12/23/07

A very merry Christmas to all my friends and clients!! This is just about the last report for the year so I'll just keep this brief. The Trout were not biting for me Saturday but the water temp had dropped to the 40's and did warm up to the 50ish mark by lunch. Good friend Brandon Eatman managed the slam (striper,speck and Puppy Drum) for the day but it was slow catching for sure. I think it was just a combonation of full moon, easterly wind and ultra clear water. Fishing should remail very decent for a while longer with the temps moderating and warming the water a bit more. Brandon used the Tusanami bait in a very natural color. I used the fly but no tags yesterday for me.

Stop by Field and Stream Sports this weekend and Monday for some last minute shopping for that sportsman in the family..or yourself!! That have just got in Browning Jewelery, window logos and much other stuff. They have some of the motion deterction cameras that you can place in your hunting area to see what is moving while you are not there and lots of hunting clothing too. Carthart,and others with some clothing on sale too. Fishing baits of all the best colors and they have the Mirror lures taht are now catching fish in the river. Your stortsman will really be thanking you for te gift and if you are not sure of what they may want, F&SS has gift cards...that's EASY SHOPPING right there.

Lastly, I want to thank all of my sponcers and friends for helping make this year a very great year for Speckrigg Charters.

Merry CHRISTmas, Happy New Year and GOD bless all of you!!

Fred

12/17/07

Here in New Bern the fishng still remains very decent for the Trout and stripershope it holds together and the weather dosent freeze. The stripers are still hanging tuff on the bridges and structurelots of small fish mixed with a few decent keepers. I tend to either catch nice sized ones or smaller ones in one area or the other so if you are just catching the smaller ones and want larger ones..you might want to move to a different location. Live Eels are working as well as some Mud Minnowswhich you can pick up there in Minnisott from Dave at Minnisott Bait. I dont know if he has any eels but Field and Stream Sports does. Artificals are still working and the topwater smaller spooks and 7M mirrilures are working too.  The trout are hitting both floating and subsurface lures like the Mirrorlures 17s, 19s, and the Catch 2000 series baits. Good results with red backs and the natural colors.witht he naturals getting the nod as far as I can tell. Flyfishing is still bvery productive here in the river for both stripers and trout and the ocational Redfish too. I saw a nice sized puppydrum last weekend just sitting on the bank in 12" of waterthat was the first time I saw that there in the riverit was cool to see for sure and of course I missed him too!!! All the creeks seem to be holding fish.some more than others and some of the fish are bigger in some creeks than others too.

I may take a few trips into January this year.it seems the fishing is running long here so Ill take charters till the fishing is non dependable..

Call me for the no fish, no pay detailsand the winter rates here out of New Bern

Fred Slann

12/12/07

The fishing has been really good!!! Record #s of Specks here on the river and nice sized ones too. All the creeks have fish. There are a good number of stripers, reds and specks from New Bern down to Oriental. It really is good fishing right now and I have some openings on the weekendsand its no fish, no pay charters now.give me a call to discuss. Call the cell  252 670 0563.

The flyfishing has been really great!!! Same deal on these charters too till Jan. 1

Check into Field and Stream sports here in New Bern for some really great deals for your sportsman in the house. They have a huge selection of hunting, fishing apparel and loads of gear and accessories. They have some sales going on now.take advantage of either picking out something or just getting a gift certificate for the hard to shop.

Get out there and fish!!!!!

Fred.

12/4/07

Last night the wind which had been blowing pretty hard out of the N had the water blown out about as far as I had seen it in a long time. As I crossed the Trent river bridge on 70, the water was drawn back to reval at least 25ft of the bank that usally is in the grass reeds a foot or soguess it must have been down a couple of feet or better. I dont think this matters so much but will surly relocate the fish for a few days in the creeks but not so much in the main river here in New Bern. The stripers up to that time have been pretty consistant! And even a few Specks still here in and even above New Bern. The RR trestle, AR reef Stumpages and secluded piles have fish on them and until the bait and the water temps drophopefully will stay for a while. The other night , we stayed there till darkthirty and the Shad came to the top and started flipping..big shad too.  Its been since my childhood since I saw Bunker here in the river this late.just like the old days.

