Hello folks, I hope everyone is well and enjoying the cooler weather we have had lately.  I have not really liked the stiff Northeast wind from it, but I like the cool morning temps.  The cooler weather has really started to change the fishing in good way!  The fall mullet run has started and with that the fishing has really picked up in the last few weeks!  Let’s go over all that in this fishing report>>>

Flounder have been a big part of our charters lately.  We are catching numbers and there size is getting better too!  We’ve caught a few Flounder in the last two weeks over five pounds.  Most of the action is coming off grubs, in shrimp and sea shad patterns.  The shrimp pattern is a new one I’ve just started to use.  It’s made by Berkley power bait and it’s a 3” Rattle Shrimp in colors watermelon red gltr & pearl white.  I think these are going to be a big hit for Flounder, Redfish and trout.  In the sea shad’s Saltwater Assassin’s in colors chicken on a chain and chart-diamond.  We’re rigging the sea shads with 1/4oz red jig heads.

We are also catching the Flounder on Carolina rigs with live mullets.  Now that the mullets are everywhere it’s very easy to catch all you need for a day of fishing.  The Carolina rigs we are using for Flounder fishing are very simple.  Hook is a EC L42 1/0, leader fifth teen to twenty inches of forty pound mono and an ¾ to one oz egg sinker.  We are pulling the rigs across the bottom very slowly; so that the rig stays on the bottom.  If it comes off the bottom; slow down your pull or go with a heavier egg sinker.  Take your time; it takes patience to catch Flounder!

My charters have had some great early Redfish morning and late afternoon bites. We are fishing mud flats and oyster flats in creeks and along the ICW. Top water plugs like the Rapala skitter-walk have done very well. Rattle and popping corks with live mullets have been working great!  The best rattlin’ corks for me have been the Saltwater Assassin’s “Kwik-cork” this is one of the loudest corks on the market.  When the water has been a little stained form rain water we are catching some Reds on spinner baits.

There are some Bull Reds starting to show up in the ocean on hard bottoms and around the inlets.  You never know when you might hook one of these big fish might bite.  When we try to catch these Bulls, we use fresh cut or live menhaden.  We use fish finder rigs with 9/0, 10/0 and 11/0 circle hooks, keep your drag tight and the circle hooks will do there job.
There has been a few Trout starting to show up around.  Most that we have found are in the creeks and channels running along the drop offs to deeper water.  The trout that we have caught are hitting grubs in colors Chart. Diamond and sliver mullet and red jig heads.  Hard baits getting the luck are Mirrolures redhead silver body and green back white belly.  South of Wrightsville we are having some very good days with the Specks.  Fishing on good days has produced twenty or more specks!  Fall weather will equal more good fishing!!

Thanks so much for reading this report, if you would like a guided fishing charter; give me call or drop me a line.  Don’t forget take a kid fishing and good fishing to ya!

Fishing gear we use:

Gear used: Redfish, Flounder and trout: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.  Bull Redfish: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ.  Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: forty pound Spider wire Ultracast.

Captain Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

  

I hope everybody is doing well and catching a few fish!  I have got to say I’m glad Bill did not make it up here, but his power was felt up this way.  We’ve had some strong swells the last couple of days, which has kept me out of the ocean and in the back water areas.  Before the swells we did some good ocean fishing for Flounder and Gray trout.

Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size.  Live bait and grubs are the best bet.  Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs.  I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well.

How bout’ those Gray trout, the trout bite has really picked up the last couple of weeks.  We are catching most of the Grays the same way we’ve been catching the Flounder; Carolinas rigs and live bait.  My favorite live bait for Grays is finger mullet.  If you would rather use lures, small jigging spoons and grubs will work just fine.  I like to put a shot of scent on my grubs; “Bang’s” shrimp, crab, and Taxes tea are some of my favorites.  The Flounder and Trout are holding on near shore live “hard” bottom, wrecks, and ledges.

