Inshore: Some specks and a few small reds will be caught in the creeks, mostly on the falling tide. My preferred baits this time of year are SaltWater Assassin plastics and Gulp. Remember in cooler waters work your baits very slowly. Fresh cut shrimp fished on a carolina rig will work well too. The docks along the ICW should hold some nice black drum that also can be caught on fresh shrimp.

Near Shore: The bluefish should be the first to show up around the near shore artificial reefs. These, along with other fishes, can be caught with your favorite jig. The bonito should be right behind the blues and can be caught with the jigs again or by trolling yozuri deep divers with spinning gear. Some gray trout might be in the mix while you are jigging.

Offshore: Way out, possibly 30 miles plus, the king mackerel bite should be happening. As the water warms the kings will migrate closer and closer to shore, following the schools of bait fish. Also, look for some fat alberts (false albacore) to be around and have a spinning rod ready and rigged with a jig for casting.

Gulfstream: Tuna and wahoo should bite well thru May. Usually there will be some nice mahi mixed in as the water warms and an occasional billfish.

Upcoming: There are still some spots available in the annual Rod-Man “In The Water” Fishing School on Wrightsville Beach (http://www.rodmancharters.com/inthewater-fishing-school.htm) There will be lots of teaching, door prizes and best of all the second day of the two day school will be for fishing! The school is scheduled for June 5-6. Hope to see you there.

Until next time…
LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

This is the turkey week version of my report. It actually looks like we will have decent weather for fishing this week and weekend, which is good because the trout bite is getting hot! I had the rare chance to go fishing with a buddy and caught some very nice trout recently and we were surprised by a few small flounder as well. The pic tells it all.

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: The main catch is trout. I am having good luck with both Saltwater Assassin swim baits, color “space guppy”, and with Gulp SW swim baits, color chartreuse. I fish both baits on a 1/4 oz. Saltwater Assassin jig head. Trout are biting in the inlets, the waterway and the creeks. I feel sure they are in the river as well, but haven’t had to go there myself to catch fish. A few flounder are still hanging around. Most are on the small side.

Near Shore: Nice size blue fish are around the inlets and the close in artificial and natural reefs. Some false albacore have re-appeared finally after the storm. Both can be caught using your favorite metal jig.

Offshore: Still getting reports of king mackerel in fairly close in the 12-15 mile areas with the best bite from 23 miles to 42 miles. Have heard of some excellent grouper catches in the 12 to 30 mile range.

Gulfstream: When boats have been able to get out, there has been a good bite of wahoo and blackfin tuna. There have been some sailfish caught as well.

Upcoming: The trout bite should only get better. We have had a mild fall thus far and that should extend the fishing season, possibly well into January. Unfortunately I have to end my season very soon and finish preparations for all the winter shows and fishing schools I will be attending. If you get a chance to come to the Raleigh, Greensboro, Atlantic City or Somerset NJ shows, please come by and say hello. I will have nearly one hundred of my hand made fishing rods for sale at deep discounts. I’ll have everything form fly rods to blue water rods. Lastly, don’t forget to get registered while seats are still available for the Annual Rod-Man Fishing School February 27, 2010.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday and until next time…..

LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Water temps are around 66-67. Bait is thick, the fall type bait, shiners and such…the kind trout love. Speaking of trout, they are biting well at the inlets, around the marsh grass banks behind Riches, and up the creeks. Some juvenile reds are biting soft plastics inshore in the creeks and waterway. Black drum are biting fresh cut shrimp. A few flounder are still around for the time being, but most have moved to the ocean.

Near Shore: Bluefish have been thick around the mouth of the inlets. Big reds have been patrolling the surf. They look like big black clouds, literally hundreds of fish. Gray trout are biting jigs at the near shore reefs. False albacore have been around in large and small groups and can be caught with fast moving jigs or on the fly.

Offshore: Kings have bunched up a bit at the 10 mile area, but are more prevalent further out. Some good bottom fishing form 12 to 30 miles out.

Gulfstream: Wahoo and blackfin tuna have been the main catches when boats could get out.

Upcoming: Trout fishing is really just getting started, so look for that to improve steadily. We have some nice pics of fish we have caught, like the one posted with this report on my site and more pics can be seen at my photo gallery. My winter schedule is pretty much set at this point. The Raleigh show kicks things off January 8-10, followed by the Greensboro show January 22-24. Then we go to New Jersey for the Atlantic City International Show, February 3-7 and finally in March, the Somerset Saltwater Fishing show March 19-21. And of course on February 27, we will have the Rod-Man Fishing School at the Raleigh State Fairgrounds; bigger and better this year with new speakers, door prizes and good food, not to mention a full day of fishing education. Limited seating is available, so get you registration in early. You can find out more at Annual Rod-Man Fishing School
 
Until Next Time….

LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

Fishing has been pretty darn spectacular this past week. The high point has been an estimated 45 pound red drum. Please check This Week’s Fishing Report on my page to see this beautiful fish. We have caught flounder and trout as well, but this pic had to come out this week. I’ll get the others up soon.