Specks are still in most of the creeks but it may or maynot take a few days for them to get situated with the water shifing like it did. On the stripers.its  Shadlins and mudminnows in pearl or mullet color and the mid-sized Zarra are working really good.for both the specks and stripersThe trout are taking little fishes, topwaters like Ratlin rouges, rebels and walk the dog style baits. Its a pretty good time for flyangling too. Most of the time thats what Im doing when Im on the boat with myself or friends..its been sometimes better than the spinningor at least as productive. Clowsers, Bigeyes in olive /wt, cht/ white/ and white will worksometimes a yellow is better here in New Bern when the water cools moredunno why! And of course a big shiner either on the bottom or under a bobber is a good deal too. All of the biats I use comes from Field and Stream Sports here in New Bernso if its a color thingjust go there and the staff will get you the colors that are working here on the river and creeksFSS is also a place where you can bring your citation sized fish and get them weighedAnd FSS has a huge selection of tackle. They have all your hunting appereal from Columbia, Carthart and others. Lots of Dove shells for the last season and of course lots of stuff for duckhunting. They are also running some sales there with some seasonal items reduced up to 25% off the reg. Stop by when in New Bern

Hey, I  want you guys to visit a site or two.first is my new Bud, Capt Harry Ho!! He a really nice guy that is on the Chesapeake Bay and has a great site if you need some decent reports for fishing that area. The other is R.A Beaties. Hes a guide in the western US areas and also does docs. on fishing in very cool destinations around the world. You can check out some of his films at his siteand he just opened a forum there too.

www.capth3.com is harrys site

www.fishwithra.com is RAs site

Later on

11/27/07

Its been pretty good here on the river this past week and I think the fishing will be pretty consistant for a while to come.maybe well into December! Time will tell on that. Although I have made a few trips to the beach to fish for the albacore, I have spend a few good days here on the river here in New Bern. The stripers have really taken off and consistant catches of at least a limit are very good now.and if you are lucky more than a limit youll catch!! From Flyfishing to casting to trolling the stripers are in locations that will make it easy to try for them. Youll find them now in the shallows early and as the sun moves up, they stripers have moved to deeper water and baits that run 5ft or more are the better bet. But when the conditions prevail and the day is heavily overcast the fishing will be extended in the shallow and even in the deeper water they will take some topwater plugswhich are a treat!! Size of the fish is anywhere from 16" to a few clost to 30 with the main population in the 18 to 21 inch group and weighing in at 2.8 to 3lbs.

Zaras and poppers for topwaters and Traps in chrome and black are also a good style. Bagleys Bombers and Cordell Redfin and Ratlin Rouges are also good stick baits and the Rebels are good to.I like the jointed Rebels personally with the big lips for trolling. Ive been catching a few decent sized specks while striper fishing so that may be an incidental catch while in the stripersnot a bad thing there!!! Specks are in all the creeks.and I dont think one creek is really any better than the others.each creek in the past 2 weeks have had some awesome trips come from them!! From 3.5inc D.O.A. in white to 1/4oz jigs and plastics to # 17 and #19 mirror luresif the fish were biting you had to only get it in there to catch. Good colors of late have been pearl, white, new penny jerk, curly tails, and spade tails too. Old Bayside Mudminow and the Shadlin are working for me in plastics. Live boat is also a good bet and the big minnows from Field and Stream Sports here in New Bern under the bobber will get a striper or speck to bitesometimes when they will refuse a artifical.

I have a few days that are availablegive me a call. Starting in December, Ill do a few trips in the afternoon and on the weekends both in the morning and afternoon. Winter rates will apply. Call me for this special.no fish, no pay!!!

