If you're fishing for catfish Central Georgia has several spots for you to cruise around for the whiskered creatures.
Catfish aren't really picky when it comes to bait but they do love shrimp.
Tom Hamlin says go to your local grocery store and just pick up wild shrimp.
Cut them up and put a piece on the end of your hook. Fish deep and get ready for some action this summer.
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The Lakes
Lake Anna
Lots of nice largemouth are finding themselves being weighed in on the Anna Point Marina scales. On June 22, Larry and Lee Martin weighed a five-fish bag totaling 16-4. The big fish went 4-13. The Martins used top water baits and drop shots. Four-year-old Hunter Wine caught a 2-10 largemouth on a small minnow.
Summer patterns are emerging for largemouth as the bass begin to move deeper. Deep crankbaits, Texas rigs, and Shakey Head rigs are effective, along with top water baits early and late.
Striper anglers are advised to come early and beat the increasing boat traffic. Jet skis, you know. Large live shad is the most effective for bigger stripers, but trolling tactics with Red-Fins, and umbrella rigs are producing fish. Crappie are also moving deeper but are still biting.
Buggs Island
Water is dropping and fishing is picking up at Buggs. Crank baits and C-rigs are working very well. Crappie are moving to deeper water. Catfishing is steady.
Lake Orange. Good action for bass on topwater early on. Catfish are on fire throughout the lake. Some big crappie are showing up on the weigh-in scales.
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures ranged from the low to mid 80’s in the lower lake and slightly higher in the backs of the major creeks on Monday. The lake level was about eight inches above the top of the dam. The water was medium brown and slightly cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats and a few channel cats were widely scattered in a variety of depths in the lower main lake and in the creeks and were hitting live minnows. A mix of sizes of crappie were scattered on submerged wood cover, along channel edges, near some lily pads, and on weed flats near shoreline cover in the main lake and creek mouths. Crappie were hitting live minnows, Roadrunners, Kalin crappie scrubs, tubes, swim baits, and Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail grubs. Larger bluegill and shellcrackers were in loose clusters on many shorelines in the main lake and in some areas up the creeks and were hitting flies (especially wet flies and nymphs), small tubes and jigs, and live worms. A few bass were around creek mouths and on flats in the main lake, and were hitting flyrod bugs, topwaters, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and plastic worms, particularly early and late in the day.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Becky and Jimmy Bogese had 32 bluegill, 5 shellcrackers, 4 crappie, and 5 yellow perch. Robert Harmon and Stephanie and Nathan Castle had 25 bluegill. Mickey Cleveland had 27 bluegill, 1 warmouth, 18 crappie, 1 yellow perch, 1 white perch, and 1 bass.
The Rivers
Upper James/New River
High, muddy and unfishable.
Shenandoah
Still high, but dropping. Should be fishable by this weekend.
James River(Richmond)
Elite series pro Randy Howell won the Bassmaster Northern Open on the James River with a 3 day total of 47-lbs, 11ozs. Green Top pro and local angler Steve Colgin of Lanexa finished 10th. Many presentations were effective, but Senkos and crank baits were two of the more commonly used baits.
Potomac River
Capt. Steve Chaconas said it was tournament week on the Potomac.
“The Everstart Series tournament was last week and the Potomac River was crowded. I took the opportunity to go out with one of the FLW Tour pros, Kellogg's Ranger pro Dave Lefebre. Dave showed me a prototype lure coming soon from Storm Lures. It was interesting to see how he approached the Potomac. Fishing only once a year, he really understood the tides and where to find fish. He targeted grass and deeper wood cover. Using an array of medium diving crank baits for the wood and soft plastics pitched to grass clumps, he loaded the boat.”
“On Tuesday, VDGIF biologist John Odenkirk and Field & Stream writer Steven Hill joined me for a snakehead hunt! John had one on first thing, but it escaped his frog hooks. The weird thing was after it got away, it swam to the boat and stared us down. Later that evening, Chef Doug LaPorta, from Loporta's Restaurant prepared a 4-course snakehead dinner for us. My favorite was the Snakehead Tempura with a horseradish orange marmalade sauce.”
“I fished on Wednesday with a regular client and we caught a bunch with a Mann's Baby 1-Minus in the morning. Later on we pitched Texas rigged MIZMO tubes to marsh clumps and pads.”
“I took the tournament days off to cover the event for WFLS radio. It was a great event. Next week I'm booked with bass and snakehead trips.”
