Author Archive
Fishing with the troops
May 19, 2011 | 
Author
I had the pleasure this past weekend of fishing with one of our Airman in the US Air Force. Kyle, Braxton and myself got an early start at first light looking for the Reds. The morning started with a little breeze out of the SW, but it soon laid out, and despite the forecast, we had an absolutely beautiful morning on the flats. We fished a flood, falling tide and we were the first boat on the fishing grounds.
The first bite of the morning came from a chopper bluefish that attacked my top water Zaraspook plug just a few inches off the stern of the Vantage as I was quickly retrieving it back to the boat. Unfortunately, the razor sharp teeth of the bluefish made quick work of the 15lb, fluorocarbon leader and the fish swam off with plug in his mouth.
Kyle was quick to show Braxton that he was out to put more fish in the boat. After trying several different lure combinations, Kyle struck gold with the D.O.A. silver mullet paddletail. The D.O.A proved once again to be the bait of choice as all fish caught this morning would be on the D.O.A in a variety of colors.
Braxton wasn’t going to be outdone as he eventually put the big fish of the day in the boat, but he had to work for it. All in all,it was a good morning spent with some fine young men. The fishing is getting real good now as the water has warmed and there are all kinds of species of fish in the water now. On the beach, the Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish and Flounder are biting well. A little farther offshore, there are plenty of King Mackerel, Mahi, Cobia and more. Of course, the backwaters are still doing well with the Red Drum, Flounder and Speckled Trout.
If you are planning to be vacationing in the area and want to get in on some of the finest fishing on the East Coast, give me a call and book your trip today.
Spring Redfish
The Redfish bite is definitely picking up. D.O.A. paddle tails, jigs tipped with Berkley Gulp and Gold, Johnson Silver minnow spoons tipped with curly tail grubs have been getting the most bites. Check out the action in the videos!!
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Say yes to HB353-Please Act!!
Call to Action
IT’S THE DAY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR RESOURCE
House Bill 353, which seeks game fish status for Red Drum, Speckled Trout, and Striped Bass, was filed in the North Carolina House on behalf of CCA NC. A game fish designation prohibits the taking of any species by means other than hook and line and also the sale of the species.
The primary sponsors of HB 353 are Representatives Darrell McCormick (R – Iredell, Surry, Yadkin), Rick Glazier (D – Cumberland), Dan Ingle (R – Alamance), and Ruth Samuelson (R – Mecklenburg).
It is time for you to act!! HB 353 was assigned to the House Commerce and Job Development Subcommittee on Business and Labor. Please take a moment to email every member of this committee today and ask them to VOTE YES ON HB 353 (DESIGNATION OF COASTAL GAME FISH). Your Voice needs to be heard. Help stop this wanton waste and continued disregard for our coastal resource.
Please take a few moments to e-mail all of the members of the House Commerce Committee and tell them to vote YES to HB 353. As always, we recommend that you add your own introduction and/or comments; however it is an option. Tell them why game fish status for red drum, speckled trout and stripers means something to you.
DO IT TODAY!!!
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
Redfish bite continues to improve
The redfish bite continues to improve. Water temps have risen to the mid 50′s in the main bodies of water with temps creeping up to around 60 on the shallow mud flats. The bites were definitely more aggressive today with D.O.A. paddle tails producing numerous strikes. The big fish of today (pictured) fell for a bucktail jig tipped with a Berkley Gulp swimming mullet.
Spring fishing is here, at least for the Redfish. Lot’s of other species are not far behind. Look for the Bluefish and Atlantic Bonito to make an appearance in the next few weeks as the water continues to warm.
Till next time,
Tight lines!!
Video Fishing Report 3/5/11
Video fishing report from my scouting trip with my tournament partner Capt. Jason Dail from this past weekend.
Fish Fest ’11-Flats Fishing Recap
Fish Fest ’11 was a big success. For those of you that were unable to attend or did attend and would like to have a review of what I discussed in the seminar, I have it recorded and it is available for you to review.
