Fishing

Folks, as a fisherman, I can assure you what is happening here in our home waters of Brunswick County is an amazing thing. Somehow, through a magical formula only Mother Nature understands, we have been delivered a blessing of having the most famous, the most sought after, the most highly prized fish in the world set up winter headquarters right here in our own neighborhood. The giant bluefin tuna are here!

Despite water temperatures that have reached into the 40s, anglers still report spotting nice schools of red drum prowling the shallow waters. These fish will not always bite during the coldest periods, but on some days the sun warms up things enough to create a very favorable environment for targeting these winter redfish.

Red drum can often be seen “tailing” in the shallows with their noses down and rooting up food while their tails are sticking up in the air. Some of these redfish schools are huge. Finding them, however, is just part of the task of redfishing.

January is a great time for boat shows and tackle expos, and if you go to one you will see a bewildering selection of lures available for throwing at inshore saltwater fish. The Bass Pro Shop, Dick’s Sporting Goods, our fine local tackle shops and even the better Walmarts carry most of the same artificial choices. All of them work in the right situation, and you shouldn’t be reluctant to try some of the newer models out there gaining fame for their success.

The weather has alternated between unusually warm and typically cold, but local inshore fishing has settled into its traditional winter pattern. That means fewer people are fishing but some coolers are still being filled.

For the casual bottom angler and the surf fishermen there are targets out there, though they might not be easy to find. Fish are schooled up tight, meaning it isn’t hard to miss out on them if you are at the wrong spot at the wrong time. Some of them also tend to be more active at certain times of the day and night.