Top Water Charters Fishing Reports and News Beaufort Morehead City Atlantic Beach Pamlico Sound: March 2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Cold Wet Rain and Wind

Another week has come and gone and this one sucked. Windy and wet, and to make matters worse, its cold outside too. Hopefully there will be some nice weather ahead. I've got the Night Shift and my Boat is still at Hatteras so maybe a Fishing Trip will be possible...... This past week, I haven't caught anything. I rode around in the Croatan National Forest one day and I did find an Alligator, but no fish. The "fishing highlight" of my week was: this was the week that happens every spring, where my mailbox was stuffed with NC Fishing Citations. Two standouts were my career best 94 lb Cobia and my 23 lb 3 oz Blackfin Tuna that was caught in the fog, a mile off the beach, on a stingsilver! Photos above are of my "Fishing Wall of Fame". (31 NC Citations for 31 different Species), my Blackfin Tuna Citation, and the Alligator in the Croatan Forest.

Friday, March 18, 2011

March 18 Bluefin Tuna Chewing

After watching my boat sit on it's trailer up here for a month and not fishing for various reasons. Weather, cancellations, bad timing, etc. Yesterday I pretty much made my mind up to go Bluefin Tuna Fishing. The night before fishing, the bad news started coming in.... First the weather forecast that was 10-15 SW added in "becoming 15-20 SW in the afternoon.... Then I got the fishing reports from Thursday. More bad news, the 25 mile run from Hatteras had become a 60 mile run from Hatteras. Oh Jeez. Then I recruited Tuggy, who is pretty damn fearless and a Rescue Swimmer, and we made the decision to pull the boat to Oregon Inlet. We carved about 20 miles off the run that way, but we put the SW on the side of the boat, all the way out there and all the way back. That was brutal. On the way home we made 14 knots and we literally took TEN THOUSAND solid walls of 45 degree Ocean spray straight across the boat from left to right. Right in our faces, for nearly 3 hours. It was was a nightmare of EPIC PORPORTIONS that can be easily fixed with a $1000 set of curtains. Oh well, too late now.... On to the Fishing and it was great! Here's the story as best I can remember it.... Soon after setting out 4 lines, we lost our first Bluefin Tuna after a vicious surface strike and smoking 600 yards of line and the 130# dacron buried in the spool as Tuggy tried to move to the bow of the boat (in 4-6 foot swells). I was trying to clear 3 other lines and drive the boat in horrible conditions. The line popped like a 22 rifle shot and Tuggy was sent sprawling 10 feet backwards and laid out with a seperated shoulder. One rod was permanantly crippled and out of the action. As we evaluated the injury and what had transpired, another Bluefin Tuna rolled up and swallowed the only bait that I hadn't cleared. After dumping a 50 wide, I felt the ping as something broke. After recovering 500 yards of line we discovered a broken crimp. The score at this point was Bluefin Tuna 2 and Top Water Charters 0. From that point on, we never put out more than 2 lines. We never went more than 10 minutes without a strike. Next came a 10+ foot long, 500+ pound Hammerhead Shark that Tuggy released after a hour long slugfest with 40 lbs of drag on the reel. Following that, Tuggy announced "he was done". Setting out 2 lines, the wait for a strike was very short. I took the next strike and everything ran smooth this time and an hour later I had this fish close and it battle was nearly over when another catastrophe struck. The engine shut down with an overheat alarm. I quickly passed Tuggy the rod (okay I lied, I was done too!) while I reset and refired the engine. Minutes later I had the leader and we each struck with a gaff and we had a 190 lb Bluefin Tuna on the deck. With the pressure off and 2 lines back quickly in the water, we didn't troll too far before we had another savage strike. Unfortunately, I popped the leader on another big BluefinTuna. With so much action, we failed to notice the rising wind that would make our lives so miserable very shortly! With Tuggy recovered from battle and big slicks appearing everywhere and pods of Pilot Whales and Common Dolphins all around the boat, Tuggy decided he was game for another fight. We had another quick strike and for the next 68 minutes he battled a Bluefin Tuna that we released (ouch) at 75+ inches and around 280 pounds. Finally, with one line left in the water and another big slick behind us, we had a strike that Tuggy and I double teamed and released another Bluefin Tuna in the 280 pound class. All the great times were soon forgotten as we started all long, cold, wet ride home. Eventually we made it to the Inlet and all ended well and it was the longest day of my life. We really had no business out there 45 miles offshore, in 6 foot seas and blowing spray, fighting immensely powerful fish in 6000 foot of water, with a harness on attaching you to a life and death struggle with a fish (and the man). I say this because every fish ran into the wind and the seas, so as an angler we ended up on the bow, recovering line, as the bow rose and dropped 4-6 feet, and we both stumbled and fell and held on and reeled. It would have made a great reality show. Trust me, you had to be there. I'm sure Tuggy will comment soon! But we survived. Total Catch for the Day: 3 Bluefin Tuna up to 280 pounds and a 500+ pound Hammerhead Shark

