Hampstead - April 3

[Jeffonc]

A couple of us went down from Raleigh and put our kayaks in at Scott's Hill Marina near Hampstead. We crossed the ICW to a cut-through (heads out to an inlet or at least a big bay), and took the first creek channel going back into the grass. We took a long circular route through there looking for deeper holes that could hold trout at low tide as well as looking for schools of drum. Saw a few spots that barely fit the description of the former (deeper holes), but none of the latter (drum). After a fish-less 4 hour loop, we popped out at the 2nd creek channel off that same cut-through (about 50 yards further out), which was much wider and a bit deeper - around 6' at low tide. Finally saw some signs of life - some scattering bait, a jumping blue, a tug that pulled off, a sharp hit and bite off. After about 30 mins that hole saved the day - we got a 20" trout and several 12-13" throw-back flounder. Not a mighty conquest, but at least a little redemption for all that paddling/exploring and we avoided the skunk. All fish caught on natural or new penny 3" gulp shrimp & 1/4oz jigheads.

Scotts Hill seemed like a pretty good launch spot to me - easy, all-highway trip from Raleigh via 40 and the 17 bypass and a pretty relaxed little marina. Short paddle across the ICW into the marsh. $15 to park & use the launch (charged per car, not per kayak). We timed it perfectly - falling tide towed us out into the cut-through, rising tide pulled us back to the marina. Also got to checkout Eastern Outfitters in Hampstead to get my coastal license addendum and a pack of "fish crack" (gulp).

This was my 2nd coastal day trip with the kayak. Still don't really know what I'm doing down there in the salt. Both times I've followed more experienced folks and spent most of our time out in the "creeks" on the barrier islands. I would say that most of the time was spent in water too shallow to hold fish, at least for this time of year. We saw a couple of power boats fishing creek mouths from the cut-through but we had the backwaters to ourselves.

Curious to know what kind of water others who do more trout & red fishing this time of year look for. Do you focus on these marshy areas on the inside of the barrier islands or do you go for the mainland creeks (or other?)? What do you consider "too shallow" for trout & drum?