Minnesott Beach Fishing Reports

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Daughters Adventure

Want to share some of my daughters’ new adventure – So Proud!
She is graduating this weekend with a double degree in Culinary and Hospitality. She was awarded the Culinary Student of the year for 2012. She has studied also under Nicholas Lodge of Atlanta Georgia, one of the top pastry chefs in the country, learning this art of edible flowers.
I am assisting her in establishing a business and soon to have a web site. Here is some of her work being sold for mother’s day.
OPEN for Business!
Contact her, Chef Crystal Carawan, at 252 497-0468 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  or let me know if I can help.

Daughters Adventure

Want to share some of my daughters’ new adventure – So Proud!
She is graduating this weekend with a double degree in Culinary and Hospitality. She was awarded the Culinary Student of the year for 2012. She has studied also under Nicholas Lodge of Atlanta Georgia, one of the top pastry chefs in the country, learning this art of edible flowers.
I am assisting her in establishing a business and soon to have a web site. Here is some of her work being sold for mother’s day.
OPEN for Business!
Contact her, Chef Crystal Carawan, at 252 497-0468 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  or let me know if I can help.

Daughters Adventure

Want to share some of my daughters’ new adventure – So Proud!
She is graduating this weekend with a double degree in Culinary and Hospitality. She was awarded the Culinary Student of the year for 2012. She has studied also under Nicholas Lodge of Atlanta Georgia, one of the top pastry chefs in the country, learning this art of edible flowers.
I am assisting her in establishing a business and soon to have a web site. Here is some of her work being sold for mother’s day.
OPEN for Business!
Contact her, Chef Crystal Carawan, at 252 497-0468 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  or let me know if I can help.

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Early May Update

The easterly winds have been great for the river shore fishing. Loads of trout although small have fired up. I have had a major run on DOA Deadly Combos that have been producing really well on these trout. Legal fish have been mixed in too. I had one customer who caught a citation 6 lb fish in Oriental Saturday just before the storm hit.
Drum reports are getting better but still far from what we want.
Cobia is the story for those wanting to venture to the coast. Bait has been an issue but if you want eels – call me a day ahead and I can hook you up.
My minnow tanks a filled with mud minnows again and freezer full of shrimp, squid and ballyhoo.
Ready to sell firearms now – new to the process but will give you the Best Deal.
My plan is to have satellite site at Bay River Campground set up before Memorial Day for you campers. If you need any additional stuff that I have not stocked there, please let Rachel know.
Charter bookings are open for any of my targeted fish – call to get out for a fun trip.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Qick Update

Well if you like wind – we got it! It doesn’t seem to want to quit.
There are still rock in New Bern and some showing all the way by me. Trout fishing is also the same, a lot of small fish and a mix of slots. Let the wind die a little and get out there for some fun tugs.
I NOW have my FFL license and can help with your next firearms purchase. Call or come by for the best service and pricing around.
For you Bay River Campground people - I will be stocking a selection of tackle and bait there by Memorial Day. Let me know if there is something you have seen a need for there - they are great people and love working with them.
I am ready for cobia bookings with schedule to carry my Mako to Harkers Island first week of May. Will run out of Cape Pont Marina (Barbours) making it a short run out of Bardens Inlet.  I will also be running my Key West local on rock, trout and drum trips too.
I have openings starting May 8, call me to get booked.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

New Bern Rock

Rock bite on top water in New Bern is of fire – only 1 week left to eat them!
I have Tuesday – Thursday open next week.
Give me a call or email me to book a fun filled trip.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

A Day with a Marine Captain

I had the privilege of carrying one of our Gulf War Marines recent returned out for a day of fishing. It was an opportunity to have 2 Captains on the boat at once; but I held SENIORITY!
We almost cancelled this trip due to the viscous SW winds and low water. But as a Marine does, he said lets push on.
The morning started out in our favor with winds subsiding to a fishable level. We hit 3 separate areas and found the top water rock hungry and aggressive in all. Did do a lot of stump bumping to get into the areas but was well worth the effort. We spent about 3-4 hours on top water before moving on to jigging. Jigging action was slow, hampered by the increasing again winds, but we managed several strikes with no hook ups.
We finished day showing the Captain some trout jigging for the small trout we have in the area.
Sorry his partner didn’t show and enjoy the day we had; rub it in.
I made a decision after this trip to offer any Cherry Point stationed Marine a 10% discount on any trip I offer and will pick up at Hancock Creek boat ramp if fishing in this area. These guys are close to my heart having spent the last 2 years of my carrier traveling around the world with them. Up-coming cobia season will require travel to Harkers Island, but I can arrange pick up in some cases.
Now stock worms, mud minnows, Bionic ballyhoo, squid and shrimp through-out the year and still waiting on firearms license.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

April Run!

