Harkers Island, NC

Last Friday night - actually early Saturday morning - Rob and I drove down to Harkers Island, NC to meet several other guys for some False Albecore fishing. Last year we had limited success, but we were more hopeful this time. As it turns out, the company was great, the food and lodging was good, it was warm, but the wind was howling and the fish were'nt biting!

We arrived at Harkers about 6 am and were on the water by 8'ish. Although it was beautiful in the backwaters, once we rounded the Hook and hit the Atlantic we came to understand why there were so many boats in the backwaters. But, we gave it a shot. We did eventually find a school of Fat Alberts, but they wanted nothing to do with neither out metal or feathery offerings.

Saturday morning we woke to no wind and clear skies - but that did not last long. We ran around Cape Lookout and the shoals of the point and made it to the East side. Despite the good conditions, we did not see any False Albecore. We spent two hours or so looking for them along Shackleford Banks after rounding the point again, but it was a watery desert.

Harkers is a beautiful place with colorful people, but the next time I head that way there will be no wind....

Puppy Drum - Nov, 2.08

Hit Rudee Inlet on sunday about noonish. The tide was falling. Anchored up by the Marine Science Museum in an area where the depth went from about 25' to 7'. I put cut bait on one rod on the bottom and a Gulp shrimp bait on a bobber on another while I cast with a jig. I did not get any hits on the jig, but managed 5 Puppy Drum from 17" to 22" on the Gulp and cut bait.

The spot I was working is also good for Speckled Trout, but I did not have any luck with them Sunday. I plan on going Friday afternoon - so we'll see.

Blowin'

The wind has been blowing steady and hard for nearly three weeks now. Of course, there are always places one can fish despite the wind, but I have not taken the boat out for several weeks now. I have fished the rocks at Rudee a few times, but I did not stay very long or try very hard.

Last weekend, I went to the Blue Ridge Mountains near Montebello with family, but we stayed only one day instead of three due to an approaching front that was forecasted to dump two inches of rain. I did not even get the chance to try for any Brook Trout. The streams were very low and the Brookies are spawning...

The weather has turned nice with temperatures in the upper 60's and mild westerly and southerly winds, so chances are that I will be Toggin' or looking for Spot and/or Striped Bass this weekend..

SheepsHead & Croaker

Hit Rudee yesterday on the falling tide. Tried for some Speckled Trout for an hour or so with grubs and mirrorlures. Got a few hits and had some specs follow the bait back to the boat, but no hook-ups. My next stop was the north jetty to try for some Taugtog. Used bottom rigs I made and clam - fresh and salted. Got a few hits but no luck with tog either. My buddy Jim met me a little later and we anchored on the South jetty and ended up catching five Sheepshead and a few big Croaker. Not a bad trip - but no Tautog.

Heard a story today that one angler came across a number of large Cobia on the CB buoys. That's worth noting because it is October, after all.

Rudee Inlet - mid October

I made it out to Rudee in my boat a few times this past week. Fishing has been slow - a Nor'Easter blew for almost a week and the water was churned up. Yesterday, set up close to where I wanted to be to try for Spot, but there was already a boat anchored there. Although I did catch a few small ones that I placed in the live well for Trout bait, I was more interested with watching the small boat next to me. As I watched, they caught about ten Tautog in a place I would not believed there to be so many tog so big? They told me they caught eight before I arrived! I now have a new Tautog spot. I'll be there tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully I'll have pictures to post.

Bank Fishing on October 7

I have fished eight of the past ten days - but it never seems to be enough. Thankfully, my wife is understanding and very seldom has an issue with my addiction. So, although there are a few unfinished projects at home, I grabbed my rod, some tackle, and a bucket after work yesterday and headed back down to do some fishing from the jetty at Rudee Inlet.

The tide was slack and the bite was off. I saw very few fish caught by the anglers on shore and there was only one boat anchored in the turning basin. I managed one juvenile Black Drum in two hours. I'm going back to Rudee this afternoon after work, but I'm taking my boat and hope to load up on Spot again!

October Spot Fishing

Temperatures in the mid 70s and SW winds at 5 - who wants to cut grass? My wife and I jumped in the truck on Saturday and trailered down to Rudee Inlet to see if we could catch the Spot that have been eluding me this week. Normally I like to fish for bigger species, but deep-fried Spot are so delicious!

We anchored in the mouth of the inlet closer to the channel than the other boats and spent the next two hours tossing decent-sized Spot in the fish box. We ended up with 41 Spot - a good start for our upcoming fish fry - and left them biting. Nearby, we watched two other anglers catch and land eight good-sized Sheepshead. I watched them carefully and talked to them later in the day at the dock. I'll have to give it a try later in the week.