Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Thanksgiving Trout


Wow, It's been a while.  Anyway, The Thanksgiving Trout bite was crazy.  Walked out on the beach one day and from the Southend to past the Blockade Runner was people fishing.  Most were out there for Whiting but a few were fishing for Specs.  The first few days were trout in the 2-3 lb range with smaller ones mixed in and gradually they got smaller and smaller.  Favorite Among most was the good Mirrolure with grubs of all colors in second with a few bait chunckers.  Sorry if ya missed it but they are still around and the water temp is holding in the low 60's for now.  Getting ready to really pound the river and hammer some Stripers and hopefully find a few trout mixed in. 
Later,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
910.619.2224

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

break out the gotcha plugs and some spoons

Beach Water Temp is in the upper 60's.  Have not been out this in a week or so, but the Spanish Mackerel are here.  There have been some good fish, in the 4lb range, caught a little south of Wrightsville Beach.  I saw some small fella's while surfing Monday morning at Crystal Pier.  There have been some blues off Johnny Mercers and I am sure the Spainsh have Made their way there too.  I saw a few guys King Fishing on Friday, good luck fellas.  Probably have more luck down at Oak Island or Carolina Beach.  Some good catches of Flounder in the Cape Fear River and the Drum are there as well.  Kings should be closer to the beach and the Cobia will be here soon.  If big blues sound fun to you then the next few weeks at Wrightsville Beach  is for you.  Historically, they are here the first few weeks of May and throwing broken back plug and other long diving plugs usually temp the 8-15lber fish.  Fish structure on moving tides.

Booking Trips for the Spring and Summer Now. 

Good Luck,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
Wilmington, N.C.
910.619.2224

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Lock-N-Dam #1 2011



lock-n-dam #1 stage
 I got the word that Stage 1 construction of the fish ladder project was completed and that the lock was open again to the public.  The main equipment was gone with only the barges remaining to be moved.  There were about four boats fishing at the dam when I got there and one old guy down river with a drift net.  I watch one boat put about five or six nice shad in the boat while I was there but I am sure I missed a few.  The ramp has been completely redone and it is 1000x's better than it was.  I did take a couple rods and threw a few assassins without a sniff.  Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a swirl.  Tossed at it and wham I was hooked up.  Thinking Striped Bass and not shad, to my surprise a nice 18" large mouth.  Sorry for no proof but I forgot my pocket camera and I was not going to take the Nikon down the rocks with me.  The bass was very light in color, looking like a perch, and was the largest Bass I have ever caught in the Cape Fear River.  A few minutes later I had another one and it was a little smaller, maybe 16".  Not bad for walking the banks with less than and hour to give it a go.  As soon as the water comes down some it will be kayak time.  More on Dam Construction on the next post.

Later,
Capt. Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
910.619.2224

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Cape Fear River Watch Striped Bass Tournament 2011

  Here's the run down.  The Banquet Friday Night was an awesome time.  Lots of good food,  free beer and wine.  That was for the auction, I guess.  Since a lady in front of me dropped about 400 on six things she did not know she had won.  I met my anglers Mark Johnson and his nephew Austin Lords.  Austin won the Junior Angler Essay Contest and got a spot to fish in the event.  Everyone was hyped for fishing Saturday.

  Saturday morning starts out cold but not cooooold.  It was about 29 when I put my boat in with the promise of mid-fifties for the day. After about 8 cups of coffee and some pancake and bacon sandwiches I was ready.  Boats were loaded and fishing was to begin at 9am.  After last years event I was bummed as my boat didn't see a fish all day,  I was ready to get the skunk off the boat early.  But it was not to be.  We fished slow, we fished fast, we threw topwaters, we fished softbaits on the bottom.  We threw everything all day long.  We hit some of Mark's spots.  We hit some of my spots.  We trolled and we made a thousand casts.  We had about a hour to go and now I was really bummed last year all over again.  Man I hate January fishing for Stripers (my worst month on record).  It's tough, cold water, patterns changing, cold air, baits all but gone and the fish are reluctant to play.

  I had not listened to the radio much all day but I had been for the last two hours and people we catching fish and I'm bummed and pissed.  The morale on the boat was low but Austin and Mark never quit fishing although I could tell the day was wearing on them.  We had time left but it wasn't looking good.  Then WHAMMMM.  My crankbait gets smashed and the rod doubles.  Fishing with crankbaits and in strong current you can never tell a fishes size but you can when they hit the net and she was a SOW. 
31 incher
Six hours and a thousand casts to get one fish but she was the largest fish caught in the three years of this event and finally the skunk was off the boat.  After tagging and releasing the fish we made a few more casts and had to make the run back. 

  This year was tough on a lot of boats but there were fish caught.  Capt. John Huff and his crew from Intracoastal Angler pulled off the overall win with Most Fish Tagged (five) and Largest Two Fish Aggregate of 55.5".  Austin got the Junior Angler Award and I got Largest Fish.  January is a tough month for Stripers on the Cape Fear but there are some beasts out there if you've got the time and get lucky.

Capt. Danny Wrenn
96Charter Co.
Wilmington, N.C.
910.619.2224

Thursday, January 13, 2011

wrightsville beach and all coastal waters in nc

Spotted Sea ( Speckled) Trout Closure for Commercial and Recreational Harvest.  None can be taken until otherwise stated.  For More Info. see the link http://www.ncfisheries.net/procs/procs2011/FF-007-2011.html.  This will most like be revised at the Feb. But if it stays cold don't count on it. 


Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year's from the Cape Fear River

j's first topwater striper
Fishing was slow for everyone I talked to on the river yesterday.  One fish per boat must have been the limit.  We trolled for a while only to have massive amounts of grass and reeds hanging everything and the wind was howling SW not my favorite.  But we did manage this nice Striped Bass and his first Topwater Bass.

Capt.Danny Wrenn
96 Charter Co.
910.619.2224