Although Redfish, Speckled Trout, Stripers and Albies seem to get most of the attention here in Eastern North Carolina, there is a fish that is near and dear to my heart during the month of March. Many of us associate the arrival of shad in our coastal rivers with the official kick off of spring and the upcoming fishing season. These fish arrive upriver and pack themselves so tight in some spots that it's not unusual to catch 10 fish out of 10 casts. They have a penchant for bright gaudy flies and lures and put every bit of their energy into escaping once hooked. Known for their acrobatic jumps, they've rightly earned the name, "the poor man's tarpon". Hickory and White Shad make their spawning runs up the coastal rivers of North Carolina Feb-April of each year. In my opinion, the Roanoke River near Weldon NC is the best place on the planet to experience the shad run. Other rivers such as the Tar, the Neuse, and the Cape Fear also have great spring shad runs, but I feel like the upper Roanoke is one of the most consistent and reliable fisheries. The Hickory Shad usually show up in the Weldon area during the first two weeks of March and hang around until mid-April. Even a slow day shad fishing on the Roanoke, is usually more action than you will experience in most other locations. Over one hundred fish in a day, is a definite possibility when fishing the Roanoke. Shad are great fun on ultra light spinning rods, or 4-5wt fly rods with a sinking line. They earn their nickname “poor man’s tarpon” from their flashy silver scales and their ability to jump multiple times when hooked. When shad first arrive in the rivers, we are still in the tail-end of wintertime, but warmer spring weather is usually the norm by the second half of shad season. Spawning Stripers are also beginning to show up in the upper Roanoke towards the end of shad season. A few weeks after the shad leave, the Striped Bass spawn is in full swing, which is another one of my favorite seasonal fisheries. If you haven't had an opportunity to experience this fishery, then you are missing out. These shad are fantastically fun on a fly rod or a light spinning rod. They're also a great "first fish" on a fly rod, if you are just starting out. We have all the know how, equipment, and flies/lures needed to go get bent on a bunch, so give me a shout if you want to go. I'm offering trips out of Weldon for a few days this spring to guage everyone's interest in the fishery. If we get enough interest this year, then we'll most likely expand our shad offerings for the following year. Shad Charter Dates for 2023 March 29 - April 2 Roanoke River, Weldon, North Carolina Bright flies, sinking lines, and light rods are the gear of choice. You can also catch plenty on ultra-light spinning rods and tiny jigs. Hickories might not be huge, but targeting them is one of the most fun, action packed types of fishing to be done on ultra light tackle in North Carolina. When you get on a school of shad, the fishing can be fast and furious. Hope to see you on the River this Spring!
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Hey y'all! Well we are officially 1/12th of the way through 2023. Time flies! I spent a good bit of the past month out on the water with clients chasing Redfish. I can honestly say that this January was my best January of fishing in 18 years of living here on the Crystal Coast. Lot's of days with pleasant temps, blue skies, calm winds, and really clean water formed the perfect storm for some epic winter time sightfishing. Many of the days, we saw obscene numbers of Redfish, and managed to fool at least a handful of these very educated fish most every trip. I'd be lying if I said every day was killer, as we had one or two more challenging trips, but overall we did excellent. Most of my trips were fly trips, and several of them were with anglers who had never caught a Redfish on fly. I'm happy to say that we solved that problem, and then some, for most of our anglers. I don't care if it's your 1st Redfish on fly, or your 101st...seeing them eat up close in crystal clear water is always exciting. It will never get old. Fly might be my favorite way to pursue these fish in winter time, but there's nothing wrong with chasing them on ultralight spinning rods either. Pitching a small soft plastic in and around a school of wary fish takes some skill, and successfully sightcasting them on fly or spin is nothing to be taken lightly. If you were wondering, bait fishing is not something we normally do, and it's definitely something we don't do in winter. I really believe in giving these fish a decent chance to outwit us, so we stick with feathers and plastics during the cold weather season. We've seen all types of situations so far this winter, from single fish hidden in the grass, to groups of a half dozen cruising oyster beds, to schools of 200-300 fish daisy chaining in big open bays. You never know what's going to be waiting around the corner. Not only have we seen lots of Redfish, but we've seen quite a few big Speckled Trout and tons of small Black Drum. All good things must come to an end some time, and our winning streak of beautiful weather came to an end this week. Right now, we are experiencing day after day of rain, clouds and cold. We took all of our trips from this week and pushed them into next week, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the return of that giant glowing light in the sky. That's about it for this update. I have been blessed with bookings this winter (thank you to everyone who has fished with me!), but I still have a handful of openings for February. March has a decent number of open dates, and the winter fishing should be just as good then too. Until then, I hope you enjoy these images from the last few weeks, they are just a small percentage of the fun we've been having. Sending them back home to tell their friends. The ol' Clouser rarely let's me down. Not an ugly one in the bunch. This fly has been "seaducing" fish since it was invented back in the 1940's Taking a breather Ocellatus Getting it done Bittersweet Goodbye Set, set, set...! Another first! These guys asked me why most of my clients would choose summer Redfish over winter Redfish. Good question. Half a dozen black feathers and a hook. I'm telling ya, it's 95% presentation. Thanks for swinging by, we'll catch ya later.
