Pamlico County Fishing and Hunting Report

How big can it be…

April 15, 2014 By Keith Smith

Now that winter is leaving us and the daffodils are starting to bloom, everyone is getting that itch to go fishing. But before you go, you need to review some new regulations and creel limits because we had some changes over the winter. In the Oriental / NeuseRiver / Pamlico Sound area, we are blessed to have many species of fish to catch. Some species are here year round and some come and go throughout the year. Below is a list of the more common fish that recreational fishermen/women target throughout the year in our area. Please note that some of these regs can change at any time during the year and it is the fisherman’s responsibility to stay abreast of those changes by contacting the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries.

Species Size Creel

Black Drum 14”-25” 10/day

Red Drum 18”-27” 1/day

Flounder 15” 6/day

Speckled Trout closed and will be re-evaluated on June 15

Grey Trout 12” 1/day

Spanish mackerel 12” 15/day

Tarpon no limit 1/day but please practice catch and release

Striped Bass Check the NCDMF website because the regulations vary depending on the local body of water, inland or joint, that you fish.

***Note: The above are the regs on March 19, 2014 and are subject to change.

Before you go fishing, you better have a measuring device with you. The Marine Patrol guys are very nice and will let you borrow theirs, but you probably do not want to do that.

Don’t let the big one get away!

Capt. Bobby Brewer

It Ain’t All About the Fish… by Captain Bobby Brewer

January 6, 2014 By Keith Smith

So it’s January 5 and the air temperature is 66°F in beautiful Oriental. Nothing else to do so I might as well go fishing. With the first hard decision of the day behind me, I face my second one: boat or kayak? My wife decides she wants to go paddleboarding so I decide to use my kayak so we can go together. Wow, two decisions already made and it is just mid-morning. Then she asks me what creek? Man, another decision. There’re so many choices but we finally decide on Broad Creek. At the end of our adventure, Heather has paddled 10 miles and I have caught zero fish….but I did not fish the entire time. Sometimes when I go fishing, I put my rods away, sit in my boat, and just look around at this beautiful area where I am blessed to live. Man it’s sweet! The new year has arrived whether we wanted it to or not. Let’s all take some time to cherish the past, live in the present, and dream (big fish) about tomorrow. Oh man she’s done it. If you know my wife, I think I am talking like her now…but good advice.

New Black Drum Regulations… by Captain Bobby Brewer

December 23, 2013 By Keith Smith

The NC Division of Marine Fisheries is implementing new regulations on black drum effective Jan. 1, 2014. The new regs are:

· Slot size – 14” – 25”

· Creel limit – 10 / day / person

· Over slot size – 1 fish over 25” / day / person

Fishermen around this area do not target black drum like they do their cousin, the red drum. Maybe it’s because black drums are not as abundant up the creeks and around the docks. However, don’t discount the flavor of their meat or the fighting power of the fish. Black drums are brackish water, bottom feeders and eat smaller fish, crabs, oysters, shrimp, etc. An excellent place to target black drums is on the Oriental artificial reef. Check out the edges where the structure exists, and put some cut bait on a medium sized circle hook and bottom fish it. A Carolina rig with a live baitfish or shrimp will work, also. Like always, the amount of weight that you use will depend on the current. You just might be surprised at the fun that you have if you get on the bite.

Don’t let the big one get away…

Capt. Bobby Brewer

Patience is a virtue.. by Captain Bobby Brewer

December 15, 2013 By Keith Smith

The weather is getting colder, but fish are waiting to be caught with the right technique. Patience is needed because the fish are not as aggressive in the cold waters of December compared to the warmer months. Water temperatures this time of year range from 45°F-55°F depending on the previous days air temperatures, the cloud cover, the water depth, and the sun location in relationship to where you are fishing. In warmer waters, the strike can be hard and send a vibration down the rod into your hands. This time of year, the strike could be just a light tap you could miss if you’re not attentive. When you feel that light tap, don’t immediately set the hook hard and fast or you might pull your bait out of the fish’s mouth. Maybe hesitate for a couple of seconds and then set the hook. Remember patience..

Don’t let the big one get away

Jim Sammons Extreme Kayak Fishing and the Famous Big Drums

October 12, 2013 By Keith Smith

As an avid kayak fisherman, I enjoy watching Jim Sammons’ show and would like to recommend an adventure for you . In the Pamlico Sound in North Carolina we are fortunate to be the spawning waters for large Old Drums. These are the mommas and daddys of our puppy and slot redfish and measure 40″-50″ in length. The fishery is in its height mid-August to mid-September as the large fish venture from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pamilico Sound and the contributing NeuseRiver to spawn. The Pamlico Sound is a relative shallow water lagoon system with maximum depths of about 25′. It is the body of water that separates the mainland from the fabled North Carolina Outerbanks. To catch these great fish, we fish the drops ranging from 9′-15′, the channels and some rock formations. The fishing technique we primarily use is basically bottom fishing utilizing large circle hooks baited with mullet,manhaden, or crabs. While fishing for the Old Drums, we usesd popping corks and artificial baits. For this fishing adventure, we were based at Oriental NC. Our fishing area ranged from Gum Thicket to MinnesottBeach .

By our friend, Bobby Brewer

Jim Sammons visits Oriental to Film Kayak Fishing Show, by Suzanne Gwaltney,Realtor/Associate Broker

October 11, 2013 By Keith Smith

Jim Sammons , world renown fishing and game expert, filmed his kayak fishing show on September 7th, 8^th and 9^th in Oriental, NC. Sammon is a certified guide in the International Game Fish Association and owns a kayak fishing instruction and guide service. He films 12 shows annually for the World Fishing Network, Game on 3, and NBC Sports. Jim Sammons, Bobby Brewer (a local Oriental resident), and Brooks Beatty hooked up with Captain Ashley King of Keep Casting Charters, and fished for striper. The original plan was to go after the Old Drum fish that are quite popular here but de to high winds, they had to move to a more protected fishing spot on Day 1.

Day 1 was a success in that many stripers were hooked, landed and released.

Stripers are a popular game fish. They are also called Atlantic striped bass, linesider, rock, pimpfish, or rockfish. The striper has a streamlined, sislvery body marked with long dark stripes running from behind the gills to the tail. The maximum recorded weight is 125 ;pounds and common mature size is 3.9 feet. Stripers are believed to live for up to 30 years. The maximum length is 6 feet and average size is 2.2 to 3.3 feet and 10-32 pounds. There are a variety of angling methods used to catch striped bass, including trolling and surf casting, with topwater lures a good pick for surf casting.. Sammons used Zara Spook,and Sebile Splashers lures to catch stripers while fishing in the Oriental. area.

Read more about Jim’s trip via the link below:

http://gameon2.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/the-kayak-fishing-show-visits-oriental-north-carolina/

The video of Day 1 Kayak Fishing in Oriental, NC is now on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiMzK03Sfkg