Topsail Beach Fishing still catching and on TV!
Art Brownell with a fat Cape Fear Striper
Okay, after some of the coldest weather right after the wettest December in over 130 years we are still fishing! December was pretty much a bust with maybe 3 fishable days but here in mid-January we have seen the temperatures rise a bit and the fishing has rebounded along with it!
This past weekend we fished the Second annual Cape Fear Riverwatch Striper Tournament. This event grew this year and we had a few more boats as well as a great turnout for the banquet. The cold temps in the preceeding weeks made fishing tough but my people caught and tagged a few so we had a successful day. Striper fishing on the Cape Fear should still be happening til the end of January. Check out my interview as well as a bunch of shots of the boat from Channel 14 News!http://news14.com/charlotte-news-104-content/620688/fishing-tournament-helps-fish-conservationist-efforts?ap=1&Flash
Right now we are catching black sea bass near shore, excellent table fare and a lot of fun on the light spinning tackle we are using with the jigs and bucktails. Also around the same areas there is a chance for a big flounder or 2. The inshore fishing is pretty well shot with the super cold temperatures but the great news is the schools of drum that are right behind the surf right along the beach. These fish can be picky and we catch them on lures, leadhead/grub combos as well as cut bait. When the fish turn on we can have some really exciting sight fishing. Also there is a chance for a nice speckled trout sometimes mixed in.
Part of a fine dinner black sea bass and porgy!
We are still fishing! Call me up and see what we might be able to find for you! Always a fun day on the water. Booking trips for 2010 reserve your prime date now! Look for a recap of 2009 in the coming weeks, this will help to plan your vacation and see what will be biting when you come down to the beach.
Tight lines,
Captain Jim