Fishing the Inner Banks in December is always an exciting time for me because that is the time of year when I enjoy our winter striper fishing. Our area is host to what I think are four major striper fisheries, each with its own distinguishing characteristics. Those are the Neuse and Trent Rivers near New Bern, the upper Pamlico and lower Tar River near Washington, the upper Pungo River near Leachville, and the Albemarle Sound. The Albemarle Sound fishery is so vast that it can be divided into many different areas with consistent year-round striper fishing. Examples might include the Alligator River, the Scuppernong River, the Chowan River, the Perquimans River, and so on. I like to enjoy the cooler fresh winter air while exploring the beautiful scenery of the lower Roanoke River system near Plymouth in search of winter stripers and the constant bent pole action of the “not so elusive” triple-digit catch. For hardcore striper enthusiasts, this fishery is as good as it gets for several reasons. The first is that fishermen get to enjoy quality angling in the wintertime, which is rare in some places. The second is that these fish can be caught with consistency on conventional light tackle and fly tackle. The third is that you will surrounded by one of the most pristine, natural, and wild places in North Carolina.
The healthy stock of striped bass in the Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River is no secret. Through restoration efforts and strict management in recent decades, this fishery is a true modern-day success story in fisheries management. With much of the focus by recreational anglers on the massive schools of fish and triple-digit daily catches in Weldon during the spring spawning run, many anglers overlook the potential to catch those kinds of numbers on the lower Roanoke and Albemarle Sound during the late winter months. From December through April, these fish frequent the lower Roanoke River area or “Three Sisters” and the western Albemarle Sound as âstagingâ areas to fatten up before their spring spawn.
Most of the fish range in size from 18 to 22 inches, with bigger fish encountered on occasion. The size of the stripers really just depends on the abundance of each yearâs class that particular season. In the winter of 2012, we saw a whole bunch of 14- to 16-inch fish, which means we should see a whole bunch of 18- to 20-inch fish this winter, as those fish have put on a few inches over the spring, summer and fall. To avoid the extreme cold water temperatures in the winter and to follow abundant food supplies, mostly schools of younger shad, alewife and blueback river herring and menhaden, rockfish stack up in the deeper holes of the main river channels in the lower Roanoke River system. This area is collectively known as the “Three Sisters”, which is named for the confluence of the Roanoke, Eastmost & Middle, and Cashie Rivers and their formation of a vast bottomland hardwood wetland forest in Washington and Bertie Counties. The river reaches snake through cypress and gum swamps, forming multiple channels that can be confusing to the first-time visitor.
The most influencing factor that determines the behavior and location of these fish is the daytime and nightime air temps and our winter weather patterns and how they affect the water temps in the western Albemarle Sound and in the rivers. When water temps reach the mid-40’s the fish tend to move into the deeper water of the rivers to seek warmer water and a greater supply of food. The main river channels in this area usually range in depth from 10 to 50 feet,. If you have your sounder tuned correctly, you can mark two important features, the schools of rockfish and the thermoclines (or temperature break) that where they are stacked up. The thermoclines show the zone of separation between the rising less dense water which is approaching the freezing point and the densest (39.2°) water at the bottom of the deep holes and channels. During cold weather, the denser, somewhat warmer water at the bottom of the deep holes and channels is what the rockfish prefer. They tend to stack up on the channel ledges, runs, and glides formed by the river’s geology and the deposition of sediments from river flow, wind tides from the sound, and storm events.
The best baits for this type of fishing are 4- to 6-inch soft plastic paddle tail swim baits with 3/8 to 1/2 ounce jig heads. Iâve found that the best paddle tails are those brands that are extremely flexible and have longer, slender tails such as the new Z-Man MinnowZ, SwimmerZ, or PaddlerZ. The key is to find a bait with enough flexibility to allow the tail to swim while the bait is falling or while not turning the reel handle while slowly drifting through a deep hole. Jerk Shads and Fin-S style soft plastics can also be effective if slowly jigged. The key is to have patience and not expect an aggressive strike. Setting the hook after feeling the first strike or tap will often cause you to miss the bite. Often the fish that seem to be stacked up the thickest in the deepest portion of the holes are the ones that are the most lethargic. Try working the ledges on either side of the deep channel. The fish that are more actively feeding seem to be using them to ambush baitfish.
