A few new things for Reel Adventure that hopefully will be pretty awesome for both me and my customers this year. We are now equipped with a underwater HD camera and so far the videos have been incredible. This will take our videos to the next level and I cant wait to use it during shark season! Lowrance was gracious enough to send me a brand new HDS 10 chart plotter / sounder combo. The mapping is superb and I cant wait to see all the wrecks etc. in 3d. We have also stepped up our camera equipment to include a 70-300 vr telephoto lens for the SLR camera. Now we can pick out some awesome pics further away and these are available to the customers free of charge if they would like any. Check out the awesome Osprey pics!

We are looking forward to returning back to Wilmington and are now accepting bookings for our Wrightsville Beach Fishing Charters, Topsail Island Fishing Charters and Carolina Beach Fishing Charters.

Please click here to view our underwater test video demo. It about 4 minutes mong with some neat footage. Watch for the crazy pelican!

Give us a call to book your 2010 fishing trip!

Capt. Matt Wirt

Reel Adventure Charters, http://www.reel-adventure.com/

910-540-0570

  

Offshore is doing well with the Goliath Grouper. The AJ’s, sharks and cobia should be back very soon with the rising water temps.

During the cold weather I shot some new fly tying vidoes. Click here to check them out: http://saltwaterflytying.blogspot.com/

 The Scientific Anglers 8wt 9? 2 piece NEW rods sold out quick. I sold 21 that I was able to get. I have 4 left, just email or call to get the remaining few that I have not gotten checks for… so here is your last chance to jump in and get one or two. First ones to get a check to me gets them. Can ship if needed! They are only $45 each and shipping is $15 if needed.

We are getting pretty full with charters but still have plenty of good dates left, if you want to come down to Florida for some great fishing just give me a call.

Here are this weeks pics enjoy!

16 pound snook

released

Brett with a 11 pounder

Lots of these around! Tough to get them to eat though!

Working the pot holes for trout, caught about 15 yesterday.

Goliath bite is still going strong, here is a small 100 pounder.

Here is a small 50 pound Gloiath, you are actually happier the smaller they are!

Here are some awesome pics we got of snook getting warm in our canal during the cold snap.

Decent snook with lots of catfish.

There were about 30 snook in this one spot with many over 10 pounds.

Capt. Matt Wirt

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570

  

Inshore has been picky. Lots of temp changes on the flats. The fish are there but it has not been a easy bite. Some days we wear them out the next they wont even take a live shrimp much less a fly. This should settle down after the fronts blow by.

On a side note those that purchased a fly rod from me on the fly rod deal need to make sure you get your checks out to me ASAP. I am waiting on a check from 5 people. I also still have 2 rods left for sale.

Starting with off shore pics..

Rod abuse!

This one was bigger than  me. I estimate it @ 250 lbs. This one and the big one from last report are hard to estimate. I saw on youtube where other capts. estimate the same size fish around 400 lbs. I just know its big! I also will have a youtube video up soon. I have the footage, just need to edit it out.

Shannon with a nice keeper sized grouper.

Just a little short!

I need a bigger stick. This was a 40 to 80lb rod I made. I am making an unlimited class rod this week. I can only imagine the size of the grouper that broke it. I have the rod breaking on video.

Inshore…..

Becks with a nice spanish. We caught over 100 fish on a 3/4 day trip. Note the wall of birds behind her, they are on busting fish.

Her husband Randall hooked up. I have video where we were catching bluefish on a bare jig head! What a great day with great customers! Thanks again guys!

This is one of the many bait balls the fish were working that day.

My boat was covered with these!

These are a few they kept for dinner. The biggest spanish went 22 inches.

The fish were going nuts that day!

air time!

Jason with a nice bluefish on the TFO 7 wt.

Shredding the gurgler!

I hope everone has a great 2010 and if you want to come down to Florida for a winter fishing trip just give us a call!

Capt. Matt Wirt

910-540-0570

http://www.reel-adventure.com/PineIslandFishingCharters.htm

Pine Island FL untill March 20.

  

First we catch one of these for bait, yes this is the bait! Then we cut 5 pound chunks off of it.

The bait does not last long, if it even makes it to the bottom. This is 36 pounds of max drag, 200 lb test. You will only try this once standing up (trust me on this) you will learn quick to leave it in the rod holder and crank from there!

If your lucky and you dont get broke off you will come up with a big boy! We got broke off 5 times before we found one we could manage! This one was bigger then me and I am 210 lbs. Estimated it @ 250 lbs, probably much bigger.

Released unharmed!

Here is one estimated at 50 lbs.

Sent the whole thing down asking for trouble and I got it.

This shark went 200 lbs estimated and it inhaled the cuda before it went out of visual range. I saw it eat it, I tried to bring it up and this shark ate it boat side. After 15 minutes we got the shark to the boat again and released. We got 3 sharks and all of them were around this size.

