Fresh Hampstead Fishing Reports

The first charter of the year was the trip that almost didn't happen. Ricky booked the kid's fun trip on a Thursday afternoon, hoping to make it for Saturday morning. I'd been watching the weather, and Saturday was looking really questionable with winds forecast 15-20 and seas running 3 feet on 4 second intervals... which is really sloppy stuff. I really thought about declining, but after careful review of the conditions I saw an opportunity. We could run down to Wrightsville Beach (about a 40 minute ride) and go out of Masonboro Inlet, then ride with the wind back up to Topsail. That gave us a relatively smooth ride... or at least manageable. With the spring bite just turning on, I felt like it was too good to pass up. So that's what we did. I put out the Clark spoons on planers, initially just running two lines because of the wind, and because the two young men were brand new to fishing. It's just easier to manage less lines. We were off to a slow start, until the first big hit a few miles off the beach. I was hoping for Atlantic bonito, and with the water temps still in the lower 60s, I was shocked to see a fat Spanish mackerel come to the surface. The boat traffic around the artificial reef was a little too much, so I let the wind carry us up the coast. We continued to pick at the fish all the way, with six more Spanish and once bonito before we reached Topsail inlet. With the wind really kicking up the seas, and a good bit over the 3 hour mark, it was time to pick up and get them back to the dock. Big fun with a great group of fishermen! Looking forward to a great spring season!

The spring Atlantic Bonito fishing has been great on our 3 hour and 4 hour nearshore fishing trips. As the Bonito move out for the season, Spanish Mackerel will move in. Plus, we always have steady action bottom fishing on our nearshore trips.

We've waited all winter, patiently watching the ocean temperatures creep back up into the 60s, and here it is! Our nearshore season has officially begun with the arrival of the Atlantic bonito... one of the tastiest fish you'll ever catch in our nearshore waters. Most folks, including our crew, think these guys compare with tuna for flavor. They're perfect for sashimi, poke, or sushi rolls. They're only here in numbers for a month or so, which means if you want to get into them, now's the time! Fortunately, they're right off the beach and accessible on all of our short trips. They're also cooperative with multiple methods, so we can troll for them or stop and throw jigs when they're on top for some serious, light-tackle action. The other great thing about the arrival of these fish is that it means the others are coming soon. As the water continues to warm past the mid-60s, the Spanish and king mackerel will be showing up close to shore, while our longer, offshore trips will target the big kings and mahi-mahi. We would love to have you aboard! Come catch some fish and make some memories!

It's been a quiet off-season, but things are warming up fast in our near-coastal waters! The sea temperatures are edging into the 60 degree range, which means our Atlantic bonito run should be starting in the next few weeks. These fish are powerful fighters with a vicious strike and muscular runs. Even better, once you get them home, they are brilliant on the plate with a flavor very similar to sushi-grade tuna. The run only lasts a month or so before they're gone, so it's a case of catch 'em while they're hot! Of course as we get into late April and move into May, everything else will be firing off, with the Spanish mackerel along the beaches, king mackerel coming closer to shore, and the mahi-mahi arriving within 25 miles. Best of all, this early season fishing usually gives us nice, comfortable days with moderate temperatures and lower humidity. So whether you live locally or you're coming in for a visit, let us get you out on the water to experience the excitement of our early season fishing.

The Black Sea Bass fishing continues to be incredible! This group limited out on large to jumbo sized bass.

Black Seabass fishing continues to be red hot on our 3/4 Day Offshore trips. Mixed in with the Bass were American Red Snapper, White Grunts, and even Flounder.