Well, we’ve made it into June with good fishing, now it’s time to see what summer will hold. By the looks of things over the last few weeks, it’s going to be pretty good fishing.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been seeing some real good Cobia action along our beaches and inlets. I’d have to say Barden’s Inlet up at Cape Lookout has been the “hot spot” but we’ve weighed plenty of fish from the Beaufort Inlet also. This year has been up and down with the bite but there’s been some really good days then some really slow days. Sight fishing has been pretty good when the conditions have been right.
We get asked all the time at the shop where do I look? Here’s the answer, find the bait and you’ll have a good chance on finding Cobia. Also, look at all the buoys as you go out because they also love to hang around them. Again this year, the Savage 3D Eels have been hard to beat but the new “Emu Hand Tied Bucktails” have been pretty impressive also when sight fishing. But don’t forget about Live Eels, now they are kind of hard to fish with but Cobia love them and usually won’t resist when seen. We’ll have Live Eels over the next week or so while there’s fish around then it will be next May before we’ll have them in our tanks again.
Spanish have shown up thick along the beaches now, we began seeing a few during the most of May but they’re here in full force now. Trolling Clark spoons, Squid Rigs, Mackerel Trees, Yo-Zuri DD’S all have been working well along the beach and around the inlets. June is a great time to fish for Spanish because it’s not hot yet and they haven’t got too picky yet. Also, you’ll find plenty of Bluefish mixed in with the Spanish and you can catch them on the same lures and rigs.
Flounder has been decent so far this season with the most being caught at the nearshore reefs. Again, year after year for the artificial reefs the 2oz Spro in White and Glow tipped with a Berkley Gulp 4” Shrimp is hard to beat when fishing for Flounder. Last month, we weighed one of the biggest Flounders I’ve seen that came off AR 320 on a Spro Bucktail tipped with Berkley Gulp. Also, there’s been some good numbers on the east side at places like AR285 and the D-Wreck. On the inside waters, the best places have been the Port Wall, High Rise Bridges and Docks along the ICW. Now, what we recommend the best when fishing the backwaters for Flounder is a 4” Berkley Gulp Shrimp fished on a Jig Head or a Live Mud Minnow on a Carolina Rig. Also, there’s been a few being caught drifting the ICW Channel using Live Mud Minnows and Berkley Gulp Minnows.
June is the month when we start to see some bigger Sheepshead starting to show up. We already saw good numbers in May just not the big ones when I say big ones I mean 6lb plus fish. AB High Rise, Beaufort High Rise, Harker’s Island Bridge and the Port Wall all have been holding fish and will hold fish throughout the summer. Bait choice is pretty easy: Live Fiddler Crabs and Sea Urchins is the best and we keep both in stock during the summer months just for the Sheepshead anglers.
One thing we haven’t seen much of is Speckled Trout this spring, I’m hoping, they’ll start showing up this summer and be thick before fall. There’s been a few caught in the Core Creek area over the last few weeks just not the numbers of fish we usually see in May and June. So, let’s all keep our fingers crossed it was just an off spring for them and they’ll show up later in better numbers.
Redfish have been showing up better in the last few weeks, just south of us it’s been “HOT” all spring and still is pretty good. We now are seeing a few in the Core Creek area, Haystacks and the North River Marshes. Good lures have been Rapala Skitter Walks, Heddon Spook Jr’s, Redfish Magic’s, Cajun Slays and Berkley Gulp. Also, Live Minnows floated around oyster bars is a good way to catch them. But my favorite in June has to be “Top Water Lures”, it’s some of the very best fishing you can have if you can get on a good top water bite and June usually is the month for that.
A fishery that gets over looked in our area is Shark Fishing and this summer it should be great. Already, in May we’ve seen some huge Sharks along the beach and inlets. It hasn’t been uncommon to catch 6 to 8ft Sharks without any problem. This can be some exciting fishing and they will for sure stretch your line out plus it’s very easy fishing. Barden’s Inlet and Beaufort Inlet are good places to set up for shark fishing. If you really want to get them fired upped put out Chum Blocks and it won’t be long until they show up. The 3lb Bags of Menhaden we carry is some of the best bait you can use. Also, we have pre-made shark rigs in the shop ready to go that will hold up to the big sharks in our area.
We are still seeing some Sea Mullets, Hog Fish, Croakers and Gray Trout in the Turning Basin area. These fish will hold there all summer, you won’t catch them like you do in the spring and fall but a few will hang in that deep water all summer. But if you give it a good day you should have enough for dinner. Sam’s Gitter Spec Rigs or bottom rigs tipped with Bait Shrimp and Fish bites will get you some action.
For weekly fishing reports come by the shop or go to www.chasintailsoutdoors.com. If you need any help or advice at all feel free to stop by the shop and let our professional staff help you catch more fish.