I hope all of you had a good New Years and a great start to your 2023! I'm gearing up for the next 12 months of fishing and planning out all of the different seasons and opportunities. I thought this would be a good time to give everyone a run down of all of the things we have coming up this year. School's in Session - Winter sightfishing for Redfish is in full swing right now. As long as we have decent weather, a day on the water during the winter usually provides countless shots at schooling fish. We are usually fishing in 6-12 inches of crystal clear water and sight casting to groups of 10 to well over 100 fish. We have seen schools of over 500 fish in inches of water at times. This is finesse fishing at its finest, where you have to mind your approach to these weary fish and lead the schools with your fly or plastic, but the results can be awesome. We will be focussing on these schooled winter Redfish from now through the end of March. Some years these fish will stay schooled in clear water until early April, but January, February and March are the most consistent. Winter Bull Reds - During the right weather windows we can go out searching for schools of these big Bull Redfish. These fish can be found now through early April. There is no guarantee that we'll locate them on any particular day (it's a big ocean) but when we do, its worth the time and effort. Often these fish are schooled down deep so we spend a lot of time watching our sonar, but sometimes these large schools of fish will rise to the surface on bait and all heck breaks loose. Although a big heavy jig might be the best tool for getting to these fish quick, we also get opportunities to catch them on fly rods too. Depending on the dates we fish, you can sometimes combine the search for these fish with other types of fishing like Bonito, Albies, Bluefish and Sharks. Again, this is weather dependant because of the amount of water we have to cover to find these fish, so be flexible and you just might get your hands on some monster Bull Reds. Fishing Schools - Our Saltwater Fly Fishing School will be March 25 and 26 this year. Come join us and learn what it takes to be successful pursuing saltwater fish on the fly in the South East. Myself and the other instructors love sharing all of our saltwater fly fishing knowledge and experience with our students to help them excellerate their growth and skills. We will also be following up with our fall Saltwater Fly Fishing School in September (dates to be announced). www.carolinaflyfishingacademy.com I'll also be teaching at the "Get Hooked" Fishing School at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on March 11th. Get Hooked Fishing School March 16th I'll be in Richmond doing presentations with the Fly Fishers of Richmond. Stay tuned for more school/seminar announcements. Roanoke River Shad Season - I've fly fished for Hickory Shad on the Roanoke River for over 15 years. This is some of the most fun I've had with a fly rod. We fish 4 or 5wts with sinking lines and bright colored flies, resulting in bunches of Shad that pull and jump and put a big smile on your face. We also fish them with light spin rods and small jigs and catch a bunch that way too. This is a really fun fishery for adults, but it's also an absolute blast for kids because it's such an easy fishery. It's been a few years since I've run Shad charters, but this year I'd like to start them up again. I would like to do a mini-season up in Weldon, just like I do for the Striper run later in the spring. I am going to reserve March 30, 31, April 1, 2 for Shad charters on the Roanoke. I'll be staying in Weldon and offering half and full day charters for Shad on that Thursday - Sunday. I need to fill those 4 days for it to be worth my time to go up there, and if those four days book up, then I will extend my stay and offer more dates. Give me a shout if you are interested in catching Shad with me in 2023. Spring Nearshore Fishery - In March as the nearshore waters begin to rise in temperature, False Albacore and Bluefish return to feed on baitfish. By the time the water temps reach the upper 50s and lower 60's the Atlantic Bonito show up on the nearshore reefs and wrecks. By late April or early May the Spanish Mackerel will join the party. I plan to spend most of my time off our beaches in April, focussing on the Atlantic Bonito, but taking advantage of the Albies, Spanish and Blues that are in the same locations. Once the Bonito bite slows, we can also run the beaches and look for Bull Reds or go check the Shrimp Trawlers for hungry Sharks. Spring Striped Bass run on the Roanoke - I love this fishery! For me it's a great break from the salt, and for my anglers it's a great opportunity to play with a bunch of hard fighting fish. Last year we did have a few slow trips (that's fishing), but we also had many fast and furious days of hungry Stripers. I love dredging the water column for these fish on fly or jig, but my favorite is the early morning and late evening topwater bites. Every day is different and I make no guarantees, but we had several evenings last year that easily produced 