When we are Flounder and Gray trout fishing in the ocean, I prefer to use Carolina rigs with heavier egg sinkers.  We use one, one&½ and two ounce egg or “river” sinkers.  River sinkers are the ones that are flat or pan caked sinkers.  We still use a L42 EC 1/0 hook and thirty to forty pound mono leader.  This rig works well for many different kinds of fish you can catch on the hard bottoms just off the beach.

My charters have had some good early Redfish morning bites. We are fishing mud flats and oyster flats in creeks and along the ICW.  Multi fish hook-ups are not uncommon at all! Top water plugs like the Rapala skitter-walk have done very well. Rattle and popping corks with live mullets and little menhaden have been working great!  The best rattlin’ corks for me have been the Saltwater Assassin’s “Kwik-cork” this is one of the loudest corks on the market they work!

The Speckled trout have decided to bite from time to time the last few weeks south of  Wrightsville Beach.  Most fish are coming out of creeks and channels around the waterway and flats.  Best bet for the trout so far has been grubs, working the grubs slow in holes and drop-offs.   The grubs I like in the summer mouths when the water gets hot are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”.  Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, and chicken on a chain. I like to use shrimp (Bang) scent to help those trout find that grub in dirty waters we get from some of the recent down pours!  I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in dirty and stained water it can really help. There are some Bull Reds starting to show up in the ocean on hard bottoms and around the inlets.  You never know when you might hook one of these big fish might bite.  When we try to catch these Bulls, we use fresh cut or live menhaden.  We use fish finder rigs with 11/0 and 12/0 circle hooks, keep your drag tight and the circle hooks will do there job.

Speaking of Bull Reds, I’m heading up to Oriental, NC this week to try my luck at some of those Bull Reds and maybe just maybe a Pamlico Tarpon.  I’ll give you a report when I get back.

Thanks so much for reading this report, if you would like a guided fishing charter; give me call or drop me a line.  Don’t forget take a kid fishing and good fishing to ya!

Fishing gear we use:

Gear used: Redfish, Flounder and Gary trout: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.  Bull Redfish and Tarpon Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ.  Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: forty pound Spider wire Ultracast.

I have recently tried a new landing net that I saw at ICAST this summer and I really like this net.  Super light weight, floats and yet is still very strong!  The net is an EGO made by www.adventureproducts.com  I use the clear rubber net in the large size product # 71157.  This net is great for Flounder, Trout and Reds!  Try one, trust me you will love it!!!

Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats &
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

  

Hello, I hope everybody is doing well. I can’t complain; fishing has had some consistence for the most part. We’ve had some heavy storms lately in the afternoons. I’ve found that the areas where the rain has falling hard, the fishing is a little harder as well. Remember when water colors change you need to change your color patterns as well.

The summer trend of local fishing is really starting to show. One of my favorites has started to show this last week; the always fun Tarpon! I have only Tarpon fished once in the last two weeks. We saw a few fish, but no luck getting one. Always good to see them around the boat; gets my blood pressure up every time!

We fish for Tarpon on the bottom using, live and fresh dead baits like; spots, bluefish and Menhaden. We are rigging these baits on fish finder rigs, with three to five feet of 80 to 100 pound mono leaders. Circle hooks are the best bet for good hook ups and landings for Tarpon in hook sizes 7/0 to 9/0 depending what hook series you like. I have also had a fair share of Tarpon on my kite rig with live baits like greenies and menhaden. Nothing like seeing a Tarpon hit kite baits!

When the Tarpon start to show up, the sharks are already here! I’m not talking about one to three footers; I’m talking about four to seven plus footers, running fifty to two hundred pounds; on light tackle and fly rods. Don’t knock it till you have tried it! It’s a lot of fun most of the sharks come right up to the boat and take the bait or fly. We catch Lemon, Dusky, and Black tips and a few Hammerheads from time to time as well.

Best baits for the near shore sharks are, fresh and live Menhaden. When we use bait to catch the sharks we use spinning reels, with 300+ yards of thirty and fifty pound Spider wire Ultracast braid. Rigging the baits; eight feet of 80 pound mono leader; some will wind on to the reel. Connected the 80 pound mono to a fifty pound swivel, then to Two to three foot of #9 SS wire and an 8/0 or 9/0 off set J hook. If you prefer Fly fishing, I like Striped bass flies in Menhaden patterns with 4/0 and 5/0 hook sizes. We use ten to twelve weight set ups; have lots of extra flies with you!

