*NEW* Below - click on the VIDEOS to check out some exciting clips!
SUMMER BIG FISH NEARSHORE
One thing that is so great about our North Carolina fishery is its amazing diversity - one month we're catching cold water species and the next we're catching pleagic bluewater fish within sight of the beach! As we roll in June, crazy stuff begins to happen - the king mackerel move nearshore to the wrecks and reefs, dolphin (aka, mahi-mahi) start to come closer to the beach...and even big bruising amberjacks start to crowd the reefs. Every day is different - and like I said - who knows what can happen. During the last few years I have had multiple run-ins with sailfish during the summer month and been very lucky to land a few. Also, very popular during the last few years, is the fantastic GIANT shark fishing we have in the Beaufort Inlet area - it's a big fish on light tackle (as well as a fly fisherman's) dream!
While the Weather often dictates what we can do - know that I will have a host of options available to you in order to take advantage of the time you allow yourself as well as the conditions. On nice days, expect to be able to chase mahi-mahi within 20 miles of the beach and I can also offer some fantastic fishing for amberjacks with live bait, fly-rods & butterfly jigging equipment. One of my favorite things is to simply troll and kite-fish with big live-baits over structure - it typically provides a lot of action with a host of different species. When I am live-bait fishing, that is also when we usually run into cobia and have most of our sailfish encounters! This is also a great way to find floating weedlines and debris which can hold good numbers of mahi-mahi - while we often dont have the catches of the offshore boats, there are days when we've landed 40-50 dolphin without even trying. During just about every summer, we had a great bite of big gaffer dolphin within site of the beach! The amberjack also come very close to shore during the early summer months (and can be found all summer)
I like to plan a day around several avenues of attack - while our "big fish nearshore fishing" is usually done by live-bait (or fast) trolling and kite fishig, we like to round out the day doing a few different things. Depending upon location and time, we can combine trolling and kite fishing with flounder fishing, bottom fishing, butterfly jigging, casting ultra-light lures for spanish mackerel and bluefish or even giant shark fishing. I try to have a whole host of options and back-up plans available for my clients. That way I can maximize our chances for an extremely exciting and productive day. If they're biting - we can do it!
SUMMER OCEAN MIXED-BAG FISHING
In addition to our "big fish bite," we can combine this sort of fishing with any type of "mixed bag" fishing. Almost always available are our light tackle spanish mackerel and bluefish in the inside waters, inlets and shoals. Another one of our most popular fisheries is our wreck flounder fishing - its a great short trip and is good for anglers of all experience levels. ...and it's also a great way for some very good eats! Typically, when flounder fishing, I light-line or kite fish for large spanish mackerel and small king mackerel at the same time. It makes for good fishing and lots of screaming drags!
Typically our large spanish mackerel fishing gets so good at times that it's worth focusing on almsot exclusively! It typically starts to get really hot during july and augustas the really big 4-7lb spanish being haunting the wrecks and can easily be chummed up with live finger mullets and other baits. They get so incredibly fired-up, we'll have them slashing at finger mullet just feet from the transom. It's awesome, explosive action!
Combined with either trolling or shark fishing, this sort of trip is perfect for families visiting the coast during the summer - we'll have a host of opportunities available on any given day and can catch a whole multitude of species to go along with it! Big game fish, serious pullage, ultra-light and fly...and some good fish for dinner. Put that all together and you've got some great fishing!
Also, do not forget our fantastic inshore fishing for red drum, speckled trout and flounder - keep reading or scroll to the bottom for more information!
To see our remaining available days, very recent fishign report, more pictures and more information, check out my site's FISHING REPORT BLOG
SUMMER Red Drum and Inshore MIXED BAG fishing
The red drum fishery is very diverse in our summer months as the drum spread out and become very aggressive, and we can catch them in my different ways and in many different environments. Summer is one of the best times for topwater baits and fish on the shallow flats. I prefer to target them using the "florida methods" - patrolling the banks and flats with either the push pole or trolling motor while blind casting or looking for schools to sight cast to. However, I also have many other ways we can target red drum and our other inshore species.
Remember, As we get into late July and early August, the big schools of shrimp start pouring out of the rivers and sounds with the moon tides - and the BAIT BUSTING schools of drum that I really enjoy targeting are here for the picking. Not only can we typically cast net more than enough shrimp to eat, but as we get into August - the fishing will just get better and better and better! Just watch my BAIT BUSTING REDFISH VIDEOS to see what this exciting fishery is all about!!
