Topsail Island, NC - Hi folks, Capt. David here with this weeks outdoors report. The fishing is slowly picking up and the water temps are warming into the low 60's. Lots of Blues are around as well as Dogfish. Some Red drum are hanging out around the docks and the Specks are still biting up in the creeks. Folks, things are looking up and it won't be long till you have to hide to bait a hook.

Folks, I want to give the NCDMF a little praise for the Red drum recovery in this state. We have more Drum around here than you can shake a stick at because of the slot limits and possession limits. Now I know that some of you may not agree with me but they have done one heck of a job. Most people think you have to go to Florida or one of the Gulf coast states to catch them. If you look at all the records for Red drum in the IGFA record books, they all say North Carolina on them!

Now if you have never caught one you don't know what you are missing. Pound-for-pound they will fight you harder than any Largemouth Bass ever will and they will test your line and tackle.

Don't go fishing with a Zebco 33 for Mr. Redfish. A 26-27 inch Red will weigh somewhere around 7-10 lbs and they have a tail like a boat paddle. Good Bass tackle will work just fine and will reward you with seeing the fighting capabilities they possess.

Good spots to look for them are the same as with Bass. Points with current flow over them, Docks, and creek mouths are hot spots. Now if you get into a school of them, pay close attention to what the tide is doing. The direction and level of the water is what you want to observe when they are biting. Time of day is not as important as the water flow. Then you can come back and they will usually be biting there on the same tide. Not the time of day!

Live Bait or artificals will work on most days but you never know. I've had days where they wouldn't touch anything, and then I would switch up my baits and BAM!

The good old Carolina or sliding sinker rig with a circle hook is about the best rig for them in my opinion.  Use with a lively Finger Mullet, Menhaden, or cut bait, it can't be beat.

Hey, if you can't go down on the sound and catch a nice Red, take up golf fulltime and sell your rods! It is that easy to catch one folks.

Not much happening offshore because of the weather and folks ain't risking their life for a fish!
The fish are out there and are biting but the water has been rough so be careful if you do go out!

On the hunting side, Turkey season is finally here and I couldn't be happier. I went Saturday morning and didn't here anything but I was in the woods trying. I hope to be able to go to the mountains next week and bag a nice bird but they do call it hunting! You never know till you go!

Don't forget to send us you photos so we can immortalize you and your trophy.

Well that's about it for this week so be safe and be careful! Take a kid with you when you go too.

Capt. David

About the author: Capt. David Baxley  Lifetime sportsman and fisherman. Fishing Topsail area for 13 years. Full-time charter fishing guide specializing in Red drum and Flounder. Light tackle, shallow water, live bait fishing. Owner of Headhunter Outdoors Fishing Charters at Topsail Phone 910-329-0818. 

Visit Davids web site at http://www.headhunteroutdoors.com.