The marshes will hold flounder and drum all summer. A c/rig will take both. Finger mullet are getting big enough to be caught in a cast net. Lots of pogies around as well as shrimp. The mud minnows are fat. All make excellent bait. Tight lines!
Summer Fishing in the Intercoastal
As I go through several of the posts in the saltwater forums I notice that water temp plays a big factor in fishing, maybe moreso in the Intercoastal.
Not being a local to Ocean Isle/Sunset Beach I usually find out what works and what will not a little late in the game. Example of such is I found myself buying the two hook steel leaders only to be told to ONLY use monofilament leaders only to find out ONLY to use monofilament carolina rigs. UGH NO biggie, my kids can lose the current leaders I have on snags.
Do the marsh areas yield keepers during the hot summer months? Is it best to stay out of shallow water and focus more on deeper water? The areas I fish are between Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach and from what I have learned so far, the deeper water can be 20+ feet in depth at high tide, low teens during low tide (in the channel)
So my questions are:
1) Are there respectable fish to be caught in the Intercoastal during the hot Summer months?
2) Assuming the answer is YES to question #1, what type of fish are available during the summer months and where might these fish be found?
3) Is the Carolina rig the best rig to use in all cases for inland fishing?
Thanks in advance
Not being a local to Ocean Isle/Sunset Beach I usually find out what works and what will not a little late in the game. Example of such is I found myself buying the two hook steel leaders only to be told to ONLY use monofilament leaders only to find out ONLY to use monofilament carolina rigs. UGH NO biggie, my kids can lose the current leaders I have on snags.
Do the marsh areas yield keepers during the hot summer months? Is it best to stay out of shallow water and focus more on deeper water? The areas I fish are between Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach and from what I have learned so far, the deeper water can be 20+ feet in depth at high tide, low teens during low tide (in the channel)
So my questions are:
1) Are there respectable fish to be caught in the Intercoastal during the hot Summer months?
2) Assuming the answer is YES to question #1, what type of fish are available during the summer months and where might these fish be found?
3) Is the Carolina rig the best rig to use in all cases for inland fishing?
Thanks in advance
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Are you bottom fishing the live bait or floating them in the marsh areas?The marshes will hold flounder and drum all summer. A c/rig will take both. Finger mullet are getting big enough to be caught in a cast net. Lots of pogies around as well as shrimp. The mud minnows are fat. All make excellent bait. Tight lines!
Bottom fishing C-Rigs and floating rigs preferably with Popping corks but reg bobbers work too. Both have advantages/disadvatages. I like flots because your bait covers more water especialy with any wind or current. C rigs are good for soaking baits for prey to hunt them down or in current where floats move too fast. I also will slow retireve a C rig a few feet at a time and let it sit a few minutes, this also "searches" the bottom for fish and is good for discovering Flounder..
Reds, Flounder & Trout can all be caught fishing around the creeks that feed into the ICW.
Knowing when the fish will be there is the secret that you need to unlock.
Keep an eagle eye open for all signs of life. From large Sharks & Stingrays to Shrimp & small frys.
Fish follow bait, bait travels along the marsh bank edge.
As the tide falls bait & fish have to leave the flats, thru creeks & out to the ICW.
Find these pinch point, anchor up & fish.
Trout prefer deeper water away from the edge. Current is always a good thing when Trout fishing.
That's at least the theory. ....... ICM
Knowing when the fish will be there is the secret that you need to unlock.
Keep an eagle eye open for all signs of life. From large Sharks & Stingrays to Shrimp & small frys.
Fish follow bait, bait travels along the marsh bank edge.
As the tide falls bait & fish have to leave the flats, thru creeks & out to the ICW.
Find these pinch point, anchor up & fish.
Trout prefer deeper water away from the edge. Current is always a good thing when Trout fishing.
That's at least the theory. ....... ICM
Great information!!! Do these marshy areas produce well with both live bait and cut baits? VuDu baits or maybe even crank baits?Reds, Flounder & Trout can all be caught fishing around the creeks that feed into the ICW.
Knowing when the fish will be there is the secret that you need to unlock.
Keep an eagle eye open for all signs of life. From large Sharks & Stingrays to Shrimp & small frys.
Fish follow bait, bait travels along the marsh bank edge.
As the tide falls bait & fish have to leave the flats, thru creeks & out to the ICW.
Find these pinch point, anchor up & fish.
Trout prefer deeper water away from the edge. Current is always a good thing when Trout fishing.