100 Striped Bass on topwater. Last year, I called Weldon my home for 2 weeks, but this year I plan to stay up there for 3 weeks. Right now, I'm booking April 20th through May 10th on the upper Roanoke. These dates are subject to change depedning on bookings. I already have some of these dates booked so don't wait too late to get on the calendar. Those Other Gold Fish - The last few springs up on the Roanoke, I've started to work out some nearby opportunities to sight fish for Common Carp. This is sightfishing for Carp on mud flats, rocky outcrops, stump fields, etc. Similar to sight fishing Redfish or Bonefish, where you will be poled along the shoreline looking for Carp in shallow water. This is a very cool fishery that I have been playing with on my days off from Striper trips, but one that I would like to start bringing some clients on. If you've ever been interested in sight fishing Carp, consider joining me while I'm up on the Roanoke late April to early May. You might want to think about combining this with a Striper trip since the two fisheries are only a half hour away from each other. I'd love to discuss this awesome fishery with you if you want more details. Back Home to the Land of Redfish - After my Striper Season, I'll be back home on the Crystal Coast chasing the fish that built my business. I never get tired of stalking Redfish, I think because it's a game that you never perfect, you just keep learning and getting better, but you never finish the "game". Low tide, high tide, rising tide, falling tide, dead calm, breezy, sunny, cloudy, we'll be out there chasing them. And I really love fly fishing for these fish, I really do...but I can't wait for those ridiculous topwater explosions on surface plugs. I'm so ready to "walk the dog" past a hungry Redfish sitting off a grass point. Tailing Redfish - I've got my tailing dates sorted out so give me a shout if you want to get up in the flooded grass and sightfish Reds. We'll be doing this type of fishing on the biggest tides of the month May through September. Unfortunately it doesn't look like an amazing year for big flood tides, a lot of them are minimal (but fishable) or late in the day (a lot of the big ones peak right around sunset). Basically what I'm saying is that yes we do have tailing tides, just not as many great ones as I want. We'll make the best of the ones that are available to us. I'm happy to send you my tailing dates if you are interested. Kid Trips - I'll be offering shorter length Kid Friendly Trips throughout the Summer to help inspire the love of fishing in your children. We can go for some constant pullage while bottom fishing for Pinfish, Spot, Croaker, Black Sea Bass, Puffers, the list goes on forever...or we can put in the work and get them something big like a nice Redfish. You are always welcome to bring your children on your serious fishing trips, but if you want to put all the focus on their fishing success, then these trips are perfect for that. I try to make these trips as simple and fun as possible, and yes there's plenty of time for breaks for lunchables and juice boxes. Summer Nearshore Fishery - We have plenty of Spanish Mackerel and Bluefish all summer long. Most people want to come chase Redfish with me in the summer, but don't forget about the great nearshore and inlet fishery for these guys. Getting Wrecked this Summer - I really want to do more wreck fishing on fly and spin this year. I'm talking about running 5-20 miles out the inlet to some of our shipwrecks and hardbottom ledges to fish for Amberjack, Almaco Jack, Cobia, Barracuda, Mahi...whatever shows up under our boat. We can do this type of fishing from May through October and the fish species vary through the seasons. We are running out of my 23' Parker so obviously there is some weather dependancy with these trips, but if you have a little flexiblity, these can be very fun trips. I'll bring the 12wts, you bring the Ibuprofen. Shark Attack - Sharks often get forgotten as most anglers jump at the chance for the glamour species like Redfish and Albacore, but they are always an option April through October. We do 100% catch and release with these fish, and we release the big ones in the water boatside, but it's still a super cool experience to hook up with 100lbs of pure muscle and teeth. We don't just fish for big sharks either, we also have the option to pole shallow flats in the summer and sight cast to Bonnethead sharks with fly or spin. That is a very cool fishery that is often overlooked. Eco Tours - I'm a biology dork. I spent almost a 20 year career as a Marine Biologist before becoming a full time guide. I'm also an avid Wildlife Photographer and Birder. I love my home state of North Carolina because there is so much to experience, beyond just the fish. Want to go collect sharks teeth, Sand Dollars and sea shells? Cast Net and ID fish and invertebrate species? How about a birding trip through Hammocks Beach State Park for shorebirds and songbirds (want to see a Painted Bunting, I've got you covered)? How about a float down the White Oak River for Warblers and Tanagers (I'll throw in a few