TARBORO —
Red Drum season is late summer/early fall in eastern NC. Like most fish they go by different names in different regions. The official name is Sciaenops ocellatus, but who in the world can pronounce that? Red Drum are called Channel Bass, Spottail Bass, Reds, Big Reds, Bull Reds, and Redfish. The smaller, immature fish are referred to as Puppy Drum. Anglers targeting flounder and speckled trout frequently hook Puppy Drum.
Stomping grounds for the Reds include the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts around to the Gulf of Mexico coastal areas. This fast growing fish can live up to sixty years. Forty pound fish are not uncommon. The world record is a little over 94-pounds caught off the North Carolina coast at Hatteras Island in 1984. It’s surely only a matter of time before someone catches a hundred pound BIG RED. Why not you?
Redfish are basically a dark red almost golden color with a white belly. Their most distinguishing mark is a large black spot on the upper part of the tail. Some have several spots, but it is rare to find one spotless. During spawning season males produce a drumming sound using muscular contractions to vibrate the swim bladder. This is done to attract females. I tried it, and it didn’t work for me. Go figure.
Like most big bottom dwellers, the big reds are not picky eaters. They feed on crabs, shrimp, and other fish. They tend to “mouth” the bait a few seconds before taking a serious bite. Conventional wisdom dictates counting to 5 after the initial bite before trying to set the hook. That can be a real l-o-n-g 5-seconds! Equipment ranges from spinning gear to stout rods depending on the size of fish you are targeting, and how sporty you want to be. Similar size fish can usually be found schooled-up together.
Years ago, my first experience catching Big Reds was with professional guide George Beckwith, and my son Rich, while night fishing in the lower Neuse River below Oriental. It was quite a memorable experience. We caught and released some big fish that night. Holding a Big Red he caught that night, Rich was on DEGS brochure cover picture that year. Check out Captain George Beckwith and Down East Guide Service online at www.downeastguideservice.com or call 252-671-3474
My Havelock pal, Jerry Jackson, who usually likes to chase his Reds at night, was pleased to find some daylight action at the mouth of the Neuse River recently. Vanessa Hess, a pharmacist from the Winston-Salem area, aboard JJ’s 31-foot Contender, had the right prescription for her first-ever Red Drum, cut mullet. The crew was repositioning some of the baits, and she was holding the right rod at the right time when it hit. Surprise! The 30-something-pound fish was quickly released. Jackson’s crew went on to catch & release three more Big Red later that afternoon off Oriental.
Care to share? Tight Lines welcomes your fishing success stories, snaps, tall tales, and outrageous lies at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com
See you on the water, my friend!
Tight Lines
Related Photos
-
Vanessa Ness, of Winston-Salem, holds her first-ever Red Drum, caught at the mouth of the Neuse River. It was her largest fish caught to date. Photo/Submitted
Spawning red drum is your opportunity to catch a big fish
- Tight Lines
-
-
Battle Park is a cornucopia of nature
Fifty-seven acre Battle Park, in the heart of Rocky Mount, is named after the Battle
family of Tarboro, founders of Rocky Mount Mills. Water-powered, the mill dam was hewn of the rocks of the Great Falls, past the westernmost point of Edgecombe County. -
Take a kid fishing this summer
As you put the final touches on your summer vacation plans, consider a fishing outing for the youngsters. They might not remember or appreciate that expensive beach cottage rental, or that high-dollar meal at that trendy waterfront restaurant, but I would bet a pretty penny they will recall every detail of a fun-filled family fishing experience.
Just about anywhere you chose to go this summer will offer fishing -
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. -
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. -
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.
-
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!
-
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. -
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.
-
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.
-
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! - More Tight Lines Headlines
-
Battle Park is a cornucopia of nature
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