Till next time

11/18/07

Over the weekend..Saturday was only so-so with some fish caught early then puttering out fast. Sunday was a bit better here on the river and better yet @ the beach. Flies are working well here in the river and the plastics on light jig heads are too. Suspending baits like the Mirrolure #s 17 and 19 are working in the 6 or less water and 52 in a bit deeper are a good choice too. Old Bayside Shadlins and the Mud Minno with spade tails are both good choices to use. I like the pearl and Charturce and natural colors. Live shrimp are also good choices if you can get them. Field and stream sports in New Bern have all the baits I use and many others. They have a large assortment of clothing for hunting and some great rain wear by Columbia, Calcutta and Bimini Bay.which are a great value BTW! With Hunting season here for Deer and Duck hunting on the way, they have you covered with a great selection of decoys, shells, and gearincluding a pretty good selection of game calls too. Dont forget the Dove Season on the wayFSS has the best selection of Dove loads in stock.at good value too. FSS is also the areas Motor Guide and Minnkota Trolling motor service center and now have 2 trained guys to help get you back to fishing as soon as possible. With Christmas on the way FSS can get your hard to get for sportsman a gift that they will like..or a gift certificate to have them shop!!! For those in a hurry, thats the easy button!!

The upcoming holiday is looking good for the fishing.I have a few days left to book in the remaining days ahead till January 1..then its off till March 1^st. I will make your trip a good one.all you have to do is book it.

11/14/07

Well I had a great time at the beach this past week and here goes a shameless plugVisit the Drake site.Killer site!!! www.drakemag.com  Check out the fishing videos and visit the Forum.  I had the pleasure of fishing and hanging around with some of the very best anglers last week from all over the county in a beach house!!! It was just like the show Guide House.without all the drama! Hhhaaa .  All guys scored albacore on flys in fact thats all that was used that week. Special thanks to Seth Thompson, Kary Via, Harry, RA, Tom, and my very good friend Van.whos cooking was kick butt!!!

The river has taken off here and the fishing has been very solid!!! Trout, Stripers and some puppy drum are from New Bern down to Turnigan bay in all the creeks.that about says it all. Outside of some front moving in and and weather temp drops, the fishing should stay very good for a while. Baits that are workingMirror lures #17 and #19s in various colors and the #52s also. Some action on topwaters using the #7ms too. Plastics include Jerk baits, Curly tails and Gulps. Im still having solid success using the Old Bayside Shadlins in Pearl and just spiking the tipsand soaking in  shrimp Lunker sauce too is working. If the wind is calm, start using the lightest weight you can then work to the 1/4oz jig heads. A live offering of what ever will get noticed.and killed by some fish so you can use the shrimp or large minnows if the water aint to salty to use minnows. Its time to go catch some fish!!!!!

And I have 2 openings left for this month on the weekends.

Fred

11/05/07

November and the year is nearly to the end..it may go down as the Year that was off!! By at least a month or so anyway!! What usually takes place in October is just starting to happen here in the river. With the temps moving downward in the river the baitfish are starting to leave and head..to where ever bait goes, down river Id guess since I really dont know but thats at least where I see it moving anyway. And with bait moving outthe fish get a bit more desperate to eat while there is still abundant forage. Now is a good time to be an Angler and not so much a baitfish or shrimpy kinda thingy!!

The Stripers are pretty aggressive where ya find them now. From the pipe discharge @ Weyerhaeuser, stumpages off Hatteras and the Gut and back up to the Thourafare way to the NR Trestle to the Car Bridge and further down. There are a few stripers working up the Trent this year that may be the river to fish later in the seasonit sure was two years ago anyway time will tell and Ill keep some reports going in January and Feb. You have a better than average chance to hook up the next weeks ahead. Good bait choices..This time of year artificials like 1/4oz jigheads on Old Bayside 5" Shadlins in Pearl with the tails spiked green is a great starting bait and 3/8oz Traps in chrome with black and blue backs are the go to baits I first use then Ill start others.like Rattlin Rouge (I like a orange belly one) broke back Rebel in Chrome with blue back ( Ill get a bit of orange model paint and add some orange to the belly) and most any kind of topwater floating lure will work in 3 to 6 of water with the best bite early morning to late afternoon. And topwaters will work whenever you happen to find fish working on top busting bait.

