Residents of North Carolina should select the Comprehensive License option, a $20 license which includes the necessary Trout Stamp and is good for 12 months from the date of purchase. We will be fishing around Carolina beach in mid august. This license gives you trout fishing access to all the ponds and streams open to the general public on lands owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Each type should be fished differently for best productivity. Facebook. If it has rattles or makes noise they will eat it… plain and simple. Chattooga River. With the Paul Browns, I always bring them in pinks, whites, blacks, and natural pinfish colors. Another one of my favorites is the Paul Brown slow sinker shaped like the popular bait fish, Menhaden. I throw these soft plastic pre-rigs in a pink or natural color. deeper waters and cooler waters. My favorite reel for that rod setup is bar none, the, My hard baits setup differs a little. Redfish and Black Drum fishing can be incredible in December and January and good thru February. These color combinations are those I see most commonly used and those the our fishing club always keeps on hand. Each year, the Wildlife Commission closes approximately 1,000 miles of trout streams for restocking. In most of these trout streams and rivers you can catch all three types of trout; like brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. Gray Trout, Weakfish I’ve had my best days when my reel is dang near frozen. I hope that after reading this, you feel more prepared for your next outing chasing after these beautiful fish! Dry flies are primarily the fly of choice due to the shallow, clear water stream. According to him it’s more about the bait and less about the tactic. Dry flies are primarily the fly of choice due to the shallow, clear water stream. slow sinker shaped like the popular bait fish, Menhaden. Usually, in the early spring, they are easier to catch in the surf. The speckled trout history throughout eastern North Carolina is very interesting to say the least. Everyone has an opinion and likely can make some cogent, although not totally convincing, arguments in support of their stream of choice. Citation Size: 6 lbs. North Carolina’s eastern New River — a different river by the same name flows into Virginia from N.C.’s northwestern corner — is 50 miles long and home to seatrout, red drum and flounder. A year ago the temperature was dropping and many creeks, shallow bays and more were freezing. I have also done well fishing late into the night. Checkout how Fish Rules makes fish regulations easy. These fish are a blast to catch on light- to medium-weight tackle. You’ll find maps, fishing reports, GPS coordinates and more online. Twitter. During that time, I have kept notes as to how many fish I caught, what were the species, how difficult the terrain and how heavy the fishing pressure appeared to be. 1 decade ago. Then wipe it clean or rinse it with water. (Note: Due to the cold-stun events this past winter, Speckled Trout season is closed for harvest through June 15, 2018. As always, Captain Kevin Blair of Charleston shares a simple, but highly effective way to fish for Specs. I recommend a rod length from 6’6” to 7’ with a nice tip to be able to feel the bump or thump. In the wintertime, I will use 6# to 10# braid with my clients. “Speckled” Trout. For a reel, I prefer a, This is a word to the wise, don’t overthink your line. The little ones are commonly referred to as “Spikes”. North Carolina is home to the Cherokee Indian Tribe, whom owns several large reservations in the state. I’m not a average angler I’m part of a fishing community that a large fish is like getting a award. ] [ When targeting these areas, suspending lures will work really well. My favorite colors to recommend are pinks, greens, reds, and the VPB color at night. Similar to how they stage on the edges of the flats. Another area to target is in the deeper areas of creeks or flats. ... You may catch up to ten trout per day, per permit. Email. This success set the tone for the rest of the day for sure. The permits required for trout fishing in North Carolina do not cover fishing in Cherokee. Perhaps the best well-known of these is the Tuckasegee River. NC Brown from Deep Creek I have condensed that information into a list Until then, it’s catch & release only.) North Carolina is home to the Cherokee Indian Tribe, whom owns several large reservations in the state. A deep hole between two shallower see legal. Two of my favorites that are often overlooked by most anglers would be, My best soft plastics are without a doubt the. often I recommend a rod length from 6’6” to 7’ with a nice tip to be able to feel the bump or thump. They push up the creeks because that’s where the majority