Alligators for free)? Dolphin watching? Yes please! I love doing Eco Tours and we can do these with your family and friends any time through the year. We are flexible and can lay out a plan to meet your needs. Albie Darned! - By September my mind will be on the False Albacore that are starting to arrive along our beaches. On a good day, the Albie fishery on the Crystal Coast can be as good as it gets anywhere in the world. Some years the fishing is solid by mid September, some years its early October. They are hard to predict, heck last year we caugh big numbers of them during the first week of September. By October and November these fish are in full force all along the Crystal Coast. For 2023, I'll be booking Sept 23 through November 22 for Albie trips. Early season, there is a small chance that the fish won't be here in great numbers, but we will also have Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, small Jacks, etc to fill the gaps. I'm already about 1/3 booked up for Albie Season so give me a shout if you'd like to talk about whats available and what I think will be most productive. Seeing Spots - Come November, the Speckled Trout and Grey Trout will have arrived. I don't run too many straight trout trips, but we definitely have the option to catch some trout while fishing inshore for Reds or while fishing nearshore for Albies. Back on the Platform - I'll probably take a few days off for Thanksgiving, but then I'll be right back on the poling platform chasing schooled up Redfish in the marsh. The circle remains unbroken. Boy...now you've got me all worked up to go fishing! We really are fortunate to have such a varied fishery here in North Carolina. It never gets boring. I'm excited to share it with all of you over the next 12 months!
I love Cape Lookout in the Fall. The sights, the sounds, the smells, all of it. I go there each Fall to put my anglers on fish, but there is so much more to experience beyond the fish. Here are 50 of my favorite images taken while pursuing Albies and other species this past October and November. I hope you enjoy seeing this amazing place through my eyes.
This year has flown by, and I can't believe that it's already mid-December. I barely just finished Albacore season and the winter Redfish fishery has already started up. The water temperature is between 57 and 60 degrees, the water is really clearing up, and the fish are schooling together in their winter haunts. If you haven't experienced this type of fishery, I can confidently say that the next couple of months will produce some of the best sightfishing you can experience in the Carolinas. Each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, our backwaters clean up to the point where we have several feet of visiblity in the creeks and bays. There have been trips in the winter where we can see the bottom in 6ft of water. The cool thing is that most of our fishing isn't occuring in 6ft of water, it's happening in 6 to 18 inches of depth where the water is gin clear! Long gone are the days of seeing Redfish magically appear 10ft in front of the boat, and now we can sometimes spot fish as far as 100ft away. So far this winter we have seen small groups of a half dozen Redfish, up to schools of close to a hundred fish in shallow water. During the winter we can see schools of up to 500 fish in inches of water, although 50 to 150 is more the norm. These winter Redfish are very aware of their surroundings and are always on the lookout for predators. The good news though, is that there isn't an abundance of food during the winter, so these Redfish are happy to eat if you can sneak up on them. There is a little bit of planning when fishing a group of winter Redfish...how to approach them, where to place your cast so as not to spook them, etc. If you can figure out those variables, you can have an unbelivable day of fishing. Both fly and spin work for sightcasting to these schools of fish. I love fishing them on fly, tossing a lightly weighted streamer at close range and watching them enhale it. That being said, we have plenty of fun targeting them with light tackle spin too, pitching lightly weighted soft plastic twitch baits to them. Reds aren't the only fish we find inshore during the winter. It's not unusual to catch Speckled Trout and Flounder throughout the winter also. Our winter season is just starting up and will last through March, and possibly into early April. I especially love January and February for this type of fishing, but March can be equally as good if the wind isn't blowing too hard. Sunshine, low winds, moderate temperatures and clean water are the keys to great sightfishing, so as a guide I try to stay flexible with my anglers to give them the best weather days possible. If you'd like to learn more about our winter Redfish fishery, or book a trip for the upcoming months, give me a call or shoot me an email and we can talk about putting together a fun experience on the water. Most anglers have hung up their fishing gear at this point, and won't grab it again until next spring, but they are missing out on some of the best fishing of the year.
