SE NC Report: redfish still hitting in shallows

[jeffreyweeks]

The fishing report remains pretty much steady, with the best action still centering on shallow water redfish. The forecast calls for chilly winds, freezing nights, and a threat of a wintry mix at the beginning of the week, but the latter part of the week should be fishable with sunny days in the forties and the hope of 50 plus degree temps by next weekend.

Water temp remains in the mid to high 40s but edges up on sunny days and all that’s needed is a little sun on the darker banks to get the redfish hitting.



Redfish are mainly being taken by anglers push poling the shallows sight fishing and casting to them with either live mud minnows on jig heads or soft scented baits. The bite occurs on the moving tide, especially at the lower edges, and the redfish are in very shallow water.



If you can’t sight fish the redfish then your best bet is to work the creek mouths during the tide changes or focus on hard structure. There are reports of both red and black drum still hitting around the bridges, and docks are also a good spot to try. There were even a couple of keeper flounder taken around the bridges last week. Some small spot and silver perch are also in the waterways.

Fresh cut mullet is fine for the redfish but black drum are more likely to fall to cut shrimp or clam meat. The soft bait crabs will work in these areas as well.

There is very little talk of a speckled trout bite anywhere although some isolated trout have been caught. Some small ones have been taken in the surf but that’s about it except the skates.

For more fishing reports and articles see my blog A Dash of Salty and my website Surf and Salt.