Hey everyone, it's been a little while since I last did a fishing report. I promise I'm not getting lazy, just really busy. Heck, it's even been a few months since I dropped a podcast episode. I have been truly blessed in the fact that all the hard work I've put into the guide service over the last 11 years is really starting to pay off. A huge thank you to everyone who continues to support me and allow me to live the dream. So far this summer, we've ranged from floating in inches of water surrounded by Spartina Grass, to floating in 100ft of water over WWII Ship Wrecks. We've had more than one Spanish Mackerel trip turn into an offshore trip when the weather cooperated. We've seen everything from Cobia to Jacks to Baraccuda to big Sharks, along with Sea Turtles, Flying Fish, Manta Rays and Spotted Dolphin. We've also done a bit of exploring new inshore waters looking for fishing opportunities that may not be available in my backyared this time of year. We've even done a little Sharkin'. I might be known for Redfish and Albies, but those are definitely not the only opportunities we have available. Fun size pullage. My buddy Perry likes summer breezes and long walks on flooded Spartina flats. Even the little ones put up a fight. Love it when they're hangry! Fly Grave Yard. Topwater eats are a summer time favorite. We've hit a few really good nearshore Spanish bites this summer. Consistent good times on bent 6wts. Bending 8wt Waterman's and putting the new Hatch Iconics to work. Baby Sha... Ah never mind. Doot, doot, da doot, da doot... We rarely see the big Crevalles here in NC, but sometimes we find huge schools of the juvies and they sure are a riot. They blitz and fight with just as much aggression as their adult versions. Plenty of Spanish action on metal this summer. Flounder on fly are always a nice surprise when targeting Redfish on the flats. They rarely turn down a fly stripped within sight. The Crystal Coast has so much to offer, from sea turtles, to marine mammals, to shelling, to wild horses, to beautiful landscapes. People might come for the fish, but there is so much more to the overall experience. Special delivery for Mr. Redfish. Plenty of fun size Amberjack being caught on artificials this summer. Found a few nice trout on fly and topwater spin recently. I love watching my anglers catch fish, but I really appreciate it any time I get to catch one anymore. Reef Donkeys! Top secret fly right there folks. (Black Clouser) Not really, it honestly is all about the presentation. Find a happy fish, manage to keep it happy as you approach, and properly present a fly that looks somewhat like food and you are good as gold. I love seeing a fly rod properly loaded with energy sending a fly to a hungry target. Spanish are such a great fish on fly. They'll keep you plenty busy. One of my favorite sights in the marsh. Seeing this will never ever get old. And if you were wondering, capturing an image like this is not easy. There's a whole bunch of "a second too soon" and "a second too late" images that get deleted just to get a few good ones. I love fish portraits, every species has their own unique features, from their eyes to their mouths to their fins. They all have something cool to appreciate about them. The Zen sport of fly fishing for tailing Redfish. Happy Angler equals Happy Guide. Nope, still not tired of catching these guys! Tools of the trade. Black and Purple for the win. I love watching them eat a fly right in front of the skiff. Worth the run offshore for. I'm doing more and more of this and I really enjoy it. I have a lot to learn about wreck fishing, but I'm really loving it so far. Redfish on fly are far from easy here in NC, they are earned, and something to be truly appreciated. Seeing spots. If it ain't Chartreuse, well you know the rest... Later Gator! My July pretty much completely booked up. I still have a decent amount of days open in August and plenty in September. October and November are nearly completely booked up, so get in touch with me soon if you want to fish for Albies this fall. Thanks so much for the support!