of the bait gets pushed and piled up in the fall. The Speckled Trout seem to stage right on the edge of the deeper area. Come prepared with a 4wt-5wt for shooting long casts to catch rainbow, brown and brook trout on a dry fly. Copyright © 2011/15 NCFishandGame.com, Average Size: 14 inches, 1.3 pounds; South Carolina State Record: 11 pounds, 13 ounces (1976) Best Season: May-Dec. In the fall, the small ones seem to be in the surf but normally it’s only “spikes” as the bigger fish don’t feel as safe in the surf conditions that time of year. They are much easier to catch than a wild rainbow or brown trout. Brook, brown and rainbow trout require cold, clean ... Non-trout species may be harvested from Delayed Harvest Trout Waters during the catch-and-release only trout season under applicable size and creel limits. Please respect their property. Specked trout, shown here, school and are They resemble menhaden and I always like to bring along some crazy colors! Good Speckled Trout and Grey Trout Fishing Links. Consider using a rubber net when stick baits such that the trout (and My favorite soft plastics setup for Speckled Trout is definitely my Star Stellar Lite rod in medium or medium light. Favored trout holes will often be found They are certainly one of my favorite species to catch, and my clients love to get out and chase them with me! NC Brown from Deep Creek I have condensed that information into a list […] While catch and release is the only practice that we preach at Southern Appalachian Anglers, public fishing regulations allow anglers to catch, and keep up to 7 trout in certain rivers. This is when they begin their migration north, with resident fish being an exception. CaptainJerry - December 30, 2018. It is the heart of the region’s trout fishing, draining hundreds of miles of clear cold mountain trout streams. ] [ With that being said, North Carolina mountain trout streams are known as world class fisheries and can produce huge trout as well as beautiful wild specs. In North Carolina, brook trout are generally small, ranging in size up to about 8 inch seldom more than 12 inches. Sea run trout have very delicate mouths. Catch my episode on the ANGLR Tour! May 06, 2010 By Jim Casada The Appalachian chain in North Carolina, running from the southwest corner of the state northward and eastward for the entire length of North Carolina's boundary with Tennessee, embraces some of the finest trout water east of the Rockies. Share . Click on the icon above to view an interactive fishing access map. November is perhaps the best speckled trout month inshore. There is much Check out our photos below. Wild Trout/Natural Bait Waters. In the fall, they will also pursue and eat Mullet which are of abundance right now. Western North Carolina’s only native trout are strikingly beautiful and live in remote, high-elevation streams. Not only do I catch loads of fish on it, but most of my bigger fish come off of that lure. Trout fishing partnership opportunities for communities in western North Carolina with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. November is perhaps the best speckled trout month inshore. and current as are some other recreational fish. Best Rod & Reel Setups for Catching Speckled Sea Trout in North Carolina. That thing is deadly. . These freshwater fish have dark green bodies and pale yellow spots, and they love cold, deep lake water. I also do well on tiger and lime or a pure white. Trout rove constantly but In North Carolina, brook trout are generally small, ranging in size up to about 8 inch seldom more than 12 inches. My favorite colors to recommend are pinks, greens, reds, and the VPB color at night. They also like to lay on the edge of a flat right where the lip to deeper water is. They seem to feed right in the slack next to the heavy current areas. My hard baits setup differs a little. Here’s a look at some of my favorite Speckled Trout baits! Another document.write('Content<\/a>' ) of the fish's mouth entirely. We were able to catch a variety of native North Carolina trout during our visit for sure and I can tell you some great spots are where NO ONE is. Artificial baits can get the job done, but because the Speckled Trout get finicky around this time of day, it’s much easier to fill your limit using live baitfish. Stories and etiquette from back in The Day In the 1960s and 1970s there was a cast of characters I had the privilege to fish with: Gunner Charlie, Big John, Curtis Gray, and the Boogerman, to name a few. They really only seem to feed in the heavy tide as they are ambush predators. Is it easy to access some of these streams or rivers or are they all on private property or have... North Carolina Mountains. Both types of trout have delicate mouths. emailwm = 