A Dash Of Salty

Flounder fishing with Gulp and other scented soft baits

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:54:32 PST

Although many Carolina flounder anglers still rely on live bait, more and more local fishermen each year are realizing that it is often more effective and more fun to target them with today’s soft lures. These synthetic scented baits have become so effective that they now will many times out-fish live bait. Another benefit is that when fishing them you don't have to wait so long to set the hook on a flounder but can hit him almost immediately upon the strike.

Gulp makes some of the best scented baits, and the saltwater jerk shad body is perfect for pulling flounder off of structure. It's erratic, darting motion imitates a struggling baitfish running around the pilings or rocks.

You can work Gulp soft baits slowly just off the bottom and flounder will rise to hit them. Dark green, chartreuse and Nuclear Chicken are great colors in stained or darker water. In clear water or in the surf Pearl White is a great choice.

Flounder fishing with Gulp and other scented soft baits

British Review: Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:33:03 PST

Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas isn't just a hit in the south, as sells have come from many regions of the country and even overseas. Check out this British review of the book. British fans of Carolina fishing can buy the book via the Book Depository as is linked in the article.

Go Saltwater Fishing Review: Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas by Jeffrey Weeks

Southern cooking: Easy and hearty vegetarian soups

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:21:57 PST

Local southern cooks know that hearty vegetarian soups can be easy to make and great meals by themselves. You can find really fresh ingredients at local Charlotte farmers markets as well as grocery stores.

Also see Healthy Charlotte dining: vegetarian soup recipes

Southern cooking: Easy and hearty vegetarian soups

NC Aquaculture gains in market, local fish farmer featured speaker at conference

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:02:00 PST

This week in New Bern the participants in the growing NC aquaculture business are gathering at the 24th annual North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference, and a featured conference speaker is local Charlotte fish farmer Rob Ellis who has built an amazingly successful new farm right here.

Ellis runs Astor Farms in Charlotte, and example of a state-of-the-art aquaculture unit focused on mass producing fish while at the same time maintaining the highest levels of healthiness for consumers. The tilapia at Astor Farms are grown in tanks housed in a large warehouse with the capacity to produce 400,000 pounds of fish each year.

The tilapia are raised in a controlled environment without the possibility of being exposed to pollutants, with 95 percent of the water used to raise the fish being recycled. Live tilapia are sold by Ellis to chefs and Asian markets in NC and other cities on the East Coast.

Read more:

NC Aquaculture gains in market, local fish farmer featured speaker at conference

Fishing with fiddler crabs to catch sheepshead and redfish

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:01:39 PST

Fiddler crabs are an exceptional saltwater bait to use when fishing for sheepshead and they will also hook black drum, tautog and even catch the occasional redfish and flounder. A lot of tasty Carolina inshore saltwater fish eat fiddler crabs including red drum in the winter, and they are the preferred bait for most sheepshead anglers.

For plenty of additional tips and tactics on catching and cooking Carolina saltwater fish see my new book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas.

When cleaning redfish and black drum in the winter I have often found their stomachs full of fiddler crabs, as well as small blue crabs and rock crabs. The lowcountry Carolina mudflats are fiddler crab havens, and the best thing about them as bait is that you can gather them for free.

Carolina fishing tips: using fiddler crabs to catch sheepshead and redfish

Big Shot pencil plugs for bluefish, Spanish mackerel

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:20:25 PST

If your favorite saltwater fish feeds on small baitfish, then throw this Big Shot plug from Offshore Angler and watch the surf boil! The Big Shot produces loads of fish-attracting commotion making it the perfect bait when fishing for bluefish, Spanish mackerel, trout, stripers, blues and more.

Perfect for pier casting or nearshore trolling. Complete with high-quality VMC hooks.

As effective and cheaper than the similar Gotcha brand plugs.

Carolina fish recipes for spring inshore saltwater fishing

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:29:39 PST

Spring is just around the corner and that means that the inshore saltwater fishing season will soon be here. Local anglers will have their shot at all the usual great tasting Carolina fish along the southeastern NC coast including speckled trout, weakfish, red drum, black drum, flounder, and bluefish.

For anglers who catch speckled trout don’t forget the new NC size and creel limits for 2012. You can find them on my speckled trout page at Surf and Salt.

