Got out just after sun up and started a slow paddle along the grass dragging mudminnows and grubs…nothing…Worked my way faaaarrr back up a creek, nothing…drifting back down said creek, and had the back pole go off. Nice slot size red that decided to let itself free along side the yak. After making it back to the Cooper I drifted the grass some more, and had another nice strike. I was thinking nice redfish at first based on the fight. I got the net out to dissuade any ideas of self-release this fish may have. Finally got it in…see below.
No tape measure or scale, but I ran back into cutmullet at the landing and we measured out the scratch mark I put on my paddle. Just around 19inches, it was nice and fat, and got to go free.
Paddled straight up creek and first time I saw 2 giant gators, one was at 2 bend, other at T… and he didn’t want to move. I yelled and slapped my paddle, finally he moved a few feet. I guess we had about 15-20ft between us. Also a few babies following my cork.
Picked up 2 decent spottails, one at 28". Also about a 13" flounder at Scott creek.
Fished hard (2+hrs)in the river with no luck.
Anyone going out tomorrow? the wind forecast is looking much better.
Curious about Bushy Park. Is it “officially” fresh or salt? DNR has the dividing line on the Cooper at the “seaward shoreline of Old Black River at the confluence of Old Black River downstream from Bushy Park Reservoir”
Does this mean if I put in and turn right I’m legal and if I turn left I need a freshwater license??
Curious about Bushy Park. Is it “officially” fresh or salt? DNR has the dividing line on the Cooper at the “seaward shoreline of Old Black River at the confluence of Old Black River downstream from Bushy Park Reservoir”
Does this mean if I put in and turn right I’m legal and if I turn left I need a freshwater license??
So much water, So little time
I’d go by what the map says (come out of the landing and go north = “fresh”, south = “salt”. Buuuuut, I have both licenses just to be safe. I know you can catch largemouth, catfish, red, flouder, trout, etc. both going north and south of the landing for quite a distance.
John
1996 Sunbird Spirit 170 - 112 Johnson
15’ Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro
Mr. DNR, Brian Crawford, told me technically he could give a ticket in the cove, if I did not have a fresh water license. I informed him of how silly I thought that was considering a sign saying “salt-water” to the right. Told me he hadn’t written any tickets yet…
So, while you are in the cove (salt-water side) you should have a fresh water, go out of the cove it is salt-water license.
mainly because I haven’t fished “freshwater” other than mountain trout in about 15 years.
I have a NC lieftime license, so I get my trout fix every time I head back to visit family.
I always buy both… that way I can shoot up to thwe tail race for cats and strippers, er I mean Stripers, or hit Moultrie, GCR, and other smaller lakes around, plus when I go out on my friends power boats I gotta have one anyways… $20 to go to DNR is something I gladly pay after spending $55 in Colorado and that was just FRESH and my academy permit… I was wondering about he catfish at bushy… I know the gaftopsail cats are a salt water cat and you cannot keep or hang on to one but someone said ANY catfish caught in salt water you have to release… now if I catch a blue cat at bushy, north of the landing, can you keep those??? I haven’t been sure and have never seen a DNR officer at BP to ask… I’d rather skip catfish nuggets for supper than get a ticket…
It is the fish, not where you catch them, that makes them legal or otherwise.
Big cats are out there and never caught a sailcat at bushy… hmm. … i think.
nasty fish, ya’ll can have em’
quote:mainly because I haven't fished "freshwater" other than mountain trout in about 15 years.
I have a NC lieftime license, so I get my trout fix every time I head back to visit family.
According to DNR regs thats not the case and why not support the people who fight to protect the fishery that makes the sport we love??? The few extra bucks are a mute point compared to the fine if nothing else.
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”>
quote:mainly because I haven't fished "freshwater" other than mountain trout in about 15 years.
I have a NC lieftime license, so I get my trout fix every time I head back to visit family.
According to DNR regs thats not the case and why not support the people who fight to protect the fishery that makes the sport we love??? The few extra bucks are a mute point compared to the fine if nothing else.
The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad. </font id=“size2”>
I'm confused by your post. If I leave Bushy landing turn right = saltwater. I'm legal.
I'm not opposed to supporting wildlife conservation. I do more in that regard already than you could possibly know.
It's "moot" and no law breaking means no fine. :wink:
