Fly and Light Tackle Adventures: Topsail, Bald Head, Carolina Beach, and Southport

    I had Kevin from Wilmington onboard today for some Topsail Island Redfish on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the season, and it wasn't the temps that were on fire, it was the action! Kevin is an accomplished nearshore angler with lots of experience trolling and bottom fishing, but was looking for a primer on backwater Redfish in North Carolina. We left the dock around 5:30am with a stiffening North wind from a weak cold front nudging the Bermuda High we had been experiencing a little offshore before sliding right back on shore later in the day. It was the perfect set up for pre frontal fishing! We arrived at our first spot just as the sun spilled over the horizon. A few casts with a topwater plug to a thick patch of live oyster on a shallow flat resulted in several half hearted blow ups, but no hook ups. They were telling us that the tide wasn't quite there yet and they were just getting ready to feed. So we headed accross the small bay to a mud bank with several feet of water where the fish would be moving. Immediately we were rewarded with 2 healthy middle slot Reds on a Bone/Chartreuse Rapala Skitterwalk. Wanting to demonstrate to Kevin some other areas that hold pods of Reds on a Full Moon flood tide, we left the fish biting to check another flat a couple miles away. While poling onto the flat, we were greetd by 2 adult Bald Eagles perched on a dead Cedar overlooking our fishing grounds. While watching the majestic birds, we were distracted by a huge push caused by a large school of cruising Reds finning over an extremely shallow sand overwashed mud flat. Without even having to mutter a word, Kevin fired a cast with the small topwater bait to the edge of the mudding fish. A blow up reminscent of someone tossing a cinder block into the water occurred, and Kevin resisted the urge to set the hook on the short striking fish, instead working the plug with a steady walk the dog action. The hungry Red came back for seconds, and this time Kevin came tight to a strong overslot fish. It was "game on" and as the drag payed out against the surging run the big shouldered Red was making, the remainder of the school spooked and scattered in all directions. We stayed on the school numbering easily in the hundreds for the remainder of the slack tide and about an hour and a half into falling, catching fish after fish on both topwater and Gulp! jerkbaits. There were literally finning and rolling fish everywhere you looked, including several trailing a couple big Cow Nose Rays that were mudding on the edge of the flat, picking up the left behind morsels of the Rays as they fed on small crabs and tiny Copepods in the mud. With water leaving us fast and a trip that went 2 hours beyond the planned half day, we headed back to the dock with not only a happy angler, but a happy Guide as well. This was truly one of the most memorable days I've had while in pursuit of Mr. Redfish. It was the perfect opportunity for Kevin to learn all about sight fishing the backwaters, and ruined him for life I'm sure! Connecting with people is probably my biggest joy in guiding, but watching an angler tremble like a bird dog locked up on point while watching numerous Redfish race to fight over his bait just seals the deal! The summer fishing is as hot as the weather, so give a shout if you would like to experience a little Cape Fear Tug of War! 

Tight lines and God's Blessings - Capt. Todd Streeter