Staunton River
“I finally got back on the water Thursday and fished with Dave and his son Reed,” said Guide Matt Miles. “We fished the Staunton/Roanoke River because it was closer to normal levels than the New and James river. The day started out well, as the fish were eating poppers and cicada imitations. Reed pulled in a 17-inch smallmouth bass and a 15-inch largemouth bass on the fly rod. They were the two biggest bass of the trip. We had a mixed bag of species -bluegills, redeyes, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass all caught on poppers and flies. The water ended up rising right much by mid-day and messed the fishing up for the rest of our trip. The rivers are coming down from all the rain the past two weeks thankfully. Hope to see some stable water conditions soon.”
j44brewer@gmail.com
N.C. white crappie, freshwater drum records broken
RALEIGH New listings among North Carolina’s freshwater fishing records have been approved by the Wildlife Resources Commission for a freshwater drum caught at Kerr Reservoir and a white crappie taken at a private lake in Wake County.
On March 20, Jonathan Wilkerson of Oxford landed a 23 ½-pound drum while fishing on Kerr Reservoir in an area known as Beaver Pond Creek. The fish struck a plastic fluke that Wilkerson was casting on 10-pound test line.
Twelve days later, on April 1, Joey Boretti of Holly Springs was fishing a private lake in Wake County when he reeled in a 3-pound, 15-ounce white crappie while using a Storm WildEye Swim Shad lure on a spinning rod.
Boretti, 17, was fishing along the shoreline with his parents, Robert and Christine, but having little success. So, he figured he would switch tactics – and lures – to see how well the bass were biting. On his second cast with the Swim Shad he felt what he thought was a bass strike. But while bringing it ashore and seeing the shape of the fish, he knew it was a crappie.
Boretti and his dad did some fish identification when they got home and decided that it was a white crappie. They got the slab crappie weighed on certified scales, and Bill Collart, a Commission fisheries biologist, verified the catch as a white crappie.
The previous state record white crappie was a 3-pound, 2-ounce fish caught by Nashville angler Ray Patterson in April 2010 from the Tar River Reservoir.
Wilkerson was targeting striped bass when he hooked the freshwater drum. The fish fought hard – hard enough that Wilkerson, after catching it, put it back in the water to revive it, only to watch it swim away. Luckily for Wilkerson, the fish didn’t get very far, floating belly up a short distance away. He scooped up the fish, weighed it and realized that he most likely had a chance at the state record.
Wilkerson had the drum weighed on certified scales in Oxford, and Jessica Baumann, a fisheries biologist with the Commission, verified the catch.
Wilkerson’s drum exceeds by 12 ounces the former record holder, a 22-pound, 12-ounce drum caught by Brown Summit angler Daniel Stotts in January 2007. It is the fourth record drum to come from Kerr Lake in the last 10 years. Observer News Services
Southeastern fly fishing event in Cullowhee
CULLOWHEE The Southeastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers has selected Jackson County to host its 2013 Fly Fishing Festival.
The event is scheduled May 17-18 in the Ramsey Center arena at Western Carolina University in Jackson County, a popular destination for fly fishing enthusiasts and home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail. There's an extensive lineup of guest speakers, fly-tying experts and industry exhibitors, as well as an educational component for novices who wish to learn more about the sport.
Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Daily admission is $5 for individuals and $10 for families. Further information is available online at: SoutheastFFF.org. ONS
Paddle Mountain Island Lake, raise funds
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation will hold its annual Canoe & Kayak-a-thon at Mountain Island Lake on June 1 to raise awareness of the watershed and help fund wildlife conservation and habitat protection.
The event, covering 7 miles, is part of the Federation’s “connecting people to nature” campaign.
The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department plans to donate canoes and kayaks for those individuals who do not have vessels. Volunteers from Duke Energy will help with handling of the boats and provide safety craft.
Participants are eligible for many incentive prizes, including the grand prize, an Impulse kayak.
Registration is $50, but for paddlers who raise more than $100 from their sponsors the fee is waived. Also, paddlers who register by Friday pay a fee of only $25.
For more information, registration forms and sponsor information visit http://ncwf.org/Canoe/. ONS
Flooding forces delays in trout stockings
MARION The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has postponed trout stockings scheduled this week for the Delayed Harvest sections of the Little River in Alleghany County and Big Horse Creek in Ashe County due to flood conditions.
Also on hold is a planned release of fish into the Delayed Harvest stretch of the Nantahala River in Macon County.
The stockings will be rescheduled after the flooding brought on by recent heavy rains recedes on the streams.
