Captain Jot Owens Fishing Report

Hello Folks, I hope everybody is enjoying the summer so far.  Fishing for the most part has been very good this year for me and my charters.  We are starting to see more people on the water, in the last couple of weeks. Which I guess is a good thing, “tip”: if you want to beat the crowds; go earlier!  To the fishing report! 

The Redfish have really picked up in the last two weeks.  My charters have had four fish on slow days to over fifth teen fish on better days.  Live, fresh cut bait and scented grubs have been the ticket.  You just have got to find the Reds to catch them.  Fish the live and cut bait on Carolina rigs.  Saltwater Assassin (Blurps) in colors good penny and molting seem to work well for the scented grubs.  Most of the reds are in the water way on docks and in creek mouths. 

Flounder fishing has also picked up too.  We are getting some nice fish around Carolina beach and Masonboro inlets.  Most of the flounders are hitting live bait, mullets and little menhaden. We are fishing the live bait on Carolina rigs, but using a little heavier egg sinker for the strong currents in these areas.  Don’t forget to take your time when Flounder fishing, it takes time to catch a door mat!  We have caught some smaller; but keeper flounder in some of the creeks using grubs.    

Some Sheephead and black drum are biting around docks and bulkheads.  There has been a few very nice black drum caught lately, some fish over twenty pounds reported “that’s a good pull”!  These fish are hitting fiddler crabs, live shrimp and fresh shrimp.  The rigs we are using are small Carolina rigs with small very strong hooks.  Sheephead and smaller black drum make great table fare. 

The Spanish mackerel are still picking good 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 silver and pink flash.  When the Spanish are on top feeding and jumping, Maria jig spoons have been the trick. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this report.  Have a great 4^th of July, get out there on the water and have good time.  Just be careful of all that boat traffic!  Fishing gear used: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning reels 6035 and 6040 size.  Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med and med hvy action.  Line Ugly braid 20# and 30#

Captain Jot Owens

910-233-4139

www.captainjot.com 

Well Folks, the temps are up, the gas prices are up, but thank God the fishing is up too! I don’t know what to tell ya about the gas prices, but one thing you can do is; slow down a little bit. The boat that is, you do need to keep going fishing though! Ok enough about gas, let’s talk fishing!

The Spanish mackerel are still going strong; we have caught 30 to 40 plus Spanish on most of our charters in the last couple of weeks. I’m happy to congratulate my charter on June the 7th for taking 3rd place in the Seapath Marina Spanish mackerel tournament.

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 and green in sizes seven & fourteen gram.

Cobia have really started to show around the shoals, inlets and near shore reefs. My charters have caught four and released two in the last two weeks, the biggest being 61 pounds. We are catching most of the Cobia on small bluefish and grass shad “greenies”. We are fishing these baits on the bottom, light lining and balloon fishing. Cobia fishing takes time; they don’t just jump in the boat. If you want to catch a nice Cobia put in some nice time, you’ll get one sooner or later!

We are seeing a few King mackerel starting to show up; most of the kings are just off the beach to twenty miles or so. Slow trolling live or dead bait or fast trolling spoons and witches with strips seems to be working. Most of the kings are on live bottom and ledges with bait fish holding close by. There are some Mahi as well mixed in with the kings in some of the areas too. A real nice near shore treat the ole Mahi!

Thanks for taking the time to read this report. Get out there and go fishing, don’t worry so much about the gas prices. Just slow down a bit and have a good time on the water! Go fishing to ya always!

Fishing gear used: Fishing gear used: Reels Pflueger Medalist spinning reels 6035 and 6040 size. Rods: Ugly stick lite’s 7’ med and med hvy action. *Cobia Rigs: Pflueger Contender G15L reels and Ugly Stick Custom’s # USCB 1166 MH Great Cobia and Tarpon Rod! 30 pound Cajun lightin’ line.

Capt. Jot Owens

www.captainjot.com

910-233-4139