Captain Jot Owens Fishing Report

I hope everybody made through Hanna ok.  I’m very glad it was not a major storm, and it looks likes Ike is going to the Gulf.  Good for us in the Carolina; not so good for the Gulf.  Our hopes and preys are with the Gulf States.  Fishing was good until we stopped for the passing of Hanna.  I’m sure it will pick right back up too

The Spanish mackerel have still been biting good to great on most days, with some small keeper kings as well.  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.  The Spanish are eating very small bait fish, with this happening I have gone to smaller lures.  This has helped greatly in the good numbers of Spanish we have caught. 

The King mackerel have also showed up this last week, they are not real big but a lot of fun on light tackle!  The kings are also biting the Yo-Zuri’s.  The colors that are working the best have been Pink and Clown.  We are trolling the crystal minnows two to three knots.  The good thing about trolling this Yo-Zuri is you can use light tackle which makes it a lot of fun.

Sheephead are still biting good, we have caught some real nice Sheephead this year.  We’ve had two fish over ten pounds, so much fun on light tackle.  They are so good to eat as well!  The best fishing lately for us has been around bridges, docks and bulk-heads.  Fishing in water from six to fifth-teen feet for Sheephead seems to work the best for us.  We fish mostly using small Carolina rigs, with forty pound mono leader and small but strong live bait hooks.  Baits we are using; fiddler crabs and sand fleas have worked just fine.  Give it a shot, it takes time but you’ll get one; Hold-on”!

The fishing should get better as the water clears up from Hanna’s hit and run.  Get out there and do some fishing, fall fishing should be just around the corner.  Thanks for reading this report, and good luck fishing.  If you would like to go fishing give me call!

Fishing Gear we use:
Sheephead, King and Spanish mackerel: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy

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

I hope everybody is doing well and catching a few fish! I have got to say I’m glad Fay did not make it up here, but her power was felt up this way. We’ve had some very strong east winds the last couple of days, which has kept me out of the ocean and in the back water areas. Before the blow we did some good ocean fishing for Flounder and Gray trout.

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.

Another new color from Assassin is “Chicken on a Chain” it looks like a Mud minnow. I think this will be a good color for Flounder on days you can’t find live bait. The body of the Chicken on a chain” is a glow body good for lower light days. Watch out when fishing in the ocean for the flounders; we’ve had some very nice fish eaten by Barracudas just under the boat.

How bout’ those Gray trout, the trout bite has really picked up the last couple of weeks. We are catching most of the Grays the same way we’ve been catching the Flounder; Carolinas rigs and live bait. My favorite live bait for Grays is finger mullet. If you would rather use lures, small jigging spoons and grubs will work just fine. I like to put a shot of scent on my grubs; “Bang’s” shrimp, crab, and Taxes tea are some of my favorites. The Flounder and Trout are holding on near shore live “hard” bottom, wrecks, and ledges.

My charters have had some great early Redfish morning bites. We are fishing mud flats and oyster flats in creeks and along the ICW. Multi fish hook-ups are not uncommon at all! Top water plugs like the Rapala skitter-walk have done very well. Rattle and popping corks with live mullets and little menhaden have been working great! The best rattlin’ corks for me have been the Saltwater Assassin’s “Kwik-cork” this is one of the loudest corks on the market they work!

There are some Bull Reds starting to show up in the ocean on hard bottoms and around the inlets. You never know when you might hook one of these big fish might bite. When we try to catch these Bulls, we use fresh cut or live menhaden. We use fish finder rigs with 11/0 and 12/0 circle hooks, keep your drag tight and the circle hooks will do there job.

Thanks so much for reading this report, if you would like a Fishing charter give me call or drop me a line. Good fishing to ya!

Fishing gear we use;

Bull Reds: Reels Pflueger Contender G15L, Rods Shakespeare Custom “USCB 1166 MH” Penn spinning reels 560L Live Liner with Penn Torque jigging rod 7’ 20 to 50 braids.

Redfish, Grays, and Flounder: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning in sizes 6035 and 6040. Rods: Ugly stick lites 6’6” and 7’ Med & Med-Heavy.

Good Luck,

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