Carolina fish recipes for spring inshore saltwater fishing

Carolina fishing tips: Buying and using a cast net for inshore saltwater fishing

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:49:01 PST

For Carolina inshore saltwater anglers who like to use live bait there is no excuse for not knowing how to throw a cast net. Cast nets are invaluable for gathering baitfish, shrimp, and crabs and will pay for themselves many times over in value as you save money on live bait.

As local inshore saltwater anglers prepare for spring fishing and peruse through Charlotte’s boat shows, tackle expos, fishing seminars and the big tackle stores a quality cast net should be at the top of their list of equipment to purchase.

When buying a net beware of cheap imports that will not last less than a year. A solid well-made cast net from a top manufacture should last ten years or more. If you would rather know you are getting a quality net and have it shipped to you without store or boat show markup you can look at my recommended cast net page on Surf and Salt.

Carolina fishing tips: Buying and using a cast net for inshore saltwater fishing

Carolina experts Jerry Dilsaver and Jimmy Price hold one-day fishing school

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:13:07 PST

If you want to know about inshore and nearshore saltwater fishing in North Carolina you could hardly find two better experts on the subject than Capt. Jerry Dilsaver and Capt. Jimmy Price. The two of them will be holding one of their 2012 Saltwater Fishing Schools on February 18 at River Park North in Greenville, NC.

The one day seminar will include sessions on catching speckled trout, red drum, flounder, sheepshead, gray trout, off-shore bottom fish and Spanish and king mackerel. There will also be a lesson on the best way to throw a cast net.

Carolina experts Jerry Dilsaver and Jimmy Price hold one-day fishing school

Fish and seafood recipes on a budget

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:03:58 PST

Carolina folks love a fresh seafood meal, but in these tough economic times buying fish at the supermarket in downtown Charlotte isn't a good deal. Luckily, you can purchase relatively cheap shellfish at any number of local seafood markets and catch your own fish in many neighborhood lakes and ponds.

Tasty seafood meals don't have to take a long time to fix, or a lot of money to prepare. These dishes are so good, though,that your family will think you slaved over the stove all day and went over budget to prepare them.

For many more great fishing and seafood cooking tips check out my fishing and cook book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas.

Tasty fish and seafood recipes on a budget

Lures instead of bait now the norm in Carolina saltwater fishing

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:07:25 PST

There have been a lot of changes in the Carolina surf and inshore saltwater fishing game in the last three decades, but none are more pronounced than the explosion of artificial lures used for catching. There was a time when you were as likely to find a pair of tap shoes in a local red drum angler's tackle box as a selection of lures. Now things are radically different for local anglers fishing the surf and the backwaters.

Once the sports of freshwater bass fishing and inshore saltwater fishing were very different, but the lines blurred quite a bit over the years pushed by a new willingness of saltwater anglers to use lures. Many bass fishermen began to realize you could use lake and pond tactics in saltwater. In the last few decades throwing lures to catch inshore fish like redfish, speckled trout, bluefish, red drum, and flounder has become the norm instead of something unusual.

Lures instead of bait now the norm in Carolina saltwater fishing

Carolina fish recipes: speckled trout and flounder

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:42:11 PST

Flounder and speckled trout are two of the tastiest saltwater fish available to local Carolina anglers on the southeastern coast. Many Carolina seafood lovers rate trout or flounder as their favorite saltwater fish to eat.

For tips on catching and cooking all of our Carolina inshore saltwater fish check out my new book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas.

Here are three easy and delicious recipes for flounder or speckled trout. Included are Sauced Flounder, Lime Pepper Fish, Oriental Fish and Creole Fish Delight for Six. These will work with just about any firm white fish if you don't have flounder or trout.

Easy Carolina fish recipes: speckled trout and flounder

SE Carolina fishing report: redfish, trout, and surprising flounder action

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:04:33 PST

The mild winter is certainly having a positive effect on local southeastern NC inshore fishing, especially compared to last year’s harsh stay-at-home conditions. For one thing, I can’t remember a January in Brunswick County when I have gotten so many reports from anglers catching flounder.

No, folks aren’t out having eight fish days but it seems like every other redfish or trout report anglers are adding that they pulled in a flounder or two. I’ve seen the pictures and they really are out there. December flounder I’ve seen before and I know there are always a few that stay inshore, but this many reports of January flounder is unusual.

SE NC Fishing Report: redfish, trout, and surprising flounder action

New LIVETARGET inshore fishing plug imitates pinfish

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:43:26 PST

Pinfish are frequently found around protective marsh grass flats and among the cover of hard structure like bridges, docks, jetties, and rocky bottoms. Instead of schooling they tend to occur together in vast numbers around these areas where they feed on small shellfish prey and hide from predators like speckled trout and redfish.