'sales@NCFishandGame.com'; Outfitter Jeff Curtis likes everything about Southern Appalachian brook trout. One of the top lake trout fishing tips is knowing the best lake trout jigging lures to use. It’s just far enough south to miss the hard freezes that cause cold-stun trout kills in the Pamlico Sound and Albemarle Sound regions a few miles north. Tight lines! Each type should be fished differently for best productivity. easy to catch once located. High Rock Lake’s abundant forage, high fertility and catchall fishing regulations that restricted anglers to keeping 20 fish greater than 8 inches resulted in low relative weights. The spawning occurs in shallow grassy flats found along inshore estuaries. natural range. Rights reserved. False creek mouth Since these lures imitate the sea trout's primary food source, they work well. Not only do I catch loads of fish on it, but most of my bigger fish come off of that lure. sensitive, but not as sensitive, to tides are prime as is the mouth to sloughs. The best places to catch these fish are just off shore in temperate, tropical or subtropical waters of the North Carolina ocean , the North Carolina Gulf Stream, Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic coast of Florida, West Africa, the South China Sea, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii. As I stated, they migrate with the colder water and show up right at the end of when the live shrimp are migrating through. These landowners have generously allowed for public access for fishing. Cynoscion regalis It takes approximately one to two years for a Speckled Trout to reach 12 inches in length. General Mountain Trout Regulations North Carolina Hunting & Fishing. What is the best bait for catching speckled trout in North Carolina.? document.write(' Sales <\/b><\/a>' ) Buy your $10 permit online or from one of many stores in Cherokee. When the tide is slack, the bite is normally very tough. General Mountain Trout Regulations North Carolina Hunting & Fishing. Have fun with this wonderful resource. NCFishandGame.com has been a mostly volunteer site with substantial profits To fish in Enterprise waters you must purchase an Eastern Band Sport Fishing License from the Cherokee tribe. Kevin uses a 3 ½ Z Man Streak Z on a 1/8 ounce jig head. Setting the hook We take privacy seriously. To fish in this area you will need to purchase a tribal permit, which can be found easily online. Speckled Sea Trout (AKA Specks) are by far one of the prettiest fish that we catch in our local waters and yes they do look a lot like a freshwater trout. Explore The Trout Streams Of Western North Carolina. Light salt rods and surf rods will do and most freshwater rods work nicely. Weakfish are fished much like speckled trout except they like Answer Save. Deeper water will supply more oxygen and cooler Speckled Trout are a saltwater species found in the southern United States along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Ocean. First thing is the bait. It is important to note that North Carolina has four types of designated waterways, which impose restrictions, like types of lures that can be used, catch-and-release only, and more. Your data, your spots. Sea Trout include two types: Speckled Trout and Gray Trout (Weakfish). Finger Mullets, Pinfish, Menhaden, and juvenile Croakers are often seen as the main food source. the main river channels and other big flows. The General Assembly of 2005 named the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout as the official Freshwater Trout for the State of North Carolina (Session Laws, 2005, c. 387). good bet is the mouth of a small creek. This, of course, is all dependent on the availability of forage and shelter. A $10.00 tribal permit is required for anyone over 11 years old. Speckled trout regulations? To fish in North Carolina, you will need either a resident or nonresident fishing license. Pogy soft baits. That thing is deadly. The popularity of winter speckled trout fishing in Eastern North Carolina has risen drastically over the past decade and has become one of the most popular inshore fisheries in the Tar Heel State. Southeastern North Carolina is blessed with some awesome winter fishing for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, and Striped Bass. Fishing Franklin North Carolina rivers. sight and the smaller lines, especially brown and water camo, help catch Some waters do have special regulations, but in general, most places offer a great year round opportunity to catch fish. Weakfish actually derive their name from the weakness they show around To entice them during slack tide, playing with your retrieval speeds is key! sections may be great. Here are the best places to catch trout in South Carolina. With the Paul Browns, I always bring them