Now that Albie season is pretty much, most likely, but possibly not, over...I wanted to sit down and give you all a summary of the second half of Albie season. I did post a report back in mid October covering the first half of the season, so jump back one post if you want to read about that. The final 5-6 weeks of the season were extremely busy for me, and I didn't get to post any blog reports along the way...so this might be a long one. Back when I first started chasing Albies on fly about 16 years ago, the season really didn't start until mid October, got good around Halloween and peaked towards Thanksgiving. At least that's how I remember it. The last few years, the last week of September has been really good, October on fire, and the fish leave somewhere between the middle and end of November. This year the fishing was pretty good (with moments of greatness) through November 4th. Then we had a few summer-like days when the Albies were in a really bad mood and didn't show, so we went off chasing other fish. Then a few days later Hurricane Nicole (yes, in November!) came across Florida and made her way into the Carolinas as a Tropical Storm. Rain, 40mph North winds and giant South swells kept all of us off the water for a few days, and left us with very dirty water when we returned. We had one Albie-less day, and then they returned the following day on November 15th. And when I say they returned, I mean there was a square mile of busting Albies, everything changed overnight. The following morning they showed up in pretty good numbers, everyone caught a few, and then they vanished 30 minutes after they arrived. What followed was several days of seeing how many miles we could cover and how much fuel we could burn to find Albies. Don't get me wrong, we found other species to catch, Bluefish, Trout, Jacks, but the Albies just didn't want to come to the party. Thankfully, there are options in the ocean in November so we took full advantage of the plethora of other species. Finally, on the day before Thanksgiving, the Albies showed back up for a few hours that morning and made our anglers happy. Then on Thanksgiving day, the Albacore feasted all down the banks of Cape Lookout. And that just might have been their last hurrah of 2022. Then again, they could show right back up this week and rage once more... I booked 65 days out of a 66 day stretch this year. And for that I owe you all a huge thank you. We had a couple cancellations/reschedules due to the weather, but overall it was an extremely good run for me. I had a great time sharing my boat with all of my anglers and I really enjoyed being around the other guides and anglers and watching their success this season. It's a great community and I am lucky to be a part of it. As a photographer, I really like taking pics of my anglers and everthing else happening around us during the Fall season. I narrowed it down to 86 images from our second half of the season to share with you. If you came fishing with me for Albies or any of the other wonderful nearshore opportunities we have, then you just might find yourself in some of these images. And if you didn't come this year, you might want to consider coming in 2023 and being a part of the excitement that is Albie season. Anglers are already booking dates for next fall a whole year in advance (I feel like I've finally made it after 11 years of guiding!) so don't wait too late if you want to get a good date. Hope you enjoye the pics and thank you all so much for the support!!! How to properly stretch a fly line. Pretty weather day before it started to feel like Fall. Like father like son. Eyes on the prize. Foggy morning and raging Albies. First Albie for a very hard core angler! Don't mess with her, she will out-fish you. Another first! On the days when it was too pretty for the Albies, we went looking for other targets. No need to hit the gym after catching a few Amberjack. I got a few firsts for me this year, like this Vermillion Snapper...makes my dorky biologist self happy! You never know what you'll pull up from our wrecks and reefs, like this Porgy. Doubled over in the fog. Two for the price of one... Jim's first! Albies are tackle testers. Dane flew in from Ohio, and the fishing did not disappoint. Plenty of Speckled Trout around the second half of November. Greys too! Always fun when the schools move into the "Hook". Worth the trip up to NC! Happy Angler = Happy Guide. Couldn't believe we found baby Jacks all the way up to Thanksgiving. That red buoy was the place to be for several days this season. Flexing 10wts. These fish don't play around. Nice Grey on fly. Happy, happy! Cold and choppy, and that's exactly how the Albies prefer it. Reef Donkey. Going to battle with a fish that doesn't like to give up. Almaco Jack. Hooked up at first light. Another first! Aaaand...another first! Another first...but just one of many for Victoria. Good job Terry...put the heat on 'em. Steve comes from Canada every Fall to chase Albies with me...I think this was year 5 or 6. Black Drum was a nice surprise at the