Live pinfish have long been known as a ‘secret’ bait among fishing guides and coastal locals for big speckled trout. The is a natural-looking hardbait that closely resembles the pinfish in 3D detail and packs a tight vibration with a long-range calling rattle.

The company recommends the plug be worked in a lift and drop retrieve similar to the pull and pause method many trout and redfish anglers use with MirrOlures. The pinfish plug comes in three sizes from 2 ½ inches to 3 ¾ inches that go from 7/8 oz to 1 1/8 oz and sinks to a medium depth.

You can check out other LIVETARGET plugs including their mullet baits here.

Winter striped bass recipes

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:58:02 PST

Winter is not often thought of as a time for fresh fish, but in areas where they are found striped bass bite well in cold weather. Stripers hit in some Carolina rivers, along the NC Outer Banks coast, and in some freshwater lakes where they have been stocked.

For more about catching and cooking Carolina fish check out my new book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas.

If you have some fresh striped bass give these tasty recipes a try.

Winter striped bass recipes

Using MirrOlures to catch speckled trout and redfish

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:27:51 PST

Very few Carolina speckled trout fanatics lack a collection of colorful MirrOlures. The sturdy and dependable plugs are the traditional hard bait associated with sea trout, as well as redfish, and for good reason. MirrOlure plugs have been hooking trout in local waters for decades and today’s inshore angler has more options than ever when it comes to choosing the right MirrOlure.

MirrOlures are a flashy, durable type of saltwater plug manufactured by the L&S Bait Company out of Florida. The shine of a MirrOlure in the water imitates baitfish like mullet or menhaden on which trout and redfish feed heavily. When worked correctly MirrOlures mimic wounded or disoriented baitfish, bringing aggressive strikes from specks and redfish looking for an easy meal.

Carolina fishing tips: using MirrOlures to catch speckled trout and redfish

Low fat Carolina seafood recipes

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:00:27 PST

Carolina seafood recipes are delicious, but with all the butter, oil and sauces that often come along with them they can be hard to take for someone on a diet. Thankfully there are Carolina fish and shellfish recipes out there for those of us on diets.

Low fat Carolina seafood recipes

Sizzling seafood for breakfast

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:03:10 PST

Seafood isn’t just for dinner. Lowcountry Carolina cookbooks contain many fish and shellfish breakfast recipes, and some restaurants along the coast serve seafood dishes in the morning. If you have fresh fish or shellfish it is easy and delicious to use as a breakfast or brunch change of pace.

For more on catching and cooking Carolina fish and seafood see my book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas.

Sizzling seafood for breakfast

Fishing tips for catching shallow inshore redfish

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:10:21 PST

Winter redfish in the Carolinas gather in large schools and roam the inshore waters looking for food, protection, and warmer water. Anglers target them in very shallow areas that heat up more quickly as the sun rises during the day.

Redfish will often be surprisingly shallow and in just a few feet of water during the winter. Here they will eat fiddler crabs and other small prey such as mud minnows. They also seek the shallows for protection against preying dolphins that rank redfish among their number one food choices in the winter.

Boaters often use long push poles to move their boats instead of trolling motors for fear of spooking the fish. Dolphins are as clever (or more) than anglers at finding the redfish school by stealth, so red drum are hardwired to bolt at any noise in the winter shallows. Therefore though you can choose different baits you cannot choose between noisy and silent; you have to stay quiet.

Winter fishing tips for catching shallow inshore redfish

MirrOlure Top Dog Jr perfect for early morning inshore speckled trout action

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:10:22 PST

Finally! For years inshore saltwater anglers have been clamoring for a jerkbait with the famous MirrOlure action--and here it is! Features the original flash-and-scale finish and 3-D eyes with an under-chin tie-in point so you can "walk the dog" with ease. For maximum action, we recommend that you use a loop knot or a Duo-Lock snap.

Make as long a cast as possible, then retrieve the Top Dog Jr back to you in a straight line, using short, sharp jerks. This will make the lure dance quickly from side-to-side (walking the dog). Each time you pop your rod tip, you will hear a sonic click coming from your lure. This fish calling rattle inside the echo chamber of the Top Dog Jr produces explosive strikes.

When worked properly, this bait is deadly on speckled trout and will also catch schooling redfish. These are lures of choice by many inshore tournament anglers. Remember to vary your retrieve until you start getting strikes.

