East Central NC Archives - Page 9 of 112

Noah Lynk targets big speckled trout around the Cape Lookout rock jetty during winter.

Rock jetty is the ticket

North Carolina winters often are unpredictable, but one spot doesn’t seem to be affected much by roller-coaster mercury readings: the Cape Lookout rock jetty. […]

Clear water poses some problems but also provides opportunities for Crystal Coast anglers targeting winter reds.

Crystal Coast reds on the move

Craig Holt

December usually marks the beginning of winter weather along North Carolina’s coast, as falling water temperatures force nearly all baitfish into the ocean — along with gamefish that eat them. […]

Guide Dale Collins looks for November trout in deeper holes in tributary creeks and rivers in the Swansboro area.

Top tips for catching Swansboro’s trout this time of year

Craig Holt

By November, most menhaden and finger mullet have left North Carolina’s sounds and headed through inlets to the warmer waters of the nearshore ocean. […]

Guide Ricky Kellum likes to fish a topwater bait along crab-pot lines for New River speckled trout.

Guide Ricky Kellum points to his home waters, the New River in Onslow County, N.C., as his go-to spot for targeting topwater trout in October. His favorite bait is a Super Spook Jr. with a chartreuse head and white body, a bait that fooled an 8-pound trout in the New last year. […]

Guide Justin Carter, who caught this 10-pound trout in South Carolina’s Wando River earlier this year, said the river’s clean, clear nature is great for specks.

Work specks on the Wando

Phillip Gentry

South Carolina’s Wando River has long been known as a trout hot spot. Unlike most coastal rivers in either state, the Wando doesn’t really go anywhere. This prevents a lot of run-off from entering the river, particularly during tropical-storm season, so the river stays clearer than surrounding areas. […]

Eris Jones said time on the water is the best way to track king mackerel movements in the fall, but getting information any way possible is an important first step to a good trip.

Good information is key to king mackerel fishing success

Jerry Dilsaver

Eris Jones and Kevin Norris agree the best tool in the hunt for large king mackerel is current information. If they can’t be on the water, they are talking with fellow fishermen, checking fishing reports,and gathering information as they can. […]

A live shrimp fished under a popping cork is guide Ricky Kellum’s No. 1 after-dark trout tactic.

Night moves are right moves

Dusty Wilson

Guide Ricky Kellum always has a stock of trout candy, aka live shrimp, when available, but the pinfish that have taken root on AR 398 make it nearly impossible to float one long enough for a trout to see — at least during daylight hours. […]

Eris Jones and Cindy Norris put the hoist on this big king mackerel aboard Jones’ Backlash.

Dethrone a king – Fall is a great time to do battle with a powerful king mackerel

Jerry Dilsaver

Fall king mackerel fishing along the North Carolina coast is on a par with anywhere. Between the Virginia and South Carolina state lines, there are plenty of fishermen chasing kings every day the weather allows, and there are king mackerel tournaments every weekend, sometimes several. […]

Rocks, river, reef, trout? No big boat needed to fish this NC reef

Dusty Wilson

Ever wanted to fish an artificial reef but didn’t feel like you had enough boat to go offshore? Maybe you didn’t want to chance a risky inlet or challenge questionable weather conditions on the ocean? […]

Big speckled trout become more active in the fall, and with baitfish on the move, October can provide some of the best action of the year.

Take trout on top – October is time to target speckled trout on topwater in the Carolinas

Phillip Gentry

It’s a fact: everyone likes catching fish on topwater baits. What makes fishing baits at the surface even better is that at certain times of the year, like October, you can frequently catch bigger fish on topwater lures than anything else. […]