Posts Tagged ‘cape fear redfish’
Fall fishing, MADD 6 and Cape Fear Red Trout 2011
September 7, 2011 | 
Author The yellow butterflies are buzzing around and that can only mean one thing….it’s time to go fishing!! Usually when I start to see the yellow butterflies, it means that the speckled trout are about to turn on and the flounder and redfish have already turned on.
This past weekend I hit the Cape Fear River to see if the trout were biting yet. Instead, I found flounder on a mud flat coming completely out of the water chasing bait. In two days, I caught 10 flounder with 6 keepers and my partner Capt. Jason caught 5 keepers, all on artificial baits. Saturday, most of the fish came on a 4-inch z-mann paddle tail bait and a spinner bait. Sunday, they all wanted a 3-inch gulp swimming mullet on a jig head. You can get both of these baits at Intracoastal Angler on Oleander Drive. The fish were much nicer on Sunday with Capt. Jason catching several in the 3-5 lb range. Yes, he out fished my in quality, but not quantity. I would have rather have had his fish, but I’m not complaining.
MADD 6 will be held in Oak Island this Saturday and I am looking forward to taking a couple of our fine service men/women fishing for the day. Hurricane Katia has threatened to put a damper on this event, but now it looks as if she is going to go out to sea and we are going to have a great day. I expect that I will take my guest up river to try and catch some more of these Flounder as well as target some Redfish and Speckled Trout.
The Cape Fear Red Trout Celebrity Classic is approaching quickly. I look forward to this event every year. It’s two days of great fishing for a great cause. If this is something that you think you would be interested in participating in, give me a call or an email and I can send you all of the details.
As always, if you want to get into some of the great inshore fishing that the Cape Fear coast has to offer, give me a call and set up your trip. Thanks for taking the time to check out my website, read my reports and view my video’s. Also, be sure to check out my facebook page and like me!!
Till next time,
Tight lines!!
Capt. Brent
Late August Speckled Trout
I made an early start this morning is hopes of finding a new trout hole and some trout for the dinner table. I succeeded at both.
My first stop of the morning produced one small puppy drum, a.k.a. rat red. The area I was in showed lots of promise with lots of bait in the water, but the bite just wasn’t to be. I decided to make a move and try some new spots, but to no avail.
I decided to make a run and while running down river, I saw something on the gps chart that caught my eye. I made a hard starboard turn and decided to check it out. I made a good choice.
The tide had started to rise and I found a point with good current on it. It didn’t take long to get hooked up with the fish. I tried many different baits and swithched often, but gulp shrimp, DOA shrimp and the mirrolure MR-17 produced. Most of the trout caught were in the 14-15 inch range, but I did catch one 3-4lb fish on the MR17.
All in all, it was a great day and I am looking forward to the fall when the trout bite typically picks up. I feel I will have a good trout hole for the fall.!!
Bald Head fishing Mothers Day
Quick report!!
I spent most of Mother’s day with my wife and family. However, since I had the Vantage in tow, I managed to slip away late afternoon for a couple of hours of fishing (the boat ramp is only 1 block from my mother-in-laws house). The wind was still blowing, but not as bad as Saturday.
I saw tailing Redfish on the Cape Fear Flats around Fort Fisher and a found a school of fish that had a big school of mullet pinned against the bank near Bald Head Island. I was able to get several takers on top water plugs just before dark. I also hooked a short Flounder on a jig tipped with a Gulp jerk shad. Lot’s of bait in the water now and the fishing is definitely picking up.
Call and book today!!
Topsail-Bald Head fishing report
This past weekend saw a return of cooler temperatures to the Cape Fear area. Saturday I fished the middle to southern end of Topsail Island. I departed from the NC Wildlife ramp at Surf City and fished my way south.
Water temperatures in the ICWW were in the low 60’s while back up in the creeks and mud flats, they were in the mid to upper 60’s. I saw many fish up on the mud flats, but not so many in the ICWW. The fish that I did see didn’t seem very interested in eating, a pattern I typically see after a weather front roles through. In addition to Redfish, I did see a few small Flounder dart out from under my boat as I floated across the mud flats as well as a good number of mullet minnows.
I spoke with another angler while up one of my favorite creeks who informed me that he had been catching some speckled trout in some of the deeper holes.
Sunday, I took my neighbor Steve out and we hit the flats on the southern end of the county around Bald Head Island. Water temperatures in this area again were in the mid 60’s. We had similar activity on Sunday, seeing a lot of fish that didn’t seem to interested in eating. I did get a nice 25-inch Redfish to eat a gold Johnson silver minnow spoon tipped with a white curly tail grub. Tipping the spoon with a grub will give it an entirely different action that the Redfish just seem to love. Steve also landed a smaller Redfish on a D.O.A. paddle tail in a new penny color with gold flake. He was fishing it on an 1/8oz. weighted hook. I also saw a lot of baitfish in the water in this are including mullet and small shad. With all of the bait in the water, the fishing should only get better and better.