Trout are here in the river and are starting to stage up in the creeks. So far the creeks down from New Bern like Beards on down have had better catches of fish.but that can change tomorrow cause fish have tails and move. Some fish in and around Dawson, Slocum, Hancock, South river and the ICW held fish and had some fish taken out. Seems like now a good placed bait will work on these fish.and a live shrimpo will win almost every time!!! This time of year is a great time of year to hang a shrimp off a cork. More on that later. The puppy drum are still abundant but have moved from all the wrong places they were to the areas youd expect them to be. Flounder have moved back from New Bern to Goose creek and further down and they are being caught on Live bait and soft plastics and Gulp Shrimp in molting and new penny (and trout, stripers and puppy drum are also going for the gulp). Shallower water seems to be where they are being taken though. Find some finger mullet working the banks and thats a good place to start fishing for any of these fish now. I like to work just ahead of the bait as its moving and cast ahead and let the bait work past my lure and just twitch it a bit to see if there are any followers.sometimes that really pays offmore often not, though but its worth it to try when the bait passes by you on the shore.

Cork fishing..here is how I fish live shrimp for trout and others. Simple rig here: a Styrofoam popping cork (I use the ones that have a cupped face, are slited with the pin  and have the weight inside them), a splitshot (about as big as afresh green pea) and a #4 live bait hook and I like the Gamagotzu (sp?) with the cut hook point. The only other option is to use a #4 Treble if the fish are going to the cooler and a bit larger fishI get good hook-ups on both hooks but Ive lost less fish with the trebles close to the boat but the trebles are tuff on small fish that you may want to cull so I usually just clip a single hook before I just kill the fish ripping the hook out and the hook is small so.I hope they live to breed or get caught again later. So, tie on what ever choice of hook..trim the knot (I use a knot that has some loop so the hook can swing freely) and place the splitshot just about 6" above the hook. Place the cork at what ever distance above the shot and use the plastic pin to secure the line in the slot so the cork doesnt slide on the line.thats usally about a rig that will hang just a bit shy of 4ft off the tip of the rod. Cast this to the shore and DRUDGE the cork under the water so the cork travels about 2 to 3ft under water..this required a pretty good stroke and let rest for at least 30 seconds. Slowly reel in till ou have moved the cork 10ft out of the area just worked and drudge it agin and wait.If there is a fish in the area it will come and kill that shrimp..you may even see the shrimp come to the surface and flip around the cork.when this happens..its gona happen! You can also of course drag a shrimp behind the boat on a bobber. Just set you depth to about a ft less than the depth you are fishing to keep some of the bottom peckers off the bait.

Hope this helps and if you need some help with thisbe glad to get you on the water for a charter to show you!! I have openings this month and will be fishing here and at the beachI like to have some clients on the boat fishing when it all happens!!!

Take care till next week.

10/31/07

The past weekend was a bit of a bust for me at least there in the Albacore Tournament held on Saturday but the Speckrigg Team covered 70miles and didnt see one!!! Hhhhaa!

Here in the river the Stripers were off to with the SW then the NE wind moving a bunch of water around. The smaller creeks off the Neuse reportedly did better than the main river this past weekend. It Was Tuck-up-in-the-creek time for sure! 

Decent reports as of now after the blow with some nice sized Trout from a bit down from New Bern to the areas as far down as Oriental on both sides of the Neuse. Still a bunch of Shrimp in the backwater areas of the creeks from Slocum to Orchard and netting a few and dropping it down under a cork is a great way to prospect for some fish.

November is here and some of the better fishing may be just ahead. Although October has had some great days and nice catches, it lacked some cooler temps to make the fish transition.I think that will change with the cooler temps this week. It only has to get in the low 60s to really turn on the fish before winter sets.

I have some openings that Id really like to fill and if the weather still is great in December, Ill book then too. Either in the river or Albacore and Trout in the Ocean, give me a call to book your trip. All ocean trips are all day trips.

Im working on a report with some details on rigging for live shrimp and have that up next week.

10/22/07

After the big blow the fishing is off this weekend past here on the river. The bait is a bit mixed up to. Still some big pogys around and the smaller ones are still in the riverjust moving down now to the areas like Beards and the other creeks closer to Minnisott and further down too.  Ive been down to the beach fishing and havent had a day that is worth bragging about but still finding some fish. The albacore are there and it should be crazy when they decide to get crazy.all the stuff there is waiting, food is abundant just water temps are warm for this time of yearanyway, fish have tails and can move. Standing by on those guys. I have the pleasure of looking forward to fishing with a good buddy for the Albacore tournament this weekend and will have the luxury of having a best bud come here to fish the second week of Novgood times!!!!  Maybe I can get a charter in there somewhere.bills have to be paid!!!