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

March 15 The Ides of March are upon us.....

I'm back at Hatteras, working the Night Run and itching to go Bluefin Tuna Fishing. We'll see how the weather responds to my wishes.... Today I drove to up to Hatteras, and casted shad darts all along the way. In the Neuse River, Swift Creek, the Roanoke River, the Scuppernog River, and a ditch near the Alligator River. I caught nothing. I hope my pals Chris, Shane, Capt Steve, and Josh did better. I know Josh did...... Hopefully, better days are ahead. The above picture is a Fried Herring plate from the Cypress Grill in Jamesville. Kick ass. Total Fish for the Day: Nothing

Sunday, March 13, 2011

March 12 Day-Night Doubleheader

Early in the day, I went to two local Mung Holes here in Beaufort. One is right by the road and everybody sees it and drives by it twice a day. What most people don't know that it is a steady producer of Bass and Bream. I realize that 99% of the people don't care, but..... So I went there and in 30 minutes I caught 11 Largemoth Bass and 1 Bluegill. Then I went to my "secret spot". Two years ago, this little puddle could produce 50 Bass and 100 Bream in 200 casts. No joke. Unfortunately, on this day, my little spot was choked with algae and I didn't catch a single thing...........JUST WHEN THINGS CAN'T GET ANY WORSE........ Then around 6pm I got a "wild hair" and I made the incredibly bad move by texting Chris the following words: "Let's go Catfishing". Ten long, cold hours later, at 4am, I made it home and collapsed on the couch. Nothing. One nibble and one drag pulled for 3 seconds. We dunked fresh cut Hickory Shad in deep holes, on flats, into downed timber. Everywhere that we thought logically would hold a Catfish. One thing is certain.....We suck at Catfishing. Right now, I'm looking to trade a Cobia sightcasting all day charter for somebody to take me and Chris out to catch a Catfish.... Total Catch for the Day: 11 Largemouth Bass and 1 Bluegill

Saturday, March 12, 2011

American Line Burner

The American Shad is a great fighter. Smoking runs and direction changes. Multiple jumps. A true trophy among the hundreds of Hickorys that we have to plow through to get an American Shad bite. They are also a Tasty Fish, if you don't mind a few bones in every bite. Great Flavor.

March 11 Hickory Shad

Back in the Neuse River this morning and the wind was cold and the water was muddy. Two hours in and we'd seen a few Hickory Shad caught, but we were skunked. Finally we abandoned the Neuse and motored up Pitch Kettle Creek. Good move. Our first 2 casts produced double-headers. After a short flurry, we became interested in the many Longnose Gars that were rolling in the Creek. Now, I don't understand this, but we started fishing for Gar. People catch Gar by accident and they are a major head ache for fishermen. However, Chris and I couldn't catch one to save our lives. I hooked 3 and they all escaped while Chris pulled off a major mystery fish! As time wound off the clock, before we knew it we had wasted 3 hours and we had a piss poor catch of Hickory Shad. Nobody around us was catching anything. As a matter of fact, Pitch Kettle was nearly boat-less. On a whim, we ventured into the swamp where a boat like Chris's had no business.....and we found the motherlode. Unfortunately, they were in such a small pool, we could only annihilate them for a few minutes, but it was "every cast". Big, swollen Roe Shad and double hook-ups. It was a great 10 minutes and we jacked up some numbers. We ended our day in the River again looking for a mythical Catfish. Never found one. Again. Total Catch for the Day: 25 Hickory Shad

