Sunday, December 7, 2008

First Annual Cape Fear Striped Bass Tournament




Greeting From the Cape Fear Coast:

December 6, 2008 was the First Cape Fear Striped Bass Tournament put together by Cape Fear River Watch. A one day format with the awards for the three biggest fish and the three biggest two fish aggregett. My anglers were Don Latella and Skipper Smith, of Fayetteville. The day started fishing structure along the main river channel where we pulled the hooks on a schoolie fish and did not get a second bite. We moved to fish along some creeks and picked up a nice 20" schoolie while trolling a Bomber 4" diver. After some more trolling we came back to the area where we picked up the first fish and landed a 25" fish cranking some small crankbaits and divers. We landed three fish in all and had several more strikes before the bite ended. We hit several more spots but could not get a bite. After some more searching we hit upon an area that had some bait jumping and after about 20 mins we had boated two more schoolie fish and lost two or three more. We ended up with a aggregate length of 45"for our two biggest fish and ended up with 6 landed fish and several lost fish and missed strikes.
The day for all the anglers involved was great as all the boats landed fish and all the anglers either landed their first Cape Fear Stripers or their most caught in a single day. There were over seventy fish caught and released with over 40 fish tagged. These fish were caught up and down the river and landed by trolling, casting and jigging. You pick your favorite method of fishing and a Cape Fear Striped Bass could be in your future as well.
This is the time of year, as shotguns and rifles are about to be put away and winter is about to settle in the South, to brave the cold and hit some Stripers. The Cape Fear River system is the only all Catch and Release river system in North Carolina so these fish will be here and not in the pan. A friend of one of the captains invloved in the tournament caught a tagged fish today and released it again this morning. I have a feeling this is going to be a great year for Striped Bass in the Cape Fear.
Thank to everyone a Cape Fear River Watch for putting together a great inaugral event.

Still booking Cape Fear Striper trips for December and January.

Keep Chasing Trophies,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Company
Wilmington, N.C.
910.619.2224