The Trent may be the striper water this year.well see but a good amount of bait is still thereand stripers need to eat!! Water is still warm here in the 70s. We caught a Lizard fish last week by the car bridge..thats a saltwater guy in a freshwater area for sure. Not much news on the trout up this waysome caught but I havent heard to much about it as I write. ..still some decent bait in the creeks though so if that bait stays the fish will come.

With Hunting here now, check out Field and Stream sports for a great selection of hunting apparel and or course leisure clothing also. They have a good selection of all Gulp Baits and some Old Bayside plastics just like I use on all my chartersand they really work for me.

10/15/07

Still a bit warm for sure but a little cool front in on the way and the temps are nice too. This time of year the fishing should be getting hot but the temps are still like early summer. The salinity is still pretty high and that wont chance till we get some rain in at least the vicinity of 2 inches. Just like last report the stripers  are in the same locations but I also know of a good number that have shown up down river about 10miles late in the evenings and took some topwatersits a hoot. Still puppie drum in locations that are a bit out of the normallike up the Trent and up the neuse by the paper plantThe guys bass fishing are catching the darn thingsthat has to be a let down to see a big ol goldfish when ya are hoping its a 5lb bass that just hit your popper!!The specks have shown up from Broad to Beards creek and of course Dawson has a few both up and out along the river shore..A few reported in Hancock and Slocum but not a good showing on nice sized ones. Plastics in pearl, white, green pepper flake and chartuce have been working as well as a well placed live shrimp under the cork. This time of year I really like to fish shrimp under the corks just like a popping cork fishing the banks and points. It usually only take one good drudge under the water to let me know if there is any fish there with a shrimp and then I move on. Up the ICW has a few fish too. . There were a few nice sized fish up in Turnigan but they are moving around.ya got to findem so move if you dont get a few takers.

10/8/07

Fishing in the river is quite good this past week and the fishing for the usal species will get some better as the temps drop a bitstill pretty warm for this time of the month. The salinity is still somewhat abnormal for the areas close to New Bern and the species that usally hang a bit further down stream have found new digs here in the river from Downtown NB to almost the paper plant there at the Streets ferry bridge. Not sure what this will do long term to the riverhaving that much salt water will kill some of the freshwater clams and maybe some of the grasses too.I guess time will tell on that. But, still some decent striper action around structure (bridges, RR trestles, stumpages) from the Gap down to Duck creek and parts of the Trent too. There is still a bunch of bait up the trent..which is a good sign for the fallwait this is the falla good sign for the winter I mean to have some decent striper action!!! The puppy drum are where ya find themand they can be found from the upriver area above the gap down past turnigan.with good numbers in lots of the areasweve been finding some good sized slots fish while striper fishing..on topwaters too! The specks are also where ya find them but I wish I could say the numbers were up on those. I think some netting has gotten somebut there is still a good number of fish in the river. Top water lures, soft plastics and even some spinner biats with plastic trailers are taking all three species. There are some very decent flyfishing opportunities also. Intermed lines and Big Eyes and clowsers are working pretty goo.even a few on topwater poppers. There is a good choice of those flies in Field and Stream sports here in New Bern sold as Locals Only flies. Ties by guys here locally and its the ones we use too.

9/18/07

Just getting back from Key Largo.great place to be!!!!

Looks like the fall fishing began with a good spattering of Specks up around the bridge last weekif you heard about it, you may have missed it!! They do the Hodini where they are there for a few days following the bait then move back out a bit but they are usally in the river this time of year and with the salinity up quite a bit.I heard a report of a stray speck caught up Brices Creek!!! Ya never know till ya go!!!