Commission fishery personnel had planned to stock 1,500 trout in Little River and 1,675 trout in Big Horse Creek. The Nantahala is to receive 3,300 trout, including 1,320 brook, 1,320 rainbow and 660 brown trout. ONS
Catches of the week
• A largemouth bass of 7½ pounds, along with two 6-pounders and four 5-pounders at Lake Lee in Union County by Bill Sims of Monroe.
• Twenty-eight largemouth, including an 8-pounder, at Lake Lee by Mike and Courtney Cox of Monroe. Most of the fish were released.
• A 50-inch red drum in the Ocracoke Island surf by Kyle Beckner of Aiken, S.C.
• A 48-inch red drum at Ocracoke Island by Sean Mulligan of Kitty Hawk.
• A 44-inch red drum in the Ocracoke Island surf by Danny Fletcher of Elizabeth City.
• Limits of smallmouth bass boated and released at Fontana Lake by Danny Williams of Robbinsville. The fish struck a Lucky Craft jerk bait.
Rivers
Staunton River. Guide Matt Miles had a father-son team - Jerry and his 14-year old son Logan - out on the Staunton River this week. It was Jerry and Logan's first time fishing for striped bass. Logan connected on his first striper early in the day. Logan was surprised by the strong pull of a striper and was very excited. Logan said it was the biggest fish he had ever caught and he didn't stop there. Ultimately, he put 5 in the boat total using a white bucktail and a bubble gum fluke trailer. Jerry landed 5 stripers and about half a dozen got away. Water temps are still below normal for this time of year and Matt has seen little evidence of the stripers spawning. The stripers should be here for a few more weeks, maybe more if it stays cool. For an exciting trip of a lifetime, call Matt Miles at 434-238-2720
Middle/Upper James. “The James is in great shape,” says Guide L.E. Rhodes of Hatchmaster Guide Service. The smallmouth have been eager to eat as well. Several fish over 4 pounds have been boated along with a brute that went five and a half pounds. Another five-pound fish was also boated by the same angler. The smallies have been taking spinner baits, crank baits and pig’n jigs. Fly anglers have had success using the CK baitfish and the CK Clawdad. “Just make sure you get the fly in the strike zone,” L.E. advises. “Some days they would chase the bait, but 8 out of 10 times they wanted something fished pretty slow.”
Lower James/Chickahominy. Bass fishing on the lower James and Chick remains good, says Greentop Sporting Goods in Ashland. It has been taking between 19- and 20-pounds with a five-fish limit to win the local tournaments. Spinner baits, Senko worms and other soft plastics pitched to cover yields good results for the largemouth. Bass, catfish, rockfish, shad, and white perch are still in the James and are biting. An angler caught and released a striper weighing over 70 pounds while catfishing. That season was closed at the time. A little upriver, near Columbia, fishing as been good for flatheads and smallmouth bass. Crank baits, spinner baits, and Senkos are a few of the best baits for the bass.
The Rappahannock. Shad are still in the river and so are the stripers, an exciting bonus when an angler expects a one-pound shad on his line. The water turned milky after an early week downpour, but should be fishable by this weekend.
The Lakes
Lake Orange. Darrell Kennedy of Angler's Landing reports that the water at Lake Orange is clear with temperatures in the mid 60's. Largemouth bass and crappie are beginning to spawn. On warm, sunny days they can be found in the shallow spawning areas. On cloudy cooler days, both the bass and crappie back off the shore and can be found in the 5-foot depth range. Live bait and soft plastics are the best options for the bass and crappie bite. Noteworthy: Jim Ford of Staunton, brought in a lunker 7-0 bass on Saturday. Ford was using a soft plastic bait. Catfish are turning on in both ends of the lake hitting especially well on chicken livers. Pan fish are moving shallow with red wigglers producing the best catches. Call Angler’s Landing at (540.672.3997) to rent a boat.
