Spring Is Here As The Outer Banks Redfishing Begins
The air and water temperatures improve as the days get longer. That’s a strong sign that the Red Drum are starting their annual spring arrival to the North Carolina Outer Banks. Nearly every April, the Reds begin their migration along the beaches and through the inlets and sounds looking for food and safety as they reach their new summer home after spending a long winter offshore. They’re hungry and ready to feed, and this feeding frenzy makes it easy to spot them. At the same time, we see the migration pattern of big Bluefish and Cobia. All this hinges on the speed of the water temperature increase. When thinking about it, you realize how astounding and powerful it is that water temps control important factors like when and where our food arrives and how long it will be here.
Finding the right place to fish for these big Redfish is pretty easy. With the massive amount of beach area, as well as beach access, the opportunities are almost endless. The best spots will be in the still water troughs between the breaking waves and areas where there is irregular white water. Watching the motion of the waves and looking for the smoother water between a shole and deeper water produces troughs, a section that runs along the beach that’s smoother water. This is where the Reds will be looking for moving bait.
Many surf fishermen look for places that have lots of disturbed area that runs in all directions where there is no smooth water at all. This is a good place for the Reds to be lurking and ready to attack. They also look for shallow areas where the water is rough. These areas trap the bait fish and can make an easy target for the Redfish.
If you’re an inshore fisherman, a good option is to fish the inlets where Redfish look for bait moving in and out with the changing tides. You also stand a good chance of finding schools of Reds moving in and of the inlet for the same reason. In conditions like this, you’ll often see the Redfish feeding on the surface in large numbers. However, be sure to watch your depth. The water can quickly get shallow causing you to run aground in an area with fast-moving water. It can become dangerous quickly.
When it comes to rigging, check in with the local Outer Banks tackle shop close to where you’ll be fishing. They’re the real experts and they have a passion for helping visiting anglers. In most cases, they can tell you where the best bit has been in recent days or even hours.
It’s that time of year, so head out there. Be careful to watch the waves because they can knock you down before you know it. But, it’s worth the risk. The North Carolina Outer Banks in Spring is an angler’s heaven!
