GREAT cobia action over the last few weeks – lots of fish being caught in the 20-to 60-pound range with a few being brought in over 80 pounds. Things started out slow but when they got here; they showed up in big numbers.
Anglers are catching them bottom fishing along with sight-fishing for them on the days the weather is nice. As for the bottom fishing the Cape Lookout area seems to be the spot producing the most fish. But we have weighed-in fish from Beaufort Inlet and behind Shackleford Banks. Soaking dead menhaden, dead blue crabs and live eels have been getting plenty of action. Also, putting out a chum bag has been helping anglers get the most hook-ups. We have all the bait you’ll need in stock and can show you how to rig it up.
As for sight-fishing…in the past it’s usually been all about fishing on the bait balls. But this year the cobia showed up before the bait arrived, so most have been caught free swimming on top, looking for bait. Now, since we’re getting into June the bait is more plentiful and the fish are getting under the bait balls. When it comes to sight-fishing for cobia, they could be anywhere along the beach…it’s just a matter of scouting them out. Bucktails and artificial eels are both good artificial baits, but the best way we’ve seen is using live eels.
If a cobia turns down a live eel, usually they’ve been pushed too hard and aren’t going to feed. But this year we’ve seen this happen…you pull up to a bait ball with boats throwing bucktails and other artificials into it and having no luck. Then you toss a live eel into the mix and get an instant hook-up! There’s just something about a live eel they can’t turn down. We keep live eels in-stock for the cobia season and can show you how to use them. I’m still receiving good reports of fish south of us. I know the Charleston area has seen more numbers of cobia than they’ve seen in the last few years. So, if everything stays right, we should see fish in this area this whole month.
Spanish fishing has really picked up and they are here for the summer. Most anglers are seeing action trolling Clarkspoons with planers and trolling weights. You can also catch them casting small casting spoons like Jig Fish Lures, Glass Minnows Jigs, Spec-Rigs and Stingsilvers. You’ll also see good numbers of bluefish in the mix…they are always around to catch when other fishing might be slow. Good places to look would be along the beaches east and west, AR315 and the Cape Lookout Shoals. Usually, in June the live bait fishing will pick up around the reefs with bigger fish and this looks to be the case this year, because we’ve already weighed in some four-pound fish.
Flounder action really picks up in June. We’ve already seen some nice catches coming
in from the artificial reefs. Spro two-ounce bucktails and Berkley Gulp four-inch Shrimp are still the “go-to” lures when it comes to reef fishing. Plus, it’s not a bad idea to take along some live mud minnows and put one out on the bottom while you’re jigging the bucktails. We’ve seen some fish being caught now on the inside along the Port Wall, Coast Guard Station and around bridges and docks, really anywhere you can find structure to fish you’ll have a chance to find the flatties. The flounder moving inside will become greater in numbers as we get further into summer.
The sheepshead action is really picking up with good numbers being caught at the High Rise Bridges. I’ve haven’t seen any big fish yet, but there are plenty of two-to three-pound fish. Some anglers are catching up to 30 or so fish a trip. This month we’ll begin to see fish over five pounds and even some going over ten pounds. The Port Wall is also a great place to get some good action on the sheepshead. Live fiddler crabs and live sea urchins are the best bait you can use and we keep both in stock all summer long.
Speckled trout keeper season is scheduled to open back up this month but make sure you check before you keep any because it’s not set in stone! The fishing has been pretty good so far this spring in the rivers but now the fish are in their summertime patterns, chasing bait and have spread out. You can catch them pretty well but they’re more spread out than they are in the fall. Topwater lures are a great way to catch speckled trout this time of year.
Along with trout, the red fishing has been pretty good in the marsh areas. I get asked all the time about the best spot to catch redfish. Well, this time of year really anywhere you have grass, oysters and shallow water you’ll have a chance to hook one. To catch redfish, you have to search and try different areas. They love to be around oyster bars this time of year. The one key to locating them has to be bait. Locate bait in the marsh areas and creeks and you will find fish. Berkley Gulp Baits, Redfish Magics, Z-Man Baits and topwaters all will work if you’re around fish. Fishing live mud minnows under a cork and fishing dead mullet along the oyster bars are also good ways to catch them.