The Redfish are still picking good, you just have got to get out there and find some fish that have not been fished too much. Live, fresh cut bait and scented grubs “Blurp” have been the ticket. When your fishing early don’t forget to try a good ole’ Rapala Skitter walk for some top water action with the Redfish. Spanish mackerel are biting as well, casting and trolling are best bets for these speedsters. Don’t forget that great hot summer fish; the Sheephead, the hotter the better for those guys. One-armed bandits seem to be one of best baits for me. Fish them around docks and bridges.

Gear used: Redfish, Spanish and Sheephead: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Sharks and Tarpon: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Line: Spiderwire Ultracast in 30 to 50 pound.

ICAST News: I was in Orlando FL last week for ICAST: International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades. All the new tackle for 2010 is released here. I saw some really cool stuff that will be in the local tackle shops very soon. A few of my favorites were; Penn’s new lines of spinning reels. The new Penn Conquer spinning reel is my new favorite Redfish stopper, trust me it will stop’em! I was on the field research team for this reel and it really impressed me! This reel is made for super lines. Specifications: Sizes 2000, 4000, 5000 and 7000. Drags: 2000 12 lbs, 4000 19 lbs, 5000 22 lbs and 7000 32 lbs.

Next on the list that caught my eye, Penn’s new Torque spinning reels. If you like hardcore jigging, bottom fishing or catching big pelagic on spinning tackle this is the spinning reel for YOU!!! Specifications: Sizes TRQS5: 400 yards 30# braid, TRQS7: 470 yards 50# braid and TRQS9: 490 yards 80# braid. Drags “watch out” there hot: TRQS5: 38 lbs, TRQS7 41 lbs and TRQS9 50 lbs yes 50 lbs “that is a lot of drag for a spinning reel. The Torques comes in Black/gold and Gold/silver. Check them out soon at Pennreels.com

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

Capt. Jot Owens

Ranger Boats and

Pure Fishing Pro Staff

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139

  

We’ve had some good Speckled trout, Redfish and Flounder fishing lately south of Wrightsville beach.  The trout are hitting grubs and shrimp pattern lures.  The grubs that are working well are Saltwater assassin sea shad pattern.  In colors chicken on a chain, pumpkinseed chart tail and morning gory; we are rigging them with 1/8 oz red & black jig heads.  Live shrimp are also working well for the trout and flounder.  Light float rigs when we are using the live shrimp.  It you would rather use artificial, you can use a SWA rattling Kwik-cork and a shrimp pattern lure under it.

The Redfish are hitting top water plugs and spinner baits.  The best top water plugs we are using is the Rapala skitter walk, size 4-3/8” in colors hot chartreuse, red/white and black/gold/orange.  Spinner baits we are throwing; SWA Red daddy and the Mac daddy.  These spinner baits are some of the best on the market they hold up well and they swim great too.

Some Sheephead and black drum are biting around docks and bulkheads.  There has been a few very nice black drum caught lately, some fish over twenty pounds reported “that’s a good pull”!  These fish are hitting fiddler crabs, live shrimp and fresh shrimp.  We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks.  Sheephead and smaller black drum make great table fare.

The King mackerel and Mahi fishing has been great last few weeks.  We’ve caught from six to twelve kings and two to four Mahi’s on most trips lately. There has been a few Sailfish around as well; keep your eye out for jumping and feeding Sails!  Most of the Kings and Mahi’s are hitting fast trolled small ballyhoo or slow trolled menhaden and cigars minnows.  One trick that has worked very well for us lately has been Blue water Candy’s bling feather weight dusters in colors pink and light blue.  We are fishing in the eight to twenty mile range off the beach; around wrecks and live bottom areas.