My buddy Shannon went after the Amberjacks and Cobia on live pinfish. He got this 20 lb cobia on a trout rod. We caught around 10 amberjacks as well. The amberjacks had me puzzled because they did not go to the bottom and break you off like I am used to. I realized a few minutes later they cant! They will get eaten!

So back to the GUARANTEE. If anyone wants to come down and battle the biggest grouper of your life I will guarantee you get hooked up multiple times. Bring your baddest rod and reel or use mine. We are running these trips out of a 24 Ranger bay boat in the calm gulf of mexico waters 14-20 miles from land. Price is $600 for 3 anglers (includes captain, mate and everything else except your fishing license wich we can easily get when you get here).

Capt. Matt Wirt

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570

Pine Island Florida untill March 20

  

The redfish and snook are working the mangroves and we have been doing well on them with fly. I got a nice snook and messed up a NICE redfish bite big time the other day. I sighted the fish, made the cast saw the red chase it and open its mouth and I set the hook and evidently pulled it right out!  I made a perfect follow up cast, but I think the redfish was frustrated as I was. He just followed the second cast a bit then went on about his way! The merkin crab fly pattern has been the fly of choice so far.

The snook light fishing at night has been good. The fish are always there. Some nights they bite, some nights they dont. I hope to check out a spot soon that holds tarpon, BIG jacks, and BIG snook very soon. That might be tomorrows plan.

If you are intrested in getting in on some warm sunny Florida fishing action just give me a call or click here: Pine Island Fishing Charters

Reel Adventure Charters is also offering gift certificates for Pine Island Florida fishing untill March 18 and for Wrightsville Beach fishing charters (from Topsail to Bald head) anytime after March 22. Just give us a call and we will get it to you before christmas, credit cards accepted!

Also, I made the decision a month ago to join facebook. I didnt think I would mess with it much but it is a neat way to give up to the minute reports (with pics) right from the boat via my Iphone. If you would like to keep in touch with whats going on with me (most of it is fishing related) please send me a friend request @ http://www.facebook.com/#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1033147691

And finally, I am glad lots of you got in on the $45 fly rod deal! The Scientific Anglers 8wt 9? 2 piece NEW rods sold out quick. I sold 16 of the 21 that I was able to get. I have 4 left, just email or call to get the remaining few. Can ship if needed! I believe all that said they wanted one should have a check on the way. If any one doesnt have my address to send the check please email me asap @ mwirt@charter.net

Here are this weeks pics! Enjoy!

Capt. Matt Wirt

910-540-0570

www.reel-adventure.com

Not much left!

17 inch spanish have been the norm

He whines all day untill he gets one!

His one for the day! My happy fishing buddy.

  

Before this weeks report, here are a few cool sites you might want to check out.

Reel Adventure has teamed up with Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO). Lots of you know I am a custom rod builder and this is the first time I have ever teamed up with a rod company. I am very picky and TFO makes some awesome products, the company is solid, and their customer service is great. Please check them out @ http://templeforkflyrods.com/ or better yet lets go put a bend in a few of them to see how you really like them!

Please listen to our interview on the radio we did last week @ http://www.saltwatercatch.com/forums/upload/showthread.php?t=1081 and check us out at http://coastalcarolinafishingreport.com/ where we provide the Cape Fear fishing report this week.

This weeks report….The Wrightsville Beach Fishing and Carolina Beach Fishing continues to be great. The water temp is still extremely warm for this time of year. The red drum, trout, flounder, king mackerel, cobia, false albacore and just about everything else is biting well. This will continue untill we get a few cold fronts. After that happens the king mackerel, cobia, and flounder will push offshore and everything else should continue to bite well. What a great end to a great year!

Here’s this weeks pics. Enjoy!

Capt. Matt Wirt

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570 (Wilmington NC & pine Island FL)

released

\

Sight casted this little guy on fly.

  

The response for our Pine Island fishing charters in Florida this winter has been great. It looks like I will se quite a few of you over the winter and I cant wait to share a awesome fishery with you. Click here for more info:

http://www.reel-adventure.com/PineIslandFishingCharters.htm

Untill then we will continue to have fun here on the Cape Fear with the redfish and trout! Come join us!

Steve and I stayed on the fish all day long today. We caught a total of around 7-9 reds and trout on that 1 DOA shrimp!

Capt. Matt Wirt

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570

Wilmington, NC / Pine Island, Florida 33956

  

Speaking of excellent fishing that brings me to the next topics…..Florida and Cancun.

First is Florida, We will be operating out of Pine Island Florida for the fifth winter this year. The primary targets in the winter are redfish, trout, snook, spanish, albacore, jacks, with tons of ladyfish thrown in for good measure. Baby tarpon and big grouper are also a possibility. Click here for lots more info and pricing:

http://www.reel-adventure.com/PineIslandFishingCharters.htm

Cancun, Cancun….Cancun was fun but Isla Blanca was GREAT. I fished with Capt. Enrique www.cancunflatsfishing.com for 2 days and we had a blast with the baby tarpon. Isla Blanca is well known for its fishery but is overshadowed by Ascension bay 3 hours to the south. With the groups heading to Acension bay I opted for the remoteness of Isla Blanca. It was so remote after 2 days of fishing when I finally saw the first boat I was startled. It was just a commercial spearfisherman and looking back it was funny. What a beautiful area and I really couldnt ask for a better guide turned amigo.