0 Comments
I recently returned home from two weeks on the Roanoke River guiding anglers to Striped Bass during their spring spawning run. This season marked my 17th year fishing the Roanoke River for Shad and Stripers. I grew up right down the road fishing on the Chowan River and Albemarle Sound, but I didn't discover the Roanoke until later in life. Although I love chasing Redfish and Albies in the salt, I look forward to floating the Roanoke and enjoying the slower pace and great fishing each spring. Although the town of Weldon NC is known as the "Rockfish Capital of the World", it wasn't earning it's reputation the first few days of my trip. We had fish, but they had not arrived in the numbers I was hoping for, and they were scattered up and down the river instead of being stacked in big schools. We caught fish, but we had to work for them. Fly was a bit tought for several days. Casting jigs on spinning rods produced a little better bite for us. Where were the missing fish, and why was the bite tougher than normal? Good question. There were several factors at play. Low water temps could have played a roll. And although the flow of 12,000 cfs was great for spawning fish, the flow had only been up for a few days before my arrival. When the Striped Bass gather in the Albemarle Sound and the mouth of the Roanoke River, they wait on signs such as high water flows to start their 100 mile journey upstream. Perhaps the delayed increase in flow delayed the push of the fish upstream to their spawning grounds. A week after I arrived, we started seeing spawning activity from the fish. Often these fish get a bit lockjawed in the week before they spawn, which could explain the low number of bites. Fortunately the water temps rose from the low 60's to mid 60's, fish numbers continued to increase and the bite picked up. The fly bite got better and the topwater bite even started to pick up in the early mornings and late evenings. This right here is what you hope for. A solid wedge of Striped Bass stacked nose to tail and fin to fin from mid water column down the bottom. Often these schools can be several hundred yards long and stretch from one side of the river to the other. The good days more than made up for the tough days and the Roanoke quickly earned her place as one of my favorite rivers again. Schools of hungry fish, bent rods and happy anglers became the norm and all was right with the world again. Leaving the Roanoke to head back to the coast was bittersweet. I had been away from my family for two weeks, but the bite was ramping up daily. I said adios to a few of my guide buddies who were staying a few more days to reap the benefits of the happy fish. I'll definitely be back again next year, and I am ready to get you on the books for Shad or Stripers next year if you are ready. Look for more info on the 2024 Roanoke Season soon. A group of Striped Bass spawn on the surface one evening. When the female rises to the surface to release her eggs, anywhere from a dozen to several dozen males rise up with her. They will fight with all their strength to get close to her and fertilize her eggs. It's quite a sight to see, especially if you consider the long journey these fish make to produce the next generation of fish. Tenacity...Stripers don't give up the fight very easily. When a mommy and daddy Striper love each other very much...... A quick goodbye, and a little rest and revive before sending her off into the current. Never surrender. Striped Bass are such a classically beautiful gamefish. Another one fell victim to the chartreuse and white Clouser Minnow. Moody skies downriver. Happy Anglers = Happy Guides (Baldheaded Bobby Guideservice) Stripers make you happy! Chartreuse for the win! Sometimes the fish were right in the middle of the river, and sometimes you had to pull them out of the trees like this one. Captain John Smolko on the hunt for hungry fish Tossing 350gr sinking lines can be a workout, but it will pay off. Great fish and good times. ...and the scenery is pretty awesome too. I love introducing an angler to a new species. Ryan has done Redfish and Albies with me, and now he's gotten to tangle with Striped Bass on my skiff. Send it! Swapping fish stories with Capt Will Paul (Tar River Co.) Striped Bass aren't the only predators on the Roanoke. This 4ft plus Longnose Gar went after my anglers fly and put up a great fight. I'd love to target these more consistently. They don't all have to be monsters to have a good time. On the search for the next bite (Sightfish NC). Odd looking Striper. Capt Ozzy on the hunt (Marker 23 Guide Service) One of the nice things about fishing the Roanoke is that I get to cast a rod a few times too. This one was worth making a cast for. The battle ensues. Constantly changing water heights and flow have carved away at the banks and left these trees hanging on for dear life. It's amazing to see how much affect moving water has on a shoreline. Lot's of life to see on the river. Time to make the babies. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely appreciate everyone who came and spent some time on the Roanoke River with me this spring. Thank you so much for the support. I look forward to returning next year for both the Shad and Striped Bass spawning runs, and I hope to see you there.
As I am typing this, I'm sitting in my hotel room in Weldon NC. It's the beginning of the Striped Bass spawn and I'm happy to be on the river again. The only downside to the Striped Bass run, is that it cuts into our Atlantic Bonito season on the Crystal Coast. The Bonito will probably be around for another week or two, but I probably saw my last Bonito of the year come over the gunnels last week before traveling up to the Roanoke River. By the time I get back, it could be over until next year. I don't mind that too much, because we had a great, albeit short, Atlantic Bonito season. If you're not familiar with the Atlantic Bonito, it is a species that we see each spring, which is similar in many ways to the False Albacore that we chase each fall. They are a pelagic speedster in the tuna family that swims at high speeds as they annihilate Anchovies and Silversides. They even have a somewhat similar color and pattern to the Albacore. Some of the key differences are that they have a dorsal fin similar to a Mackerel, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and most importantly they are delicious to eat, unlike their Albacore cousins. I look forward to each April when our neashore waters approach 60 degrees, and the Bonito begin to arrive at our nearshore artificial reefs and hardbottom ledges. These fish are just passing through on their way to the New England area where they will spend their summer. By the time the water temps hit 70 degrees, the Bonito are already on their way out and headed North. In that short window of time, we are watching the weather and seas forecast and looking for every opportunity to get out after them. Mid April, we had some relatively cooperative weather and we were able to get out there for several days and chase them. That means leaving the house at 4:30am and shoving off the dock at 5:30am to hit the early morning bite and get some fish boated before the majority of the traffic arrives. Generally the biggest part of the action occurs between first light and 8am. This year was a little different, and we had many schools of fish pop up and blitz on the surface in the middle of the day. Although these fish can definitely be dredged up from the depths, my favorite way to pursue them is on top when they are blitzing on small baitfish. Overall, it was a great experience and I'm already ready for next year. And shameless plug, if you ever want to get in on some action like this that only occurs for a short window of time, please contact me. There is no rule that says you can't book a year in advance. Atlantic Bonito may have been the main target, but when you are fishing around structure in the ocean, there are a plethora of other species available. This Grey Trout is one of many species that we caught last month while targeting Bonito. A huge thank you to every one who came fishing with me over the last few weeks, I could not do it without your help!
