Cast a Line

CAST A LINE WINTER IS NO TIME to hang up your fishing rods

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY CAPT. RICHARD ANDREWS

Winter 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 Richard Andrews holds up a striped bass he reeled in from the Pamlic River. in our coastal rivers and creeks. Find than monofilament, enabling you to feel flounder overwintering in our area, but current and baitfish, and you will likely the bottom. Maintaining contact with the the more consistent fisheries include find a big school of stripers in one spot. bottom is important. Once you allow the the aforementioned species. Winter

In the winter, stripers are usually bait to hit the bottom, lift it up off the speckled trout fishing if the most popular located in deeper water near the bottom. bottom a couple of feet until it hits the option and once word gets out about a They are often associated with ledges bottom again. Just repeat this process hot bite, 50-100 boats or more might in the creek or river channel or around until you feel a fish pick the bait up as be concentrated in just one creek. If deeper structure where they can ambush it’s falling back toward the bottom. When you prefer a more secluded experience their prey. Because we are typically you detect the bite, set the hook and while fishing, consider some of the other fishing in deeper water and in places enjoy the rest! species. where we are likely to get hung up on Other options for winter fishing Capt. Richard Andrews is a resident structure, we primarily fish 3/8 to ½ in our area include speckled trout; of Washington and the owner of a local ounce jig heads rigged with soft plastic panfish such as crappie, white perch, year-round guide service offering fishing baits such as 3-5 inch paddle tails or 4-6 and yellow (racoon) perch, and shad excursions on the Pamlico and nearby inch jerk baits. Using braided fishing line starting in February. Of course, anglers rivers. He can be reached at 252-945is important because it is more sensitive could catch the occasional red drum or 9715 or richard@tarpamguide.com.⋇