By Skylar Walters
With less than two weeks left in the month of November, we would normally be talking about the fishing season winding down and the sporadic fishing-and-catching pattern of the season, dictated by interspersed days of good weather. This year, however, it appears we’ve gotten a reprieve as the weather and the fish are both being particularly nice to anglers. Water temperatures have dipped into the mid-60s, but the lack of really cold air is making the water fluctuate to the warmer side and keeping the fish biting. The weekend forecast is calling for at least one night to get close to the freezing mark, but with the lack of consecutive cold nights, we could see some good to decent fishing right on into the first couple weeks of December.
The speckled trout fishing remains strong for anglers targeting them with most fish pushing 2-4 pounds. Recent reports indicate some smaller fish have started showing up in the mix, which is nothing unusual for this time of year. Just about any soft artificial bait fished on a quarter-ounce lead head will work and the fish have been so eager to eat, I haven’t even seen anyone putting in the effort with live shrimp just yet, although that will happen soon.
The flounder and red drum bite has also remained good with finger mullet being the bait of choice rigged on a Carolina Rig around the area docks and creek mouths. Anglers are reporting there are still lots of schools of mullet running the marshes and creeks and getting a day’s supply of bait hasn’t been very difficult. For those who like using artificial baits, they are also working. The larger scented soft artificials, like Gulp, are working good for flounder while the smaller ones are working well for red drum. The area inlets are also holding a good number of fish with the flounder being found along the mud bank edges and the drum being found closer to the creek mouths that exit into the inlet.
Along the beach, fishermen are finding some very good fall fishing soaking baits in the suds. Cut bait is working well for the red drum cruising the deeper holes and sloughs, while finger mullet is working great for finding a flounder or two. Fresh shrimp is producing some good-sized Virginia mullet as well as a few spots. Speaking of spots, area piers to our north, along the Topsail Beach and Surf City areas, have reported lots of spots and good fishing the past couple of days.
Offshore, the kings are still holding around 10 miles out, although they could move at any time. Slow troll cigar minnows around the ledges or reefs to try your luck. False albacore are schooling in the same areas and can be a blast on light tackle.