Growing up along the Chowan River in NE NC, I was aware of Shad and saw them occasionally, but never knew about the amazing Hickory Shad run on our neighboring Roanoke River. It wasn't until about 16 years ago, when I was in my mid-twenties, that I learned about this awesome fishery. I have fished the Shad run on the Roanoke almost every Spring since 2007, but only occasionally ran charters for these fish. I decided to build the Roanoke Striped Bass run into my guiding business over the years, but never focused on the less popular (but just as amazing) Shad run. I decided that I needed to change that. I spent a short week running charters out of Weldon, NC last week for the Hickory Shad run, and we timed it just right. We had some really good days on the water with counts of over a hundred fish landed on some of the trips. Not that numbers are the most important part of a fishing trip, but when it comes to shad fishing, continuous actions is just part of the fun of it. We had a great bite for all of our anglers on both fly and spin, and I can't wait to grow this fishery into a bigger part of my guide offerings in the coming years. Everyone focuses on the Striped Bass run on the Roanoke, but many of them are missing out on one of the best Shad runs on the planet. Obviously, there is more to the Roanoke than just Shad, there is the beautiful scenery, the abundant wildlife (Ospreys, Eagles, Turkeys, Turtles, etc), and the pleasure of a slow drift down a river as it flows through the fall line and morphs from rapids to blackwater river. I am looking forward to getting back up there in a couple weeks to chase the Striped Bass, but you can bet that I am already planning to return next March/April to put my anglers on a bunch of Shad for 2024. I could ramble on about how much I love this fishery, but I'm more of a photographer than a writer, so I'll just share some images with you that tell the story of my trip. An Osprey takes off with a Hickory Shad after plunging into the rapids. The Big Rock is the last set of boulders as the Roanoke transitions into a coastal river. These Shad may be perfect on fly but they are also a ton of fun on light spinning rods. When its good, you gotta go! Just as much fun for kids as for adults.
Looks like it's about time to end another chapter in the Redfish journey. As the winter 2022/2023 season comes to a close, and we transition into spring fishing, I wanted to look back and share some images and thoughts from the final few weeks. Early in March we had a sudden warm up in temperatures. Trees were blooming, water temps were rising, the water was coloring up, and the Redfish schools started breaking up. It seemed like the water temps went from 55 deg, to 65-70 deg in just a few days on the flats, as the air temps approached 80 deg. It felt like winter was going to be over earlier than normal. And just like that, the air temps dropped and the water temps fell to 53-55 deg again. Some of the schools of Reds had scattered into singles, and some were still holding in schools. We even found a big school of 500 plus fish that covered a vast flat. Air and water temps continued to yo-yo throughout the month of March, making my job harder than I had hoped. The winds also came into play as we had several days of difficult sight casting in 20-25mph winds. Those winds also stacked in much higher high tides and super negative low tides compared to what was predicted. Heck, it even sleeted on us one trip. "Can a guide catch a break?" Fortunately I've gotten better and better over the years at finding fish and getting shots in difficult conditions, and I'm a little more at ease with fishing in snotty weather than I was, say, 5 years ago. The biggest issue for us was that a lot of these fish were highly educated by the time we got into March. Fish that would have ate more readily in January and February, had seen enough pressure from boats and bait, to be much more aware of their surroundings and life choices during the month of March. That being said, we still managed to have some really great trips sight fishing Redfish up shallow on fly and spinning gear. As we move into April and May, the water will warm, continue to get darker, and the schools will continue to break up and spread out through the marsh. I have absolutely enjoyed our winter fishery this past season. All in all, it was probably the best one I've experienced. That being said, I am really looking forward to some summer time Redfish. I can't wait until they start tearing up topwater plugs! Along with being my most successful winter of Redfish hunting and catching, it was also my most successful winter for my guide service. You all didn't give me much down time, and although I missed my winter vacation where I normally get caught up on everything else, I really really appreciate you all keeping me booked up and poling my skiff towards Reds. As always I really appreacitate the support and can't wait to see what else we'll experience on the water this year.
