Greetings from the Cape Fear Coast
The Spring season is upon us as the March winds are blowing. Praying for ESE winds to blow more warm eddies in off the shelf to bring in an early April season. A few weeks ago a strong front push in a large eddy and delivered Kings and Bonitos (Sarda sarda) to the commercial fleet within twenty miles of the hill. The Schoolhouse (ar386) and Wr4 fired up and the bite was strong as the 68 degree water turned the bite on in full force. As the eddy pushed
up the coast the bite deciepated and returned back to 30-40 mile range.
The Winter season has had it ups and downs. The Bluefin bit all over the Morehead region but never really moved down Onslow Bay onto Frying Pan Shoals. So it was North to Morehead for about ten days of fishing over the December and January Season. Only one strike after hours, wait, after hours, wait, days of trolling will test your ability to entertain yourself for eight to ten hours in a 21' Seamark Skiff with two other men each day. Yeah, ten miles offshore in a 21' skiff and not really sure of what we were doing in late December and January meant we had to pick our days and it was still a bit chilly each time. Those big sporty boats really looked warm but where is the challenge in that. They were catching fish and we were not. As January 31 approached (the end of commercial BFT season) the
weather and lack of capital kept the crew and I on the hill with nothing but bills to show for our effort. That's BFT fishing in a skiff.
After the effort for tuna, Seabass, oysters and Striped Bass dominated my mind. The Seabass held nearshore until mid-February and then offshore they went and now it is oysters and Stripers. Oystering is okay they never really move that much and catching them just means getting up and going for the grind. Selling them however can be a challenge as I found out late into my checkbook. Now eating these little salty Masonboro gems that was easy and quick.
Stripers it is and some success followed with four nice fish this season in five trips and several 15" - 25" this has been an okay winter. This year has produced some small fish while trolling, which I absolutely dislike (hate) but I made myself do it when ny casting arm could not take another throw. My favorite form is to cast and cast Rattle Traps, Mirrolures, swimbaits and
Bombers until the cows come a'knocking. There is nothing like the smack of a fatty Cape Fear Striper on ten pound test. Back to now and even with the Striper bite still going well and the shad running up to Lock-n-Dam #1, the mind wanders back to the salt and Spring, it is almost here.
Rip'em up and Let some go
Captain Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Company
Wilmington, N.C.
910-619-2224