Cape this Fall. Hey Brian, if you are reading this, I really really appreciate all your support over the years! Grandfather - Granddaughter fishing team. I love seeing the pure joy on an angler's face when an Albie makes that first run. Sometimes the look on the angler's face, is one of pure panic, I love seeing that too. Yes, blitzing Moonfish are a thing. Goofballs. I need to do more of this, y'all want to give it a try next summer, let me know. One day we found a never-ending school of puppies. In case I forgot to mention...we caught a few Albies this year. I guess that about sums it up for our Fall nearshore season. Believe it or not, I've also been hitting the marsh about once a week through the Fall sightfishing Redfish. The winter fishery is shaping up really nicely, and I'll make a post about that real soon. If you'd like to come sightfish Winter Reds over the next few months, get a jump on next years Albie season, or get on the calendar for anything else I'd love to talk to you about it. Thanks so much! John
Hey Everyone! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying your fall. I've been extremely busy the last few weeks with Albie charters and a few inshore trips too. So far this season has been great, with lots of birds, bait, fish, and happy anglers. Other than a tropical storm and a few odd weather days, the nearshore fishing has been really productive with lots of Albies caught along with Bluefish and Spanish Mackerel. Both fly and spin has produced a solid bite and everyone has caught fish. We've also been very fortunate to tangle with some big goldfish on a few occasions. They don't show up every day, but when these big Bull Redfish appear, we are ready to play. As fortunate as I am to have so many trips this fall, it is absolutely exhausting, so I'll keep this report pretty short and just share with you some images from the last 2 or 3 weeks. These are just a fraction of the photos I have and a small percentage of the fish that have been caught. If you have any questions or want to book a trip, give me a shout. Winter Redfish sight fishing is just around the corner. Fish of a Lifetime. Tiny bait calls for tiny flies... Father and son duo. My anglers have kept me busy. Okay everybody smile. Sushi? Nah.... Sometimes they want the tutti fruitti. Not an Albie... Love it when anglers buy a rod from us, and then come fish it on a charter. On the hunt. See ya! Top 10 Weirdest Things I've Seen While Fishing: This Albie ate a lure from an angler on my boat, and another from an angler on a different boat at the same time! Talk about hungry! Absolute stud of a Redfish sightcasted on the surface on fly! Two Bros, Two Cores. I'll never get bored of these amazing fish! Made for Speed.
A quick update on the inshore bite since we last spoke. We’ve been blessed with some really pretty days the last two weeks. Sunny skies and low winds. We’ve seen a lot of Redfish, but that hasn’t necessarily made them easy. Most of my trips have been on the fly rod and the fish have demanded accurate casts and have been pretty picky. Let’s just say we’ve earned them. That being said, we’ve earned some nice ones. This big fish fell for a well placed black and purple shrimp pattern and is definitely in the running for biggest fly caught Redfish of 2022. We sent her back home to crush a few more real shrimp before she heads out to join the breeder size fish this fall. Seeing lots of Flounder still busting Shrimp and Mullet in the shallows. This one jumped on a shrimp fly cast up into a few inches of water. I’m working on a personal goal this year. Something I’ve come close to but never accomplished. More info on that later in the year. If you need a hint, it’s in the above photo. Michael came down from Pennsylvania to try to sightcast one on fly. Goal accomplished. Al from NY got his too. We worked hard for fish this day, but hard work pays off. Thankful for such a great summer season chasing shallow water Redfish. I’ll switch to mostly nearshore charters starting next week, but we’ll still be slipping back into the marsh occasionally to play with the Reds. They’re baaaack…… Albies have been around for the last 3 weeks or so. Some days they’ve been pretty hard to locate and some days it’s all you want. Some have been sipping and some have been crushing 2-3” bait that we can easily immitate and get bit on. No monsters yet, but plenty of “fun size” torpedoes. The 8wts have been getting a workout…definitely a different game fighting these guys after playing with Redfish all summer. Birthday Fish for Mr. Perry. Bad time of year to be a baitfish on the Crystal Coast!!! Work out session with Al B. Core. Did you know that you can get in your weight lifting and pull ups while going fishing? I am tying up as many Surf Candies and Clousers as I can right now, because the next 60 days are going to be non stop with no rest for me. I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me book up my Fall calendar. I still have a few dates left open during Albacore Season so give me a shout if you want to grab one.