On day 1 we jumped around 9 tarpon and landed 4 or 5. We saw…..let me back up to the day before to exlpain we. We was Michael and I. Michael is a firefighter in the air force and was down on vacation with his wife from Kansas. We were hanging around the pool and we got to talking about fishing. The more I talked to him the more I remembered something I read about Lefty Kreh. It went something like Lefty was leaving out to go albacore fishing ( I think with Sarah Gardner) and he invited a person on the dock to come along free of charge etc. I thought that was cool and I guess it stuck with me. Im no Lefty Kreh, but I did the same thing with Michael. It was kind of my own military appreciation day. Thanks Michael for spending a day fishing with me.

Heres a pic of Michael hooked up on a tarpon that was not ment to be caught! We started out 0-4 with 4 jumps. This one jumped and ran us around every little mangrove shute it could find. I untangled the 8 lb mono from at least 4 mangroves, then it ran him under the boat twice and we still got the fish! Me and Capt. Enrique were laughing at that tarpon. Good times.

Just seeing Michaels face with that fish cracks me up all over again. It was the only tarpon in 2 days to wrap up like that.

Day 2 was even better! Here are a few pics of one out of over 25 hooked up on fly. (Video is below with lots of action)

Please click the video below to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXrl4qGtDVo

Thanks again Michael and Capt. Enrique. I will be back to Isla Blanca soon!

Capt. Matt Wirt

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570

Wilmington, NC / Pine Island, Florida 33956

  

The cape fear fishing has been good when the weather allows us to get out. One of my favorites has shown up pretty early this year….the albacore! I hope this is a start to a awesome fall albacore run.

 Thats it! Enjoy the pics and I should have some great pics of Isla Blanca and Cancun to post when I get back.

Capt. Matt Wirt

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570

This shark pulled us into 11 feet of water during the fight.

The pesky hound fish!

  

A while back I was contacted to handle the southern coastal area for a book about North Carolina fly fishing. Anthony V. Smith a professional photographer  and I met up for shark on fly. I informed him about the poor shrimping, the poor conditions we just had with tropical storm Bill etc. He said lets give it a try! I liked his enthuasim and had to say yes. As we left the dock I saw a shrimp boat coming back in. This is not a good sign as it was only 8:30 am. The shrimping was very poor that day, and any day I have a photographer on the boat it seems like the odds stack up against me. We punched out the inlet and saw another shrimp boat culling over. I guess the storm was bad for the shrimp but it was good for the sharks! The sharks were boiling behind the boat, the nets were up. It was the PERFECT scenario. The third cast was a instant hookup!

The sharks are boiling. Its funny every time I see them its like the first time. I also start to bust out of my clothes. The hat comes off the shoes come off, its like my body temp rises 10 degrees.

Feeding frenzy!

I knew it was big when I strip striked it and it didnt move!

Here it is busing the surface.

I had to get Anthony in on the action. Here is a cool pic I got of him. The shark ran him around the boat quite a few times.

Awesome pics with the shrimp boat in the back ground!

I knew it was big but not this big! 60? fork length female Black Tip.

She went 72 pounds wich is light for a shark that length. So far that is my biggest fish ever on a 12 weight. Thanks to Rio fly lines and Tibor reels! Anthony decided to keep it since it was legal. Black tips shark makes for fine eating! Thanks again Anthony for sticking in there despite the conditions. Im glad we got what you came for and I sure needed this after my mess was stolen! What a treat this ended up being.

The rest of my report:

INSHORE: The red drum and flounder are biting well

NEARSHORE: The shark fishing is picking up, the spanish have been biting extremely well near the inlets and out about 2 miles.

OFFSHORE: King Mackerel and Dolphin are  biting well on the ledges and AR’s

Nice small hammerhead. We missed a shot at about a 200lb one on the same day.

Lots of spanish!

For you fly tiers please check out 2 of my new fly videos, the redfish rattler and a clouser variation. Hope you like them!

http://saltwaterflytying.blogspot.com/

Also I am now building and selling custom Gaff’s. I have been a custom rod builder for a long time and lots of you hve some of my smaller king mackerel gaffs. I always wanted to build the large gaff’s but could never find a source for the components that I liked and could stand behind…..untill now. I can build 6? gaffs with a 2?, 3? or 4? hook for $115, any color you want with your name or boat name on it. These gaff’s are super tough,  have a cool split grip design and have a little flex in the shaft and are flat out awesome. Shipping is $15 if needed.

Call to order yours today!

Capt. Matt Wirt

Reel Adventure Charters - Next Level Custom Rods

www.reel-adventure.com

910-540-0570 Wilmington, NC