Shark fishing is really starting to pick up just off the beach.  I’m not talking about one to three footers; I’m talking about four to seven plus footers, running fifty to two hundred pounds; on light tackle and fly rods.  Don’t knock it til you have tried it!  It’s a lot of fun most of the sharks come right up to the boat and take the bait or fly.  This is always a lot of fun for the young and the new to the sport of fishing.  We are catching Lemon, Dusky, and Black tips with a few Hammerheads from time to time as well.

Gear used: Redfish, Trout, Flounder and Sheephead: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.  Sharks: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ.  Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting.  Kings and Mahi: Penn spinning reel 560L (Live liner) Rod: Penn Torque 7’ 20-50 class.

* I will be heading to Orlando, FL this next week for ICAST: International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades.  This is the biggest fishing tackle show in the world; all the new tackle for 2010 is shown at this show.  I know that there is some very cool tackle coming out from Penn at the show.  I will have all the details for y’all as soon as I get back!

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

Capt. Jot Owens

Ranger Boats and

Pure Fishing Pro Staff

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139

  

Hello from steaming HOT southeast North Carolina!! Has it been hot enough for y’all lately? Thanks God the fish has been just as hot. The last few weeks of fishing have been very good; let’s talk about that in this fishing report>>>

The Spanish mackerel bite has been very good lately. Spanish mackerel are feeding well in the mornings and afternoons. We are catching most of the Spanish around the inlets, shoals, and up & down the beach strands; in twenty to forty feet of water. Look for bluer and cleaner water; this is where we are catching most of the Spanish. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick.

The King mackerel and Mahi fishing has been great last few weeks. We’ve caught from six to twelve kings and two to four Mahi’s on most trips lately. Running the down rigger has produced some very nice kings; we had a thirty five and a twenty five pound king this week. There has been a few Sailfish around as well; keep your eye out for jumping and feeding Sails! Most of the Kings and Mahi’s are hitting fast trolled small ballyhoo or slow trolled menhaden and cigars minnows. One trick that has worked very well for us lately has been Blue water Candy’s bling feather dusters in colors pink and light blue. We are fishing in the ten to twenty mile range off the beach; around wrecks and live bottom areas.

Flounder fishing is really picking up around the area. Most of the Flounder are eating little menhaden and Mud minnows on light Carolina rigs. The Flounder are mixed in size to just under keeper size to a few over five pounds. We have caught some Flounder on Artificial baits as well. We have had the best luck with Saltwater Assassin Blurp grubs in molting color and “Chicken on a chain” color grubs. Rig the grubs on a red or black jig head for best results. Flounder fishing should stay consistent right through the summer and fall.

I’m starting to see a few Tarpon around the inlets and off the shoals; I really start looking for the silver kings right around the 4th of July. The Tarpon should stay around till mid September. We fish for Tarpon on the bottom using, live and fresh dead baits like; spots, bluefish and Menhaden. We rig these baits on fish finder rigs, with three to five feet of 80 to 100 pound mono leaders. Circle hooks are the best bet for good hook ups and landings for Tarpon in hook sizes 7/0 to 9/0 depending what hook series you like.

Sheephead fishing is starting to pick up as well around the area. The best bet is fishing around bridges, docks and bulk-heads. Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us. We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks. Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas have worked just fine. Give it a shot, it takes time but you’ll get one; Hold-on tight!

Gear used: Spanish, Flounder and Sheephead: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Tarpon: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ. Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting. Kings and Mahi: Penn spinning reel 560L (Live liner) Rod: Penn Torque 7’ 20-50 class.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

Capt. Jot Owens

Ranger Boats and

Pure Fishing Pro Staff

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139

  

Hello folks, I hope everyone is doing well.  The weather has really turned to the summer trend in the last few days.  We’ve had some good fishing weather; hot temps and light winds.  The fishing has been pretty hot it’s self!  With that said; here is the fishing report>>>

We have been looking for Cobia on a lot of my trips lately and we’ve had some success.  This last week we caught three, kept one and released two.  They were not the biggest cobia I’ve seen around lately but, still very good eating!  Most cobia that we are seeing are sight casting fish; we just cruise up and down the beach looking for them.  We are throwing big jigs, swim baits and live bait to the Cobia.  Color really does not seem to matter; “go bright”!  When I’m not sight casting for them, we are fishing around inlets, shoals and near shore artificial reefs.

