Alongside the Neuse River’s tackle-busting stripers are schools of equally voracious redfish, competing for the same food and or lure.
“You can catch a striper on one cast and a redfish on the next when fishing the stump fields,” said guide Ashley King.
This has been a welcome occurrence to Neuse River fishermen, who have witnessed a distinct redfish decline over the last couple of years.
“A decent redfish was hard to come by last season, but this has been one of the best years I’ve seen in a while,” said King, who believes reds have increased in size and quantity. “Last year’s winning redfish for the Neuse River Back Water Open were between 18 and 19 inches; that’s unusual for guys who fish the river religiously for reds.”
Redfish will hit topwater plugs with a vengeance that rivals stripers. However, their mouths are much thicker, making it more difficult to sink a treble hook. In reds pushing 24 inches, this often results in a straightened hook and a lost fish. Many hardcore redfish anglers will switch out the factory trebles on their favorite plugs for 3X strong trebles.
No one is certain of the reasoning behind the past absence of reds, be it gill-net pressure or a natural shift in habitat, but needless to say they are a sight for sore eyes on the Neuse.
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