ICW Ladies

[TriAngler]

(cc'd from Fish ID thread) - Capt Lee, have you ever tried this??

Lady fish that is...Some of the best fun you can have with light tackle - try this sometime. During the dog days of summer, try to locate a stretch of the ICW that has a dock with a streetlight that shines on the water. Turns out that your average ladyfish LOVES to chase top water plugs. Just about any will work but my favorite for this is Zara Spooks (that's right you'll have to raid your freshwater tacklebox) in any of the irridescent colors like NBL Black Shiner, G Finish, or Nickle Plate. It's a good idea to have a few Zara Puppies on hand and adjust to the size of ladyfish that are around.




Now the magic part - the dock light - you don't need it to catch ladyfish on topwaters....they'll bite in the dark. But it turns out that Miss Fish has eyes that glow in the dark and I cannot tell you how much fun it is to see those glowing eyes zip through the water as you work the topwater plug. These girls are cruising the waterway for finger mullet and you can often find yourself surrounded with a decent sized school. With the light, I swear it looks like tracer fire zooming through the water - and somehow just adds to the anticipation of the bite. The bite on topwater is viscious and once you're hooked up....HANG ON - these ladies love to jump and run.

Give it a try - let me know how it goes!

[JMS-ILM]

you aint fooling any one Big K.....we here in Wrightsville Beach know the ICW "lady"fishing is always best at the Dockside bar. good thing is this variety of "lady"fish wont shit all over your boat either.....unless you really piss them off.

and if you dont score there, then definitly go hit some docklights on the ride home.....

now if you please excuse me, i have 7 bushels of stumps sounds' finest to dispose of on this beautiful day.

[TriAngler]

Hey Matt - if you eat 7 bushels of oysters by yourself, there won't be a safe clam in Wrightsville Beach. Go get 'em buddy!

[WAHOONBOX]

I TIP MY RIGGERS TO YA DUDE! BEST TIP OF THE MONTH HERE!

[Crazy Eyes]

Hey Matt - if you eat 7 bushels of oysters by yourself, there won't be a safe clam in Wrightsville Beach. Go get 'em buddy!

Amen to that. Rock on Matt!!!!!

[gottaflylee]

I TIP MY RIGGERS TO YA DUDE! BEST TIP OF THE MONTH HERE!

Wrightsville Beach draw bridge...Starting middle of July through September, falling tide, night fish the shadows edge.
During the summer, I put my little boat in @ 4:30am so I can get a parking place and beat the crowds before I go and get coffee. This is how I kill some time... now as how I catch them and on what...thats how I make my living....

Oh ya...did I mention 6wt fly rod...