Enjoy the pics! John Just a quick update on our winter Redfish fishery. February was really productive for us on the flats chasing schools of fish in (mostly) clear water. Lots of fish schooled up, some willing to play and some not so much. I had a lot of great clients onboard this month and we had a great time pursuing these blue tailed gamefish. We fished fly and spin and found success with both. Every time we go, I learn a little more. It could be a different angle of approach, a different fly, a different presentation or just how to better communicate with my anglers. This month, we did some experimenting with a few different flies and soft plastics and also played with different angles of presentation. Winter is a great time to be able to see how these fish react and fine tune your approach and presentation. Normally our winter time sight fishing lasts through the end of March, but we are already starting to see all the signs of spring. Warming water and air temps, algae blooms, returning bait, etc. The fish are still schooled up and the water is still clear, but that could be changing soon. Whenever mother nature decides to transition into spring, we will just adjust and keep on fishing. Hope you enjoy these photos from some of our trips over the past few weeks. Thanks for the support!
Although we are in the thick of the winter Redfish season, I'm always prepping for what's coming next. We are in a time of transition... cold nights, clear water and schools of Redfish, while at the same time we have Cherry Trees blooming and pollen is starting to fill the air. Water temps will be on the rise soon, and with that, several new species will arrive that we can chase on fly and spin. One of my favorite early spring-time targets are Shad. Both Hickory and American shad start migrating up river this month and will be available in the upper reaches of our rivers in March and early April. When you hit them right, you can catch fish after fish on fly or ultra light tackle, and watch them jump and run with the current as they try to get away. It's not that uncommon to catch up to a hundred shad in a single day at the height of the season. They may not tail like Redfish, or blitz like Albies, but these fish are so much fun! Aggressively attacking bright colored flies and jigs, and leaping like baby Tarpon. I am trying to build a yearly short season for my guide service each spring where I can take anglers to target these fun fish. I'll be on the Roanoke River at Weldon for a few days this spring. Don't miss out! I have March 29, 31, and April 2 remaining for Hickory Shad trips on the Roanoke. We can fish fly or light tackle and I will provide all the gear needed. Give me a call or shoot me a message if you have any questions. When I get back from my Shad trips, I'll be focussing on our nearshore fishery for most of April. The Bluefish will already be here, and there should also be False Albacore and Atlantic Bonito on our wrecks and hardbottoms. Depending on the best bite, we will leave very early morning from either Beaufort Inlet or Bogue Inlet and fish nearshore structure for these fish. Its worth leaving in the dark for a shot at the hard fighting and delicious Bonito, whether you want to catch and release them or take some home for sushi or ceviche. The goal is to be in the ocean before the sun rises and on blitzing fish at first light. By the time the sun rises this popular fishery will bring lots of other boats to the nearshore structure which can cause the fish to stop feeding on top. When this happens we switch tactics and throw sinking fly lines or jig them on spinning rods. Some days the bite slows after a few hours and some times it goes all day. Once the bite does slow we have several other species we can go chase. The False Albacore are usually also around and are more willing to blitz through the day. These are the same fish that show up in the fall that everyone raves about. The spring Albies just have a shorter window that is a little less predicatable, so they don't get as much publicity. That being said, I have seen days in April that blow the doors off the fall bite. Depending on the weather we can also go looking for bigger quarry like Sharks and big Bull Reds...both available during April on the Crystal Coast. I have dates available for the Spring Nearshore Fishery from April 3 - 22. I'm happy to discuss my thoughts on the different opportunities and the best dates for them. I'll be leaving the Bonito behind in late April, to head up to Weldon for one of my favorite fisheries, the spring Striper run. NCWRC has announced that the Roanoke River harvest season will be April 14-17 and April 22-23 this year. Unless I have any anglers requesting to harvest Stripers, I will start my first charter up there on April 24, to avoid the keeper season crowd. I will be on the Roanoke for about 18 days running morning, evening and full day charters. 50-100 fish days are not uncommon on the Roanoke. Add in to that the possibility of hitting a good morning or evening topwater bite, and it doesn't get much more fun. Most of the fish we catch are going to be 16-24" long, but we regulary catch fish up to 30", and there are some real monsters hiding in the river. I'll be loaded up with 8wts rigged with floating lines and poppers, along with rods with sinking lines and Clousers, ready for whatever comes up. I'll also have plenty of spinning rods and an array of soft plastics and topwater plugs ready to go. Although Striped Bass are the target, we also hook into everything from Largemouth to Carp to Suckerfish, along with a few other surprises. And if you want to try something different, or in combo with a Striper trip, ask me about opportunities to sight cast Common Carp on fly on some nearby flats. I am now booking trips for the Roanoke Striper Fishery. I'll be offering AM or PM long half days (5hrs), and long split full days (5hrs AM/mid day break/5hrs PM). Available dates will be from April 24- May 10. I have a feeling these will go quickly, so don't wait too long to come experience this awesome fishery. Here's some more info on the Roanoke Shad and Striper Trips with pricing, etc.
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! 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!
|
|