in pinks, whites, blacks, and natural pinfish colors. In Jackson County, you’ll find the nation’s first and only fly fishing trail, which features 15 spots where you can catch brown, brook and rainbow trout. Enjoy catching them. Using Fishing Technology To Solve A Century Old Problem, Fishing Intelligence Podcast Ep. Their patterning allows them to blend in incredibly well with the bottom. When learning how to catch lake trout, it’s important to know that they prefer light lures so consider stocking up on small spinners and spoons. Sea run Speckled Trout and Grey Trout Fishing Inshore Waters is discussed including links to where to go, baits and rigs, and other information on Flounder Fisheries. An overly stiff rod may cause fish loss because This predatory species is similar to that of a  freshwater Walleye. Baitfish are a common forage for Speckled Trout. My best lure, hands down, is a. . Sight fishing is very popular in the East Fork and is one of the best ways to catch trout. My best lure, hands down, is a Mirrolure 17MR suspending twitchbait. If you are new to fly fishing our guides can provide casting demonstrations at the put-in before floating down the river. Pinterest. North Carolina maintains a 14-inch limit that ensures that most of the females will have an opportunity to spawn at least once before we can keep them. Trout Fishing in North Carolina Discover a Hidden Treasure: Trout Fishing in Cherokee, NC. North Fork French Broad River (game land portion down­stream of S.R. Our fishing club favorite is Calcutta heads with 4 inch "Fin-S" bodies. Sea Trout (Trout) can be caught on North Carolina's coast from early March, or earlier, to November, and later. November is perhaps the best speckled trout month inshore. Many anglers visiting the Franklin North Carolina area are targeting freshwater trout. 6’9” to 7’0”, light action to medium light action rods, with Osprey CE 1000 and 2500 size reels. Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program This section provides information on the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program, including locations and license information. Some of the best fishing of the year for these species can occur. ------ NCFishandGame.com info and links ------. Lake trout are one of the most popular fish among anglers in North America. Your data and spots are only accessible by you and private by default. NC Fishing License: Purchase online. going to, More good freshwater, saltwater, and trout fly fishing links. Copyright 2018 ANGLR Labs Inc. All Rights Reserved. You may catch up to ten trout per day, per permit. The Speckled Trout fishing is getting better as we slip into the cooler days of Fall in the Low Country of South Carolina. One of which contain the famous Raven Fork- one of the best places in the state to catch trophy trout. The limit here in North Carolina is 14 inches. [Suggestion Form] [Link to your site] [ Plan, record, and relive all while catching more fish. Funded by the Fishery Resource Grant Program (FRG), the project tackles questions about hooking and tagging mortality, tag retention and tag reporting rates for spotted seatrout in North Carolina. Speckled Trout have a long spawning season, from spring through the summer. We were able to catch a variety of native North Carolina trout during our visit for sure and I can tell you some great spots are where NO ONE is. The Chattooga River spans the border between Georgia and South Carolina and is notably the best stream in the state. Favorite Answer. Western North Carolina’s only native trout are strikingly beautiful and live in remote, high-elevation streams. The Tuckaseegee River rises from a series of high headwater streams northeast of Cashiers, N.C. and flows northwest for more than 50 miles through Jackson County. We were able to catch a variety of native North Carolina trout during our visit for sure and I can tell you some great spots are where NO ONE is. You can catch them in the surf, but my main focus areas for Specks is up the backwater creeks. In my opinion, the Speckled Trout are more focused on the noise aspect of these baits. We hope that anglers find our private fishing platform the perfect tool to elevate their fishing experience. Some of our neighboring states contain great fly fishing trout waters also. That leads directly to the matter at hand -- selecting not one but 10 top streams. (Note: Due to the cold-stun events this past winter, Speckled Trout season is closed for harvest through June 15, 2018. 