Trout and other predator fish feed heavily during the fall when water temperatures drop to the lower 60s. Even though trout are cold-blooded creatures, they prefer colder waters than flounder and other inshore species.
Live shrimp is practically the candy of the sea favored by most fish and anglers alike. No other bait rivals live shrimp for catching speckled trout either, but the bait stealers are quite aggressive. Trout must reach the shrimp quickly to avoid losing the battle with the other predators.
Capt. Ricky Kellum of Jacksonville, figured out how to eliminate non-target species from ravaging his precious live shrimp floating under his corks.
“We often fish at night in the summer and fall when off-target species are plentiful,” he said. “Trash fish leave you alone when the sun goes down. Nighttime is the cure and can be spectacular trout fishing with no trash fish destroying our baits.”
Kellum catches trout at night in the same places he fishes during the daylight hours: bridge pilings and points along ledges with structure. His tactics also remain the same; live shrimp are very productive floated under a cork, but Kellum will use artificials at night, too. Topwater lures and sub-surface lures with rattles are also preferred for night fishing. Kellum prefers artificial shrimp in various colors. MirrOlures are also productive at night, such as the classic TT-28 (pink back/black spots).
Night conditions offers prime opportunities for landing gator trout as well. Snead’s Ferry “gators” are more likely to feed at night even more than they do during daylight hours. Clocking ample time between dusk and dawn and a few hours afterwards often rewards anglers with continuous action from these speckled rivals.
Editor’s Note: This story appears as part of a feature in North Carolina Sportsman’s November issue. To ensure you don’t miss any information-packed issues in the future, click here to have each magazine delivered right to your mail box.
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