[quest4reds]

Going to try our luck night fishing inshore Monday night into Tuesday under the full moon. Topsail, Hampstead area if that matters. Going to be throwing top water primarily, maybe a popping cork, redfish magic spinners, and we may even try some live or cut bait if we can cast net some in the evening. Any words of advice?

 

[Crippledyak]

Live bait has been working best from all the reports I have heard.

 

[quest4reds]

Live bait has been working best from all the reports I have heard.

Do you know what type of live bait has been the ticket? Mud minnows seem to be the only thing available right now at the shops I've spoken with, and a couple shrimp.

 

[led0321]

Do you know what type of live bait has been the ticket? Mud minnows seem to be the only thing available right now at the shops I've spoken with, and a couple shrimp.

The bays around the area you are headed to are loaded with mullet minnows. Almost to the point it is annoying.

 

[quest4reds]

The bays around the area you are headed to are loaded with mullet minnows. Almost to the point it is annoying.

Well the reds and trout should be nice and fat then right?

 

[Crippledyak]

Should be able to find shrimp more and more consistently soon. If not, fresh never frozen shrimp from local fish markets work well. I Found out this morning that fish are biting good at night time, depending on the tide. Incoming tide seems to be the ticket. Not seen many trout being caught except from piers.

 

[led0321]

Should be able to find shrimp more and more consistently soon. If not, fresh never frozen shrimp from local fish markets work well. I Found out this morning that fish are biting good at night time, depending on the tide. Incoming tide seems to be the ticket. Not seen many trout being caught except from piers.

The shrimp are getting thick in the creeks.

 

[FOWL MOOD]

Early tomorrow morning should be the kind of incoming tide discussed. I'll be out in the Morehead area either Newport river or mainland side docks towards the west via the yak.

 

[scottshillfisher]

Have caught plenty of reds at night off the icww, always on cut or live bait, could never get a blowup on topwater, tried and tried.

 

[quest4reds]

Nothing doing for us except 73 billion bugs! Oh yeah, managed one small blue fish. Got in just a little after dark, and couldn't seem to catch any decent bait, we did get a couple smallish minnows, greenies? Don't know exactly what they were but tried them anyway, but no bites. Think I'll stick with day time fishing till I can get a lesson from somebody who knows what they are doing. There were 73 billion bugs immune to deet apparently.

 

[theramrod]

Had a last minute trip thrown together yesterday to hit one of the Hubert creeks for some full moon fishing last night. Launched at 10pm, tide was full and just starting to drop. Got lots of little shrimp to start and couldnt really get any mullet until the tide started to really pull out around midnight. I lost 2 fish, one after a good fight and had it just to the kayak before the hook came undone. My buddy was able to land his 1st drum on his new Ride 135 so the trip was a success!!! All action came on mullet. Got back in around 2am.

 

[quest4reds]

By the way, the best part of our attempt at night fishing, was seeing a big black bear on the drive down to the coast in the early evening. Way better than the 73 billion bugs.

 

[FisHunter]

Don't get the deet on your bait. Good way to ruin your fishing.

 

[quest4reds]

Don't get the deet on your bait. Good way to ruin your fishing.

Makes sense. Any thoughts on avoiding this? I have seen grime wipes or something like that sold at BPS, wondering if they'd do the trick after applying deet or sunscreen.

 

[RouseD]

Small pin fish will work for trout and flounder, and drum. My BIL and I caught 14 drum in about 4 hours using pin fish up to, and under a pier. I'd think the mullet minnows would work better, but the pin fish are readily available most anytime.