Water temperatures continue to slowly creep up, now reading in the upper 50s. And if the extended forecasts hold true for the next few days, we might even get to the 60 degree mark by the first full week of April, which would be a very good thing for fishermen. Unfortunately, what next week brings is anyone’s guess, as witnessed by lows dipping into the 20s this past weekend. As the days progress, it will be that much more unlikely, and now anglers can start getting excited for the fishing season to officially begin.
Offshore fishing has been minimal due to brisk winds and rough seas. Unfortunately, this weekend doesn’t look all that promising, either. Hopefully as the cold fronts start subsiding, so will the sea conditions.
Inshore, the fishing has been good for some and slow for others, but those who know where to look and have some time to fish have been rewarded very nicely the past couple of weeks. The fishing is definitely not on fire, but those anglers getting out on the water are finding fish and the fish finding should improve as each day comes and goes.
Piers along Topsail and Surf City have reported some catches of Virginia mullet, and while these fish are not very large, there are some keepers in the mix if dinner is what you are looking for. Shrimp is the bait of choice, and the fresher the better. With the local shrimp season not yet underway, probably the closest to fresh is coming from the Gulf, and that is a much better bet than something that’s farm raised from a foreign country. If you can’t find anything halfway fresh, hopefully you’ve managed to store a little reserve of bait shrimp in the freezer. With it being so early in the season, the tastier the presentation, the better chance you’ll have of a fish being interested in your offering.
Elsewhere, the red drum and speckled trout continue to bite fairly well on both natural baits and artificial. While there have been some fish caught around the Wrightsville Beach area, the better fishing is being found in the creeks and bays both around Topsail Island and in the lower Cape Fear River. The upper Cape Fear River is still holding some striped bass if that is more to your liking.
For the ladies out there, the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department is holding a fishing school just for you. The Women Anglers in Training Program (WAIT) is April 25-26. Saturday will be classroom instruction followed by fishing on either a local pier or an inshore charter, depending on the instruction package you are interested in. The pier excursion cost is $49 while the inshore excursion is $129. Depending on weather, an offshore excursion to Frying Pan Tower may also be offered for $50 more. Lunch is included with every option. Contact the Oak Island Parks and Recreation Department at 910-278-5518 for more information or visit www.oakislandnc.com/recreation