Stripers along the the drop-offs above New Bern just down from the Hatteras plant and if you mark some bait.fish-it. They will move to some of the traditional areas this time of year so its worth a drive-by to hit all the usall hot spots that you have always picked up fish. Along with some of the stripers are a few Puppie Drum.like I said the salinity is still pretty high in the river near New Bern. Just down from New Bern the bite on the Southern side of the river was goodSpeck, Puppie drum and even a few stripers down from Johnson PT. Upper Broad to Goose creek has had a few fish along the stumpages there on the mouths of the creeks and further down, Hancock, Slocum had some Trout and Puppie Drum and a few Flounder too. From Minnisott down..solid angling oppertunites for yas!!! Plastics are working and I like the Old Bayside Shadlins and Mudminno with a 1/4oz jig head and work the shadlin like a shrimpget the twitch! Ive been using the pearl and charturce and add a spiked orange or green tail.depends on the day I guess on that. Hard baits.Zarra spooks pup sized for all the fish and also the Mirrow lures like the 52s and the 19s and 17s are working equally. Yo-zuris  floating christal minnows worked just under the surface and twitched on top area a good choice in the shallow to 4 water too. Its also a good time to try some flyfishing!!!!! Get geared up at Field and Stream Sports here in New Bern. They all your fishing need covered.

This is the last weekend before the Neuse River Backwater Open Tournament. The link to the site is on my home page at the top. If the weather is good the tournout should be pretty good. Last year there were some 39 boats that fished..Lots of tournament entries have been picked up from the stores and looks like a lot of guys are at least thinking about fishing it this year. There are a few that wont fish this year due to the moving the tournament to Sunday and the staff appoligize for that.well try to get the time reserved for next year so that will not happen again. But.looks like that are some good fish this year so we are looking to have some great weigh ins!!!

Well see you on the water!!!!

9/04/07

Fishing has really picked up in the river and the fall fishing is on the edge of of race'n to a pace all will like on catching fish. The flounder bite has picked up nicly and the Specks are moving up the river and are just before turning the corner @ minnisott. Most of the fish are still in the Lower Broad Creek to Minnisott areas but this will most likly change in the next weeks. Here in New Bern the fishng was decent with some reports of over slot Puppie Drum close to New Bern and some under slot too..and a few small flounder. These were caught on plastics and cut bait. The small Stripers still cont to make apperences and are int he 12 to 13" range...lot of fun but a note of caution fellas and gals, if you are targeting these fish, please use some caution to release these fish (and others like the small Puppie drum) unharmed. One good way to do this is to Mash down the barbs on your hooks and to use a de-hooker to help these fish not be handled so much reducing some of the stress of beign caught...it's a resorce placed there for us to enjoy, lets help them make it to the next size up to keep a few if we want!

 Most of the creeks just down from New Bern and the Stumpages are starting to hold a varity of fish and live biat is working on these . Live shrimp is a great choice and the creeks in the minnisott area have some shrimp that you can catch in a cast net...Work of caution, if you throw a net inside the inland line, you are in need of a special devices liscence to do that. The ticket is not work the shrimp my friend. I like to use shrimp on popping corks and the rig is simply a #4 treble with a split shot 6" above that. Ajust the cork to the depth of the bottom and dragging behind the boat will lift that up a foot or so. If you are casting and working the cork to the shore, set the depth a bit less than the bottom, this will help keep the pinfish and other critters off your baits. You can also replace the live biat with a soft plastic of your choice...I like the the Old Bayside Shrimp or the Shadlins..they have been working pretty good for us.

Stop by Field and Stream Sports today to get some of what you need..they have most of what you need to get out in the outdoors!!!!

The Neuse River Backwater Open is just a month away and we already have close to 2000.00 in prizes...not including the cash prizes. Last year we had 39 boats fish the tournament and thhis year we hope to keep it going that good at least.  We currently have a few guys without a boat that want to fish so if you are looking for a partner to fish with drop me a line and we'll see if we can match a few of you up!!!

Stay tuned for more on the tournament..and the link is on my home page @ the top!

8/30/07

Been having some nice trips the past 2 weeks with small specks. Some keeper stripers (but mostly little guys) and some puppy drum and small flounder(I have not found very many keepers this year so far) from an area from the Car bridge to Beards Creek and mostly on the northern side of the river with the exception of a few places on the southern side of the river near New Bern. Reports of flounder, Puppy drum all the way to Glenburnie this week would suggest the salinity of the water to be a bit high.and that has some impact long term for the river..  If the salt water reaches a level that will begin to kill some of the fresh water mussels and some of the vegetation, it can lead to some of the freshwater fish moving up the river to find some of their food and habitat.  Some rain in the system would be pretty goodjust not a flood to screw-up the really nice bait and fishing that is resulting from the higher salinity levels near New Bern now.I caught a Lizard Fish over the weekend for petes sake.thats salty!

