OK, Thanks to all...this is the 32(or 33rd) year fishing with these guys...the numbers of them are starting to drop due to health, political discourse (a real shame since this should be a fun week), and concerns about the Pandemic.

I have been poked 3x and taken the flu shot so not too concerned. Others have family members that would be at risk if exposed so they are staying away. One of our stalwart members had a stroke in September and cannot drive...or walk for that matter.

It is also a really special time with my older brother. And I recognize I should treasure these times as he is six years my senior and I am 72.

I had some friends go to Hatteras last week and gave up and came home on Wednesday due to a lack of fish and storms headed that way.
I am an eternal optimist and so, purchased a new reel and some new tackle.
And, an F150 Fx4 truck that is going to be tried out on the beach. Now, that is optimism!

As one of our group said, "It ain't all about the catchin..." Life flows on and the tide always changes the sands of time.

Hey guys, anyone casting off of Avon NC? Any Drum or Bluefish to be had??
I got a new (to me) truck to go out on the beach so hope to find some good spots.

So, I use Kastmaster in surf fishing and trying out fresh water on a river in Virginia...would a Kastmaster work for smallmouth Bass?

I'm a Saltie for all my life but live a 10-minute walk to the James River above the Fall Line...
Pretty sure there are a to of Blue Cats in there but I want to catch Small Mouth Bass or something other than a bottom feeder.
I know almost nothing about river fishing, and I would be bank fishing as I don't own a canoe or Kyack (yet).
Educate me, please!
Tackle I own varies from surf rods to light casting rods, and my questions are bait vs. lures, can I use small spinner reels or do I need to dive into fly casting? I have a lifetime geezer license for both salt and fresh.

Hey Y'all, I never reported back on the fishin' trip we had this past fall. We all did get tested before coming down to Avon, NC...the fishing was sparse but we still had a good time. I am concerned about the change in species...and rate of catch. The usual mullet cut bait, shrimp, and such did not really produce. And usually, we see birds working the water where there are baitfish and blues working the pod creating a good spot to cast...saw nothing like this during our week. It's either the fishing fleet scooping up more and more or climate change is real and affecting the mating season somehow. Normally we will catch our share of dogfish or small threshers along with skate. No sharks and few skates. We caught enough puppy drum to eat fish a couple of nights but the catchin' was not anywhere near even last year, which was also sparse.
I read that there was the first worldwide survey of oceanic sharks done over the last 5 years and found that the shark population is down by 90%! This can't be good for all the species if the top predator is failing.
I'm a saltwater guy...how are things fish wise in the rivers, lakes and streams?

I just got back from a week in NC surfcasting and we caught some nice puppies along with
decent sized Taylor Blues and a few flounder. No sharks and a couple of skates which is rare for our group. Year 33 doing this and the species have changed a lot over the years.
Last time we caught a mess of Puppy Drum (channel Bass) was when Hurricane Sandy blew by 300 miles off the coast. We survived the storm and the storm surge from the sound. Put our waders on with backpacks to the beach and proceeded to wear ourselves out catching ONLY pups for 4 days.

And I thought I had issues with too much line on the spool and resulting mess when casting! I can't understand how casting 3 oz. would break it at that point...did the bail snap shut too soon? I think I agree with Jeremy that there was a stress crack on the stem already. The Physics of casting should not have broken it at that place. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen a reel fail there. Maybe I don't fish enough???

So, looking for puppy drum and speckled trout in the surf...anyone ever try dried cat food for a chum in the surf? Saw a YouTube for SaltStrong and claim it attracts baitfish and they were in Tampa Bay. What say you?

Do folks fish the beach in Cannon? Salmon??

My crew is getting tested before we get together, and wearing masks when inside the house and gathered. We are all Seniors except one and we will look out for each other. I plan to spend a lot of time just Fishin'!

I'm not saying I am right...I just got my 10 day license for NC in November and, it was on the listing for fish. Flounder are also being regulated as in you cannot possess one!! Banned for now. Check on the Jersey regs for me as I was thinking of going to Cape May.

I knew this had to come...If I am correct, the new regulation up and down the coast is a 3 bag per day limit of at least 12 inches TL. Can anyone confirm this? Blues used to school so wide you could walk on them and when they were in a frenzy you had better count your fingers when beaching. I used to catch them 36 inches and bigger. They would chase bait fish onto the beach and if quick you could kick one up onto the sand!
I haven't seen a good sized blue in 5 years.

Check out John Prine...it's a lyric from one of his songs. He was a great songwriter and just died from COVID-19 this past March.

My guess is your Grandson is now moved on from LeJeune. Kitty Hawk is less than half of the hiegt of the dunes 20 years ago. they allowed people to hang glide and I think all that activity opened the dunes to wind erosion...still historic.
Do you get to the Gulf to fish? My brother found out about an island where speckled trout go to spawn, and one of the companies that services the deep wells in the Gulf has a side gig where they drop you off with supplies to fish until you can't stand. We are going fishing the end of the month and I'll pump him for details.

Our group is headed there on Halloween, a blue moon to boot. Staying in Avon but will go where the fish are. I hope the good folks at Frank N Frans are doing well. Anyone tried Ampedup Tackle yet?