I still have: Oct 12, Nov 9, 10, 16, 18. It's been about 2 weeks since I posted my last fishing report. The inshore bite has continued to be good on most days with a little bit of a struggle here and there. We have been blessed with good weather overall, which has really helped with sight fishing. I'm still seeing a few schools of Redfish (not the norm for summer), but at this point the schools have wised up to the pressure from boats chasing them around the flats daily. The best fishing right now, involves getting away from the crowds and trying to find fish that haven't earned their PhD in Angler Avoidance. We've been exploring some new spots when we get the chance and we've found some great opportunities for anglers wanting to sight cast flies and lures to Redfish. Even on the days without clean water, or good light, we've been able to use the slick calm surface to our advantage while looking for signs of fish to cast to. We continue to be blessed with some really high quality sized fish. Dinks and Rat Reds have been few and far between this summer. We've enjoyed a good fly bite the last 2 weeks. If you can get it in front of their face, they will eat it. I'd give you a list of flies that work well, but I stand by my belief that it's 5% the fly, and 95% the presentation. A quick smile for the camera and back into the marsh you go. Love it when I get the chance to take parents and kids fishing together...especially when it all comes together like this trip did. Sight fishing to big schools of Redfish in inches of crystal clear water. Totally unplanned but when the stars align, you take advantage of it. Always fun having repeat customers back in the saddle chasing Redfish. Right before this fish, we had a full grown Blacktip Shark eat a topwater in the marsh. You never know what you're going to get into. Love waching them swim off, just as much as I love seeing them come after the lure or fly. Hungry fish, happy angler, happy guide. Sending them home. I think they're only called Redfish because the name "Goldfish" was already taken. Back to whence you came. As much as I love chasing Redfish, my mind has been wandering to those silver bullets that infiltrate our coastline each October and November, and I'm really looking forward to focussing on them soon. (Hint, they're actually already here...report coming soon). But for now, we still have several weeks of good summertime Redfish to chase. If you'd like to come throw topwater plugs or flies at Redfish during the month of September, I have several openings left this month so give me a shout. Let's end our summer Redfish season with a bang, before the Albies whisk us away to the nearshore waters for the fall. As always, if you have any questions, need help with anything, or just want to talk fish, give me a shout! Thanks for the support and thanks for allowing me to do what I love to do! John
After a seemingly never ending 20 plus mph wind the entire month of July, we are finally getting some pretty days to chase fish. Not only is it nice to not have to pole into a wind tunnel, but it's great to look for fish that aren't in chocolate milk with whitecaps. It's been pretty normal fishing for August, these first two weeks. Scattered fish most days with the occasional surprise of a school of Reds. Stained water at low tide with some very clear water at high tide. Fish are eating anything flashy or splashy. Some days we've had to work for them (and there's nothing wrong with that) and some days it's come easy. This is what can happen when we are blessed with a "cam slick" morning and some sunshine. Wasting away again in Spartinaville. Our big flood tides this month were far from big or flooded. A little bit of a letdown. That SW wind decided to show up that week and knock the flood down by a half a foot. You know what they say when the flood falls apart and the fish aren't in the grass..."let them eat topwater". Like most months, I've been blessed with some really great folks on my boat. Good company makes a few hours standing on a platform pushing a skiff pretty enjoyable. Thanks y'all! This is how you should start every day! Worth getting rained on for. We've had our fair shair of weather the last few weeks. We've gotten wet, the fish have gotten wet, well I guess the fish were already wet...nevermind. Prettiest fish in the marsh, if you ask me. As always a huge thank you to all of the anglers who have stepped on my skiff the last few weeks. You are the ones who make it possible for me to live an amazing life. Whether we struggled or crushed it, I have enjoyed every single trip with all of you.
If anyone wants to go fly fish some Reds, or watch them crush topwater plugs, give me a shout. 910-340-4811 |
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