Had Joey from Z-Man with us today, and we had a very good day. 4 gators in the boat today on 3" MinnowZ with chartreuse tails and Trout Eye jigs. Now is the time to catch big trout. Please consider catch and release to let these female breeders go.
Report and pics here
http://ralphphillipsinshore.com/blog/
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Nice read. Thank you
Nice! Are you targeting them on deep creek bends or deep ledges?
Great article! Just picked up some MinnowZ today
Connor Malark
What is the most popular retrieve technique on those paddletails?
Nice work ! always a sucker for some new Z-man colors,looking forward to it.
Nice
2008 War Eagle 15ft
1995 Johnson 25hp
MrSalty the paddletail does most of the work, so just a slow steady retrieve near the bottom with a few random twitches is all you need. Vary the speed to see what works and every 6 ft or do stop and let it drop. Bass fisherman call that “killing it”
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Nice report. I recently rejuvenated my love for trout fishing. My second favorite fish to catch. 2nd only to Cobia on arti’s.
I caught a 28" momma hoss down in Jacksonville last weekend.
It’s tough to beat the violent head shake of a trout.
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.
That’s a great fish. Wish we had jax’s trout fishery here
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
quote:
Originally posted by OptikerThat’s a great fish. Wish we had jax’s trout fishery here
You and me both. But we’d have to adopt Florida’s regulations. 5 fish and 15" with only one of the 5 being allowed over 20".
btw, I let her go to make babies.
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.
You opened the question. Do the biologists agree that if we were more restrictive on our trout limits, we would consistently catch larger fish? Personally, I don’t fish to eat, but I eat to fish. One problem we have is the severe cold that seems to plague us every few years. I assume it kills large fish as well as small ones.
I like FLs limits. I personally abide by much stricter limits. 2 maybe 3 and zero over 20"
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
If it’s the cold that prevents us from having more BIG trout, then why are there so many trophy’s caught on the NC coast where it’s much colder?
I was thinking the same thing about NC having bigger trout than SC. Really curious?
Nice read Opti, headed to Haddrells after work too try something NEW. See you on the waters soon
“Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education”
18’ CC SeaFox
My friends at SCDNR think it has to do with the fact that we don’t have a lot of submerged grass flats here in Charleston.
Cold water cannot be the only reason. NC waters freeze over sometimes!
Looking forward to seeing you out there Fatrat!
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
NC also supports a commercial trout fishery…Talked to a couple local guys up there that weren’t thrilled about the gill nets.
In other news,my Trout Eye bulk pack showed up today…Stoked!
I went to the DNR on fort johnson last summer to see the spawning programs. They have a tank full of 30" breeder trout. Trout grow fast but don’t live as long as reds. IIRC, he said most of the big trout in the tank were 5-7 years old.
the lack of grass flats makes a lot of sense. And trout can handle water down into the 30’s(per SCDNR biologists). The fish kills come from rapid decline in temp rather than just a low temp.
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.
here’s a pic of the DNR tank. That fat fish is around 30" It has to be 10-12lbs and full of roe.
This is the one from Good Friday. My PB. caught on a mirrodine. Although I may have to get some trout eye jigs for locally.
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.