Red Storm

Pamlico Sound red drum are abundant, but guides believe something (or someone) is depleting keeper-size fish.

Pamlico Sound’s red drum fishery stood for years among the best of any state, providing extraordinary bait-and- lure fishing for puppy drum and “old” drum, as anglers refer to small and large specimens, respectively.But the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries discovered during the late 1990s the fishery had fallen on hard times, recruitment to the spawning stock had diminished to levels that imperiled cherished commercial and recreational traditions, and that threatened negative economic impacts.

Studies have shown daily expenditures of red drum anglers well in excess of $100 where they must release every fish they catch, but one where release mortality has proven to be as low as in any recreational fishery.

Interim rules were implemented in the fall of 1998. Anglers were cut to that single fish a day between 18 and 27 inches in length and were prohibited to kill an adult fish. Netters were limited to 100-pounds a trip.

When the fishery management plan was approved two years later, it modified the commercial trip limit, required small-mesh net attendance, and set an annual harvest cap.

Dr. Louis Daniel of the DMF said those and subsequent restrictions have held commercial landings significantly below the cap. They remain in effect today.

Daniel said a seine survey shows an annually increasing population since 2001. Other studies he cited suggested “we are seeing fish move out of the slot … into the spawning stock.”

Some anglers in the Neuse River sector of Pamlico Sound concede increased numbers of puppy drum below the slot, but complain that too few survive to legal size.

“The big-fish population is wonderful, but in the smaller fish we have seen some population fluctuations,” said Capt. Gary Dubiel, a guide based at Oriental.

He blamed a shortage of slot-sized fish on net bycatch.

Capt. Mark Hoff, also of Oriental, applauded the restrictions the plan puts on anglers but said it “falls short in … addressing commercial bycatch….”

“The numbers of 1- and 2-year-old fish we see is incredible,” Dubiel said. “But the number of 3-year-old fish leaves much to be desired.”

Before many can reach the legal minimum size, he suggested, they fall victim to nets.

His evidence is more legal-sized fish in areas where nets aren’t allowed — Beard’s Creek, Hancock Creek, the top of Dawson’s Creek, for example. Fine-mesh nets there are prohibited, “compared to Green’s Creek, where there’s probably 800 yards of fine mesh right now,” Dubiel said during March.

“Overall, the fishing here remains very good for juvenile fish,” Dubiel said.

He also was excited about the “old” (larger) drum fishery, which he considers among the best in the country.

“The big-fish population seems to have stabilized,” he said. “It’s a great fishery.”

But he said tighter restrictions on fine-mesh nets are justified to increase the number of legal fish because of the increased economic impact the inevitable expansion of recreational fishing will bring.

“If we didn’t lose so many fish to nets,” he said, “we could have a fishery here that would put Louisiana and Florida to shame.”

It’s the same old story. Wherever government tries to maintain net and hook-and-line fisheries for the same species, argument between competing user groups will ensue. The issue won’t be settled here, but we can examine details of the fishery, which fall into two distinct categories.

Puppy Drum

Red drum weighing less than about 12 pounds are by common usage loosely defined in North Carolina as “puppy” drum. But Dubiel said the average fish he finds is less than 18 inches in length.

The puppy-drum fishery occurs from the easternmost sectors of the sound west to New Bern and Washington. The season begins in late March to early April in the creek heads near where they and baits have wintered.

In the early spring, puppy drum are the only option. Adult fish are still at sea where they migrated during the previous late fall or winter. In the shallow creek heads, where black mud bottoms cause the water to warm earlier, puppy drum may be caught using jigs and bait.

By May they abandon those warming headwaters, and migrants from the ocean join them in the creek mouths and in the sound.

Puppy Pens

Small fish may be found well up into fresh water. If anglers are catching largemouth bass near New Bern or Washington, they shouldn’t be surprised to catch a red drum. And anglers almost can’t find water too shallow for them, experts say. Water as shallow as 1-foot deep is enough for a small red drum.

Bait fishing improves and lures become less effective as the water warms, only to reverse in the fall, when lures again begin to work well.

Soft-plastic baits, flies and other artificials are effective. One-eighth to 1/4-ounce lead-heads and 3- to 4-inch soft-plastic trailers pay off year around.

Dubiel recommends a Berkley Gulp Baits for anglers with little experience fishing light lines and jig heads.

“The fish really seem to hold on to it,” he said.

He also recommended a DOA CAL soft-plastic jerkbait made weedless by Texas-rigging a worm into the body of the bait. Dubiel crimps a DOA pinch weight to the shaft of the hook.

“It’s an excellent product to fish into wood structure or over grassy or shell bottom,” he said.

He likes the Daiichi “Butt Dragger,” a Copperhead Bleeding Bait hook with the pinch weight already attached. Eight- to 10-pound-test line is about right. Light-action casting outfits work well.

“Topwater baits — the Zara Spook and its ilk — are most effective in the fall,” Dubiel said. “A new thing that’s come along in the fishery is spinnerbaits. They’re a good locator lure.

“When you catch a fish, don’t be in a hurry to leave the area. Often they’re in large schools. It might pay you to work an area until you find at least a few more fish before you move on.”

Rough water against a windward bank can be productive, Dubiel said. But he had to concede there’s little access for wade fishermen along either side of the Neuse River. Virtually total private ownership has shut out most wade fisherman.

