[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he old saying that tide and time wait for no man rings true if you want to catch fish consistently on the rivers, creeks and sounds of eastern NC. Whether you are dealing with mostly wind tides that affect the tributaries feeding the Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds or the moon tides affecting the Cape Fear, paying close attention to tidal stage and flow is key to success.
Here in the Cape Fear region, when targeting freshwater fish in the tidal section of this vast watershed, fishing when the tide is ârightâ spells the difference between having a really productive outing and just randomly catching a fish ever so often. Freshwater fish are found in the Cape Fear basin generally upstream from Wilmington, with the exception that some of the larger tributaries downstream have freshwater fishes in their upper reaches. Tidal influence affects the main stem of the Cape Fear up to Lock and Dam #1, up the Black River (which enters the Cape Fear 14 miles upstream from Wilmington) approximately 20 miles and up the Northeast Cape Fear approximately 50 miles. The tidal difference on average is one hour per eight river miles. For instance, when the tide is dead low at Wilmington at noon, it will be low at 1pm approximately eight miles upstream. Depending on the moon phase, time of year and rainfall in the watershed, tidal difference between high and low averages about four feet at Wilmington and decreases as you head upstream.
8 Year Old Wins Lifetime License
With a year of fishing experience under his belt, eight-year-old Tyler Bristol of Clemmons reeled in the catch of a lifetime â a lifetime sportsman license courtesy of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Neuse Sport Shop of Kinston.
Tyler was the grand prize winner in a random drawing among more than 2,200 participants who attended one of 39 kidsâ âFish for Funâ events, which were held statewide in May and June as part of National Fishing and Boating Week 2014. He registered for the drawing at the June 7 Albemarle Parks Fish for Fun Day at City Park in Stanly County.
His lifetime sportsman license, donated by Neuse Sport Shop, is valued at $450. It gives Tyler statewide fishing privileges in all public waters from the mountains to the coast, as well as hunting privileges, including hunting for big game, hunting on game lands and
waterfowl hunting.
Tyler, who attended the kidsâ fishing event with his grandparents Cheryl and David Bristol, of Albemarle, enjoys fishing and caught one at the annual event. He doesnât have a favorite fish to catch, as long as itâs big, and he typically uses worms to catch them.
When heâs not fishing, Tyler likes hunting for turtles, taking care of his dog and pet turtle and playing with friends. He is also an avid BMX bike racer and has won many of the races he has entered. Tyler is a rising third grader at Clemmons Elementary School in Clemmons and is the son of Brian and Cynthia Bristol.
In addition to Tyler, another young angler, Riley Halstead of Pilot Mountain, won the first prize, a lifetime freshwater fishing license and 322 other young anglers also won prizes â from rods and reels and tackle boxes courtesy of Neuse Sport Shop to mini tackle boxes, T-shirts and fishing hand towels from the Wildlife Commission.
Due to the fact that the Cape Fear has a deep channel flowing directly into the ocean and isnât buffered by large sounds like the Albemarle and Pamlico, wind doesnât have a lot of bearing on the tide under normal conditions. Only extreme wind events will have an appreciable effect on level and flow. When targeting largemouth bass, bluegill and other panfish, the last three hours of a falling tide are best, whereas striped bass and red drum can be caught with regularity on both falling and rising tides, depending on the type and depth of structure/cover the fish are relating to. For example, fish holding on bridge pilings may bite as well on either tide, fish relating to marsh grass on mud flats usually bite better on rising water and those that are set up at the mouth of an old rice field ditch do so on falling water waiting to ambush bait as it is washed out by the current. Pay close attention to the water level, current speed, presence of bait, etc. and duplicate those conditions that produce results in other areas up and down the river. Check out the tide times for the day youâll be fishing (reported at various locations on the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear), plan your strategy around them and good luck!