Chickahominy Lake. Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the low to mid 60’s in the upper and lower lake and in the major creeks on Wednesday (5/1/2013). The lake level was about six inches above the top of the dam. The water was brown and slightly cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats and a few channel cats were widely scattered in a variety of depths in the lower main lake and in the creeks, and were hitting live minnows. Crappie in a mix of sizes were still scattered in the channels and on flats of the major creeks and in some of the spawning areas. Crappie were also in some of the staging areas near creek mouths and on wood cover and channel edges in the main lake. Crappie were hitting live minnows, Kalin crappie scrubs, tubes, swim baits, and Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail grubs. Bass and pickerel were in the major creeks and around creek mouths and were hitting flyrod bugs, topwaters, crankbaits and jerkbaits, frequently very close to shoreline vegetation. Fishing with Capt. Conway, Ted Antol had 15 crappie, 1 yellow perch, 2 fliers, 6 bluegill, 1 blue cat, 1 pickerel, and 2 bass. Jeff, Jason, and Cameron Buck had 10 crappie, 13 bluegill, 1 shellcracker, 1 flier, 1 blue cat, and 3 pickerel. Capt. Bill Buck and Hollis Pruitt had 20 crappie, 1 white perch, 1 yellow perch, 19 bluegill, 2 shellcrackers, 1 flier, 1 shiner, 1 blue cat, 1 pickerel, and 1 bass.
Lake Anna. Recent catches at Lake Anna include Rob Morris with a 5-pound bass. Brian Oxendine caught 6-pounder on a Shallow Running Crankbait. Kevin Door’s bass went 6 pounds even. Anna bass have finished their spawn and stripers are starting to hit again after a false spawn run. Crappies are anywhere from right on the banks to as deep as 14-feet. Bluegills are making a move to shallow coves to spawn.
Virginia Lakes. Trophy bass hunters are targeting spawning bass at well-known lunker holes like Briery Creek and Sandy River reservoirs. Anglers can expect to catch both spawners and post-spawners just about everywhere now. The bigger lakes like Anna, Gaston, and Kerr are providing the same conditions. Wacky rigged worms can be especially good now. land locked Stripers in area lakes have been fickle lately. Live Shad and Herring are the best bets. Some good catches have been reported from Dike 3 on top waters lately though. Expect increased catches of Bluegills and Shellcrackers now and the next few weeks, as they begin to spawn. Live crickets, worms, and small minnows can provide exciting action for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Post spawn Crappie can often be seen breaking the surface feeding on insects now, making them very vulnerable to small offerings, such as 1”-2” grubs on light jig heads.
Freshwater fishing's economic impact has grown to over $500 million dollars a year in direct spending, and this economic activity is spread across all regions of the province.
Participation in freshwater fishing is also growing and predictions are the trend will continue, according to the results of the just-released 2013 BC Freshwater Sport Fishing Economic Impact Report. The report also highlighted potential for future growth - and showed that reinvestment of fishing licence revenues in BC's stocking, conservation and angler outreach programs is yielding increasing economic returns.
Using data from the 2010 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada, which has been conducted every five years since 1975, the report shows that the number of active anglers province wide grew 6% from 2005. These anglers represent over $546 million a year in direct expenditures on goods and services including accommodation; fishing, boating and camping equipment; licence sales; packages; air and ferry transportation expenditures and fishing supplies. After adjusting for inflation, freshwater fishing annually contributed $23 million more in direct expenditures than in 2005. Anglers also spent more per fishing day, $142 and $131 per day in 2010 and 2005 respectively.
While the benefits of this expanding industry are felt across the province, specific impacts vary by region. The Cariboo region received 11% of angling effort in the province, and was one of the preferred destinations by international anglers. The direct economic impact of freshwater fishing for the Cariboo region is $57 million. The Thompson-Nicola region received 18% of provincial angling effort, second only behind the Lower Mainland. The Thompson-Nicola region also placed second in total fishing package expenditures, with almost $4 million being spent on lodge, guided charter boat and fly-in fishing packages. The direct economic impact for the Thompson-Nicola region is $99 million.
"Angling is an increasingly important industry in the province - one that has remained strong despite the economic slowdown in 2008," says Don Peterson, President, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. "It's positive news for the province as a whole. A significant number of BC anglers live in urban areas and fish in rural areas, which represents a transfer of economic activity from urban to rural."
Freshwater sport fishing brings substantial revenue to the province of BC.
Highlights from the report include:
3,119 person years of employment (up from 2,500 person years in 2005)286,167 active anglers (up from 270,800 in 2005)$545 million in direct angler expenditures (up from $480 million in 2005)Every $1 invested in services delivered by the Freshwater FisheriesSociety of BC returned an average of $24 in angler expenditures (up from $21 in 2005)."BC's user-pay model of fisheries service delivery is having a positive impact on enhancing public fishing opportunities and is also generating positive economic outcomes for the province," says Peterson.
