TARBORO — No doubt that fall in our neck of the woods is a great time to catch fish, but my inbox is rather full, with great reports from all over, with end-of-summer fishing success stories, too. For a while this summer, it was flounder or nothing, but now other fish are showing up everywhere.    

Hotspot of the Week: Tom Hoard, formerly of Tarboro but now living in Wilmington, loves to fish that Cape Fear River. He recently had a good trout bite in the lower Cape Fear River one morning. Starting at daybreak they caught one nice keeper fish on top water bait, and then switched to pumpkin seed/chartreuse Bass Assassin grubs and loaded up on Speckled Trout. He said the specs flat out loved ‘em!  Although it was scorching hot out there, Tom said it felt a little bit like fall.  Of course, he wasn’t talking about the temp. He was referring to that wonderful fall fishing we all look forward to and enjoy in Eastern N.C. It sounds like Tom is getting a jump on the season.

Flounder continue to thrill anglers all over. If you have a favorite flounder pounder hole out there, now is the time to give those flatties a shot. It sounds like if you could walk out there on the bottom, you would be stepping all over them.

Reverend Gary Bateman, his brother Richard, and their friends continue to jerk those flounder over the gunwales at Swan Quarter. Just listen to this one-day total: 119 flounder (17 keepers), six Speckled Trout (one keeper), five Puppy Drum (one 24 inch keeper), and an assortment of other small fish. Wow! That is a nice day of fishing any way you look at it. I wonder if those guys had time to drink a Coca Cola and wolf down a pack of square nabs? Obviously not! Fish now, eat and drink later!

Cee Bee Marina is another location destination that is seeing everyone limit-out on keeper flounder.  Don’t know where to go when you get there? Look for an armada of boats drifting along bouncing ‘Gulp! Baits’ on the bottom. Give the other boats a little elbowroom, and join in the flounder jubilee. My sources tell me that Edgecombe County is well represented out there. Call Cee Bee at [252] 964-4375, 4163 NC Highway 99S, Belhaven, N.C.

Elliott Laine likes to work that Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area in VA for his flounder. He and his friends recently brought home 14 keepers, 3 of which were citation sizes.  lliott caught a 10 pound, 1 ounce doormat. THAT is a big “Freddy the Flatfish.” He is quick to give some of his fishing success credit to his custom made G Loomis Rod made in Tarboro by unofficial and unpaid “Tight Lines” reporter, Wayne Harrell.

Since we have crowned George Long, The Flounder King of North Carolina, Wayne suggests we should consider bestowing Flounder King of VA on Elliott Laine. Why not? That 10 pound plus flounder works for me.

If you called a guy a “loudmouth” you might have a scuffle on your hands, but I am starting to think that we need to call Wayne Harrell Mr. Largemouth because of his tremendous success nailing those Largemouth Bass. Simply put, a Largemouth Bass is not safe when Wayne Harrell is on the water. A recent trip with Robert Underwood to Lake Mattamuskeet saw the guys boat more than 45 Largemouth Bass, all on rubber worms from Tackle Joe’s. Wayne said they saw flocks of geese flying early morning, so fall must not be far off. A flock of geese flying high in the sky over beautiful Lake Mattamuskeet at sunrise sounds like a “Kodak Moment” to me.

Rumor has it that the Pungo River is full of big schools of Red Drum, and that Bill and Billy Dean are out there load’n up on ‘em.  Depending on where you fish for them, these fish are also called Redfish, and Channel Bass in other locales. 

Rick’s Soapbox: Please be aware that Dove hunters will soon be in the field.  Some of these fields are close to ponds and rivers we like to fish.  Be careful, and let the hunters know you are there. A little shot spray in the wrong direction could certainly ruin your day. We can both pursue our fish and game safely if we stay alert and aware of our surroundings.  I have never seen fish or game that was worth a personal injury.

If you have an extra few bucks burning a hole in your pocket, I have an idea for you that will put it to good use. Help out the critters by purchasing some $1 raffle tickets for a Dec. 18 drawing at Shooter’s Indoor Sports in Rocky Mount for a Remington M 887 Nitro 12 gauge 3 ?” Super Magnum Camo Shotgun. That is a mouthful. 

All proceeds will benefit the SPCA Alliance and the Tarboro Trap/Neuter/Return (T-N-R).  These people are doing some good work, and they need your help.  You do not have to be present to win, but you must be 18 or older to participate.  Interested? Call Peggy Harrell at (252) 823-6551 or e-mail her at pharrell@spcaanc.org. 

Think what a difference it would make if everybody bought a few tickets? Some of those animal abuse cases you see on Animal Planet on cable TV really turn my stomach. I am not ashamed to admit that I have to turn away sometimes because my heart is in my mouth. I guess I am an old softie because I do not enjoy seeing man or animal suffer needlessly. Let’s support helping our own.

Catching fish? Tell us about it. Better yet, send us a picture with all the details. We love to hear from you at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com.

See you on the water, my friend!