Multiple bogies. Good when they are coming in at least two at a time.

 

ONE MILLION MILESTONE

 Thanks to all of you for visiting and checking out the fishing reports.   We just hit a milestone of one million views. 

No secrets. No blurry photos.

 Just good fun.   Call if we can help show you how to be heroes. 

From Capt. Ray today: 

Mike and Jeremiah tag teamed this one

Report from the past few days

 Big push of fish showed yesterday, more today on the way, especially with a little east in the wind and this filling moon. 

Corkers got 'em this morning, we got 'em yesterday afternoon. 

Pic from Friday.  We also had a nice mixed bag "beating the banks" ...........which these guys duplicated on their own in the Pamlico on Saturday.   Pretty work! They said even Bobby caught a fish! 

 

Capt. Chris getting what he needs

 In addition to the mixed bag, Capt. Chris had a double digit day recently on the river, sight casting and topwater action on the giants.   

His epic day has not been the norm as things have been pretty scattered but improving as the moon grows. 

need a nor'easter. 

Tarpon have been elusive for me, but I came on the scene a bit late and have not had a break from the wind. 

Pics from the shake down cruise

 Fished a bit more sinse the shake down cruise.   Been exploring a lot and have not run into anything epic, just good fishing. 

Here are some pics from the Fickling family's outing and Thomas' big, Big and BIG drum

shakedown cruise was very successful

 Thomas Fickling got his first big drum!

Bucket of shirmp for the freezer

Heavy limit of pups, black drum, sheepshead. 

Great first day

Commercial limit of red drum to increase to 10 fish????

 

IF the spirit of the law allowing a bycatch only red drum fishery could truly be adhered, then 7 to 10 fish would be not be a big deal, BUT the reality is that we have already been down this road.   A 10 fish limit makes it easier for unscrupulous fishermen and buyers to  target red drum, forge trips, trip tickets and dates.  

 

Enough of that goes on already…..redfish sold as bluefish….etc.    A ten fish limit encourages these ongoing illegal activities and encourages targeting of red drum.

 

The only solution to the bycatch, red drum or otherwise is to require MANDATORY ATTENDANCE of ALL GILL NETS. 

 

The net reels at Cedar Island/West Bay deploy thousand yard shots that kill hundreds of red drum that will be sold illegally or discarded and not counted.    Neither is acceptable.

Flounder season open, Capt. Ray says and Capt. George's mini-rant

flounder season opened and Capt. Ray says  that there is a good sign of them. 

 

I will also say that there is a good sign of them.  In fact, there was an excellent sign of them as a result of PREVIOUS regulations that were not given a chance to work, not for the recreational angler anyway. 

Recreational anglers repeatedly reduced their catches as mandated by a series of previous regulations. It is completley BULLSHIT that this new "season" was imposed on recreational anglers who have done their part, but in the name of being "equitable" are forced additional unjustified regulations and closed seasons.

Get 'em while you can because this season only last a few weeks, then you will have to wait another year for a flounder sandwich unless you buy it from the fish market. 

The way back machine

 

I am the one with the long hair.   I think that we caught 5 tarpon that day 

circa 2000

 

yes, the big drum were biting through the storm

 

mixed bag madness continues

 

Drum Rants

 It's that time of year again and I've received a lot of e mail questions.   By all means, drop me a note anytime, but for those who are interested, below are a series of “rants” from 2013…..

 

http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/2013/08/the-rant-chapter-1.html

 

http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/2013/08/the-rant-chapter-2.html

 

http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/2013/09/the-rant-chapter-3.html

 

http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/2013/09/the-rant-chapter-4.html

 

http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/2013/09/from-rant-chapter-4-below.html

 

http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/2013/09/from-capt-gary.html

 

 If you really want to browse, check out the archives from the main blog page.  From here you can compare fishing reports from the last decade.  At the very bottom of the page are pdf files from reports back to 2006. http://blog.downeastguideservice.com/

 

 

Blake's family trips over the weekend

 

"George it was great.  My grandson caught 50 fish and is ready to go again.  Blake was perfect for us. " ----Stuart, formally known as Doc

AND

"George,

We had a great time.  Blake was great.  He had all kinds of bait, including live shrimp.  Didn’t touch an artificial all day and caught a bunch of fish.  Kids loved it.  Finished off the day swimming at Cedar Island.  Couldn’t have asked for a better day.

 We’ll definitely call again.  thanks for checking in.

 Take care

---Lloyd"

big drum reports keep coming in, excellent light tackle mixed bag fishing for the cooler also

 

Told ya they showed up

Yes, the Big Red Drum have arrived

A hurricane, a full moon combined with shortening LOD (length of day) are all triggers for the running of the bulls.   Yes, they have arrived. 

I had it all wrong

Tom Cat Brynn was fishing next to multiple time tarpon tournament champions Mobile East Gene and Kingfish Derek.   Gene was not with Tom Cat, he was witness to the win, not a part of  it.   Ouch. 

Meanwhile, I was cutting some shooting lanes. 

Tarpon, tarpon, tarpon

Sounds like there was a pretty good showing out in the sound on Saturday, coinciding with a local pick up tournament of local tarpon fishermen.   

Tag a Long Dan and Tom Cat Brynn each caught two tarpon.   Dan's team  hooked a third tarpon that would have sealed the deal, but the tie in this event is broken by the first caught fish , which was team Tom Cat.   I understand that multiple tarpon tournament winner Gene Wooster from Mobile East Marine was also on the boat so I guess they split the trophy? 

Capt. Greg also caught a tarpon along with Jimmy on the Bull Pen.  

Lots of tarpon showed under ideal calm condtions.   After this blow they may be worth pursuning.   Let me know if you are hard headed enough to chase unicorns.   Will get you rigged up. 

Oh and the big drum have showed also.