Weather has been up and down of late – varying water temps thus moving fish around.
Out Saturday with the Aemon family. I had the solicit the help of Capt. Joe Ward to carry whole family. Kept moving until we got into a good top water bite that we sat with our Power Poles down and had some fun!  Tony, the dad is new to our area and had an eye opener as to the types of fishing we have here.                     
Out Monday with Terry,  xxxx. Top water rock bite stunk this morning, beautiful weather BUT!!!! Did manage a top water trout early in the AM. Xxxx caught it but xxxx makes a better picture! Great family and loads of fun.
Out Friday on a double trip. Started with Charles and Steve and a trip paid for by their Father in Law. They are real suck ups!  Stared out on top water rock and 1st cast put Steve on a nice 21” rock. Sevral cast later had Charles hooked up but not in the size. Loads of blow ups. Then on to trout and the problems started. My trolling motor crapped out taking me out of commission. As Steve says “ In my business, shxx happens”. Yes he is a plumber. I am in debt to them for a return trip later in the year to make up for missed opportunity.
Then I teamed up with Capt. Gary Dubiel to do a 2 boat trip for a father and son group attending Y Guides camp at Camp Seafarer.  We hit the river and found some fun action on small trout throwing DOA Deadly Combos. It should be a memorable trip for the kids.
Out again Monday with 2 marines just back from Afghanistan. I am looking forward to a rewarding day for these guys. Going to do a full day, picking them up at Cherry Point docks, head to NB for some rock and work our way back chasing trout.
There is great rock action and small speckled trout action in the river. I throw Strom Chug Bugs, Rapala Skitter Walks and DOA CAL baits for the rock. I throw Mirrolure, Yo-Zuri 3D Fingerlings, DOA Deadly Combos and CAL baits for the trout. I have a large stock of older style 3Ds. that work as good as the new design, in my shop at a much cheaper price.
It’s getting into cobia season with a few reports of early catches. I have arranged with Chuck at Cape Ponit Marina, http://barboursmarina.com/,  to leave my Mako there through the season for trips out of Barden’s Inlet. Also working with Ron at Harkers Island Tackle,  http://www.harkersislandtackleandtradingpost.com/  . Both of these business are great customer oriented establishments. I will still be working the Neuse and Pamlico Sound as well in my Key West.
Give me a call or email me to book a fun filled trip.
Now stock worms, mud minnows, Bionic ballyhoo, squid and shrimp through-out the year.

Friday, April 06, 2012

Pre Easter Neuse Report

Good week of work on the water.
Out Sunday with the Andersons. Had a slower than expected top water bite but managed to catch a few rock and 1 in slot. Then on to trout. We found small specks, legal grays and blue fish. Fun day of fishing with one of my regular clients providing a mixed menu of spec, gray trout and rock.
Out Tuesday with Jerry and Tom. Jerry won this am trip at our Coastal Catching Seminar. We started out in the fog, managed a couple of rock top water. Moved to another site and couldn’t get a top water bite but my Rockin’ Wobbles started producing fish. Moved again to another site and worked hard to raise them – and they did cooperate after a few cast. Their fish Neuse adventure and I don’t think it will be their last.
Out Thursday with my neighbor Rex and his grandson Eli.  Man did it blow! We ducked in the creeks and managed a few small trout oh the DOA Deadly Combo. Eli had his first catch in this style of fishing and was a trooper.
Out again Saturday and Monday but have openings later in the week.
Give me a call or email me to book a fun filled trip.
Now stock worms again for my fresh water guys and girls. I had enough inquiry to stock up so come and get’um.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Quick Scouting Update

Quick Scouting Update

Trout yesterday – tagging 5 and releasing 3 under in a few hours and 10 rock top water this morning in about 1 ½ hours with stiff wind. Good prep for coming week of charters. A lot of action available for all.
Have openings Apr 4, 5 and pre-Easter week.
Give me a call or email me to book a fun filled trip.
Shop back to regular hours but do call before coming – I may be out fishing and JB may not be her to help.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Pre Easter Report

It looks like summer is here!!!!  Can you believe this weather?

The word is trout and more trout, speckled and grey. Yes grey. And flounder and PINFISH.  Already! You can have a blast just catching and mix in a few legal, maybe real nice fish, to have as table fare. All you have to do is be mobile and watch for bait – bang you are in them. Fish are moving rapidly into the river but still some in the creeks as well.

