[dropcap]I[/dropcap] guess it’s now official that we have made it through one of the wettest, coldest, windiest winters we have had in a while here in southeastern NC. Fortunately, it is now April and that means that Mother Nature has instilled into her fishes that now it is time to let the games begin.
Yes, April is the official beginning of the fishing season here in Southport/Oak Island, NC. What does April bring to the “fishing table”? glad you ask, but, it’s hard to find a place to start without overrunning my column space here. First thing we have to deal with is the fact that speckled trout is closed until June 15 due to the colder than normal water this past winter. Now, let’s get back to what’s starting to happen now. The water is warming every day and the fish are getting more active nearly on a daily basis. Yes, you can catch speckled trout but you can’t keep any until June 15. Red drum are in the backwaters now and with the month of April here, they are getting more hungry daily and moving out to areas that are holding more bait. Artificial baits like DOA, Berkley Gulp, grubs, etc: work really good and will work even better if you put some Pro-Cure scent on them. April will find the Spanish mackerel and more bluefish making an appearance on or near the beach sometime this month. Trolling Clark spoons with #1 and #2 planers will trick the Spanish and blues into biting. Atlantic bonito, the good-to-eat bonito will make a showing sometime in April, but they can be a “here today and gone tomorrow” fishery. Same tackle used for Spanish mackerel will work for the bonito although I like a bigger Clark spoon, like size #1, for these, and they spook lots easier than the mackerel, so try to stay in front of a school to keep from spooking them. Moving on offshore, look for the king mackerel to be around bait now, anywhere from Frying Pan Shoal to the Tower and beyond. With the kings it is location, location, location! Pulling frozen cigar minnows on South Chatham Tackle’s Pirate Plug is a combo that a king mackerel just can’t turn down! Bottom fishing offshore now is like it always is here in Southport. They are biting really GOOD!!!! Just remember that grouper, as of now, will be closed until May 1. Just rig up with some squid or cut bait and drop it to the bottom. If you are on fish you will know it immediately. If you don’t get bit immediately, you need to move!! The Gulf Stream will be getting better and better now! Here I will pull ballyhoo on Laceration Hair trolling heads. If there is a wahoo, blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, or even a billfish in the area you are fishing this is an offering that they can’t turn down.
April, it’s what we waited all winter for, well, it’s here and if you are too busy to go fishing now, you’re just too busy! So, try to slow down some and take a kid fishing. It will make you feel really good inside!
Be safe on the water and God bless you all! Fish on!