Josh Abrams, a man with a fishing future

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Tarboro native, Josh Abrams, has accomplished much as a fly fisherman, and is soon embarking on his career as a professional fly fishing guide in Alaska. Photo/Submitted

February 10, 2012

Josh Abrams, a man with a fishing future

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Rick Goines The Daily Southerner Fri Feb 10, 2012, 05:44 PM EST

TARBORO — Meet Josh Abrams. He is a 24-year old local Tarboro boy that has very ambitious fishing plans for the future. Born and raised in Edgecombe County, Josh’s playground as a young’n was the Tar River. As a young boy, he was easy to find. Just look for water that held fish, and Josh was most likely near by.

Dagwood Abrams, local well-known craftsman carpenter, respected fisherman, and recent bait shop entrepreneur, is Josh’s Granddad, so the fishing bloodlines are definitely in place. Josh remembers some enjoyable times fishing Edgecombe County ponds with Dagwood. He recalls that a pond caught Largemouth Bass was probably his first freshwater fish, and a dish plate sized flounder got his first ever honors in saltwater.

Josh got my rapt attention early on when we started communicating and he spoke passionately about his affection for the Tar River. He said, “I love this river, and fish it like I am going to die tomorrow.” My kind of man! Josh knows the Tar River well, and approaches his angling seriously and scientifically.

Fly fishing is Josh’s favorite method of angling. He caught the fly fishing fever on an outing with Captain Rob Ottleid with Osprey Fishing Charters out of Flagler Beach, Florida. Josh said they targeted snook and trout on top water flies in the morning, and chased redfish (drum) in the flats later in the day. He’s been a devoted fly-guy ever since.

Josh enjoys fishing the Tar River pretty much year round, targeting different species different times of the year. If it swims in the Tar River, Josh has most likely caught it. Asked his favorite fish to catch, without hesitation he says carp. Interesting choice because carp are not usually on most peoples favorite fish list. Josh has the utmost respect for carp, and their intelligence.

Professionalism is important to Josh. The title that suits him best is professional fisherman. He is currently a licensed guide in NC. This spring he will receive his U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s license. It is his desire to take his fly-fishing to the highest level and become a Certified Master Casting Instructor. Josh is proud to be sponsored by Sage Fly Rods, Rio Fly Lines, and Simms Waders. Competition in the Southeast National Fly Fishing Championship is on his February schedule, too, as he is interested in seeing how his skills compare against others. I like that enthusiasm and spirit. It will serve him well in the future.

Catch and release is his mantra, because Josh simply does not want to kill the fish he catches. You certainly have to respect and admire that kind of attitude. We would all be better off if more anglers thought that way and practiced more of an ecology-friendly catch and release.

Alaska is beckoning young Josh. He is contracted to work at Kenai River Drifters Lodge this spring and summer. He will handle rafting trips in May, and start guiding fishing trips for Steelhead Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and Arctic Grayling in June. How cool is that? I am getting charged-up, juiced, and excited just writing about it. Lucky duck, Josh gets to live it. What a job! And he gets paid to do this!

Want to know how you can corral all that youthful exuberance, and put that fishing knowledge and expertise to work for you? Josh will guide you in his 16-foot G3 boat for a half or full day of fishing on the Tar River. His rates are very reasonable, and he has some dates available, before he heads to fishing nirvana in Alaska this spring.

Josh also has another unique skill you might want to investigate. Josh gives very affordable fly-casting lessons, on or off the water. What fisherperson wouldn’t like to have that skill? Casting lessons could be an ideal Valentine’s Day gift for him or her.

Sure beats a box of chocolates. He did a little casting demo for me at the shad hole on River Road, and one for wifey in our driveway, and we were duly impressed. This young man knows his business, no doubt.

Want to join Josh, here on the Tar, or in Alaska, for the fishing experience of a lifetime? Contact Josh on his cell phone at 252-458-3127. His home number is 252-823-2360, or you can e-mail him at Abramsjoshua@hotmail.com

Tight Lines is so impressed by Josh. He is the real deal. He is a knowledgeable, conscientious young fisherman that I firmly believe will make his positive mark on

the fishing world in the future. If this kid (everybody under 40 is a kid to me) was incorporated, and trading on the NYSE, I would be buying his stock. This young angler has WINNER written all over him. I am so excited about his bright future. It is going to be a pleasure to watch this youngster climb the ladder of success in the fishing world.

We will be able to say we knew Josh Abrams when….

Hotspot of the Week – I hope by the time you read this, the shad bite will start to show some consistency. It’s been a few here and there so far. I want shadness, not shadless!

Of course, the best is yet to come.

Rick’s Soapbox – You still have time to take advantage of the upcoming Fisherman’s Post Saltwater Fishing Schools, but you better hurry. The Wilmington School is this Saturday, and the Morehead City School is scheduled for Saturday, February 25th. For more information, call (910) 452-6378, or go online at www.FishermansPost.com. I hear very good things about these schools, and encourage your participation.

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!

