Cross Hair Optics

I need some help fishing in the North Carolina Inter-coastal waterway.?

Ok here is the deal, I go fishing about two times a month with my dad. We stay at a campground just above ocean isle beach and launch his boat into the intercoastal waterway to. In reality all we are doing is going on a boat ride because we hardly ever catch anything. I’m not really looking for any specific type of fish however I would like information from anyone that has any type of help to offer. We usually fish the area between holden beach and the ocean isle bridge. I would like to know what kind of rig(weight size, hook type and size also) to use, what type of bait, for different fish. I feel like I’ve wasted my money I recently bought about 150$$$ worth of tackle included all of the following:
8lb power_pro braided line
20lb Seaguar flourocarbon leader
an inshore soft plastics kit from bass pro
a speck trout and redfish soft plasics kit
and a d.o.a. shrimp soft plastics kit with dvd
Please Help a frustrated Novice fisherman.

those may work, but for the novice inshore saltwater angler, the best thing you can do is “junk fish.” junk fishing is making a botoom rig and using cut bait or shrimp and catching just about anything. And you’ll save a lot of cash if you return everything. If you don’t, its alright, you’ve just got to invest about $30-40.

first things first, you’re gonna need a shopping list; don’t worry, almost everything’s cheap.

1. stren 20 pound test original line. stren is the best line on the market, hands down

2. a pack or 2 of 12 inch steel leaders

3. eagle claw lazer sharp circle sea hooks in any size that looks like it will catch fish your rod will handle

4. a few packs of 1 and 1.5 ounce egg sinkers, have about 10 or 15 total sinkers in case you get snagged

alright, rigging is simple:

1. after you spool your rod with the 20 pound line, slide an egg sinker up your line (depending on current, use a heavier one if stronger current)

2. tie on a steel leader (make sure its the solid part you tie to your maine line, not the snap part).

3. put one of your circle hooks on the snap end of the swivel.

when you’re on your way to go fishing, pick up bait at a bait store. Buy cut mullet (if in stock) and two other types. if store sells mud minnows, buy 1 or 2 dozen. also try asking a store clerk to reccommend a few baits to use.

when fishing, simply cast out and hold on to your rod and wait. if fishing from the pier or the bank, just cast out. if casting from a boat, cast out anywhere. also, if you have a fish finder on the boat, locate fish under the boat & just drop your rig straight down. also, REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR LINE TIGHT. do not let your line have slack in it, a fish can pick up your bait and drop it & you’d never know.

i picked you circle hooks for a few reasons. 1) you don’t have to set the hook. it doesn’t hurt if you do, but the way to hook a fish with a circle hook is to just give the fish a strong pull with the rod. 2) circle hooks have a low chance of gut hooking fish. novice anglers dont want to mess with a fish with a swallowed hook.

you can catch a variety of fish this way:

redfish
speckled trout
stingray (which are surprisingly fun and very common-this is what youll most likely catch)
shark (another fun & common fish)
jack crevalle
tarpon (rare)
grouper
flounder
snapper
and a bunch of others like grunters, sea catfish, etc…

make sure to bring a pair of pliers to get the hook out. sharks can bite (duh) and stingrays can actually bite hard too (rub their lips with your pliers if you catch one & they’ll show you their big flat teeth- its cool) pretty much every saltwater fish has teeth, so pliers are the safest way to remove the hook.

send me a message for my email if youd like to show me pictures of your catch! id love to see them!

and good luck! (not that you’ll need it, this is foolproof- if theres fish there (and its the perfect time of year for inshore on the nc icw) this will catch em!)

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