Southern NC Fishing Report: Strong Redfish Bite Continues, New Trout and Flounder Regs

It has been a winter of spectacular redfish action and not much else in Brunswick County. The speckled trout have never really showed, although how much of that is a function of a slow winter for them and how much it is a lack of effort by anglers is not clear. The trout fishery will remain catch and release only for recs until at least June 15. Catches of black drum seem to be off as well, although again that could be the lack of anglers fishing for them.

The one bite that has remained on fire, however, has been shallow back water redfish. The few guides and boat anglers who have targeted them have had success all winter. The redfish have remained extremely shallow in huge schools seeking sanctuary from dolphins and food out of the banks and tidal creeks.

You can target theses red drum a number of ways, although if you can find the schools then a jig head and one of the synthetic scented soft baits is all you'll need to hook up. Redfish can also be caught with mud minnows if you can find them, as well as with simple chunks of cut mullet or even cut shrimp. Using a Gulp or Fishbites soft bait on about a ¼ ounce jighead, however, is probably as effective as anything else and it is more fun.

Right now the water is still very cold. The redfish should bite on through spring when the schools will begin breaking up a bit. Once spring fishing starts keep in mind all the new regulations. In addition to continuing the closed season for speckled trout we will be at a 15 inch size limit and 6 fish a day creel for flounder by then.

For more fishing articles see my blog A Dash of Salty and my website Surf and Salt