Fishing

After weighing the forecasted tracks of Tropical Depression 16, the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament board of directors has determined the safest course of action was  to postpone the 2010 tournament. The 2010 U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament dates have been changed to Oct. 15-16 with registration from 10 a.m.-midnight Oct. 14 at Southport Marina. For more information, visit www.usopenkmt.com or call (910) 457-5787.

After the weather has finally given us a break, fall fishing has arrived on the Brunswick County coast. After a long, hot summer and then a burst of heavy rain and flooding conditions, the fish are running a little bit behind this year. But water temperatures are falling and anglers are waiting for the true fall fishing to turn on any day.

Reports from up the coast to the north show some Carolina piers in the Wilmington region have already had some early spot runs. That is being closely watched by Brunswick pier anglers, as any day now the spot could come in bunches.

Anglers are awaiting the arrival of true fall fishing, but in the meantime the action has been pretty solid. Already a lot of bait is in the water and the gamefish are on the move. The fishing season could turn from good to great any day now.

The big inshore fishing action right now is on the redfish, which are making a showing in different sizes just about everywhere. There are big red drum out at the jetties, slot-size and bigger redfish in the surf off the piers, and puppy drum and rat reds running the tide inshore.

You can’t deny the feeling of fall in the air. You likely know fall offers some of the best fishing the area sees, and as far as I’m concerned, it can’t come soon enough. However, it will still be another couple of weeks before the fall fishing really kicks into high gear.