The Top Dog Jr. is the perfect size for inshore action on schooling specks. Fish it in the morning on a lowering tide near marsh grass and creek mouths...and hold on!

SENC Coastal Fishing Report: plenty of redfish, anglers look past front

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:06:20 PST

The big cold front has blown through and folks in Brunswick County are waiting to see how it will affect local inshore fishing, with gradual warming toward the weekend and Friday and Saturday looking like sunny fishing days. Before the front there were plenty of redfish hitting including lots of rat reds at the creeks and some bigger fish at the jetties. There have also been a lot of spike speckled trout and a few keepers as well as some black drum and even a flounder or two.

Redfish have been the best bet as anglers were catching them in the shallow creeks and the ICW every day until the front came through. That bite at least should resume. The most effective baits have been Gulp shrimp in the New Penny and Nuclear Chicken colors. But frankly, the under slot reds have been so plentiful that the guides have even been fly fishing for them on low tide.

SE NC Coastal Fishing Report: plenty of redfish, anglers look past front

New 2012 Livetarget fishing plugs imitate pinfish and mullet

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:11:50 PST

Inshore saltwater anglers have an interesting new choice in lures for the spring 2012 fishing season when targeting species that feed on pinfish and mullet. Koppers Livetarget has come out with a line of realistic saltwater fishing plugs that mimic those two baitfish down to 3D anatomical details and dynamic vibrating action.

Both pinfish and mullet are pursued by important Carolina saltwater fish such as speckled trout, redfish, striped bass, and bluefish. Large members of each species are fed on by tarpon and Spanish mackerel.

Popular saltwater plugs by MirrOlure, Bomber, Yo-Zuri and Rapala that replicate mullet and pinfish are already top sellers in the inshore market. Clearly, though, Koppers Livetarget hopes its ultra-realistic approach will make their new plugs popular in 2012.

New 2012 Livetarget fishing plugs imitate pinfish and mullet

Easy Carolina sea trout recipes

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:29:41 PST

Sea trout are not really related to freshwater trout at all, but are members of the saltwater family that also includes red drum and croaker. Like their freshwater namesakes, however, sea trout are noted for their excellence on the table.

The Carolinas have two types of sea trout. Weakfish, also called gray trout, are found in the surf and inlets from Maine to the Carolinas, while spotted sea trout (known through most of their range as speckled trout) prowl the inshore saltwater waterways from Virginia to Texas.

Everywhere they are caught sea trout are subject to strict size and creel restrictions, so it is important to know the laws of the place you are fishing. Trout are a delicious, delicate fish. Speckled trout are a bit firmer fish (and a bit better tasting) than gray trout.

Easy Carolina sea trout recipes

Top 2012 inshore saltwater fishing rod and reel combos

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:24:51 PST

So you want to get a smooth new inshore saltwater rod and reel combo for the upcoming 2012 fishing season but in this economy you aren’t about to walk in and throw a thousand bucks on the tackle store counter. Penn or Shimano come up with some amazing pro and guide reels this time of the year but few casual anglers can afford them, especially not after you pair them with a strong but flexible inshore rod.

Don’t despair. There are some completely affordable 2012 inshore spinning combos that the top tackle companies are offering at prices that will let you escape that cheap Walmart combo lack-of-quality (and tendency to malfunction or break) but still not empty your bank account.

Top 2012 inshore saltwater fishing rod and reel combos

Tips for using Berkley Gulp saltwater shrimp for inshore fishing

saltyweeks@gmail.com (Jeffrey Weeks) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:10:35 PST

Today's inshore anglers have a big advantage over the fishermen in the past due the wide availability of scented synthetic baits, whose realism and scent has made artificial lures so life-like fish actually will hit them more aggressively than the real thing.

The leader in this rapidly growing market for anglers is the Berkley company out of Iowa. Berkley Gulp baits are the number one lures for prime inshore saltwater fish like speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and bluefish. They also work on a lot of other aggressive inshore species such as snook, Spanish mackerel, striped bass and big pompano.

Gulp lures come in a lot of shapes, colors, and sizes, and their main attraction is their scent which at times allows them to out-fish even wriggling live bait. The Gulp soft baits (which actually contain no plastic) disperse scent as soon as they hit the water attracting fish and causing them hang onto the lure for the extra few seconds needed to set the hook.

Tips for using Berkley Gulp saltwater shrimp for inshore fishing