[BarefootMark]

Anyone know where there is good sight fishing for reds in the Beaufort/MHC area? I know of a couple holes around Cape Lookout/Harkers Island/Middle Marsh but a friend of mine was telling me about his cousin doing some good by sight fishing in the southern part of the state. What is usually the best time of year to sight fish for Reds? Any help is appreciated.
-BarefootMark

 

[Topsail Angler]

I'm not familar with fishing Beaufort/MHC but further sout along WB & Topsail I can help a bit. Sight fishing for feeding Drum is best in the summer and fall when they are up on the near the marsh and sand flats. They are spooky so you have to be careful when trying to get close. A lot of guys will wade fish so they can sneak in on them. Poling the boat is another way to get in closer. There are lots of nice spots back behing Masonboro, Figure 8 and Topsail Islands to target reds.

You fly fishing or using casting/spinning gear?

 

[BarefootMark]

Thanks Topsail. I have been considering buying a pole for the skiff and I think I may just have to bite the bullet and do it. Do you fish the falling/changing tides when sight fishing as well or is it best to let the marshes fill up?

 

[Topsail Angler]

Personanly I've had better luck sighting them during low water times. One of the easiest times for me to find them is when they are tailing as they feed on the bottom in shallow water. Trouble with that though is they are either too busy looking at the bottom to notice the bait you are throwing their way or they spook real easy in the shallow water. But that just makes it interesting.

I have had some good luck spotting schools in the flooded marsh grass too though.

As with most things, I'm still learning myself. How 'bout you - what have you found works best?

 

[BarefootMark]

I have always worked the falling tide around creeks running out of marshes. The moving water flushes a lot of bait out around the creek mouths and the reds are there too. When the water starts to cool (november-ish) I try to find an area with some exposed structure like a jetty that creates some slack water on one side. If you can this scenario with some oysters or mud minnows around, all you need to do is look for a red showing you his belly.

 

[rye]

Try haystacks.. its a little deeper but it's got some good poling water in it too.. also, check the inner coastal that runs between the Newport and Nuese. Just inside the mouth on the Newport side there are some nice grass ledges and I've found them tailing along the edges many times. There are some tributaries in there that are very shallow that offer sight fishing opp's as well, but they spoke fast and when they are feeding heavy its hard to get them to take a lure.

rye