Thanks for all that attended to make Fish Fest ’11 a huge success!!!
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Fish Fest 2011
Once again this year I will be conducting fishing seminars at this year’s Fish Fest. Press release is below. Come out and join me and my fellow guides and have a great time learning about fishing!!
Cape Fear Christian Sportsman, A ministry of Christ Community Church, is hosting “Fish Fest ’11.” This school is open to anyone, and kids and wives are welcome. There is no cost, but a $20 donation is suggested, and the first 150 registrants get a full color custom t-shirt designed by Mark Ray. Come and learn everything you ever wanted to know about local fishing but were afraid to ask and be sure to bring a friend! The class will be from 8am-5pm February 19, 2011 at Christ Community Church (4555 Fairview Dr., Wilmington, NC). A light breakfast and lunch catered by Middle of the Island will be provided. You can read more about FishFest ‘10 in the December 21, 2010 Star News Article, see what last year’s attendees said about the event on FryingPanTower.com, and see pictures of the event at http://www.capefearsportsmen.org/PhotoGallery.aspx. If you have any questions post them to this thread and I will do my best to answer them.
Register now at www.capefearsportsmen.org/fishfest to make sure you get your free shirt designed by Mark Ray!
Once again, we are grateful to have some pretty amazing speakers! Check out the current line up:
Shallow Water and Flats Fishing for Redfish (Capt. Brent Stanley, Current Adventure Charters)
Know your Knots (Capt. Brent Stanley, Current Adventure Charters)
State closes harvest to Spotted Seatrout – a.k.a. Speckled Trout
Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor Dee Freeman, Secretary
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Release: Immediate Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Jan. 12, 2011 Phone: (252) 726-7021 or (252) 342-0642
State to Close Spotted Seatrout Harvest Due to Cold Stun Events
MOREHEAD CITY – North Carolina will close all coastal waters to commercial and recreational spotted seatrout harvest for an indefinite period beginning at noon Friday.
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel issued a proclamation today implementing the closure, after consulting with N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Rob Bizzell.
The action is being taken in response to recent cold stun events in Rose Bay, Juniper Bay, Pungo River, Campbell Creek, Turnigan Bay, Spooners Creek and other waters. The intent of the closure is to prevent the harvest of vulnerable cold stunned fish, which may recover with warming temperatures.
“On the heels of two cold stun events, one in 2010 and now in 2011, and pretty large commercial and recreational catch rates in 2009, I believe this is the best thing for the fishery,” Daniel said.
In approving the Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan in November, the Marine Fisheries Commission authorized Daniel to temporarily close harvest in the event of a cold stun event. The commission will review the closure and consider extending it at is Feb. 11 meeting in Pine Knoll Shores.
For more information, contact division biologist Beth Burns at (252) 473-5734, extension 221, or Beth.Burns@ncdenr.gov.
Keeping you informed!!!
Capt. Brent
CFR mixed bag
After battling a nasty bug all week, I picked up a last minute trip for Saturday morning. Hoby, Ken, Bob and John, all former river guides, wanted to do a little fishing and catch up on old times. The crew was a few too many for my flats boat, so we decided I would take the helm of Hobie’s bateau’ and hit the Cape Fear River.
We started out making a run towards the mouth of the river to fish for Redfish with the plan of working back up river with the tide to finish out on the Speckled Trout. It was a good plan that came together. We fished the backwaters around Bald Head Island first and got our Redfish. Then as the water got closer to flood, we made the run back up river to pursue the Specks.
The Speck bite started kind of slow, but the blue fish keep the rods bent in the interim. As the water started to fall, the Speck bite picked up, but not as good as in previous trips. My take on this was that the tide turned right in the middle of the day and Specks bite best either early or late in the day. None the less, we came back to the dock with a cooler of fish, lots of comradery and some great memories of a good day on the water!!
Fall fishing is in full swing. Call today to book your next trip.
Tight lines!!
Capt. B.