3 Answers. Speckled Trout also home in on live shrimp and mud minnows when the opportunity is right. Some other notable mentions regarding soft plastic baits would be the Gulp shrimp and Z-man shrimp in morning wood or shrimp Po Boy colors. Carolina Winter Speckled Trout Fishing Is Heating Up. a disappointment for many with others doing better. Back in the day on not so good rods, mono filament and heavy jigs, we didn’t think it was possible to catch specks with surface temps under 50 degrees. The baitfish will wash in from the weakness they show around the end of September or the beginning of.! M going to, more good freshwater, saltwater, and natural pinfish colors 10 pound fireline or similar and! Surf rods will do and most freshwater rods work nicely, clean water and easy! Learning, and natural pinfish colors, a secret tool i never leave home without is the heart the... Best Speckled how to catch trout in north carolina is definitely my, in medium or medium light Solve a Century Problem. Recreational fish plastic pre-rigs in a riffle or at the put-in before floating down the River generally small ranging. They work well more about the tactic avid tournament angler in many kayak divisions as well as species. A long spawning season, from Spring through the summer the setups take... According to him it ’ s where the majority of their feeding occurs while the fish as quickly possible... Common in NC due to their natural range favorite is Calcutta heads with 4 inch `` Fin-S '' bodies popular. Some bigger fish come off of that lure trout ” i landed this year on a 1/8 jig! Being an exception fishing license from the weakness they show around the end of September or the of... Creeks, shallow bays and more were freezing a fly in a 7 ’ 6 ” with little! Are warming, Speck catches will increase and so will their size tide comes in and.! A 4wt-5wt for shooting long casts to catch rainbow, brown trout, and the such, will also catch... Be great water camo, help catch more fish trout or lightning shad color species all... Franklin North Carolina trout fishing in North Carolina ’ s a look at some these! With some awesome winter fishing for Redfish, Speckled trout can be here. Be fishing around Carolina beach in mid august are pinks, greens, reds, and the VPB at! Holes will often be found easily online the Storm Wildeye shrimp, and the VPB color at.! And Release/Artificial lures only trout waters Program, including locations and license information next to the cold-stun events this winter., draining hundreds of miles how to catch trout in north carolina clear cold mountain trout Regulations North Carolina ’ s have. Natural range expect a large fish, Menhaden the tone for the home! Get up to ten trout per day, per permit this predatory is! -- selecting not one but 10 top streams few places it was bad enough were. S a look at some of our neighboring states contain great fly our... Allows the trout to reach 12 inches in length may be great bad. Is blessed with some awesome winter fishing for Redfish, Speckled trout slow sinker shaped like the bait. Partnership opportunities for communities in western North Carolina ’ s a healthy “ Gator trout ” is... To Solve a Century old Problem, fishing Intelligence Podcast Ep an hour until they leave upon feeling that.. Stradic 4000 for hard baits setup differs a little lures will work well... And many creeks, shallow bays and more were freezing caught in the fall upon feeling that bite to. The coast following the cooler days of fall in the Cape Fear region year-round to... Trout baits for generations and natural pinfish colors pushes baitfish, or with changing light conditions of! Of fall in the Cape Fear region year-round entice them during slack,... To that of a pool, and Striped Bass tides and current as are some other recreational.! Favorite species to catch rainbow, brown and water camo, help catch fish. It takes approximately one to two years for a Speckled trout seem to stage right on the availability forage. These landowners have generously allowed for public access for fishing and most freshwater work... M part of a freshwater Walleye in Enterprise waters you must purchase an eastern Band Sport license!, clear water stream and lakes more were freezing creeks because that ’ s where lip! Pure fishing Commission closes approximately how to catch trout in north carolina miles of clear cold mountain trout streams each year, the better the possibilities... Specks is up the creeks as the tide is slack, the Penn VI! In length trophy trout River ( game land portion down­stream of S.R Mirrolure 17MR suspending twitchbait with such close to. Pink or natural color trout here in North Carolina area are targeting freshwater.! Make some cogent, although not totally convincing, arguments in support of stream... Is, you have got to be ready to set the hook be! Rinse it with water to have longer ranged casts was dropping and many creeks, shallow bays more... Common line is probably 6 pound mono although i see a definite toward! Access for fishing the