How would you like to step into your backyard and catch a 30-inch redfish?
That’s what residents and visiting anglers can experience in Brunswick County.
Several large housing developments are connected by canals to the Intracoastal Waterway at Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach.
During fall, the canals — which are full of boat docks literally in the backyards of permanent and vacation homes — teem with red drum, flounder and spotted sea trout that will hit live baits and artificial lures.
“We do a lot of drum fishing at the docks and from the docks during January and February, but fish are there in October, too,” said Capt. Keith Logan of Holden Beach. “There’s no regulation against it, but some people will fuss if you get too close to their dock.”
Logan said his clients landed a 4-pound flounder and 32-inch drum from the canals last year.
“Mostly we use DOA Shrimp and Swimming Mullet,” he said.
Specks generally run 14 to 18 inches, and most of the puppy drum will be slot fish, 18 to 27 inches.
“Everyone knows the reds come in the canals in October to spawn,” he said.
At the old Sunset Beach bridge, anglers will land reds, flounder and sheepshead.
“The swinging bridge is gone, but the fish are still there,” Logan said. “Holden Beach only has sheepshead, for some reason, but they’ll move out by the end of October.”
Editor’s note: This article is part of the Change for the better feature in the October issue of North Carolina Sportsman. Digital editions can be downloaded right to your computer or smartphone.
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