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Tight Lines

Shad Season in Review
All things considered, 2013 was a good shad season, thoroughly enjoyed the fishing activity and usual camaraderie among shad fishing friends. Shad fishing to me is about so much more than just catching fish. It’s a total package of enjoyment as it captivates and dominates my life February through May.
Wayne Harrell kicked off the season winning the first shad contest catching his hickory shad on a cold 19-degree Saturday morning, February 2.
The shad hole on East River Road in Tarboro was a little disappointing this year. Untimely flood waters might have limited our regular peak run. Fish were caught and we had some good days, but not the action we have experienced in past years.

May 24, 2013
Banner Day at Battle Park
Sunday was Mother’s Day. I am not a mother, but I played one in a school play years ago, so I figured that entitled me to go fishing on Mother’s Day. Need an excuse or rationalization to go fishing? Check with me, I’ve got plenty!
After suffering through 2-3 days of a rain induced swollen, unfishable Tar River at Battle Park in Rocky Mount, it was jackpot time on Sunday. Without a doubt, I had my best white shad fishing day ever, fishing from sunrise to early evening. Action was good all day, with a little lull for about 2-hours in the heat of the afternoon.
I am proud to report to you that I enjoyed a 50-fish day. I caught a personal best 46 white shad, 3 hickory shad, and foul-hooked a very angry, upset 3-foot gar. I thought I had two large white shad, or maybe a big rockfish, so I was a little surprised to see Mr. Gar. It was like reeling in an uncooperative 2x4 piece of lumber.

May 17, 2013
NCWRC enforcement officers doing a great job
North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has two enforcement officers assigned to each county. That’s 200 dedicated, educated, and highly trained individuals protecting our North Carolina environment and natural resources. To become an enforcement officer applicant, one must participate in a highly competitive selection process. A typical candidate is required to pass extensive background and psychological screening. Also included is a vigorous 19-week training academy that is patterned after a military boot camp, with an emphasis on physical fitness.

May 10, 2013
Tight Lines declares Ginger Perry of Nashville the shad queen
One of my favorite places to bank fish is the boat ramp at Battle Park in Rocky Mount. I have met a lot of interesting people there. Three or four times this season, I have watched this amazing lady, Ginger Perry, fishing with her friend, Big Kelly, for white shad. Simply put, she is one good angler! She casts and retrieves like a pro, and always catches her fair share of fish. Maybe a few more than her fair share! This lady can flat-out fish!

April 19, 2013
Time for the John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar river
Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman (TASS) presents the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar on Saturday, April 27th. Entry fee is $100 per boat.
Registration and information is available daily at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, Main Street, Tarboro. The absolute registration deadline is Friday, April 26, by 8 p.m., at the boat landing on River Road, or when the maximum limit 40 boats have been signed-up. Attendance at the Captain’s meeting Friday night, 7 p.m. at the boat landing on River Road, is highly recommended. Rules will be read, questions answered, and you will receive your Captain’s Bag, tournament t-shirt, and other goodies. Each boat is allowed to weigh-in 2 of their largest rockfish, as chosen by the Captain.

April 12, 2013
Sign-up this Saturday for John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo
One of the TASS premier events that local anglers always enjoy is the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo. Registration is limited to the first 40 boats. Full grown men, me included, will be standing in line like giddy teeny-boppers looking concert tickets early Saturday morning waiting for Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store to open at 9 am to plunk down that registration fee.

April 5, 2013
Bottoms Up! Greg Bottoms Wins TASS Shad Tournament
To my knowledge, Greg Bottoms does not smoke or drink, but he does have another habit, and an enviable one at that. Greg wins fishing tournaments. He won the Fall Speckled Trout Tournament, and last week claimed top honors in the shad tournament. Obviously, the man knows his way around a rod & reel. Greg is a skilled angler, and a nice guy, deserving of that success.

March 29, 2013
Shad Tournament participants weighing-in some good fish
All indications are that this will be a banner year for the 12th Annual TASS Hickory
Shad Tournament. The timing is perfect because the shad “bite” has turned on
considerably everywhere. At the halfway point through the week-long tournament, the leader board is already showing some impressive fish weights. Charles Strickland leads the top tier adult category with a healthy 2.56 Hickory Shad. That will be a hard “Hick” to beat!

March 22, 2013
Time to sign-up for the 12th Annual Hickory Shad Tournament
The TASS Twelfth Annual Hickory Shad Tournament week is one of my favorite weeks of the year. This year’s tournament dates are Saturday, March 16th through Noon, Saturday, March 23.
Entry fee is only $10, but you must sign-up before 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, if you wish to be involved. You do not need to be a member of TASS to participate, but you must be a member of TASS to receive TASS bonus-money. Registration is at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, 418 Main Street, in downtown historic Tarboro.

March 8, 2013
Anglers kindness and generosity never fail to amaze me
The “Shad Hole” on River Road in Tarboro functions not only as a great place to fish, but also a good place to meet and greet like-minded fishing enthusiasts. An informal group usually congregates at the “Shad Hole” nightly during shad season to wet a hook, or simply to exchange pleasantries. These “Shad Hole” friends come in different ages, and walks of life. These are salt-of-the-earth type guys. If it ever comes down to “Us” versus ‘Them,’ I want these guys in my foxhole watching my back.

March 1, 2013
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