will catch more fish with it. Or, just ask your favorite tackle shop owner what people are buying to trout fish with at that time, that’s a good starting place!
A lot of people don’t even consider the black drum, but this is a good fish to target in the cold water months. Shrimp fished on the bottom “Carolina-rigged” can get you big bite from a big fish in February. Also, the Virginia mullet (whiting) will be scattered around the mouth of the Cape Fear River and will get more abundant as the spring approaches.
Close to the beach now will be the start of the early spring run of spiney dog sharks. Some bluefish will be starting to show up as well. If you want to introduce a kid to fishing, go out after these sharks on a warm February day and when they find you, and, most likely, if you put bait in the water, they will find you, you can, most of the time, catch them two at a time as fast or faster than you want to!
Offshore, as always, the bottom fishing here in Southport, NC is good. These fish here are out in deep water where they are not even aware that there is anything even going on like winter. In fact, our bottom fishing is so good here, that on the “Yeah Right II” we guarantee you to catch plenty of fish on our 10-hour bottom fishing trip, in any month, or it’s free!
Moving on out towards the Gulf Stream, February will be holding some wahoo in that area with some intermixed blackfin tuna. Just be careful running that far in the winter. Things can turn really bad really quickly in winter, so, I like to leave that area for a little later in the spring, like April and May.
So you see, don’t wait for the fishing to get started…. it hasn’t stopped, you stopped! But the fishes still have to eat and with bait being more scarce now, your offering might look the best to them now than it will at any other time of the year!
Thanks for taking the time to read my forecast, hope it stirs the soul to go fishing. Above all else, be safe out on the water and God bless you all!
Fish On!!!!
Capt. Butch Foster
www.yeahrightcharters.com
(910) 845-2004