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: This is the inshore fisherman’s time to shine. Reds, flounder and trout are biting in the creeks, the waterway, the inlets and the river. Artificials work well, as do live bait. The big red we caught was on a 3? finger mullet. And late fall fishing is going to get even better.

Near Shore: Blues around the inlets on jigs and reds are there two on bait. A few spanish are still around, but blues are much more plentiful and fun to catch on lite tackle. Gray trout are biting live bait and jigs. Albacore are around in small schools. We caught one of those last week as well.

Offshore: The annual king bite at Frying Pan Tower is ON! There are fish between the beach and there as well, but the real bite is at the Tower.

Gulfstream: Reports of wahoo and blackfin tuna have been coming in this past week.

Upcoming: More and better fishing ahead as long as we have good weather. The annual Rod-Man Fishing School is scheduled for February 27, 2010 at the State Fairgrounds, Raleigh. New speakers and new topics should make this year’s school better than ever. Seating is limited so register early.

Meanwhile, until next time….

LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

It seems the weather continues to not want to give us a break. Light rain, nor’easter type winds, and soon…but we are still catching fall fish! Reds, flounder, trout, spanish (when we can get out) are all providing good close in action. Looking ahead, the weather does seem to become very “fallish” by early next week.

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Water temps are starting to moderate and that means more inshore action. Reds are bitingartificials and live bait on high water and the falling tide. Find them in the creeks, the ICW and the inlets. Flounder, some very large are biting live bait near the inlets. Trout are biting artificials and live bait in the river, the creeks and the many marsh banks. Look for this action to continue to get better and better over the next few weeks.

Near Shore: Some big spanish are biting along the beach and near the inlets. Clarkspoons and 5-6 knots and deep divers at 3 knots will catch these fish. Some really nice blues are biting near the inlet on full tide. Diamond jigs and stingsilvers will do the trick. Gray trout are biting around the natural and artificial reefs on live bait and jigs.

Offshore: King macks are biting live and dead bait and some fish are very nice. Best spots seem to be in the 10+ mile areas.

Gulfstream: It’s wahoo time! Some nice catches of wahoo have been reported at the Same’Ole.

UpComing: Wow, I am surprised at the early attention my Raleigh fishing school is receiving. Information and registration is available at rodmancharters.com/2010 annual fishing school. Seating IS limited so register early to insure your seat. The school is set for February 27, 2010 and is in Raleigh at the State Fairgrounds. The annual Red/Trout Tournament for Cystic Fibrosis is this weekend and the Rod-Man will be doing his best to compete for charity.

Until next time….

LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

Water temps remain relatively high, in the 77-78 range, and fishing is high on the heat gauge as well. Inshore, reds, flounder and trout are heating up the action. Near shore big spanish are providing the heat and offshore, the kings and albacore are providing some smoking action.

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Reds are biting in the creeks, around the docks in the ICW and the inlets. We are catching them on live bait and artificials, Blurp and Gulp. Flounder are hot in the creeks, the inlets and Snow’s Cut. They are biting best on live bait fished on a carolina rig.

Near Shore: Bluefish (good size) are biting at the mouth of the inlets on high tide. They are hitting your favorite jigging spoon. Very nice Spanish mackerel are biting near the beach and outside the inlets. Trolling clarkspoons and Yozuri Deep Divers are producing some very nice fish. When you see them on top you can cast to them with small jigs and catch them on light spinning tackle. Gray trout and flounder are biting at the near shore reefs.

Offshore: Kings and false albacore are providing most of the action. Look for fish in the 8 to 25 mile range. Live poagies work very well as do cigar minnows and ballyhoo when slow trolling and for those who like to move a bit faster, the 3 1/2 drone spoon rigged on a planer will get the job done.

Gulfstream: I have had reports of some wahoo and plenty of big kings.

Upcoming: Fall fishing is beginning its big push and will only be getting better as temps decline. Next weekend the

Rod-Man will be fishing the Cape Fear Red-Trout Tournament to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. It’s a great tournament and it’s a great cause.

Be sure to check out my pics online at my website…photo gallery.

Until next time….
LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Reds and flounder are biting in the creeks and the waterway. The best bite is on low water either falling or rising and the best bait is finger mullet. Flounder are also biting in the inlets and the cut. River fishing has produced some nice catches of flounder, reds and trout. I want to emphasize the importance of the tide. Given the information above, lower water is producing better.

Near Shore: When seas are permitting boats to get out, the spanish mackerel bite has been awesome with some really nice fish biting. Gray trout are showing up at the near shore artificial and natural reefs. Some nice king mackerel are making their way in close, following the huge schools of bait.

Offshore: More king mackerel action in the 5 to 25 mile areas and we are getting some reports of sailfish action in the 15-18 mile range. A little late for this fish, but hey, we won’t complain. Check out the new circle hook rig for ballyhoo at barefootfishing.net. Some small mahi are still around in the same areas.

Gulfstream: No reports.

