There is only one way I can explain this winter so far: UP and DOWN…the weather that is! The one good thing about this is that the water temps don’t get too low when we are having a lot of up and down weather. The bad news is that the fishing tends to do the same thing, up (good) and down (slow). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this time of the year you really have got to “pick your days,” for fishing, that is!
There is one fish that can be caught very easily during the winter months…if you find them. The fishing for redfish can be some of the best of the year for catching numbers of fish. The deal breaker for this is you have to have good weather, calm seas and bright sunny skies for the ocean schools. So, pick your days. I use Berkley Gulp Ripple Mullet in colors Pearl/Chart Tail, New Penny and Rootbeer Gold/Chart Tail; also the Berkley Gulp five-inch and six-inch Jerkshad work well, too. On warmer days with light wind you can also find some nice schools of reds in shallow water oyster flats and rocks. The reds will sun on these dark-colored bottom areas for a little extra warm up. This is also where you’ll see some baitfish doing the same thing (warming up.) If you see any bait at all, you will find some redfish in that area! Work your baits slowly in front of the redfish schools, not right through the school. All this will do is spook the reds and will make it very hard to catch them. If the reds are hungry, they will break away from the school and eat your bait!
Another colder weather fish species that bites right through the winter is the Cape Fear River striped bass…and with our milder winter so far the bite has been good. I look for stripers on drop-offs, around pilings and around bigger creek mouths. Working baits like Berkley Gulp five- and six-inch Jerkshads should get you a bite or two from a striped bass. I rig my jerkshads on Moaner Stroker swim bait hooks, in 1/4-ounce weight. Check out Moaner.com for great hooks at great prices. Also, casting mid-water diving (four to eight feet) crank baits will work too, just remember if the crank-bait stays on the bottom you will get hung-up and lose that lure! Don’t forget that the Cape Fear River striped bass fishery is a closed fishery and is catch and release only…you must release all striped bass.
Tackle run down: Spinning reels – PENN Conflict and Battle in sizes 2500, 3000 and 4000 for the redfish and striped bass; Baitcast reels – Abu Revo Inshore series. Rods – PENN Legions in 6’6” and 7’ medium and medium/heavy actions. Line – Spiderwire Ultra-Cast in 10- and 15-pound test. Leader – Berkley Big Game Fluorocarbon leader material in 30-pound test.
I’d like to announce the 2nd annual North Carolina Inshore Fishing School, presented by PENN Fishing Tackle and Capt. Jot Owens in Wilmington on Saturday March 8 (SOLD OUT and in Raleigh on Saturday April 5. There are still a handful of tickets left for the Raleigh school!
The class will cover detailed info on fishing for redfish, flounder and speckled trout, including:
-How to locate fish; time of year, position of tides and current flow.
-How to pick which artificial lures, hard and soft baits more effectively (water depth, water color, current flow and water clarity).
-What lines, leaders and knots work best with these baits.
-The best live and cut bait to use in southeast NC for inshore fishing.
-How to rig live and cut baits for inshore fishing (shallow and deeper waters).
-What rods, reels and tackle are best suited for southeast NC inshore fishing.
-And any other questions you have about inshore fishing!
Tuition is only $65. This is a hands-on, small class room format. Wilmington was limited to 32 anglers and Raleigh is limited to 25 anglers.
To get your tickets, please call or e-mail 910-233-4139 Captainjot@yahoo.com Credit cards or checks are accepted.
Thanks for reading Coastal Angler Magazine and good fishing to ya!
Capt. Jot Owens
PENN Fishing Tackle Elite Staff
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139