For the report.

Not a bad showing for the little stripers still and a few keepers in the mix with the larger ones in the river along the RR trestle and up river from Glenburnie along some of the drop-offs and ledges..with a few reported near Wheyrhouser. Close to New Bern the fishing is better since the weather has backed off that hot spell we had and some trout were caught just off the bridge las week and early on this week. Shrimp were scattered along the shore in the area toocrazy. Further down the river from NW creek, Broad, Goose and other out to Minnisott have all species of fish and they will take live bait and some plastics and mirrorlures..I have been using some of the Old Bayside Shadlins in Mullet and Pearl colors are working best for me and I of course sweeten them with some Lunker Sauce in Shrimp flavor..and may spike it in green tailor orangeField and stream sports here in New Bern have them in the colors I use and all the other stuff too.  The big Drum bit is ON!!!!!!! I have just a few opportunities left to book..and just a few of the weekend days are left for October as its rumored to be one of the better fall seasons in a whileand last year was really good!! I have Nov 3^rd and the 10^th open for now. And there may open up a few dates in Octoberjust get your name on the book to gocall me or e-mail me to shore it up.

Stop by field and stream sports for all the Fall stuff you need to either hit the water or the woods!!! Dove decoys, shells, Deer hunting supplies and is your Camo getting place!!

8/16/07

WELL THE FALL FISHING IS UPON US IN A FEW WEEKS AND THE FISHING SHOULD BE GETTING A LOT BETTER IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE!!! wE ARE CATCHING SOME OF ALL SPECIES NOW ON BOTH LIVE AND ARTIFICAL BAIT. LOTS OF PUPPYDRUM IN THE ICW AND IN THE CREEKS ALONG THE NEUSE RIVER. SOME SPECKS ARE BEGINNING TO WORK A BIT CLOSER TO THE CREEKS FROM THE SOUND AS WE HAVE CAUGHT SOME IN THE RIVER. I WILL BE RUNNING SOME TRIPS FROM MORHEAD IN THE NEXT WEEKS BUT I'LL BE MOVING MORE TO THE RIVER TO GET ON THE TROUT AND STRIPERS.

THE NRBWO TOURNAMENT WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 29TH THIS YEAR....LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT TOURNAMENT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

From New Bern down river. Still some decent lilstriper action around the carbridge and along the shore there are a few below and in the slot puppy drum. I'm catching them on Old Bayside Shadlin in Mullet on a 1/4oz red head with a bit of Lunker sauce in Menhaden flav. Just keep you baits in the same size as the live bait you see and that works ok. You can also buy some live shrimp and float them under a popping cork to get a lot of action with the puppydruma nd stripers too. There are some fish working teh shoreline around the mouth of Broad and Goose creek and along the southers side creeks beabove Minnisott beach. There are some Flounder in Minnisott around the ferry basin and along the shorline there and just off dawson creek too. Not a bunch but there are some. Hear d of one in the 26" size caught close to Minnisott. The Guides fishing out of Orential area doing well with mixed bag trips in the open waters of the Neuse and they are starting to do pretty good witht eh Old Drum too. Speaking of Old Drum Charters, I will only do a select few this year. Some have alrealy called to secure a spot. If you plan to fish with me you would be good to let me know...but call the guides listed here on this site. They are the best at this game!!!

