January can provide some really good fishing here in Southport,NC. Starting with the Red Drum and Speckled Trout I would look for them in he backs of creeks this time of year. I like to throw lures like the Mirr-o-Lures, especially the MR series of twitch baits. Also, Gulp baits on lead heads work good as well. The key to catching cold water speckled trout is still water and fish your baits “SLOW”!!! As for the Red Drum, I like to fish a low tide at mid day over dark bottoms. Keep you distance and make long cast. Same baits work good for both trout and drum.
In the Cape Fear river mouth and on the surf in January you will most likely find some sea mullet hanging in these areas. Fresh shrimp is a great bait along with cut bait, and even small pieces of Gulp baits work good.
Black Bass will be closer to the beach in January and especially in February. Areas like Light House Rocks can hold some really nice Bass in the winter months. Squid is a great choice for bait when going after the bass. My favorite rig is to tie a double loop dropper rig using a 10/0 Mustad Circle hook, “a circle hook is the law now when bottom fishing with bait” and I like the 10/0 Mustad because it’s a heavy wire hook small enough for trigger fish and big and strong enough to land huge sharks. It’s a real versitile all around bottom hook.
Moving on offshore, look for bait and King Mackerel in water around 65 degrees or more this time of year. Winter is a good time to start looking for the Kings anywhere from the Tower to the East side and anywhere else a warm water eddy swings inshore from the gulf.
January bottom fishing can be some of the best fishing of the year here in Southport. Use the same rig as mentioned earlier and start in the 100 foot range and I do believe you will be pleasantly suprised.
Will this be another good year for the Blue fin Tuna’s here off our beach? Only time will tell. This can and has been a very unpredictable fishery as it has proven over the past several years. In the mid 2000’s we thought wqe had just been overlooking a fishery we didn’t know was here, and maybe we still are, again, time will tell the whole story. But if you have a desire to hook a fish that can humble the most manly of men, then this is the fish for you. But, you never know, 2014 might be another year for the record books. If it is, pull Horse Ballyhoo’s rigged on Blue Water Candy JAG heads, this is a tried and true rig for the Blue fin’s!!!
Also, you can expect to find some Wahoo in the stream in January. Even some Black fin Tuna are a real possibility. And you never know what else out in the deep cobalt blue waters of the Gulf stream.. Just dress for the season, watch your weather and be safe. Winter is not the time to let your wanting to catch a fish turn into a disaster. Follow this rule ” There are old Captains, There are Bold Captains, But, There are NOT any old bold Captains” and you will have some great winter fishing trips!!!
Hope to see you on the water soon, and God Bless Everyone!!!
Fish On!!!
Capt. Butch Foster
(910)845-2004
www.yeahrightcharters.com