The FFSBC is a private, not-for-profit organization largely funded by anglers through freshwater fishing licence revenues. It works in partnership with Provincial fisheries managers to deliver fish stocking programs that support 50 per cent of all fishing in B.C. lakes, conservation fish culture services for sturgeon recovery programs, and initiatives to enhance participation and access to fishing for all British Columbians. Stocking programs deliver between 6 and 8 million fish annually in 800 lakes and streams throughout the province. Through these programs, the FFSBC is working to ensure BC has the best freshwater fishing in North America.
Freshwater Fishing and the BC Economy was commissioned by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and was prepared by Megan Bailey (Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen UR) and U. Rashid Sumaila (Fisheries Centre, UBC).
The economic impact estimates in the document are based on the 2010 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada.
For more information and to see the full report visit the FFSBC's website at www.gofishbc.com.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued the 2013-14 Freshwater Sports Fishing Regulation pamphlet.
Changes this year include new regulations on sturgeon, salmon and steelhead retention, new areas where hatchery trout or steelhead may be retained, and a black bass slot limit removal on five waters. Regulation changes are highlighted in the front of the pamphlet for quick reference.
New sturgeon fishing regulations establish a new method of measuring sturgeon and a new size limit of 40-60 inches. Barbless hooks are required when fishing for sturgeon and snares are prohibited. Fish longer than 68 inches fork length may not be removed from the water. For more information: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=58288&;inline=1 .
Salmon and steelhead anglers in inland valley waters can not fillet steelhead or salmon until they reach their permanent residence, a commercial preservation facility or the fish is being prepared for immediate consumption. All steelhead and salmon must remain in such a condition that their species and size can be identified.
Anglers will be allowed to harvest hatchery trout and hatchery steelhead in most catch and release areas under new regulations.
There will be no slot limit regulation for black bass in McClure, Millerton, Oroville, Orr and Siskiyou lakes. The statewide standard daily bag limit and 12-inch minimum total length regulations will apply on these waters.
Other changes include:
Yellow Perch have been removed from the sunfish bag limit. Yellow perch have a year-round season with no bag limit.Spearfishermen will be allowed to harvest striped bass by spearfishing in the Valley District and all of Black Butte Lake will be open to spearfishing.Eulachon may not be taken or possessed.Wolf Creek (Mono Co.), Chowchilla River, and Eastman Lake will be open to fishing.The Sisquoc River will be closed to all fishing all year to protect listed steelhead.Silver King Creek tributaries (Alpine Co.) below Tamarack Lake Creek will be closed to all fishing all year to protect threatened Paiute cutthroat trout.Davis and Pine creeks in Modoc County will be closed to the harvest of trout. Catch and release fishing is allowed.Smith River Low Flow Regulations – The minimum flow trigger on the Smith River has been increased from 400 cubic feet per second to 600 cubic feet per second.Eight amphibians and three reptiles have been removed from the list of species authorized for take with a sport fishing license.There are other changes to the freshwater sport fishing regulations, so please review all of the 2013-2014 regulations pertaining to the species you intend to pursue.
Hybrids at Lake Thurmond seem best bet for now
Lake Thurmond appears the best option during the next few days for anglers seeking freshwater fishing action in the Carolinas.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources reported Wednesday that hybrids – the striper/white bass cross – are hitting well at the impoundment formerly known as Clarks Hill Reservoir.
Limits of hybrids in the 2-to-3 pound range are being boated by fishermen using live baits 25-40 feet deep off shoals and in coves. White perch are mixed in with the hybrid schools.
LAKE NORMAN: White perch remain the best bet, taking mainly minnows around flats and humps 20-30 feet deep. They’re also hitting earthworms, small spoons and Sabiki rigs. Catfish are biting 15-30 feet down in the creeks and coves of the mid-lake area, taking live baits such as bream, crawlers and shiners, along with freshly cut baits. The catfish are somewhat shallower at the lower end of the lake. Anglers fishing from dawn until about 9 a.m. are catching a few smallish spotted and largemouth bass on a variety of lures.
LAKE WYLIE: Catfish during early morning 5-15 feet deep in the creeks on cut white perch. Scattered largemouth bass deep around bridges, humps and points on artificial worms, DD-22 lures and spoons. White perch on minnows, small pieces of cut bait.
MOUNTAIN ISLAND LAKE: Continuing fair for bream and catfish on traditional baits – crickets and earthworms for the bream, crawlers and cut baits for the catfish.
UNION COUNTY LAKES: Fair bream and catfish at all four lakes – Cane Creek, Lee, Monroe and Twitty.
