We're heading to Wrightsville Beach NC for a couple days before backing up to Raleigh for thanksgiving. Anybody have tips for beach and pier fishing in Wrightsville? Frozen shrimp on a circle hook?
Looks like 69 degrees on Monday it should be a nice day.
In reply to dculberson :
It's sea trout time. Drum should be around, too. Shrimp, live minnows, etc.
I'd hit the inlet and jetty on the south end of the island. Johnnie Mercer's pier will have up to date fishing info and tips, and might offer some action as well.
How long are you going to be around Raleigh? A few folks might be meeting for a nightcap at the largest whiskey bar in the SouthEast USA later on Thanksgiving day, and you're cordially invited.
@Brett, sorry I missed this post the first time and didn't follow up on the Raleigh meet-up! We were in town but pretty busy with family stuff by then. Everyone from three states were gathered together so I probably would have been in trouble had I tried to duck out. Next time though!
On to fishing:
I went for a walk with my 10 year old after dinner yesterday. She said she didn't want to fish, so I just brought along my pole with a white rooster tail on it. We walked to the local pond and on the second cast I hooked a small ~7"-8" bass and was happily reeling it in when a ~18" largemouth took a liking to it and smashed it. He got hooked and with her help I landed it. I thought that would be the highlight of the trip but as we were at our last spot I was taking a couple "last casts" without much expectations when something huge grabbed the lure. It ran out drag for a bit then started jumping. She claims it did a 3' jump out of the water but I'm going to put that down to kid expectations. I do know it must have jumped about 5-6 times. I've never caught a fish Ohio largemouth (Fish Ohio is the Ohio recognition program for "exceptional catches," and a Fish Ohio largemouth is 20" and up) so at first I thought it was something else - the fight it put on was pretty great. We landed it and sure enough it was a beast of a bass. I measured it with the tried and true "hold it up to your pole then measure that later" method so the length is approximate. But it was 21" - 22" and probably 6lbs at least.
Best of all my daughter had fun and wasn't resentful at all that I landed so many nice fish. She'll catch some next time, she usually out-fishes me. A few other guys were there fishing and they also had good luck. Get out to your local ponds and lakes, the bass are definitely waking up hungry!
In reply to dculberson :
I loved fishing with my dad, it was always an adventure. Glad your daughter had fun! And, seeing your bass makes me want to fish now haha but I haven't gone fresh water fishing in awhile, need to dig out my gear soon.
It has been pointed out to me that the bass in my photo is a smallmouth bass. That's even more impressive, Fish Ohio for them is 18". Ha, it's not the first time I've made that mistake and not even the first time in this thread I think.
Caught a lifetime record bluegill at Deer Valley, PA this weekend - highest point in PA. Friday night it was about 75 degrees freedom and fishing was good. I was using a watermelon candy zoom worm dipped in garlic Spike It! Bass on the first cast. Then hooked this absolute hog. Thought I had a big bass and was shocked to see this guy. Caught another bass and it was too dark. Saturday the rain rolled in the fishing was tough. Hooked another "big" bass that broke my line. Got down in the high 30s by Saturday afternoon and I was done.
dculberson said:It has been pointed out to me that the bass in my photo is a smallmouth bass. That's even more impressive, Fish Ohio for them is 18". Ha, it's not the first time I've made that mistake and not even the first time in this thread I think.
That's a serious horse of a smallmouth. I've caught a couple of three pounders in upstate NY, and considered them a good catch.
Scotty Con Queso said:Caught a lifetime record bluegill at Deer Valley, PA this weekend - highest point in PA. Friday night it was about 75 degrees freedom and fishing was good. I was using a watermelon candy zoom worm dipped in garlic Spike It! Bass on the first cast. Then hooked this absolute hog. Thought I had a big bass and was shocked to see this guy. Caught another bass and it was too dark. Saturday the rain rolled in the fishing was tough. Hooked another "big" bass that broke my line. Got down in the high 30s by Saturday afternoon and I was done.
Nice, big bluegills are awesome.
You'll need to log in to post.