On the trout note, Yo-Zuri has changed their 3D Fingerling discontinuing the old style but I know what works and have bought up a large number of the F686 3Ds that sell for less than the new ones. I also had a customer from Washington that bought some send back for more after they out fished the 3D Shrimp. Not to belittle the new baits but price difference can’t be ignore.
The rock have started back down river with reports of some all the way to Oriental. Top water action should be on fire early and late in the day with jigging producing well during the day.

I have stocked up on ballyhoo, squid and shrimp while also keeping minnows in my tank.

Keep your gear ready for the cobia run – my guess is it will be early this year as we are seeing other stuff.  I have heard of scattered fish caught as far as Hatteras already!

Oh, Minn Kota has rebates going on now on motors, talons and chargers.  Let me rig you up, sell to you or install too.

I am still anxiously waiting final approval to buy and sell guns. Reminds me of my Government days!

I have been fortunate to see my charter bookings growing this year so please call if interested to lock in a trip for rock/trout or cobia, summer slot drum/mixed bag trip, Old drum trip or just for a great scenic ride.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Mid March Report

It has been a great week on the water. Started out with me and my soon to be son in law fishing a short late afternoon. We probably caught 30 trout with most under 14” tagging a bunch. Loads of fun on light tackle and caught on Yo-Zuri 3D Minnow (old style) and DOA.
Thursday was out with the Fisherman’s Post gang Max and Josh. What an afternoon. Several fish 18-21 inches, a lot of photos and plenty of bs for an article to come next issue. Josh was slow out of the gate but finally stuck a nice fish. Max want to through a mirrolure so I set him up with my custom 17 and bang - bang – 2 nice fish in a row. It was a fun afternoon on the water with perfect condition and a lot of nice fish. I hope Max can put together a GOOD article!
Saturday morning was out with Gary and Judy Butts. Garys mother want Judy to learn to fish and catch them. Well, it worked. When I kept her focused she caught fish!!! And she also caught the biggest at 21”. Can’t count how many short fish we caught but her and Gary did a good job sticking them once they got adjusted to twitching the baits. Great clients and made momma proud. I even shared one of my newest drink recipes to them and response was that they are hooked! Hope I didn’t corrupt them.U
I had a nice trout weighed in this week by Ted Gustafson. His catch weighed in at 6.03 lb. Great catch for the current stock conditions. I have had several attempts of weigh in that fell short of 5# by a minimal amount. This is a great sign of things to come.
Water temp is in mid 60s pushing 70 at times and areas. These fish will soon be head into the river. It won’t mean you can’t catch any in the creeks but major population will enter river areas.
As the rock return down river after spawn, we should have some really good top water action in and around New Bern. I have had a few reports of some action already.
Met with ATF Agent and in the wait mode for final approval to buy and sell guns. New adventure that I hope I care share discount with my customers as I do on boat and tackle stuff.
Call if interested in booking a spring rock/trout or cobia trip, summer slot drum/mixed bag trip, Old drum trip or just for a great scenic ride.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Trout Report

How about my boy Zac – called me wanting to know if I carried Z Man and told him no but would send him some DOA the next day. He didn’t wait and what a nice 4 ½ pounder on the Z Man.  He is getting DOA anyway and will see that American made works as good or better!
With this said, there are a lot of trout in the local creeks, not all this size, but they are mixed in with small ones. I had 2 Tuesday afternoon between 16 and 21”. You have to move around to locate and may not catch where you caught the day before. These fish are moving and finicky. Don’t let thoughts of lack of fish stop you from going – its’ fun and can put some fish in the grease.
I still have some nice mud minnows in my tank for the live baiters and a wall of DOA and Rapala as well as Mirrolures.
Call if interested in booking a spring rock/trout or cobia trip, summer slot drum/mixed bag trip, Old drum trip or just for a great scenic ride.
ATF Agent is to be here next Wednesday to get me set up for gun sales – may take a week or so afterward – let me help with your gun, ammo and accessory purchases. I don’t plan on getting beat out on price and sure not customer service.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Watersnake Trolling Motors

Just want to show off my first Watersnake install. For those who haven’t heard of them, they are an exclusive Big Rock Sports (Henrys) item. Made in Australia, carry same warranty as competitors and looks all the same but at a lower price. I am impressed with the price and quality. Of both 55 tiller motors sold, customers saved about $180 over competitor brands.

Let me know if I can help with any questions or purchases of these Watersnakes - highly recommend.And if you own one, I am an authorized repair center also.