I have a couple of trips booked for the end of the week so stayed tuned for more updates. Also, don’t forget to call or shoot me an email to book your trip. I am starting to get a lot of calls for booking for the up coming summer, so don’t wait too long to call so as not to miss your opportunity.
Till next time,
Tight lines!!!!
I will once again be speaking at the 2010 Fish Fest!!!
I have just confirmed that I will be appearing at the 2010 Christian Sportsman “Fish Fest” fishing school on February 20, 2010. I will be giving seminars on near shore Dolphin (Mahi) fishing as well as inshore flats fishing for Redfish.
If you are in the area, don’t miss out on this event. It will be very informative with a lot of one on one class room instruction. There will be lots of other guides and captains other than myself there as well.
I will post more information as it becomes available. Mark you calendars now!!!!
BTW….there are large schools of Redfish off of the beach that are very hungry. Despite the extreme cold weather we have been having, the fish are on the beach and are easy to catch when the weather permits us to get out.
Tight lines!!
Capt. Brent
Specks slowed down-Reds picked up
After spending time with family and eating way too much food on Thanksgiving, I was able to get back on the water Saturday. Saw Midnight Wind and another long time friend at the ramp in the morning. My guest for the day arrived and we set out to try and find those Specks that bit so well earlier in the week.
The bite was not to be. Water temps had dropped 10 degrees and the bite just wasn’t there. I talked to both Midnight and others and Midnight was the only one I spoke to that had a fish. I just think they are drawn to Midnight.
Sunday was much better, but not until late in the afternoon. I tried several spots and had only managed one keeper Speck when I decided to pole into some shallow flats hoping to find some warmer water. The mid afternoon sun had the skinny water back up in the low 60′s. With the sun in my face, I couldn’t see the two or three schools of fish that I spooked until I was right on top of them, but when the water started to rise, the bite turned on. I saw tailing fish (yes in late November) and had a 28-1/2″ Red try and eat my popping cork. Luckily, he ate the DOA shrimp that was tied below it. A gold spoon tipped with a white curly tail grub seemed to have the most effect.
Ended up with 10 Reds for the afternoon. All slot fish with the exception of 1 rat and 1 overslot.
Tight lines!!!
Slaying Specks
I have known and fished with Chris a.k.a. Dekoy from way back in the day when we were just a couple of pier rats spending our summers on Crystal Pier. Like many friends, as years go by, we don’t get to spend as much time together or see each other as often as we would like. Dekoy and I have been trying to work out schedules for some time now to get together and do some fishing and we finally got it together.
Every year, I try to donate a fishing trip to the Coastal Conservation Association or CCA. On Friday, I had a trip scheduled with Mike and Rick who were the winning bidders for the trip that I had donated this year. Mike, Rick and myself had a great day on the water. The fishing was a little slow in the beginning, so I stretched out the 4hour trip I had donated into an 8 hour trip. The extra time was well worth it as the bite picked up in the afternoon and Mike and Rick went home happy with some good quality fish.
Rick finally broke the ice with a huge 29-inch Redfish. Later, the guys and myself found a good school of speckled trout and caught enough of those for Mike and Rick to take back home to Raleigh before calling it a day. Mike and Rick ended up with 12 specks, (1) 29-inch Redfish and a flounder.
Later that evening, Dekoy called and wanted to know if we were going to go fish like we had talked about. We worked out the details and decided to go fish the area I had fished the previous day. The wind was blowing pretty good out of the NNE and it was a little chilly but the ride in the “Vantage” wasn’t bad at all. We got to our spot, spent a couple minutes doing some last minute rigging and Dekoy got off the first cast. Bam….fish on, first cast. I’m thinking, they’re still here, it’s going to be a good day.
After having a quick discussion on whether we were going to catch & release or have a fish fry, we realized we hadn’t had breakfast and decided we were hungry, so into the box went the fish. The bite was on but sporadic. The fish seemed to keep moving, but never very far. When the bite would slow, we’d try a different bait until we found what they wanted and we would go back to catching fish. DOA shrimp and paddle tails were working well.
As the flood tide peaked, the bite really slowed, so we decided to make a move and try another spot. About 4 cast at the new spot and I was again hooked up with a nice speck. Not to be outdone, Dekoy decided to pull out an old “Mr. Whiffle” and found a nice slot red that wanted it for lunch.
When the water stated to ebb, it was time to head back to the honey hole for some more trout slaying. As soon as we got set up, the bite was on again. After taking a good count of the fish in the box, we realized that we were only 7 fish away from our limits. Now the quest became to limit out. Well, it didn’t take that long and we did just that. 20 specks in the box, but the bite was still on, so we bent the barbs down and went back to catching and releasing. At day’s end when it was time to pack up and head for the hill, Dekoy and I had 30 specks and 1 slot Redfish for the day.
I’d say the inshore fishing is still pretty darn good!!
Thanks Dekoy!!! I had a great time fishing with a good friend!!
Tight lines everyone!!
The Redfish bite is on!!!
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, the water temps are falling and the mullet blow is kicking off. It can only mean one thing, fall fishing is here. The Redfish bite has been on fire in the North Topsail Beach area as of late as well as many other areas in the Cape Fear Region.