That's at least the theory. ....... ICM
I am trying to be a sponge with all of this information. Salt water fishing is quite different than lake fishing.
Thanks again!!
Live bait is best. Cut bait should work. I prefer artificials.Great information!!! Do these marshy areas produce well with both live bait and cut baits? VuDu baits or maybe even crank baits?
I am trying to be a sponge with all of this information. Salt water fishing is quite different than lake fishing.
Thanks again!!
Water depth & current all play a significant role in what to throw.
Start with the basics: Carolina rig with live bait. Let roddy due the work while you try other things.
Move up to jig heads with Gulp & crankbaits, twitch baits, sinking baits, suspending & topwaters ..... ICM
I like artificial baits as well, it's just a matter of learning what works and whenLive bait is best. Cut bait should work. I prefer artificials.
Water depth & current all play a significant role in what to throw.
Start with the basics: Carolina rig with live bait. Let roddy due the work while you try other things.
Move up to jig heads with Gulp & crankbaits, twitch baits, sinking baits, suspending & topwaters ..... ICM
Inshore saltwater fishing is not very different at all than freshwater fishing in a lake. Next time you're out just go bass fishing. If you can find and regularly catch bass in a lake you can find and regularly catch trout, redfish and flounder. Use your saltwater tackle and fish just like you would for bass.
Excellent!! I just have to find out what artificial baits work for inshore fishing. Bass fishing is a bit of a routine. Mornings top water/spinner baits, daytime fish structure typically with worm, occasional crank bait (rattle traps). It will all come together once I learn what is working and when.Inshore saltwater fishing is not very different at all than freshwater fishing in a lake. Next time you're out just go bass fishing. If you can find and regularly catch bass in a lake you can find and regularly catch trout, redfish and flounder. Use your saltwater tackle and fish just like you would for bass.
All of your comments are greatly appreciated
Also be aware that when you are in a marshy area don't chunk out an anchor. If you use an anchor slowly ease it over the side. I just purchased a stick it anchor pin and it makes anchoring in shallow water much easier and quieter.
I think one of the best inshore baits (in my limited inshore experience) is a jig head with a plastic bait of some sort. An 1/8 ounce jig head with a gulp shrimp is tough to beat for fishing shallower water.
I think one of the best inshore baits (in my limited inshore experience) is a jig head with a plastic bait of some sort. An 1/8 ounce jig head with a gulp shrimp is tough to beat for fishing shallower water.
summer time start out with topwater like a super spook jr or top dog, then throw a popping cork with a jig head under neath with your favorite soft plastic or gulp bait. for flounder i like a jig head with a white curly tail bounced off the bottom.
Winter time it's MR17 Mirror lures worked super slow in a twitch pause twitch pause motion... If your not catching them on these baits your not in the right spot.
Pro cure on everything but the gulp...
Winter time it's MR17 Mirror lures worked super slow in a twitch pause twitch pause motion... If your not catching them on these baits your not in the right spot.
Pro cure on everything but the gulp...
Topwater is definitely something I want to try this summer.summer time start out with topwater like a super spook jr or top dog, then throw a popping cork with a jig head under neath with your favorite soft plastic or gulp bait. for flounder i like a jig head with a white curly tail bounced off the bottom.
Winter time it's MR17 Mirror lures worked super slow in a twitch pause twitch pause motion... If your not catching them on these baits your not in the right spot.
Pro cure on everything but the gulp...
Agreed. Nothing beats watching a fish explode on a top water baitTopwater is definitely something I want to try this summer.
Good thread ....I bought my Sportsman license with coastal fishing earlier today!
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Dont let any Temperature discourage you. You can catch everything year round, time of day is whats really important. When its hot, if your not willing to get up early or go before dark then your in for extremely poor fishing.
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My personal biggest trout (26") was caught just outside the ICW in 2' water in July of last year, on a C-Rig with live finger mullet.
Got him in the cooler, baited back up and caught an 18" red first cast in the same spot. I will add, the spot was an open sandy area with grass all around.
Got him in the cooler, baited back up and caught an 18" red first cast in the same spot. I will add, the spot was an open sandy area with grass all around.
I prefer early mornings/early evening fishing myself (weather permitting) During the midday is when I turn my kids lose with some squidDont let any Temperature discourage you. You can catch everything year round, time of day is whats really important. When its hot, if your not willing to get up early or go before dark then your in for extremely poor fishing.
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Live baits or artificials?Again 2' of water and not even 10 min apart! I really wasn't even fishing....just killing time while hanging with friends on a sand bar.
1 - 20 of 39 Posts
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