Captain Jot Owens Fishing Report

Hello folks, is it hot enough for ya??  Summer has really started to show and feel around eastern North Carolina.  The good thing is it’s a good reason to get out on the water to cool off and do some fishing!  Don’t forget your sunscreen and polarized sunglasses on those bright sunny days; they can be a life saver!  Let’s talk fishing.

The Spanish mackerel have still been biting good to great on most days.  Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s.  The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in plan silver and pink flash.  When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick.  The colors that seem to be working are pink, green and blue in sizes seven & fourteen gram. (Hint): keep it to smaller lures when the weather gets hot!

My charters are starting to catch a few Flounder; we are seeing a few fish inshore as well on the near shore reefs and wrecks.  Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size.  Live bait and grubs are the best bet.  Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs.  I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well.  I’m starting to see a few Mullet and Menhaden around the creeks and small channels.

I’ve seen a few Cobia around the inlets and near shore reefs.  Live bait fishing is the best bet for these great fighting fish.  Fishing live baits on top as well as on the bottom will get you the best chance at catching a Cobia.  I prefer bluefish, mullet and menhaden for bait; what ever is easier to get.  To catch a Cobia you’ve got to put your time in, sometimes you catch one right away most of the time you don’t.  That’s why they call it fishing!

We are seeing a few more Redfish around, most fish have been in the water way and around some of the inlets. As more live bait shows up, more Reds will come out of the ocean and in to the sounds.  This is starting to happen, the fishing should pick up in the next few weeks. The Reds we are getting are hitting fresh cut, bait live and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.

Thanks for taking the time to read this report. Get out on the water and take a kid fishing!  Don’t forget to take Dad fishing soon; father’s day is just around the corner!  Good fishing to ya!

Fishing gear used: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning reels 6035 and 6040 size.  Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med and med hvy action.  All Stars’ Coastal inshore series Trout/Redfish Special 7’ code# CC TR2-S Great inshore rod!!  Line Ugly braid 20# and 30#   www.allstarrods.com 

Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Hello from Southeast North Carolina, I hope everybody is having a good fishing season so far this year! I’ve had a good one so far myself; the new Ranger boat has been a real treat to fish this season! The fishing is picking up nicely as well. On that note let’s talk fishing!

The real winner for me lately has been the Spanish mackerel. My charters have done real good the last few trips, with catches of thirty or more Spanish in a half day. Most of the Spanish are biting Clark spoons trolled behind #1 planner’s. The Clark spoons that are working the best for us are sizes; 00 and 0 in silver and pink flash. I really like the pink flash series, these spoons have worked very well for my charters.

There has also been plenty of blue fish up and down the beach as well. We have also caught a hand full of chopper blues too. These choppers are running in the six to over fifth teen pound range. The choppers are biting big poppers and mid water stick baits. Color really does not seem to matter to those big blues, just a lot of action from the lure!

Bottom fishing just off the beach has produced some nice Black bass, grunts and small Grouper, of course on the lighter wind days! Jigs and squid are the trick, fishing the squid on simple two hook bottom rigs. Jig fishing using two to five once jigs in colors pink, green and red/white. We are fishing mostly hard and live bottom areas for the bottom fish.

The flounder bite is picking up some too; we are starting to see a few fish inshore as well on the near shore reefs and wrecks. Most of the flounder inshore are mixed in size, but the fish in the ocean are a little better in size. Live bait and grubs are the best bet. Carolina rigs for the live bait and heavy jig heads for the grubs. I prefer bright grubs; Saltwater Assassin’s sea shads in colors chart/diamond and silver mullet work real well.

Red fish have been hit or miss for me lately, some days we get a few some days we don’t. This should change when more live bait shows up in the creeks and channels. What Reds we are getting are hitting fresh bait and scented Saltwater Assassin (Blurp) grubs in colors; drunk monkey and molting.

Thanks so much for reading this report. If you get a chance check out some of Xtools new products at www.xtools.us Arnette has some great new sunglasses out this year for the guys and gals, check them out at www.arnette.com Lets go fishing, give me a call>>>!

Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139