Carolina Explorer Charters Fishing Report

April fishing is going strong. We have been catching Redfish, Black drum, a few flounder and trout, and lots of whiting.  The bluefish and spanish mackerel are showing up and will be here in great numbers in the next few weeks. The warm weather has got the fish on the move and showing up early.  We are catching the Redfish on Gulp pogies, Strike King minnows, and D.O.A paddle tails. We are using Pro-Cure scents on the lures to attract the slow to bite fish.  When all else fails we can throw a few minnows and shrimp to boost the numbers and catch ratio.  We have been catching a few black drum, trout and flounder when fishing for the reds. This action will only get better into the early summer.  The whiting have been biting on a regular basis. These hard fighting, great tasting fish will be here for a few more weeks.  The bluefish and a few spanish are showing up off the coast on a daily basis. In the next few weeks this action will be off the Hook!!!!  Give me a call and I will be gald to show you and your family a great fishing trip 910-264-1807!!  Now is the time to enjoy this nice weather and hot fishing action.

Sam with a nice red.  We had a blast with the whiting, and caught a few reds later in the day.

Sam and Gerald with a nice catch of whiting and a keeper red drum. These boys fished with me two days and had plenty of action and fun. See you soon..

Ryan, Dillon, Kelly and Shelby with a great family fishing trip. Shelby wanted to go fishing with her dad, and I am glad she did.. She caught over half of the fish and had a blast.

Shelby with on of several citation sized whiting she caught all by herself. A true fisherwoman in the making. 

John Kim with one of several nice reds he landed on a cool windy day. We also caught a few black drum and whiting to fill the cooler.

Tim, Ashley, John and Kelly with a great afternoon of whiting fishing. These guys had a blast and went home with some good eating filets.

James with a nice 25inch redfish landed on a strike king minnow and the secret sauce. One of several reds we landed before we slayed the whiting in the river.

Shawn and Holly with a nice afternoon catch of whiting.  I can smell them cooking in the grease right now..

John  with a small redfish he landed along with some black drum.. Great day on the water. Look foward to reading the section about fishing the Cape Fear  in your new book.

The Meaney family with a few whiting for dinner.  We also had a blast catching sharks and stingrays.

Evan with a big Smooth Skin dogfish shark. One of the biggest I have ever seen.

The Wade family with redfish, black drum and whiting. All the makings of a great family fishing trip.

Steph with one of her black drum….

J.D. and Stuart with the best catch of whiting I have had so far this year.  115 nice fish and lots of throw backs. 

Mike and his son with a great catch of whiting..

Young Metcalf with a double of nice whiting…

Ilene with a nice mid size redfish…  She had a blast and is ready to come back fishing in the early summer..

Folks the fishing is getting better and will remain strong into the summer.  If you want to catch fish and have fun with your friends and family give me a call 910-264-1807. 

Thanks for reading the report,

Capt. Robert Schoonmaker          910-264-1807

www.carolinaexplorer.com         www.redfishexplorer.com

Inshore the fishing has improved with the rising water temps.  The whiting are biting great on fresh shrimp or cut bait.  I have not seen a run of whiting this good in several years.  Come on down and get in on this great action and cooler filling fun!!  We are also catching a few red fish in the flats and creeks.  The baits are gulp shrimp, strike-king minnows on a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jig-head.  Remember to fish slow to keep it in the strike zone as long as possible.  We have been picking up a few flounder and trout while fishing for the reds.  Some of the flounder have been nice keepers, it is early for these fish, just a sign of the above normal temps. we have been having. When the reds have been stubborn, we have thrown some minnows, shrimp, or crab to entice  a few bites.  We have picked up a few small black drum on the baits as well.  It is a great time to come on down to the coast and fish with the family and friends.  The weather is great and the fishing is going to kick off a month early.  The water temps. are already in the 60’s.  That means the trout, flounder, blues, bonito, and spanish will be showing up early this year.  GIVE ME A CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT TO BOOK A GREAT FISHING ADVENTURE 910-264-1807.

Most guides would never show a pic of a pinfish.  I on the other hand had to post this pic, it is the first pinfish of the year.  That means winter is on the way out and spring is here.  Rick holding a TROPHY pinfish. The bait stealer’s are back!!!!

Rick with a nice catch of whiting.

David and Cody with a nice creek redfish. He hit a piece of crab. This was Cody’s birthday fishing trip.  We had a blast caught a few reds and black drum.  These guys have fished with me for years, always a great day on the water with friends.  See you this summer.

Melanie with a nice March flounder.  She landed this on a mud minnow.  Her husband David had a nice flounder almost to the boat, but he shook the hook.  We landed a few reds as well.

Arron with a keeper flounder caught on a gulp alive shrimp. 

Christian with a double on whiting.

Caroline with a Puffer.  She slayed the fish, a true fisher-woman. 

The Ortiz family with a great catch of whiting and puffers. We also landed a few sharks and a stingray.  Great family fun!!!

Nathan, RJ, Wildman, and Mason with a awesome catch of whiting and a few sharks!!! These boys could fish….

RJ with a nice puff-daddy!!!

Jack and Rick with a nice catch of whiting. These Harvard students had a blast catching these hard fighting great tasting fish.

Marion, Luke, Larry and Vernon with catch of whiting.

Larry, Luke, and Vernon all holding fish caught at the same time.  Call today too get in on this great family fishing action.

Spring has sprung and now is the time to go fishing.  Get your family and friends together for a great fishing trip. CALL AND BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY 910-264-1807.

Thanks

Capt. Robert Schoonmaker                          910-264-1807

www.carolinaexplorer.com                          www.redfishexplorer.com