The Shark fishing is really starting to pick up as well with the warm weather we are having.  My charters this week have caught ten to twenty sharks a day.  The sharks are in the ten to a few over 150 pounds; we released one around 150 to 175 on Tuesday this last week.  We are fishing with live and dead menhaden; light lining and bottom fishing.  The shark rigs are ten inches of number nine or ten single strand wire, with a 9/0 or 10/0 J off set hook.  To six to ten foot of eighty pound Berkley bid game mono (wind-on leader).  Some people don’t like fishing for sharks; but it can be a lot of fun with kids who have never seen a shark before.

Spanish mackerel are feeding well in the mornings and afternoons.  We are catching most of the Spanish around the inlets, shoals, and up & down the beach strands; in fifth teen to thirty feet of water.  Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s.  The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash.  When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick.

The King mackerel and Mahi fishing has pick up nicely the last few weeks.  There has been a few Sailfish around as well; we released a Sail on Wednesday 6-10.  We were fishing around the school house area, when we saw the sail jumping on some bait.  We ran over to the area we thought we saw the sail and threw out two live menhaden.  It took about ten seconds and bam she was jumping and running.  Most of the Kings and Mahi’s are hitting fast trolled small ballyhoo or slow trolled menhaden and cigars minnows.  One trick that has worked very well for us lately has been Blue water Candy’s bling feather dusters in colors pink and light blue.  We are fishing in the ten to twenty five mile range off the beach; around wrecks and live bottom areas.

Redfishing is still going good on most days.  The best fishing has been earlier in the day or later in the day (lower light). We are catching the reds on top water lures and rattling corks (SWA kwik-croks) with live bait in shallow water (one to three foot).  When we fish docks and channels (deeper waters); we are using live bait, fresh cut bait and scented grubs.  The scented grubs we are using are Saltwater Assassin Blurps in colors molting and good penny; patterns shrimp and sea shad.

Sheephead fishing is starting to pick up as well around the area. The best bet is fishing around bridges, docks and bulk-heads.  Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us.  We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks.  Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas have worked just fine.  Give it a shot, it takes time but you’ll get one; Hold-on tight!

Gear used: Spanish, Blues, Reds and Sheephead: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.  Cobia and Sharks: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) and Penn Torque 100TRQ.  Rods: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class spinning and Torque 6’ 80-130 casting.  Line: This is a new super braid I’m trying; so far it’s been a real good braid: Spider Wire Stealth Camo in 50#.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!

Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

  

Well if you know me at all, there is one fish that drives me crazy besides Tarpon; it’s Cobia!  I love to fish, catch and eat them.  We saw good numbers of Cobia the last fives days of fishing; with a few catch’s and one big loss!  On Saturday we saw five Cobia; hooked two, got one small one and released it.  The one that got away went 70# plus, ran 100 to 150 yards and pulled the hook; “I wanted to cry”! That’s fishing!!

Most of the Cobia fishing I’m doing now is sight fishing up and down the beach strands.  The water has really started to clear up, making it easier to see those brown logs in the water.  We are throwing big jigs, swim baits and live bait to the Cobia.  Color really does not seem to matter; “go bright”!  When I’m not sight casting for them, we are fishing around inlets, shoals and near shore artificial reefs.  We float fish, bottom fish and kite fish in these areas with live menhaden, blues and mullet as bait.  You can chum if you like, but the sharks will come and they will come in numbers!

We are really starting to see some good numbers of Redfish inshore the last two weeks.  The Reds we are getting are hitting fresh cut, bait live and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.  We’ve been rigging these on weed less hooks for grass fishing in some of the bays and flats.  There is also some live bait starting to show up around the area.  We’ve caught a few nice Reds float fishing with Assassin (Kwik-corks) on the shallows and flats.

