Big specks biting hard at New River

Anglers can land gator specks in the New River, even during the heat of August.

One thing about fishing for speckled trout in the New River — the action never seems to slow down, no matter the weather conditions.

While residents and vacationers melt under a scorching summer sun, the N.C. coast is being hit by daily thunderstorms and perhaps bracing for the outer wind/rain bands of Hurricane Bill, Ricky Kellum (Inshore Fishing Charters, 910-330-2745, www.speckledspecialist.com) of Jacksonville keeps catching gator speckled trout.

“It’s very stormy down here and hot,” he said Aug. 21, “but the fishing hasn’t let up.”

Kellum and Tim Ellis of N.C. State University, who is conducting a speckled trout tagging study, launched on the New River at 7 a.m., Aug. 21, and fished until noon. “We caught 26 specks, several over 24-inches long.”

That length equates to 4 1/2- to 5-pound fish, about double the size of normal N.C. spotted sea trout found at most other locations.

Early in the day, the duo used Billy Bay Halo Shrimp lures in clear color with metal flakes inside the body.

“I fish ’em on light line, with no weights, when I fish shallow water early,” Kellum said. “If I have to fish deep, I use a different lure.”

As the day progressed and specks went deeper in the river, Kellum and Ellis switched to live shrimp, fished in 15 feet of water.

“We were fishing sand flats,” Kellum said.

During the spring and winter, the guide fishes the New River’s many feeder creeks, but as summer arrives, he heads to open water, following the fish. And there’s another reason to get away from the shoreline.

“There’s still specks in the creeks, but there’s no wind in there and it’s so hot to begin with,” Kellum said. “And you get the yellow biting flies, combined with the heat, and it’s not a lot of fun. I stay out on the open water of river where I know there are fish, and it’s more comfortable and you can catch a breeze.”

Kellum, a member of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Speckled Trout Advisory Committee, said he’s now using a new artificial lure called the Trigger X Shrimp.

“It’s got an advantage over other shrimp imitator lures because it’s got life-like action,” Kellum said. “It’s scented, too.”

The guide said his first time using the Trigger X shrimp he landed a 27-inch speck and 24-inch-long flounder.

“I think it’s gonna be my go-to soft bait for a while,” he said.