YADKIN/PEE DEE RIVER LAKES: Bream and catfish at all reservoirs – High Rock, Tuckertown, Badin, Tillery and Blewett Falls. White perch at Badin and Tillery.
LAKES JAMES, HICKORY, RHODHISS: Bream, catfish.
FONTANA LAKE: Smallmouth bass, lake trout and walleye on Sutton Spoons trolled 55-65 feet deep along the main channel between the dam and Point 4. Scattered largemouth at dawn and dusk on surface lures cast to the shoreline.
LAKE WATEREE: Catfish on the shallow mid-lake flats on cut shad and white perch. Crappie around brush 20 feet deep on minnows.
LAKE MURRAY: Good for striped bass, suspended 40-100 feet deep over 150 feet of water from the dam to Shull Island on free-lined live herring. Fair for catfish off points and around humps. Crappie around brush 20-30 feet down.
LAKE THURMOND: Shellcrackers on crickets, earthworms along the shoreline of the islands.
SANTEE COOPER LAKES: Crappie 10-15 feet down around brush and logs on minnows. Bream along the shoreline in the upper lake, Marion. Scattered largemouth on lures worked around eel grass.
LAKE HARTWELL: Fair for stripers and hybrids suspended 40-60 feet down over timber in 60-100 feet of water along the main channel on live herring. Channel catfish 20-30 feet deep around points and humps, mainly at night on cut baits.
LAKE KEOWEE: Little activity.
LAKE JOCASSEE: Trout on spoons trolled 60-100 feet deep.
OUTER BANKS: Nags Head area: Croaker, spots and whiting in the surf and at piers, along with a few cobia; Oregon Inlet: Good to excellent offshore for billfish, dolphin, wahoo and yellowfin tuna. Blues, Spanish mackerel and speckled trout inshore, along with cobia to 52 pounds; Hatteras Island: Good to excellent offshore for dolphin and wahoo to 70 pounds. Blues, Spanish mackerel and speckled trout in the inlet and Pamlico Sound. Fair blues, Spanish mackerel at Cape Point during high tides. Pompano and whiting at Ramp 44; Ocracoke Island:
Scattered blues, croaker, flounder, gray trout, puppy drum and whiting in the surf; Morehead City area: Dolphin, sailfish and wahoo offshore, along with a few blue and white marlin. Flounder and Spanish mackerel around the near-shore artificial reefs and wrecks. Trophy-sized red drum have started moving into Pamlico Sound to spawn. Fair blues, flounder, pompano, Spanish mackerel and spots in the surf and at piers.
SOUTHEASTERN N.C. COAST: Excellent for limits of large flounder 40-feet deep around wrecks and at the Caudle Artificial Reef. King mackerel at the 30/30 Ledge on live bait and frozen cigar minnows. Fair for dolphin and wahoo further offshore. Blues, Spanish mackerel inshore. Black drum, sheepshead at the ADM Dock, in Snow’s Cut and around the Masonboro Jetties. Scattered croaker, pompano, spots and whiting at piers.
S.C. COAST: Grand Strand area: Spanish mackerel along the beach and at piers on plugs and spoons. Reds, or spottails, on live baits around the jetties and in the creeks. Flounder also are hitting at the Murrells Inlet Jetties. Very good for billfish, dolphin and wahoo offshore; Charleston area: Excellent for trout during early morning on minnows and shrimp around creek mouths and shell rakes during high tide and around hard bottom at low tide. Spottails are tailing in the marshy shallows during the evening tides and are hitting live baits, Gulp! lures and Zman Ultra Crabz lures. Tarpon at the jetties, in Bulls Bay and North Edisto Inlet. Spanish mackerel in the harbor on Clark spoons; Beaufort area: Good to excellent for ladyfish in the sound along the banks in moving water on gold spoons, mud minnows, shrimp and Pop-R lures. Tarpon around the bridges on live menhaden. Fair for trout on minnows and live shrimp.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Martinsville woman has nabbed a new record freshwater drum.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says its state record fish committee has certified the new record for Nancy Cash's drum that weighed 26 pounds, 8 ounces. The fish was 38.5 inches long.
Cash caught the fish at Buggs Island Lake on July 10. She battled it for 15 minutes before her fishing partner was able to net it and bring it in. The fish was taken to Bobcat's Bait and Tackle in Clarksville where fisheries biologist Vic DiCenzo was able to confirm its species, size and weight.
The previous record was 22 pounds, 6 ounces, caught in Kerr Reservoir in 2008.
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