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

March 8 Shad Fishing

Chris and I broke me out of my slump with a day of Shad fishing on the Neuse River. The Fishing wasn't great, but it should be improving every day. Between the two of us, we caught 30 Hickory Shad in about 3 hours of fishing. We fishing in the vicinity of Pitch Kettle Creek, the scene of many great memories for Chris and I. Every stretch of shoreline brought about stories and laughter! We needed the Rouser with us bad!! The 5 lb Shad he lost off the rocks at Pitch Kettle Outpost is a Fish of LEGEND now! The day Linwood removed Chris and I off his property will also NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. As the years have passed, we can't recall if he was reaching for a pen and notepad to write down our license plate number OR if he was reaching for a PISTOL to make a statement to all trespassing, no good for nothing, freeloading Shad Fishermen...... Anyway, the highlight of our day was the 2 lb 4 oz American Shad that I caught. American Shad are more commonly known as White Shad are very good to eat. The Sanitary Restaurant in MHC sells a ton of them every Spring. Everyone should try it...........We also spent a couple of hours soaking cut bait on the bottom. We only had one bite and I pulled the hook on a 10 lb Bowfin right at the boat. No Catfish. Our Catfish program needs some work, for sure. For our efforts, I got about 10 roe Shad and one nice "eating" Shad. I'm out the door with a fillet knive right now.... Total Catch for the Day: 30 Hickory Shad and 1 American Shad

Sunday, March 6, 2011

March 6 The Forecast Looks Windy

Another week at Hatteras is winding down... Crappy weather has been the norm... I will bw leaving my boat up here and I am still trying to get a day off on a pretty day so I can go Bluefin Tuna fishing. We'll see how it works out this week. From the forecast, it looks more likely that I'll be chasing Hickory Shad in the Neuse River. Really, I could care less as long as there is a chance to chase something....Please. Its been a strange year. Send me some fish. Please.

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Big Fish on Light Tackle

Top Water Charters and Capt. Marty Moore is one of North Carolina's Premier Nearshore and Inshore Big Fish on Light Tackle Fishing Guides. Consistently producing Fish that earn NC Citations is my trademark. Since 1988, I have personally landed 846 NC Citation winning Fish for 34 Different Species. A few of my Personal Top Fish are 10 lb 11 oz and 10 lb 6 oz Flounders, a 83 lb Red Drum, 94 and 83 lb Cobias, a 83 lb Yellowfin Tuna, 96, 85, and 83 lb Wahoos, a 66 lb Amberjack, a 67 lb Black Drum, a 9 lb 6 oz Speckled Trout, a 53 lb King Mackerel, a 33 lb Permit, a 12 lb 8 oz Sheepshead, a 19 lb 4 oz False Albacore, a 11 lb Spadefish, a 12lb 4 oz Bonefish, a 4 lb 8 oz Ladyfish, a 2 lb 14 oz Sea Mullet, a 140 lb Tarpon, a 66 lb Swordfish and a 380 lb Bluefin Tuna.

A few of my Best Light Tackle Catches are a 240 lb Bluefin Tuna caught on a 20# live bait tackle, a 350 lb Blue Marlin caught on a 30# trolling tackle, a 50 lb Yellowfin Tuna caught on 10# spinning tackle, a 34 lb 8 oz King Mackerel caught from the Beach on 10# spinning tackle, 75 lb Cobia caught on 15# spinning gear, 73 lb Cobia caught on 20# spinning tackle, 61 lb Cobia caught on 10# spinning tackle, a 60+ lb Red Drum caught on 10# spinning tackle, 83 lb, 85 lb, and 96 lb Wahoos all caught on 20# livebait tackle, a 46 lb Red Drum caught on 8# conventional tackle, a 39 lb Red Drum caught on a 7wt fly rod, a 7 lb Largemouth Bass caught on a 3wt fly rod and a 135 lb Sandbar Shark caught on 12# spinning tackle.

