[dropcap]S[/dropcap]panish mackerel fishing is still going to be productive around the inlets and near shore reefs. Look for diving birds and surface bait as sure signs that there are Spanish around. Trolling 0 & 00 spoons at five knots will catch these guys. If you do run across a school of fish, have diving plugs and jigs ready on some spinning gear to cast to them.
The redfish that are here now are the same fish that have been here all winter long plus a few friends from the south. One difference now though is the warmer water that has come to stay for the summer months. This changes everything about their habits including aggressiveness, location, diet, and school size. Small schools will be cruising around docks and structure in the ICW and yacht basin. You will find large schools on the flats in the lower cape fear. Soft plastics with paddle tails fished on a 1/4-ounce will definitely fool these spot tails. While fishing the flats, be extremely quiet as you float or pole along without the use of your motor.
Look for multiple V’s and puffs of mud, as you will spook the reds out of sunbathing. Even if you do spook an entire school throw a soft plastic on a jig head in front of the school and you are bound to hookup on these panicked, but ALWAYS hungry reds. Work areas with marsh grass with live or artificial shrimp on a popping cork to target the reds and the speckled trout alike. Hard plastic, mullet imitating plugs are going to work as well for both. Again, with the warmer water, trout and reds are going to be extremely more aggressive. Don’t be afraid to speed up your action on your baits and also use top water plugs for some awesome splash displays of this aggressiveness.
The flounder have moved in and are taking up residency in the whole region. The inlet and near shore artificial reefs are going to be very productive as there will contin- ue to be fish on the migratory path to inland waters. Snow’s Cut and the river are going to hold bigger fish as the summer goes on. Target docks and man-made structure in the ICW and yacht basin for a sure bite. Use your depth recorder to find bottom structure in the inlet and reefs. Typically the flatties are going to be laying on the lower side of a ledge or the backside of where current is rushing on bottom structure. Live peanut menhaden or mud minnows fished on a Carolina rig will find a jaw hook set. Use just enough weight to get it to the bottom so that you have maximum sensitivity to feel a bite. Flounder are often times very slow to swallow the bait enough to get hooked, so wait patiently. Go fish!