When the sight-casting isn't happening or the tides are not perfect, we also have miles of deep channels, oyster rocks and docks that hold lots of red drum, flounder, black drum and sheepshead all spring, summer and fall. While this style of fishing is more bait-oriented, it's very consistant and very diverse. During the summer months, it's nothing to find lots of big, upper-slot red drum holding on deep structure and good numbers of keeper flounder. In the same areas we also have great numbers of the often over-looked and rarely targeted black drum (most between 3 and 8lbs) and sheepshead. I've been experimenting with these two later species a lot in the past couple of years and have had tremendous luck with them. The black drum are very common in the summer months, and I've also developed a couple of great ways to target the BIG 8-10lb sheepshead! Put all of this together and you have a very action-packed and diverse inshore fishing experience.
Regardless of how you like to fish (fly or spin), I can accomodate you very easily. Whether it's sight casting to fish on the flats, tailers in the grass, topwaters nears the banks or mixed-bag fishing docks and creeks - if you want to try it, we'll do it. The most important thing to remember is that I have a whole arsenal of weapons at my disposal and we can look for fish in many, many different ways and areas during the course of the day. If something isn't working, we can switch gears in no time to find a different bite. Give me a call or shoot me an email and we'll plan a day around the tides.
To see our remaining available days, very recent fishign report, more pictures and more information, check out my site's FISHING REPORT BLOG
GIANT SHARK FISHING
This fishery has been the "IN THING" for the past couple of years and is really increasing in popularity every year. There is something really special about being able to catch 100-200lb fish that scream drag and even jump(!)...and you don't even have to leave the inlet! Most of our fishing is done a stone's throw from shore in very protected waters...and it's also extremely consistant.
The Sharks also offer excellent opportunities for fly fisherman in the months of June and July - either by chumming or site casting to cruising fish on the shoals and behind shrimp boats - it's a rush with a 12 weight (which I provide). It's probably one of the best (and most consistant) opportunities for a fly angler to land very, very large fish on the fly rod that can be had anywhere in the state of North Carolina...and even on the entire east coast!
With bait, it's almost automatic - chumming these fish on the shoals is easy and exciting. Last year we even threw topwater poppers to them with great success. We can do whatever you want - fight them with heavy stand-up gear or use big spinning tackle. I will cater to your desires and experience levels.
To see our remaining available days, very recent fishign report, more pictures and more information, check out my site's FISHING REPORT BLOG
BIG AMBERJACKS!
During the months of June and July, the big jacks start to migrate inshore to the wrecks and reefs and are some of our constant companions during the summer months. Nothing pulls like a jack - period. If you want something that will make your arms and back hurt for days - whelp, an amberjack is what's going to do it! Depending on the location, it's typical to find several size classes of these fish - little 5-10 rats, 20-40lb donkeys and the giant "pull your back out" 75lb+ fish. (I personally like the 20 pounders!).
Amberjacks respond very well to chumming which means we can bring them up to the boat with just a little effort. Either we can target them using live-bait (the most sure-fire way) OR we try to get them to hit poppers or FLIES. Once you get them to the surface, it's a lot of fun to try to get them on big popper and the fly rod - fly fishermen love baiting and switching these guys. We get them all fired up with bait and then chuck a big fly in their face - and then you've got a serious fight on your hands with the 12 weight! When using topwater poppers - you'll witness some of the most incredible strikes that you can ever experience!
Another increasingly popular way to target AJs is with the new butterfly jigging systems- this is best done out in the deep on an offshore day - but it's very effective and a ton of fun. While I have been using butterfly jigging equipment for several years now, I have added some finely-tuned shimano trevalla systems to my arsenal this year. Look for some great pictures and video VERY SOON! AJs are very common throughout the summer months but the fishing is best in June, July and early August...it is also typically very good in the fall months as well.
To see our remaining available days, very recent fishign report, more pictures and more information, check out my site's BLOG
SUMMMER TAILING RED DRUM
I've been pushing this fishery to my fly anglers for several years now and its been getting better with every passing year. It's truly a dream for fly fishermen, and it's easily one of the most exciting and rewarding fly opportunities you can ever experience. Dependant totally upon the tides, we get a good handful of tides every month. This fishery is so specific and so narrowed-down and precise that there is no other opportunity better for a backwater fly angler in North Carolina. While drum can be caught on the fly during any given day, it's pretty special to be able to pick out a specific tide and know that you have close to a 100% chance to have good opportunities to fly cast to tailing fish in less than a foot of water!
I keep these dates to myself and do not post them - HOWEVER, give me a call or shoot me an email if you want to plan a tailing redfish trip! Typically we have 4-8 good tides per month in early evening hours. Depending on the time of the tide, these trips are typically good 1/2 or 3/4 days and can be combined with other styles of red or other backwater fly fishing. Call or email for more details.