I also caught a 37 lb 4 oz King Mackerel in 2001 that was worth $52,000 in the Snead's Ferry King Mackerel Tournament

My Clients and Guests have landed over 500 NC Citations since 1998 with Standout Fish like the N.C. State Record 11 lb 3oz Spadefish, a 68 lb Wahoo, a 67 lb Wahoo, a 92 lb Cobia, a 85 lb Cobia, a 84 lb Cobia, a 82 lb Cobia, a 81 lb Cobia, a 85 lb Amberjack, a 83 lb Amberjack, a 80 lb Amberjack, a 375 lb Bluefin Tuna, a 500 lb Great Hammerhead Shark, a 200 lb Sand Tiger Shark, a 62 lb Black Drum, a 24 lb False Albacore, a 15 lb Sheepshead, a 10 lb 8 oz Speckled Trout, 47 lb Striped Bass and too many Red Drum and Flounders to count.

UPCOMING BEST FISHING

In the Boxes that follow are the types of FISHING and varieties of FISH that Capt Marty recommends fishing for! I try to keep this pretty current as we move forward through the calendar year. As the seasons change the Fish available and the methods of Fishing change. I will do my best to accommodate my Clients wishes, but I will also be completely honest about our chances if a Client wants to Fish for a specific type of Fish. I will always recommend what I believe is our "best bet for success" based on the weather, the time of year, and what happened yesterday! This is how I fish and it's based on 30+ years of Experience and Learning the Hard Way

So what's happening NOW or what's coming soon..... Look Below and Keep Reading

Live Bait Fishing for King Mackerel

Live Bait Fishing for King Mackerel is usually done with 20# mono on light rods and small conventional reels. We fish with very light drags and small treble hooks. When a King Mackerel strikes, usually a live Menhaden, you have no idea whether you have 2 treble hooks stuck in the jaw and throat of the King Mackerel, or you could also have 1 prong of one hook snagged into the Mackerel's skin. Therefore, the idea is to let the King burn off line versus a light drag. After withstanding the initial blistering run, we move the angler to the bow of the boat and we track him down! Without a doubt, on pretty days in October and November, this is what we "need" to be doing.... Since I took up this fishery seriously, back in 1988, in addition to the targetted King Mackerel, the potential bycatch is staggering... Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Bluefin Tuna, Sailfish, Barracuda, Amberjack, Crevalle Jack, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Red Drum, Red Snapper, Grouper, a dozen Shark species, False Albacore, Houndfish, Gafftopsail Catfish, Tarpon have all been hooked and/or landed onboard Boats that I was personally fishing aboard..... Oh yeah, back in 1998 during the Hardee's Atlantic Beach KMT we hooked up 4 Billfish at one time. Two pulled off, and we released a Sailfish and I tried my best to release my catch... Because it was caught on a ribbonfish, it had 4 treble hooks in it. By the time I got him unhooked, he had expired! What was it? It was a 44", 8 lb SPEARFISH! So yeah, when Live Bait Fishing for King Mackerel, anything is possible

