Few organisms in the ocean can match the fast life cycle of the dolphin fish, coryphaena hippurus. Dolphin reach sexual maturity at four to five months, where it takes a king mackerel three years to spawn. The world-record dolphin, 87 pounds was believed to be slightly less than five years old. By comparison, the world-record king mackerel, a 93-pound fish, was thought to be closer to 25 years old.
1) Using a thawed, small/medium, high-quality ballyhoo, remove the bait’s eyes with an arrow shaft.
2) Use cutting pliers to remove the bait’s pectoral fins.
“This is a great time of year for anglers along the coast. There is a lot going on, inshore, nearshore, and offshore. Everything is biting,” said Capt. Ned Campbell of Murrells Inlet Outpost. […]
Responding to concerns from the public and data collected by S.C. Department of Natural Resources biologists, the South Carolina General Assembly has passed legislation to help rebuild the state’s cobia fishery. The new cobia regulations, which are effective for the 2016 season after receiving Gov. Nikki Haley’s signature, include a catch-and-release period in May and smaller bag and boat limits.
It’s a warm, early morning in the middle of spring, with a slight breeze out of the southwest. Stephen Hunter keeps his Cape Horn center console in Holden Beach, but he often chooses to use the Cape Fear River channel when leaving before dawn, for no other reason than the reliability of its water. Picking his way behind Oak Island and Southport, he makes a starboard turn into the channel, slips into the ocean, then pushes the throttle down and heads offshore.
Spring fever has arrived along the coast, and a mild winter followed by a warm spring is setting up to make May a tremendous fishing month, especially for anglers with an affliction for the jazzy-colored dolphin.
Offshore trolling for dolphin might seem to be a piece of cake if you connect the dots of water temperature, surface cover, boat speed and presence of baitfish. However, like all things fishing, it’s frequently the fine print that turns bites into fish.
Rarely do either Steve Gaskins or Justin Carter have a charter come aboard for a full day of bluewater fishing with only one target species in mind. […]
The village of Hatteras isn’t located at Cape Hatteras, but approximately 12 miles to the southwest at the southern end of Hatteras Island near Hatteras Inlet. It’s an unincorporated village with a population of approximately 500.
Use this five-step method for rigging both weighted and unweighted baits for bluewater trolling.
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