To see our remaining available days, very recent fishign report, more pictures and more information, check out my site's FISHING REPORT BLOG
One thing that is so great about our North Carolina fishery is its amazing diversity - one month we're catching cold water species and the next we're catching pleagic bluewater fish within sight of the beach! As we roll in June, crazy stuff begins to happen - the king mackerel move nearshore to the wrecks and reefs, dolphin (aka, mahi-mahi) start to come closer to the beach...and even big bruising amberjacks start to crowd the reefs. Every day is different - and like I said - who knows what can happen. During the last few years I have had multiple run-ins with sailfish during the summer month and been very lucky to land a few. Also, very popular during the last few years, is the fantastic GIANT shark fishing we have in the Beaufort Inlet area - it's a big fish on light tackle (as well as a fly fisherman's) dream!
While the Weather often dictates what we can do - know that I will have a host of options available to you in order to take advantage of the time you allow yourself as well as the conditions. On nice days, expect to be able to chase mahi-mahi within 20 miles of the beach and I can also offer some fantastic fishing for amberjacks with live bait, fly-rods & butterfly jigging equipment. One of my favorite things is to simply troll and kite-fish with big live-baits over structure - it typically provides a lot of action with a host of different species. When I am live-bait fishing, that is also when we usually run into cobia and have most of our sailfish encounters! This is also a great way to find floating weedlines and debris which can hold good numbers of mahi-mahi - while we often dont have the catches of the offshore boats, there are days when we've landed 40-50 dolphin without even trying. During just about every summer, we had a great bite of big gaffer dolphin within site of the beach! The amberjack also come very close to shore during the early summer months (and can be found all summer)
I like to plan a day around several avenues of attack - while our "big fish nearshore fishing" is usually done by live-bait (or fast) trolling and kite fishig, we like to round out the day doing a few different things. Depending upon location and time, we can combine trolling and kite fishing with flounder fishing, bottom fishing, butterfly jigging, casting ultra-light lures for spanish mackerel and bluefish or even giant shark fishing. I try to have a whole host of options and back-up plans available for my clients. That way I can maximize our chances for an extremely exciting and productive day. If they're biting - we can do it!
In addition to our "big fish bite," we can combine this sort of fishing with any type of "mixed bag" fishing. Almost always available are our light tackle spanish mackerel and bluefish in the inside waters, inlets and shoals. Another one of our most popular fisheries is our wreck flounder fishing - its a great short trip and is good for anglers of all experience levels. ...and it's also a great way for some very good eats! Typically, when flounder fishing, I light-line or kite fish for large spanish mackerel and small king mackerel at the same time. It makes for good fishing and lots of screaming drags!
Combined with either trolling or shark fishing, this sort of trip is perfect for families visiting the coast during the summer - we'll have a host of opportunities available on any given day and can catch a whole multitude of species to go along with it! Big game fish, serious pullage, ultra-light and fly...and some good fish for dinner. Put that all together and you've got some great fishing!
The red drum fishery is very diverse in our summer months as the drum spread out and become very aggressive, and we can catch them in my different ways and in many different environments. Summer is one of the best times for topwater baits and fish on the shallow flats. I prefer to target them using the "florida methods" - patrolling the banks and flats with either the push pole or trolling motor while blind casting or looking for schools to sight cast to. However, I also have many other ways we can target red drum and our other inshore species.
Regardless of how you like to fish (fly or spin), I can accomodate you very easily. Whether it's sight casting to fish on the flats, tailers in the grass, topwaters nears the banks or mixed-bag fishing docks and creeks - if you want to try it, we'll do it. The most important thing to remember is that I have a whole arsenal of weapons at my disposal and we can look for fish in many, many different ways and areas during the course of the day. If something isn't working, we can switch gears in no time to find a different bite. Give me a call or shoot me an email and we'll plan a day around the tides.
The Sharks also offer excellent opportunities for fly fisherman in the months of June and July - either by chumming or site casting to cruising fish on the shoals and behind shrimp boats - it's a rush with a 12 weight (which I provide). It's probably one of the best (and most consistant) opportunities for a fly angler to land very, very large fish on the fly rod that can be had anywhere in the state of North Carolina...and even on the entire east coast!
Another increasingly popular way to target AJs is with the new butterfly jigging systems- this is best done out in the deep on an offshore day - but it's very effective and a ton of fun. While I have been using butterfly jigging equipment for several years now, I have added some finely-tuned shimano trevalla systems to my arsenal this year. Look for some great pictures and video VERY SOON! AJs are very common throughout the summer months but the fishing is best in June, July and early August...it is also typically very good in the fall months as well.