With the water full of finger mullet heading South, the top water action for big Redfish as been awesome. Early mornings while the sun is still low seems to be the best time for the topwater action, but cloudy days will produce strikes all day long. Skitter walks and Top Pups have been working well. Color doesn’t seem to matter much as the fish are feeding heavily and they just can’t resist the action of one of these plugs.
Top water is not the only baits that are working well now. Both Gulp™shrimp and jerk shads fished on weighted hooks have been producing a lot of fish. Skimmer jigs tipped with Fish Bites™ have been producing a lot of fish as well. Most of the trips taken lately have been producing double digit numbers of Reds in only a few hours of fishing.
The new ECC Vantage is performing beautifully and allows me to get into the skinny waters that tend to hold these great fighting fish. If you are looking to get into some great redfish action, give me a call and let’s get you out on the water. I still have some good dates in September available, but I will not be running any trips in October as I am getting married and will be heading to Hawaii for a couple of weeks with my new bride!!! Trips will resume in November and historically, Thanksgiving provides some really good fishing.
Give me a call and let’s go catch some fish!!
Tight lines!!!
Capt. Brent
River Reds
The Redfish fishing near area rivers has been very good this week. Friday I fished the New River area of N. Topsail Beach with good friends Boyd and Will. These two have been trying to catch a Redfish on the fly for a couple of years now, but it seems that every time they come, the wind blows. Well, this trip was no exception, but it was not howling as it usually is and we had plenty of chances. I poled the new Vantage into the skinny water and worked three different schools of Redfish for a couple of hours, but Boyd and Will just couldn’t seem to get the fly in front of the fish. After watching reds push, role and tail all around us, they couldn’t stand it any more and picked up the spin tackle and immediately hooked up.
We worked the fish for a little longer then called it a day and headed home. Baits for the day were grubs fished on weighted hooks.
Sunday, I had Tanner from East Cape Canoes and Skiffs join me on the Cape Fear River looking for the Reds. Tanner, who has family in Holden Beach, worked on building my new Vantage and it was a pleasure to have him aboard. We fished for several hours poling the flats and working some areas that I hadn’t fished in awhile. We ended up with six Redfish for the morning and missed a few others.
Gulp shrimp fished on weighted hooks and bucktail jigs were the baits of choice today.
The Redfish fishing is hot so call and book your trip today!!
July Fishing brings a mixed bag of fish
The heat of July is here and the fishing is hot. King Mackerel, Mahi, Little Tunny Baracuda, Redfish and more are some of the species caught aboard the Current Adventure boats over the 4th of July weekend.
Payton and Addison with Mahi
Friday I had repeat customers David, Rhonda and their daughters Payton and Addison for a day of offshore Mahi fishing. Well the day started out with the winds blowing 10 knots stronger and 180 degrees opposite of what was forecast. Needless to say, it was sloppy, but the girls didn’t seem to mind so we put lines in and trolled our way offshore. I had a location in mind to find the fish, the question was whether or not the seas would lay down as predicted and let us get there. It took about 4 hours to get to where we wanted to be, but once there, the seas were laying down and the fish were starting to bite. The girls spent the next couple of hours catching Mahi, King Mackerel, Baracuda, Little Tuny, sharks and remoras.
The following day I had Jay and Todd from Charlotte aboard for another day of Mahi fishing. This time, the weather man got it right and we made the run offshore in calm seas at 20 knots. Once we reached the ledges that i wanted to start fishing, it didn’t take long for the bites to begin. Jay and Todd stayed busy all day catching Mahi, Little Tuny’s, 40lb Baracuda and yes, another remora. Jay and Todd ended up with 9 Mahi for the day that they were planning to take back home to their families for some great eating.
Sunday, I had the opportunity to take family out for a day of inshore fishing. Kenan and I left the docks around 0600 and hit the flats for some topwater Redfish action. The new Vantage made short work of the time between the landing and the fishing grounds. Once on the flats, we threw Zara Spook top water plugs looking for a topwater bite. The first strike that Kenan had came from a 3 foot Blacktip Shark that was feeding on finger mullet in the shallow water. The fight lasted a few minutes till the sharks teeth severed the leader and the shark and our plug swam away. I tied on another plug for Kenan and it was back to fishing. Soon, Kenan was hooked up again with a nice Redfish only to have the fish cut the leader on the marsh grass and swim away with yet another plug. Finally, Kenan hooked up again on a smaller fish and this one he got to the boat. This was his first Redfish.
Kenan's first Redfish
Next it was my time for a first. It was time for me to catch my first Redfish in the new East Cape Vantage. I cast out a Black and Yellow Top Pup and had a 30-inch brute inhale the topwater plug. The fish tried several times to take me into the grass and oyster rocks, but in the end, I was victorious as Kenan netted the big fish.
Kenan and I spent the rest of the morning catching a few more Reds before calling it a day and heading in to spend the last of the Holiday weekend with family and friends.
The fishing is great. Give me a call and book your trip today!!
Tight lines!!