Upcoming: Fall fishing is getting into full swing with only better fishing ahead. Look for strong bites inshore from trout, reds and flounder and near shore from spanish and gray trout and from near shore to offshore big king mackerel. Coming soon more information on next year’s fishing school and boat show schedule. Be sure to check out the photos on this week’s fishing report and the photo gallery on my site at rodmancharters.com.

Until next time……
LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

We are finally getting that first wave of cooler weather and the fish are already responding with “enthusiasm”. Fishing in the ocean lately has been a bit difficult with the higher seas, but inshore the redfish and flounder have been biting well and some specks are starting to show up. It will only get better.

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Right now, this is where the action is for sure. Redfish are biting in the creeks, the inlets and the ICW. There are plenty of finger mullet around and menhaden as well. Fished on a carolina rig near structure the mullet or menhaden will produce reds and flounder. Cork rigs with artificial shrimp baits or live bait will catch fish along the grass banks….look for a speck or two as well.

Near Shore: Prior to the big surf, the spanish bite was excellent and the flounder bite was great as well around the artificial reefs. I have not fished the ocean lately and I have heard no reports from other boats. When the water settles down, we should have a good fall run of spanish and the gray trout should be biting.

Offshore: Look for the nice fall kings to start biting from 10 miles IN TO the beach. These will be your bigger kings and should go right into late October and possibly early November.

Gulfstream: No reports.

Upcoming: Fall fishing has begun. It will only get better form here. Look for the reds and flounder to continue to bite well and the trout should turn on soon.

We have been working hard on our winter fishing school. The school is set for February 27, 2010 and will feature some new speakers, lots of new visual aides, and the very latest in fish catching techniques. Look for the registration form and information to be online soon. It will be the one fishing school you do not want to miss.

Until next bite….
LET’S GO FISHING!!!
Capt. Rick Bennett
Rod-Man Charters
910-799-6120

  

The past two weeks have been pretty awesome for fishing. We have had big catches of reds and flounder inshore and spanish macks near shore. Looks like Bill will give us a little swell activity that may slow the ocean fishing a bit for a short period, but otherwise we are looking at some really good fishing…and fall fishing isn’t here yet!!!

Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Reds have been biting well on both the falling and the incoming tides. Best baits have been finger mullet or fresh cut chunks of menhaden. Fish them on a carolina rig around the docks in the creeks and the ICW. Some very nice flounder are biting near the inlets and the docks. Live finger mullet fished on a carolina rig is the way to go.

Near Shore: Spanish macks are biting strong, and most of the fish are very nice size too. Clarkspoons in the 00 and 0 sizes fished on planers (#1) and on bird rigs are catching the fish from 25 to 50 feet of water. Troll at 4.5 to 5.5 knots. For those that enjoy a good tug and sporting fight on light tackle, shark fishing is fun and exciting.

Offshore: King mackerel are biting from 5 to 25 miles out. I prefer to use live bait and slow troll with light tackle, but dead bait, ballyhoo and cigar minnows, work well too. Mahi have moved a bit farther out but can be had in the 20+ mile areas along with some nice sailfish.

Gulfstream: No reports, but I expect it is too hot except for billfish action.

Coming Up: Fall fishing is almost here…I hope. It will be nice to fish in a little cooler weather. That is what I keep thinking when I am out there in the heat of August. Think cool!

Enjoy the pics of recent catches at http://www.rodmancharters.com/fishingphotos/main.php

Until next time,

LETS GO FISHING!!!

Capt. Rick Bennett

Rod-Man Charters

910-799-6120

  

It has been a good week of fishing, highlighted by the tremendous spanish mack bite. We had two days of catches over 30 fish. Near shore and inshore the fishing has been steady and good. Now here’s my report:

Inshore: Water temps are round 84. The nice flounder are still biting on the rising tide in the ICW and inlets and the falling tide in the river. Menhaden and finger mullet are the best baits and fished slowly on a carolina rig. Redfish action has been steady with some very nice fish being caught.

Near Shore: The bite is on for spanish…on top with bird rigs and down deep with number one planers. The fish are mostly good size. Shark fishing is pretty much a sure thing if you are looking for excitement and a good pull on the line. King macs have been in close as well feeding on the large schools of menhaden in the area. from the sea buoy out to 25 miles the kings are nice.

Offshore: Big kings, mahi and sails are biting hard from 10 to 25 miles. Live menhaden and ballyhoo are producing the best results. Slow troll with the livies and fast troll with the dead bait. Several sails were caught in this weekend’s sailfish tournament.

Gulfstream: Some wahoo, large mahi and billfish have nee the main attractions in the “hot” stream.

Coming Up: It appears after a rather mild summer thus far, we are entering the dog days of heat and humidity. That simply mean that the best fishing will be early in the morning and late in the evening and night time fishing can be very good when the tides are right. The larger spanish are already showing up. Fall fishing is just around the corner when the temps will be right for a full day of fishing. Make your plans now. Check out the new photos at http://www.rodmancharters.com/fishingphotos/main.php

Until next time…

LET’S GO FISHING!!!

Capt. Rick Bennett

Rod-Man Charters

910-799-6120