The Carolinas - Help trolling nearshore

Looking for some advice fishing out of OIB. We are limited to near shore fishing due to a smaller boat(18' Hydra Sport DC) Went this past week twice and trolled with trolling weights and clark spoons/gotcha plugs. Got a couple spanish, one pompano somehow, and that was about it. I was hoping it would be a little better. We left shallotte inlet early both mornings and went out to the buoy and trolled down ocean isle. We tired changing the speed, depth, lures, etc, not much helped. I picked up some #1 and #2 planers and will try those this weekend. Anything else I should change/try out this weekend? Targeting spanish mackerel and blues. Thanks in advance!

I am no fishing guide or charter captain, but I have caught more than a few spanish and king nearshore. These fish are predators and chase bait. Find birds diving on bait and you will likely find the target species you chase near shore. Spanish and Kings are also fish of opportunity hiding in color changes rips and so forth. Most of my experience comes off Wilmington, the east coast of Florida and the panhandle of Florida. Some days are better than others. I can fish one area and it is hot one day and the next day cold as ice. We are headed down to the Hunting Island/Hilton Head area next week and we too will be chasing what we can near shore and maybe if the dolphin are around head off a little too.

Those #1 planers you picked up are hard to beat for putting fish in the boat. Some people don't use the proper length leader behind the planer. Main line to planer, 30' mono leader:thumbsup:, then the clark spoon. To me this is not as sporting but it works. You have to hand line them in that last 30'. In the past I have even used 20' mono and 10' of flouro (with a blood knot, no metal) then the spoon.

Also pick up some Yo-zuri crystal minnows in 4"-6" size. I've had good luck with bright/reflective colors. Chrome, electric chicken, etc.

Behind the planer experiment with different size and colors of clark spoons. We've had luck with the very small ones (about 2"), gold, silver, and silver/green, silver/pink.

Also get 2 bird rigs and pull those. The leader to the spoon is much shorter behid the birds. Maybe 6' - 10' I believe.

Looking for some advice fishing out of OIB. We are limited to near shore fishing due to a smaller boat(18' Hydra Sport DC) Went this past week twice and trolled with trolling weights and clark spoons/gotcha plugs. Got a couple spanish, one pompano somehow, and that was about it. I was hoping it would be a little better. We left shallotte inlet early both mornings and went out to the buoy and trolled down ocean isle. We tired changing the speed, depth, lures, etc, not much helped. I picked up some #1 and #2 planers and will try those this weekend. Anything else I should change/try out this weekend? Targeting spanish mackerel and blues. Thanks in advance!

If you we're not using the planers that may make a significant difference. I've had days where the planers out performed the weighted spoons 5:1.
Seems most guys run light leader material 20-30#, and at a length of 20-30 feet behind the wieght or planer.

My best producing speed for Spanish has been 7 knots. Good luck.

Troll the tide lines( water color lines) around the inlets like shallotte, tubbs and lockwood folly. troll around small white bird activity , around pogy pods and watch you fishfinder for bait in the colum like shrimp.ps try using a daisy chain with birds to create commotion on the top

You should see a big increase by using planers. The bait is presented so much better and consistent using them. We catch 5:1 or more on the planers. There have been pogie pods all up and down the beach the last week in about 30 ft of water. That's where the Spanish have been. Also working the tide lines is always a place to try. Spanish just aren't as thick as they were last year.

We have been crushing the spanish lately. I would suggest getting two #1 planers and attach @ 20' of 20 lb floro to the back of the planer. then tie direct to a 00 clark spoon. The silver soon has opt performed the gols 5 to 1 so I would rig them both with silver to start with. when the planer hits the water on the first rod, count to 10 letting the line out, then stop. Same with rod #2 but count to 5. that will put the spoons at different lengths from the boat and at different depths. Next get a 3-4" pink or yellow bird. Hook the bird to the swevil on your main line and agaon with 20' of floro tied directly to the spoon. Put this way back in the spread. This way you can circle schools of bait fish easlily without crossing the lines up.

Look for birds diving on bait. Spanish push glass minnows to the surface when feeding on then and than birds will pick up the peices.. you will be able to circle them fairly tight and stay o nthe bait. Do not go through the bait but to the sides.

Look for dark spots in the water.. will be pods of pogies.. circle them as well..

need to troll @ 7 knots for spanish and @ 5knots for blues. If you are getting blues then you are going to slow for spanish!

I hope this helps. Give us a shout if we can help with anything else!

Capt Jim
910-640-7772

Wow! Thanks for all the advice guys!

I had 30' of 20# mono from the weight to the spoon. Will be doing the same from the planers unless I should use something stronger?

On the Yo-zuri crystal minnows, those are divers right? Do I need to put those behind anything? Or just with a leader from a swivel?

Someone at Sharkys mentioned the birds, I will definitely pick one or two up and try those out. Lumberman your spread sounds good, and 3 lines is about all we can fit without creating a mess..thanks! Forecast is looking good, can't wait to get out there again!

Make sure to get the crystal minnow with the large lip it will run deeper. Make the leader about 12 to 20 ft and use flouro to help conceal the line. When you really want a challenge pm me and I'll give you the skinny on live baiting for the larger spanish ( up to 7 lbs) they are there just older and wiser.....

Tight Lines

SeeYaOutdoors!

All the above is good advice--Baypro's suggestions are exactly what I do.

I found this year (the last two weeks I spent in Morehead City) to be better for Spanish, especially in size than in the past, even though the King fishing was sloooooow. But #1 planers and #00 silver Clark spoons are the ticket.

I also picked up a large (3ish#) spanish on a Yozuri DD in Clown. This was out at Big 10, but it definitely worked.

I also used birds, but my experience was they are not much use except early and late when they might be on top. During the day they look pretty but I didnt catch anything on them.

JDC

For the Yo-zuris: I tie a 30#-40# flouro leader (about 4'-6') to the main line with an albright knot.

Spanish have very good eyes and I believe are metal shy so no swivels or extra hardware.

Yes they are divers, I suspect they go down 5' - 15' depending on line, distance back, and speed.

I'm a big fan of Yozuri DD, but not this time of year. Go with Clark Spoons like Capt. Jim Bowen aka Lumberman. He's telling you what's working for him now!
Best advice from Captains having to put clients on fish ...... ICM

Thanks everyone, heading down to the beach in a minute. We'll be fishing tomorrow and sunday morning if this weather cooperates.

Also, a morning with a few Spanish and a pompano is not a waste. For a "bad" day, that ain't bad!