The record warmth our area experienced during the month of December has provided some added fishing opportunities not normally seen by anglers in these waters. Inshore water temperatures were still reading close to the mid 60s earlier this week, although the latest round of cold weather that finally filtered into our area should have some sort of impact on that number. The offshore waters are still relatively warm as well, and those fortunate enough to head out over the weekend before the winds started found plenty of fish also enjoying the warmth. Not to be outdone, there’s also been some excellent surf fishing and that should remain in place until the waters start dipping into the 50s, if that ever actually happens.
Anglers trying their luck during the first couple of days of the New Year were pleasantly surprised by the warm 70-degree water they found within 20 miles of the beach. Fishing these waters with either dead baits or spoons, anglers were also soon very happy when they found these waters were loaded with hungry king mackerel. Numerous boats limited out by mid-to-late morning and while most fish were in the 10-20 pound range, there were some 30-pound fish mixed in. While there were some reports of kings being caught out of Wrightsville, mainly in the 20 mile area, the abundance of fish were reported coming off of the Brunswick County beaches in water depths of around 70 feet. Anglers electing to fish further off the beach, around the Gulf Stream Waters, found plenty of action from wahoo and some blackfin tuna with areas around the Blackjack Hole and Swansboro Hole producing the most action.
Along the beach, anglers fishing the surf have been finding some rather large Virginia mullet in the sloughs with some fish pushing the 2-pound mark. Johnnie Mercer’s Pier reports the pier record was broken on New Year’s Day with a monster of a mullet weighing in at more than 2 and one-half pounds. Sand fleas will definitely attract the larger mullet but fresh shrimp will entice a few big ones to also bite.
Inshore, the speckled trout fishing continues to be fairly good, although as has been the case for a few weeks now, the small fish can and have become a burden, but sticking with it and moving around a little will still produce a keeper here and there. Areas around the Masonboro Inlet jetties are producing a better quality of speckled trout, when anglers can get out there and fish and with this week’s cold snap, the surf may just be the place to try once the sea conditions settle down a tad.
For those not into the fishing in January thing, the fishing schools and seminars will be starting soon. We’ll be covering these again in the coming weeks as the information becomes available.