Puppy drums seem to school in varying degrees during the seasons. Large aggregations are most common in spring and fall. When schools are large, competition for food increases and fish become more aggressive after lures.

Big schools bring hot fishing. Dubiel said.

While mid-summer isn’t the best season, he’s caught fish in 88-degree water. Live and fresh cut bait increase the number of fish landed during these warm periods.

Dubiel recommended barbless circle hooks to increase hookups and aid releases.

A Push from the Wind

The Pamlico River offers good puppy-drum fishing from its mouth to Washington. Fish behavior patterns similar to those in the Neuse River.

Everywhere wind plays an important part. East-to-northeast winds push water to elevated levels at the western sectors of the sound, providing access to new food sources for shallow-foraging puppy drum. Once again, a foot of water is all a small drum needs.

Dubiel looks for a lee shore with mud flats or flats with wood structure. Old stump fields and abandoned docks are prime habitats.

During the summer, southwest winds prevail. Then he likes to run down the Neuse to Cedar Island or Raccoon and Swan islands. While the water level may be down on a brisk southwest wind, fish may remain and become concentrated in deeper cuts along the marsh shorelines.

Unlike other parts of the country, fly-fishermen in western Pamlico Sound rarely find tailing fish, so blind casting to shell points is the best option. Occasionally, Dubiel said, he sees wakes and backs pushing water.

Simple fly patterns, such as a Clouser Minnow, work well.

“You don’t need shrimp or crab flies,” Dubiel said, “Since you’re blind-casting, you need a pattern that covers a lot of water.”

Fish aren’t leader-shy because heavy tannins color the water.

At shallow flooded shorelines and with an east wind, Dubiel recommended a No. 8 system and intermediate lines when blind casting in 2 to 3 feet of water. Floating lines work better at flooded shorelines produced by an east wind.

“We have a good topwater bite in the fall on those easterly winds,” he said.

Old Drum

At Pamlico Sound — generally a bait fishery — rarely do conditions occur that make artificial lures effective for red drum that might weigh from 15 to more than 50 pounds. Dubiel said that occurs less than 10 percent of the time.

“You’ve got to have calm winds,” he said, “and good water clarity. We can sometimes find fish at shoals in less than 3 feet of water. Then stealth is vital. (Old red drum) are sensitive even to vibrations of a trolling motor, so push poles work better, and drifting down on them is the trick.

“You can slow idle toward them, cut the motor and drift that last little kick in. I’ve had few opportunities to catch fish longer than 40 inches with a fly.”

Bucktails work, but in shallow water anglers must be careful with the size. Four- to 5-inch soft-plastic baits with light lead-heads will be taken readily, and they have less chance of spooking fish than larger lures. Plugs work, and of course a hook in a piece of bait or a live bait will be a sure bet.

“When big fish are in those shallows, they’re feeding,” Dubiel said, “and very aggressive. It’s amazing how quickly they’ll pounce on anything that moves.”

It remains illegal to keep a fish longer than 27 inches, so the old drum fishery is entirely catch-and-release.

To insure the lowest possible release mortality rate, anglers use barbless 9/0 or 10/0 circle hooks, a pinned weight and a 3-inch leader.

Owen Lupton of Pamlico County recommended the standard configuration years ago, and the rig is referred to as the “Lupton rig.” Anglers can buy them at Pamlico County tackle shops or make their own rigs, guided by the photo provided with this story.

Even for the small fish, Dubiel fishes cut bait with a circle hook and the barb squeezed down.

“Sometimes a fish will run toward you and the hook might catch in the crusher in the back of the fish’s mouth,” he said. “When it does, it comes out easier if it’s barbless.”

Timely landing and releasing of fish enhances survival rates. Dubiel uses 20- to 25-pound-test spin and casting outfits and applies 3 to 4 pounds of drag.

“You’ll get plenty of fight out of the fish,” he said, “but you won’t stress them too much.”

Once the fish is in the boat, be sure to support it by the belly, he said. Holding it upright by the head may cause fatal damage.

Almost always, the old drum fishery requires bait on the bottom. Fresh mullet is by far the most popular. However, spot, croaker and menhaden are effective as well.

Dubiel recommended 20 to 30 pounds of bait for a day’s drum fishing. Bluefish, pinfish and other abundant bait-stealers will keep anglers busy replenishing hooks. For this volume of cut bait, Dubiel suggested shopping at such retail seafood markets as Fresh Ketch at Grantsboro or King’s at Oriental.

Recent research revealed spawning locations are far more numerous and widespread than had been supposed. Old drum spawn throughout Pamlico Sound and apparently do a good job of it, judging from the abundance of immature fish every spring.

Safety

Pamlico Sound is a big estuary. The Neuse River at its mouth is one of the widest in North America.

Inexperienced anglers in boats designed for inland reservoirs sometimes leave a dock early only to be caught far from their launch site when a brisk wind gets up in the afternoon. The return trip, with seas breaking across a medium-size boat’s beam, can be uncomfortable and wet — if not dangerous.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, Dubiel said anglers don’t have to fish at night to catch old drum. They can fish effectively morning, noon and early afternoon, leaving time to run miles back to a ramp in daylight and perhaps even avoid the worst of the wind and pounding seas.