Run and Gun Casting.... Spring Summer & Fall

Casting Metal Lures, Top Water Plugs, and Flys in the Spring, Summer, and Fall is one of my all-time favorite fisheries. Our main targets are Albacore, Spanish Mackerel, Red Drum, Atlantic Bonito, and Bluefish. The Red Drum are usually found on the Shoals at Cape Lookout and generally, we are casting into huge schools of fish in crystal clear water. These Drum schools are a year-round possibility. The Atlantic Bonito is a special fish for a few reasons. They are a handsome fish that also happens to be a rugged fighter. Very similar to Albacore, but there's one major difference. The Atlantic Bonito is delicious on the table, it prepares and eats just like Yellowfin Tuna. No Joke! Another thing that makes the Atlantic Bonito so special is that they are usually only around for about a month and on a day to day basis, they are usually only worth fishing for about 2 hours every morning. We really need to be sitting on the spot at first light. Atlantic Bonito are one of the few fish that are worth this kind of trouble! Adult or "Chopper" Bluefish also provide many thrills in the Spring. Finding vast schools of 8-12 pound Bluefish in 2-3 foot of water guarrantees a great day of fishing. Great jumpers and surface strikers, these Chopper Bluefish aren't really that good to eat, however I'd never pass up an opportunity to catch a couple of them! Smaller Bluefish can usually be found at various places and at various sizes throughout much of the year. The 1-4 lb class of Bluefish is often a trip saver from April through November. These smaller Bluefish are still great fighters, but are also very tasty. Spanish Mackererel are very reliable from May through October. These Mackerel are beautiful, sporty, and great eating. Spanish Mackerel tend to get progressively larger throughout their season, and large numbers of 5-7 lb fish are sometimes common. They are a very popular fish. Albacore are a good possibility in the Spring, great in September, and keep right getting better right through November! Albacore are lengendary fighters and they are definitely the best game in town on many windy, cold mornings in the Fall when fishing is impossible for anything else!

Cobia Fishing

Cobia Fishing is one of the most exciting inshore Fisheries that we have here in NC. It offers the inshore angler a chance at catching a tough fighting, great eating gamefish that averages 30 pounds and grows to weights over 100 pounds. Fishing for Cobia is availiable by 2 completetly different methods. The "old way" is to fish with bait on the bottom and wait for a Cobia to find you. This method can produce great fishing at times and there is usually enough bycatch (Bluefish, Sharks, and Rays) to keep you busy. The other method is far more exciting, but can be limited by the weather. In this fishery, we ride around and search for Cobias and cast to them. This is probably the most exciting and suspenseful inshore fishery that we have going right now. Delivering a bucktail to a cruising 50+ pound Cobia is very exciting. This method also allows us to fish with much lighter tackle since there is usually no anchor lines and other boats in the immediate vicinity. By either method, catching a big Cobia is a fish that will always be worth bragging about and provide lots of great fish dinners.

NIGHT (and Day) FISHING for GIANT RED DRUM

In August and September we have a very reliable and outstanding fishery in the Southern Pamlico Sound and Neuse River for Trophy Red Drum. These fish will average from 30 to 50 lbs. My personal best came in August of 2000. Caught just a couple hundred yards off the Beach at Cedar Island, this huge Red Drum was 59" long and weighed 83 lbs. I started fishing for these Red Drum in the Cedar Island area back in 1997 and since that year, my success rate has hovered around the 90% mark. Catches of 20-30 Red Drum per night isn't all that uncommon.... I offer this type of fishing from mid-August through September. I fish out of Cedar Island, right by the NC Ferry Operation. The hours for this trip are usually 6pm until midnight. Cost is $350

In addition, Red Drum commonly "turn up" in the Ocean as I run my regular trips out of Beaufort Inlet. Sight casting when conditions are good and fish are avaliable is a Fantastic Fishing Experience! If I had to generalize, I'd say March through June is our best bet for sight casting to Large Red Drum. Then I would guess that August through December are mt best months to find schools of Slot-sized (18" to 27"). Red Drum also turn up while fishing for other fish. They are a distinct possibility 12 months of the year!

Sight Casting to Red Drum

This is why I bought the Tower! I feel like for the first time, I will be able to consistently sight cast to schools of Red Drum in the Ocean nearly year round. These Drum will average from 7 to 15 pounds and when we find them it will be a very memorable fishing experience. I expect that I will be able to target these Red Drum consistently from April through May and again from August through mid-November. Possibly even on into January and beyond! Finding schools of Giant Red Drum is also becoming more common at Cape Lookout! Sight Casting for Red Drum is something that we can easily combine with other types of Fishing trips such as Cobia, Albacore or Speckled Trout. It would usually only take an hour or so to determine if the schools of Drum that I like to target are availiable.