This week we also got in to some nicer keeper Flounder in the south Wrightsville areas. We’ve also caught some small to just over keeper size in some of the local creeks and creek mouths.  Most are hitting on a falling tide where the bait comes pouring out of the shallows.  Mud minnows are work well now; that is until the little mullets show up in good numbers.  We are using light Carolina rigs with #1 L42 Eagle claw hooks; going very light on the egg sinker: ¼ to ¾ oz.

The Spanish and Blues are still chewing up and down the beaches.  The Kings are showing them self’s a little better this week too.  The kings have been in the five to twenty mile range and there are a few Mahi’s showing too!

Keep your eyes peeled on some new tackle from Penn that will come out soon; (Hint) If you like to catch big fish on spinning tackle; you will not want to miss these reels!

Gear used: Spanish, Blues, Reds and Flounder: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test.  Cobia: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) Rod: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class.  Line: forty (40) pound Berkley Big Game braid.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, don’t forget to take a kid fishing!
Capt. Jot Owens
Ranger Boats and
Pure Fishing Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

  

The water has really gotten dirty with all the wind lately; when we find clearer water, we are finding the fish. Most of the Spanish and Blues are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash. When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. We have also caught a hand full of chopper blues too. These choppers are running in the six to over fifth teen pound range. The choppers are biting big poppers and mid water stick baits. Color really does not seem to matter to those big blues, just a lot of action from the lure!

I’ve seen a few Cobia around the inlets and near shore reefs. Live bait fishing is the best bet for these great fighting fish. Fishing live baits on top as well as on the bottom will get you the best chance at catching a Cobia. I prefer bluefish, mullet and menhaden for bait; what ever is easier to get. To catch a Cobia you’ve got to put your time in, sometimes you catch one right away; sometimes you don’t. That’s why they call it fishing! The Cobia should keep getting better later in to May. It’s time now to book you Cobia trips.

We are seeing a few more Redfish around; most fish have been in the water way, bays and around some of the inlets. As more live bait shows up, more Reds will come out of the ocean and in to the sounds. This is starting to happen, the fishing should pick up in the next few weeks. The Reds we are getting are hitting fresh cut, bait live and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting. We’ve been rigging these on weed less hooks for grass fishing in some of the bays and flats.

There are some Flounder around, we’ve not caught any great numbers yet, but this should change very soon with the bait showing up. We’ve caught some small to just over keeper size in some of the local creeks and creek mouths. Most are hitting on a falling tide where the bait comes pouring out of the shallows. Mud minnows are work well now; that is until the little mullets show up in good numbers. We are using light Carolina rigs with #1 L42 Eagle claw hooks; going very light on the egg sinker: ¼ to ¾ oz.

Gear used: Spanish, Blues, Reds and Flounder: reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. Cobia: Penn spinning reel 760L (Live Liner) Rod: Penn Torque 6’6” 30-80 class. Line: forty (40) pound Berkley Big Game braid.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, get out there and go fishing!

Capt. Jot Owens

Ranger Boats and

Pure Fishing Pro Staff

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139

  

Those high speed Bonita’s should show up any day now; there has already been a small push of Spanish in the last few days.  I think this is a push of fish and warm water; these fish will probably move out of here.  The Bluefish are mixed in with them too.  We’re catching them by trolling and casting.  The trolling rigs that we’re using are; a number one planner with thirty to forty feet of forty pound mono leader.  Tied to the leader is a Clark spoon in size’s 0, 1 and 2, I like to use the gold and pink flash Clark spoons.  Troll them about five to six knots.  You can also troll small deep diving plugs too, but you need to slow down your speed to around three knots. 

If you would like to try casting or jigging for the Bonita’s, Blues and Spanish I would use Maria jigs.  They do have a price tag on them, but when the bite is tough these jigs will pay off!  Maria’s that I have the best luck with are size’s seven and fourteen grams.  The fourteens are easier to cast.  Colors to use; green, blue and pink seem to work the best for me.  I put a small shot of forty pound mono leader 12 to14 inches.  

