Category Archives: Catching Fish

Reel in the Excitement – Shad Season is Here

It’s that exciting time of year again on the North Carolina coastal plain—shad fishing season is gearing up! As anglers gather along the shores of rivers like the Cape Fear, Neuse, Tar, and Roanoke, they’re hoping to catch one of the season’s signature fish: the migrating shad.

This is a special time, as both Hickory Shad and American Shad make their way north in their annual migration, arriving at various points in North Carolina. Right now, anglers are casting their lines for Hickory Shad, with American Shad expected to follow closely behind. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, now’s the time to get out there and enjoy the thrill of the shad migration. Grab your gear, hit the water, and see if you can reel in a big one before the season shifts!

Inshore Fishing Stories

Inshore Stories

December is for Inshore Fishing … check out these local articles.

Back to the Mountains … High Country Smallmouth

^{August 8, 2024}

^{Smallmouth bass are a great target for anglers in western North Carolina throughout August. (Picture by The Catawba Angler)}

Summertime means hot smallmouth action in WNC

The month of August is hot, even in the mountains of western North Carolina. The smallmouth fishing is just as hot on the French Broad, the Toe, and the Catawba rivers, according to Matt Evans of the Catawba Angler in Asheville, NC.

https://www.carolinasportsman.com/fishing/bass-fishing/smallmouth-bass/high-country-smallmouth/?utm_source=Carolina+Sportsman&utm_campaign=1ab2975de0-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c41990a090-1ab2975de0-290292534

Redfish Rodeo

^{August 8, 2024}

^{Late summer is a great time to target over-slot adult redfish in the Carolinas. (Photo by Phillip Gentry)}

It’s time for the running of the bulls

August in the Carolinas can be pretty hot. The weather is hot, the water is hot, and if you’re looking to catch a big adult redfish, the fishing can also be hot. Once a redfish exceeds the slot limit, these fish tend to take on a different pattern than when they were just pups. For one, bull redfish, known in some circles as old drum, spread out more. That’s not to say that adult drum don’t still school by size and class, but it’s a looser association, at least until the fish move out of the inshore and nearshore waters for the winter.

https://www.carolinasportsman.com/fishing/inshore-fishing/redfish/redfish-rodeo/?utm_source=Carolina+Sportsman&utm_campaign=1ab2975de0-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c41990a090-1ab2975de0-290292534