Sidebars Archives - Page 143 of 194

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August 31, 2026

Sit-on-top or sit-inside kayaks are good choices for exploring small waters for bream.

Kayak selection

Kayak selection is a matter of choice. A good choice for bush-whacking into remote ponds would be a fairly light kayak in the 10- to 11-foot range. […]

Guide Jot Owens said the influx of baitfish into inshore waters from Wrightsville Beach to Snow’s Cut and through to the Cape Fear attracts flounders’ attention.

Don’t forget Snow’s Cut

Jeff Burleson

The Cape Fear River and the ICW between Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach are prime places to find doormat flounder during the summer. […]

High-quality, UV-resistant sunglasses enable fishermen to see what’s beneath the surface and often spot cruising redfish without the problem of glare.

Cut the glare!

Jeff Burleson

Sight-fishing for both freshwater and saltwater fish takes on more of a hunting tact than fishing. Anglers must detect targets long before the fish realize they have been spotted. […]

Flounder appear to bite better on bright, sunny days when the water is extremely clear, if you know how to make a good presentation with a bright-colored lure.

Let conditions dictate presentation

Jeff Burleson

Flounder are ambush feeders, relying solely on the sense of sight to obtain their daily sustenance. […]

Flies that will draw strikes from tailing redfish run the gamut of colors, shapes and sizes, but most resemble something the fish are eating.

Tying one on

Jeff Burleson

Fishing for tailing reds on flooded flats is among the most-exciting angling opportunities available to South Carolina fishermen. […]

Gavin Dibler of Kitty Hawk learned how to inflate a puffer fish while fishing on the Miss Oregon Inlet.

Outer Banks head boat tips

Walter Taylor

Check the weather before you go. Wind direction affects water clarity that can determine the fishing. […]

South Carolina flounder are managed with a 14-inch size minimum, but daily creel limits vary by area.

Flounder Limits

Terry Madewell

Limits on flounder are not the same throughout South Carolina’s waters. […]

A sonic tag is inserted into the stomach of a Cape Fear River striper. It will allow the striper’s movements to be tracked by biologists.

Cape Fear striper spawn and migration

Jerry Dilsaver

Stripers have become a species of special interest in the Cape Fear River basin. Before the construction of three locks and dams between Wilmington and Fayetteville in the early 1900s, the Cape Fear was considered one of the top five striper rivers in the country. […]

Flounder gigging is a very popular activity among South Carolina fishermen, especially during the warmer months.

Gig your doormats at night

Terry Madewell

For knowledgeable anglers, there’s always more than one way to get your doormat flounder. Flounder fishing with rod and reel is fun, but gigging at night can be awesome. […]

Striped bass and other species have been passing up the rock-arch rapids fish ladder at Lock and Dam No. 1 near Riegelwood on their way to traditional spawning grounds upstream.

Cape Fear River striper moratorium and stocking

Jerry Dilsaver

A moratorium against possessing stripers from anywhere in the Cape Fear River basin below the B. Everett Jordan Dam has been in place since 2008. Beginning in 2003, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission conducted comprehensive surveys on the striper populations in the Cape Fear River system and determined the population was dangerously low and with minimal recruitment. […]