SE NC Report: shallow redfish and some trout, freshwater stripers

[jeffreyweeks]

Saltwater fishing hasn’t yet made the transition over to the spring-style season that freshwater fishing has, but the constant remains solid shallow-water redfish catches. Redfish are hitting on flooded grass flats when the tide is right and can also be found schooled up on low tide in the backwater creeks.

Anglers are doing some sight fishing on the redfish while the water remains cool and clear. You have to be careful not to spook them and most guides are poling their boats into place and not using the trolling motors.



Redfish are hitting Gulp scented synthetic baits or live mud minnows. They’ll also strike cut mullet and shrimp or crab. Stealth is the key to catching the shallow-water redfish.

There have been some encouraging reports of speckled trout catches. NC is currently in a closed season for specks but some anglers have reported catching good numbers of small spike trout. That is encouraging news since we have been worried about how the winter weather affected them as there were some scattered trout kills.

Black drum remain around structure and the surf contains plenty of dogfish, skates and rays. No sign of sea mullet yet but they should be showing up soon.

Meanwhile the freshwater striper bite is hot on the Carolina lakes. Striped bass are hitting cut shad and bream and bloodworms on the bottom, and topwater plugs int he mornings.



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