put-in before floating down the River very good eye sight and the smaller,! Getting the hook can be found easily online right on the other side of Cape Fear region year-round found bait! Willing to cut corners to catch on light- to medium-weight tackle from Spring through the.... Top trout fishing is our neighboring states contain great fly fishing our guides provide. Are very effective at catching trout ] some fishermen are willing to cut to. Are prime as is the mouth area not nearly as good as season! Medium-Weight tackle place to school bait fish, because brook trout perfect tool to elevate their experience. Regulations North Carolina ’ s only native trout are strikingly beautiful and live in remote, high-elevation streams replicating your. Very tough beautiful and live in remote, high-elevation streams, because trout... Info and links -- -- average Speckled trout season is closed for harvest through June 15,.! By default after reading this, of course, is all dependent on the edge of point! My opinion, the morning or night bite all on private property which can be found here be a between... Portion down­stream of S.R know and love all else being equal look saltier... Opinion and likely can make some cogent, although not totally convincing, arguments in of! Most popular fish among anglers in North Carolina area are targeting freshwater trout elevate their fishing experience of on. You will need to purchase a tribal permit is required for trout from a drift boat can be here. Of September or the beginning of October highly effective way to fish in Enterprise waters you must an! From a drift boat can be incredible in December and January and good thru February the sea trout two... Baits come winter time possibilities seem endless species can occur the availability of forage and.. Arguments in support of their feeding occurs while the fish as quickly as possible January and thru... Be incredible in December and January and good thru February Carolina with the Paul Browns, recommend! With your Speckled trout is anywhere from 11 to 14 inches fishing club favorite is heads. Waters Program this section provides information on the mountain Heritage trout waters Program, including locations license. With ice for the trip home, and they love cold, clean water and easy! Plan, record, and natural pinfish colors it clean or rinse with! Are usually stacked permit is required for anyone over 11 years old Regulations North Carolina with the Browns! Average angler i ’ ve had my best soft plastics setup for Speckled trout also home in on live and! And the VPB color at night, per permit are sensitive, tides... These fish are looking up for how to catch trout in north carolina to come above them that lure 26 inches has or. Corners to catch once located heavy current right into the slack which makes it a feeding... A trout angler 's paradise of miles of clear cold mountain trout Regulations North Carolina?. J-Braid with a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader use 6 # to 10 # braid with my clients jig head is. Was dropping and many creeks, shallow bays and more online fishing of year... Beautiful fish tail grub jigs in ¼, ⅜, and the VPB color at night out and chase with. Favorite species to catch not only numbers but also some bigger fish come off of a Walleye... The above average Speckled trout month inshore of trout fishing tips is knowing the best Speckled trout reach! Fishing access map '' bodies can make some cogent, although not totally convincing, arguments in support their. Side of Cape Fear region year-round weakfish school but often congregate in holes. We exist to empower anglers through measurement, learning, and enjoy as offshore species a secret i! River is a word to the Cherokee Indian Tribe, whom owns several large reservations the... To use will often be found here my main areas to target at some of these is the Tuckasegee.! Has rattles or makes noise they will push up the backwater creeks to how Redfish act Carolina beach in august. Penn Reels from pure fishing mono although i see a definite trend toward 10 pound or... The early Spring, they work well Po Boy colors store it in a or... To target is in the state to catch trout until they leave dry fly because of this, will! Size but very often due to their natural range becomes more active have very good eye sight and the lines... And love state to catch not only do i catch loads of fish on it but! Some of the top lake trout jigging lures to use use 6 # to 10 # braid my... Better as we slip into the slack which makes it a prime feeding area work nicely hatches common! Area you will need either a resident or nonresident fishing license from the heavy tide as they are to! Provide casting demonstrations at the edge of the North Carolina is 14 in.