There has been a very good Black drum bite the last two weeks, most days I’m catching 14+ plus on a half day.  Most of the drum are biting around docks and creek mouths in the ICW.  The best bait “by far” has been fresh cut shrimp in small pieces.  We are using small two hook drop rig, with a number 2 bait holder hook and one or two oz  bank sinkers. 

The Speckled trout have decided to bite from time to time the last few weeks.  Most fish are coming out of creeks, flats and channels around the waterway and inlets.  Best bet for the trout so far has been grubs, working the grubs slow in holes and drop-offs.   The grubs I like in the spring mouths are Saltwater Assassin sea shad in 4”.  Colors silver mullet, chart diamond, Chicken on a chain and salt/pep shad. I like to use shrimp (Bang) scent in the spring too, this helps because there is not much bait in the water yet.  I don’t use a lot of scents for Trout, but in the cool spring mouths it can really help. 

Gear used: Reels Penn Sargus SG2000 and SG4000 Rods: Ugly Stick Lite 7?0? Med light and Med act. Line: Fire Line crystal in 10 and 20 pound test. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this report, get out there and go fishing!    

Capt. Jot Owens

Ranger Boats and

Pure Fishing Pro Staff

www.captainjot.com 

910-233-4139

  

There are some Redfish in the ICW and channels just off the ICW.  We are starting to see a few smaller Reds 14” to 21” in some of the creeks on warmer days.  Most Reds are hitting mud minnows and “fresh as you can get shrimp”.  If you would like to go the artificial root, I would recommend using scented grubs.  The best bet I’ve used has been Saltwater Assassin “Blurps” in Colors Molting and good penny.  These Blurps are really well scented; they put out one great scent trail.  Those Reds will find them, trust me!  Jigs heads for the grubs in ¼ to 3/8 oz, colors red and black seem to be the trick. Work’em slow around docks and drop-offs on grass lines and oyster rocks.

We seeing a few small Speckled trout around Wrightsville, south of Wrightsville the bigger one’s should really start to bite any day.  Grubs have been the best bet for the trout; we’re using Saltwater Assassin sea shad and shrimp patterns. Colors that have worked lately; Elec. Chicken and Chart Diamond and Chicken on a chain.  Don’t forget those never fell; Mirrolures, in colors silver mullet and white on white. The water is still cool so don’t forget to work the lures a little slower.

There has been a few bluefish starting to show up around the inlets. These guys are a little early but that is good thing.  The Bonita’s should be here soon, I think we will see them in a week or two.  We caught a few False Albacore around the school house on 3-31.  The water Temp there was 61.8` to 63.  However just inshore of there around ten to fifth teen miles the water temp was 57`; it still needs to come up a bit.  If you have ever caught a Bonita on light tackle or Fly rod you know just how fast they are and how much fun it is to catch them. If you have not ever caught one, you need to give it a try. This is one of my favorites to catch hands down and they are not bad to eat as well.

We are still doing some freash water fishing on some of the windier days when it’s been hard to get out on the coast to fish.  The large mouth Bass have been biting well. Most trips we are catching nine to over fifth teen bass a day.  The size of the Bass are running one to over five pounds, most fish are two to three pounds.  Bass are hitting Bass Assassin rubber worms in colors black and red shad “red and black”.  We are also catching some of the bass on senko worms.  Rigging the worms Carolina style seems to work the best.

Fishing Gear we use:

Pflueger Medalist spinning reels in size 7035 great for trout and light Red fishing. Rods: Ugly Stick Lite. Med act 7’ Braid line in the test of 10 and 20 pound.  Thanks for reading this report, if you have any questions or comments drop me a line at www.captainjot.com

June 5, 6 and 7 “In the Water Fishing School” Capt. Rick Bennett, myself and six other of the best local guides are putting on this school on.  This school will be real-time hands on fishing experience!  The school is limited to the first 25 participants!  If you want to learn from the best local guides and see how we do it, take the time to check it out; 
http://www.rodmancharters.com/2009-inthewater-fishing-school.htm
I’m really looking forward to being part of this school!

Captain Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139