Dove Hunting is just a few weeks off and Field And Stream Sports has all you need covered for that. Decoys, Shells, light weight camo and seats...it's all there. And you can get a new shotgun there too. Field and Stram sports...the biggest little sports store in New Bern!!!! Stop by and see what they are getting in new!!! They have Gulp Alive, Old Bayside Plastics,and all the baits that will keep your cooler smelling like fish!!!hhhaaaa

7/28/07

Long over due report:

The fishing has been so-so and in a typical summer pattern here in the New Bern area with some days better than most for the Stripers, Pups and Specks.or simply put some days have been better than others! So here is what was happing this past week on the Neuse. Above New Bern to Cow Pen there were a few decent sized Catfish in the teens caught from the bank and boat. A good bite on bream still is going on and Crickets, worms and small artificial are working there. An the artificial baits, Beetle spins, little Rebels seem to be a good choice for that. The silver Beetle spins with the 1/16oz head wok good in the shallow water and the 1/8oz seem better in the deeper water. White and green seem to be the best colors. Flyrodders and lilpoppers are having some fun too. Still a few Stripers in the area just above New Bern close to the Hatteras Plant. Topwater spooks early in the morning and real late seem the best time. Field and Stream sports has the color and style covered.just ask! Around the car bridge and RR trestle, thee are some fish too and a bunch of small guyslittle stripers in the 12" class were caught this past weekend around the car bridge. I had a friend Gary D. call me yesterday (sorry Gary, I just got your message today when I turned the cell on) that he had got a great bite on some Catfish in the river close to New Bern fishing with the small pogeys here in the river as bait. A few puppy drum in the stumpages close to New Bern. Now is a good time to try a popping cork for these fish. It will let you suspend over the stumps and not get hung-up in the stumpsas bad??? Stop by and try a few from Field and Stream Sports here in New Bern, they have all the types youll need. There have been some small specks in the riverjust spotty this time of year. Better down river though and in the sound. Still using the Old Bayside Shadlins in 4" white and mullet colors to catch most of the fish. I might add a bit of spike-it to color the tail and add a bit of Lunker Sauce to spice it up for the slow bite..it works!! There were a few small shrimp in the creeks this weekend. Some of the creeks were still a bit off color from the last big rains we had but the river is pretty nice. There is some likely hood of a fish kill in the future with the heat and low winds of latethere were a few dead pogeys at the ramp there in New Bern over the weekend. Still a bunch of bait in the river..thats a good thing!!!! Some really big Pogeys tooking Mac sized pogeys.

Been at the beach with the Sharks.we got the boats best ever this past Saturday..better than a 7ft blacktip followed by one just under 7ft.in 3ft of waterit was something to see!!! Seems to be plenty of Puppy Drum in the ICWand off the ICW too.

Stop by Field and Stream Sports here in New Bern to see all the new baits and Rod Combos they have in stock. They also have a great selecting of fresh and Saltwater Flyfishing flies that will get you hooked up and going. They carry Temple Fork and others too. Locals Only Saltwater Flies have been selling very nicely..ya gotta like having the local boys sharing!!!

7/16/07

Reports of some Tarpon is most likely the news most are waiting to hear about. The Guides here on the river are starting to see some. Ive been out of the loop to know if any have been landed though. However you can check out the guides page on site to links to Down East Guide and Speckfever Guide and a few others to see.

Here in the river there have been some Stripers early and late around the bridge, tressle, and shores with some stumpage near deep water. They have been taken on Topwater, jigs and even spinnerbiats. Old Bayside Shadlins in Pearl with a 1/4oz jig head with the tail spiked green is doing a great job here in the river for the stripers. Some puppy drum in the river too. With the fresh water from the past weeks rains, most of the fish may be driven out to the main river at the creek mouths as they follow the baitfish. There is some water that is pretty void of Oxygen in the center of the river.hopefully this will not end up getting blowed up the shoreline and result in a fish kill. There is a good number of flounder in the river now and most are being taken on live bait. While Im not an avid flounder fisher, I seem to have better luck fishing the minnow on a jig head rather than just a flounder rig, but either is effective.  Further down river the Specks are larger than the ones here close to New Bern. Early morning topwater bite then some live or cut bait will work as the sun rises a bit. Reports from the sound have been decent for the summer. It wont be long before the Old Drum show up here on the river.

I will be making some limited trips for the drum. If you would like to be on a calling list to fish for these drum, email me or call me. I will start fishing when the fish are there thick. And I will take names on the list on a first contact basis. You can also book and Ill try to make the date in the top time frame. Limited to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children per trip. Remember this is a closed take fishery.

And until they leave, there is a great fun fishery in the ocean nearshore for sharkslots of pullage!!! Call and get your trip.