Cape Lookout provides winter action for redfish anglers
By December, puppy drum are beginning to school up in huge numbers along the inshore creeks, and the bull red drum have left for the winter.
But one place anglers can still hook into the big bruisers is Cape Lookout.
And while earlier in the fall, anglers can find the bull drum in the Pamlico Sound, this month, they’re spending time in more open water and the shoals off of Cape Lookout. That would normally make them difficult to find, but anglers have some help from Mother Nature in the form of gannets, birds which group up and dive on schools of baitfish getting pushed to the surface by the giant drum.
Sanford, NC’s Chris Douglas, host of Carolina ALL OUT, fishes for the bull reds along Cape Lookout this time of year, often with Mike Laws, who is adept at finding and catching these fish. Leaving from Cape Pointe Marina on Harkers Island, they head to the shoals.
“These big fish have left the inshore waters by late fall after their spawn is done. And this month they’re heading out to feed on the massive schools of menhaden that form on our coastline as the baitfish spawn in late fall and early winter,” said Douglas.
The first thing they look for is the swarms of gannets.
“The shoals extend for a long way, and the baitfish get pushed up against them. And the birds will show you where the biggest groups of them are. And then if we can get close enough in there to make a cast and get our lures in there, then there’s a very good chance to hook up,” he said.
Rough water, great fishing
December can be a fickle month in Cape Lookout. Some days can be bitterly cold, but other days bring Indian summer weather. But no matter the temperature, the water is usually churned up and rough. So having the right boat, as well as a good driver, is imperative.
It’s also imperative, Douglas said, just to be on the water, watching and observing, ready to capitalize when the birds gang up and identify the hot pockets of baitfish, which in turn show anglers where the bull drum are.
“And when the birds show us where, that’s when we start pitching to them,” he said.
Their lure of choice is a white bucktail jig.
“When you see the birds dive, you’ll know the bait is there. And sometimes you’ll see the drum, some even on top of the water working the bait,” said Laws, who uses 30-pound braided line when pursuing these fish.
“The seas are rough. But Mike and his Jones Brothers Bateau handles it like a champ. Sometimes you’ll see the gannets diving right on the shoals and it can be rough. Then all of a sudden you’ll see another group of birds a half mile away, and it’s on,” said Douglas.
“This is a great reason to come to North Carolina right here,” he said. “It’s all about watching these birds. You’ll see them diving like missiles, because these big red drum are pushing the bait to the top.”
Many of these drum are in the 35, 40 and 50-pound range. A hookup with one can lead to a 10 minute or longer fight.
Even aside from the fishing, Cape Lookout is a great tourist destination with lots of historical importance.
Drifting also works
“We are fishing right here in the shoals. People come here from all over the country to see the lighthouse. And we can see the lighthouse, but we’re also seeing these big drum all up and down the shoals here.
“It’s just an awesome experience right here in North Carolina. It’s great to live in a state that you can do this. And even if you’re not from this state, you can come out here and do this. There’s plenty of great outfitters and guides out here on the Crystal Coast. This is truly an awesome opportunity. And fishing here in December, it’s a great Christmas present,” he said.
Throughout the day, the bait will go deep as the redfish take breaks from pushing them to the surface. When this happens, the birds are less of a factor. But the baitfish – and the drum – are still present. The trick then is to drift down the line of shoals, casting as you go. When you’ve drifted past the shoals, it’s time to crank up, run back up, then drift again.
“You can still see some birds in the distance. Not in the big numbers and diving like they are when the bait is pushed up. But the fish are still here. It’s just a matter of getting them to bite,” said Laws.
Multiple hookups
Catching them in this area, and this time of year, is different in several ways from catching them in the sounds and backwater creeks throughout summer and fall. Aside from the casting techniques, the fish actually take on a different look.
“They’re not super red now because they’re out here in this salt water, and they clean up really nice. They turn really red when they get into the Pamlico and the sounds in that tinged water, but they turn silver, almost white, out here in the ocean,” said Douglas. “They’re almost like a different fish.”
But one thing that doesn’t change?
“They’re just so strong. Strong and awesome. They are definitely still eating machines.”
When fishing with multiple anglers, it’s always good to have a net man. But don’t expect too much help, because some days the fish are feeding so aggressively that double and triple hookups are the norm.
When you get tired of casting and reeling, it’s a good idea to make a cast, then place the rod in a rod holder. As the boat drifts, the lure naturally glides through the water, bouncing up and down with the wave action.
“Sometimes an angler can be working as hard as he can, and the rod in the rod holder will hookup first,” said Douglas.
“The Crystal Coast is one of the great fisheries in our state. It’s a great place to catch these big drum, in sight of the Cape Lookout lighthouse. And it is an honor to catch these fish,” he said.
Carolina ALL OUT
You’ve probably seen some videos from Carolina ALL OUT on the Carolina Sportsman website. It’s hosted by Chris Douglas, who chronicles the outdoor experience across the state of North Carolina.
Raised in central North Carolina, Douglas also spent time in South Africa as a teen when his family moved to the mission fields there. Experiencing African safaris expanded his already full passion for the outdoors.
After moving back to North Carolina, Douglas decided to study Radio and Television Broadcasting, which led to a career filming and producing outdoors shows across the globe. He is the only producer to capture 23 of the top 29 North American big game animals on professional video equipment.
Although he thoroughly enjoyed his many adventures throughout the world, his true passion was to come back to North Carolina and showcase his home state’s hunting and fishing.
“I love North Carolina, and it’s just such a diverse state,” he said. “It offers so many options for outdoorsmen, and it’s always been important to me to share as many of those options with the public as possible.
“I’ve been fortunate to travel the world, meeting great people and experiencing world-class outdoor adventures. But North Carolina is my home, and I’ve always wanted to showcase what we have here. Being able to do it has been a dream come true,” he said.
In sharing those adventures, Douglas seeks out experts in all regions of the state, then teams up with them to show viewers what they can experience close to their own homes.
Visit CarolinaALLOUT.com to see the show’s TV schedule, and check out their YouTube channel at youtube.com/carolinaallout.
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