Wreck Fishing

Wreck Fishing is a great way to spend a day on the water. Two of my all-time favorites, Amberjack and Barracuda, are very exciting and fun fish to catch. Amberjacks can be caught on Top Water Plugs, Bucktails, Metal Jigs, or Live Bait. Top Water Plugs draw awesome surface strikes and provide a great visual experience. Live Bait would be my second choice. Watching a pack of aggressive Jacks chase a 2 pound Bluefish down is incredible. Either way most people who haven't fished a Wreck before have never experienced seeing dozens of "big" fish swimming around the boat. Amberjacks frequently do this! Barracudas are another great fish. They respond best to live baits and tube lures. They are awesome jumpers for both height and distance, easily out-performing King Mackerels and Wahoos in this department. They have blinding speed and are also rugged fighters. Bigger Cudas fall for live baits more frequently, but the ones that chase down and bite tube baits are amazing too. You simply CAN NOT reel these baits too fast. It is impossible. Other Wreck Fish include: Flounders, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Spadefish, Crevalle Jacks, Cobia, Sea Bass, Sharks, and others. Anything is possible on a Wreck off Beaufort Inlet!

Dolphin Fishing

The traditional "Big 3" of the offshore meat fishing world is Wahoo, Dolphin, and Tuna. Of these 3, Dolphin are the most common and readily accessible to the Small Boat, Center Console Fleet. From early summer until mid-October I am able to target for Dolphin with some degree of consistency from Boat and I can usually do this within 25 miles of land. Wahoo and Tuna are also possible, especially later in the season. Giant Wahoo actually are fairly common catches among the small boat fleet in late October and early November. My 3 career largest Wahoos all came within 10 miles of land and were all caught close to Halloween. I would never claim to compete with the regular Charter Boat Fleets in the offshore trolling game, but I do offer this type of Fishing at half their price and lots of "hands on action" for my clients. Of course, great weather is absolutely necessary!

Bottom Fishing

Bottom Fishing or Jigging with Metal Jigs or Bucktails off Beaufort Inlet is a great way to spend a day on the water. This is a Year Round fishery, only affected by NMFS closures. On pretty days, it is possible to fish farther offshore in deeper water and catch a variety of Groupers, Snappers, Amberjacks, Porgys, Black Sea Bass, Grunts, and Sharks. This type of Fishing is for Full Days only and very weather dependant on my 25 foot Center console for obvious reasons, but the fishing can be awesome when conditions are favorable.

A totally different fishing experience can be had by bottom fishing or jigging speck rigs much closer to the Beach. This fishery is best during Fall and Winter. Staying within 3-4 miles of shore allows me to fish many more days with type of weather that is common in winter. Fishing can be excellent for Black Sea Bass, Bluefish, Gray Trout, Sea Mullet, Black Drum, Croaker, Hogfish, Dog Sharks, and many other varieties.

Bottom Fishing in the Sounds and Inland Waterways can be fantastic from September through November. This is a great way to introduce children to fishing. Our most commonly targetted fish is the small, but tasty Spot. If we can find a Spot we jusy might find a cooler full! Other fish caught while "Spot Fishing" include Croakers, Sea Mullet, Gray Trout, Bluefish, Flounder, Black Drum, Red Drum, Hogish and more.

