CAST A LINE
WINTER IS NO TIME to hang up your fishing rods
W
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY CAPT. RICHARD ANDREWS
inter fishing on the Pamlico means catching hard pulling striped bass or “rockfish” below towering cypress and gum trees up in the freshwater portions of our rivers. It means exploring our backwaters and being rewarded with some world class fishing at the end of a cold day. Winter is not a hiatus from fishing; it’s just another season for me. I’d much rather be out on the water on a cool, clear, dry winter day than any hot, humid, buggy summer day. Between the Tar-Pamlico, the Neuse, and Roanoke Rivers, we have a spectacular winter striper fishery for those willing to brave the weather. Striped Bass are very current oriented fish. They use the current in the river to their advantage and will travel to areas where there is ample current flow and structure, creating the perfect ambush scenario for feeding on passing baitfish. Most fish behave this same way, but stripers are particular fond of and well adapted to heavy current flows in our coastal rivers and creeks. Find current and baitfish, and you will likely find a big school of stripers in one spot. In the winter, stripers are usually located in deeper water near the bottom. They are often associated with ledges in the creek or river channel or around deeper structure where they can ambush their prey. Because we are typically fishing in deeper water and in places where we are likely to get hung up on structure, we primarily fish 3/8 to ½ ounce jig heads rigged with soft plastic baits such as 3-5 inch paddle tails or 4-6 inch jerk baits. Using braided fishing line is important because it is more sensitive
Richard Andrews holds up a striped bass he reeled in from the Pamlic River.
than monofilament, enabling you to feel the bottom. Maintaining contact with the bottom is important. Once you allow the bait to hit the bottom, lift it up off the bottom a couple of feet until it hits the bottom again. Just repeat this process until you feel a fish pick the bait up as it’s falling back toward the bottom. When you detect the bite, set the hook and enjoy the rest! Other options for winter fishing in our area include speckled trout; panfish such as crappie, white perch, and yellow (racoon) perch, and shad starting in February. Of course, anglers could catch the occasional red drum or
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flounder overwintering in our area, but the more consistent fisheries include the aforementioned species. Winter speckled trout fishing if the most popular option and once word gets out about a hot bite, 50-100 boats or more might be concentrated in just one creek. If you prefer a more secluded experience while fishing, consider some of the other species. Capt. Richard Andrews is a resident of Washington and the owner of a local year-round guide service offering fishing excursions on the Pamlico and nearby rivers. He can be reached at 252-9459715 or richard@tarpamguide.com.⋇