Capt Marty's Top 15 Catches

1. 50 lb. Yellowfin Tuna (my 1st Tuna) caught on 10# and a stingsilver while casting to Albacore 5 miles off the Beach on 9-19-1988. Amazing.
2. 240 lb Bluefin Tuna caught on 20# and a cigar minnow light line while Grouper fishing on 11-28-1997. I fought this fish for 4 hours and covered 7 miles.
3. 83 lb. Wahoo caught while King Mackerel fishing by myself out of a huge fleet of Carteret County's best fishermen on 11-8-1995. This story is too long to tell here...
4. 66 lb. Amberjack caught on a #00 Clark Spoon on 6-24-1988. The Amberjack swallowed a 2 lb. Mackerel I was reeling in. This fish really got me "HOOKED".
5. 96 lb. Wahoo caught on 15# and a boston mackerel on a light line while Grouper fishing on 10-2-2001. I hooked this one seconds after Gerald Currin had decked a 67 pound Wahoo and was still "bragging".
6. 10 lb. 11 oz Flounder caught in Taylor's Creek on a windy day on 10-18-2003. My career largest Flounder was caught in a place I'd ignored during 20 years of Flounder Fishing!
7. 83 lb. Cobia caught off Cape Lookout while fishing by myself on 5-15-2002. I hate to admit this, I actually tried to break this one off because I was convinced it was a Stingray!
8. 350 lb. Blue Marlin caught on 30# while Dolphin fishing off Ocracoke on 5-20-2001. I rigged the baits, set out the lines, hooked the fish, fought the fish, wired the fish, tagged the fish, and released the fish!
9. 7 lb. 4 oz. Largemouth Bass that I caught on 5-2-09 on a 3 wt fly rod and a tiny rubber-legged spider. I hooked a tiny Bream that the Bass swallowed. I knew when she jumped, she'd throw the Bream... When she did, as the Bass re-entered the water, line started to peel off my reel again. the tiny fly was somehow lodged in the Bass's lip! Caught in a tiny pond at MHC Wal-Mart. Unbelievable!
10. 3 lb 8oz Spanish Mackerel caught on the Morehead Ocean Pier in August of 1974. My first "REAL" fish. I turned down a trip to the movies so I could stay out on the Pier that afternoon.
11. 37 lb. 4 oz. King Mackerel (combined with a 30 lb.4 oz the day before) that won $52,900 in the Snead's Ferry KMT on 8-12-2000
12. 34 lb. 8 oz King Mackerel caught from the Shackleford Banks surf on a peanut shad rigged up on a Penn 440SS (small spinning reel) with 8# on 7-14-2001.
13. 12 lb. 8 oz Sheepshead that ended a 10 year quest to catch a Citation Sheepshead on 8-12-2007.
14. 24 lb Blackfin Tuna that ate a stingsilver one mile off Atlantic Beach on 5-6-2010. I was casting for Bonito with a 10# spinning rod and had chased some Albacore inshore of AR-315. The Tuna was a blind strike and took an hour to land!
15. 67 lb. Black Drum caught on 5-3-2011 that outweighed my previous best Black Drum by 62 lbs and made me actually believe (for the first time) that I might actually accomplish my life's mission of collecting all the NC Citations!

Capt Marty's Personal NC Saltwater Citation Tally

All Fish caught by Capt Marty on Rod n Reel
Starting with a 66 lb Amberjack caught on June 24, 1988 in Beaufort Inlet
Species / # Citations / Largest Wt
1. Red Drum / 363/ 83 lbs
2. Flounder / 70 / 10 lb 11oz
3. Speckled Trout / 68 / 9lb 6oz
4. Cobia / 67 / 94 lbs
5. Amberjack / 48 / 66 lbs
6. Sheepshead / 34 / 12lb 8oz
7. Spanish Mackerel / 31 / 9 lbs
8. King Mackerel / 30 / 53 lbs
9. Bluefin Tuna / 21 / 380 lbs
10. Wahoo / 21 / 96 lbs
11. Barracuda / 15 / 36lb 8oz
12. Shark / 8 / 241 lbs
13. Black Drum / 8 / 67 lbs
14. Sailfish / 7 / 88"
15. Striped Bass / 7 / 35lb 8oz
16. Grouper / 5 / 35 lbs
17. Florida Pompano / 5 / 2lb 9oz
18. Black Sea Bass / 5 / 4 lbs
19. Crevalle Jack / 4 / 28 lbs
20. Red Snapper / 4 / 15lb 6oz
21. Tilefish / 4 / 12lb 8oz
22. Atlantic Bonito / 3 / 25"
23. Yellowfin Tuna / 3 / 83 lbs
24. Sea Mullet / 3 / 2lb 14oz
25. Triggerfish / 3 / 7lb 15oz
26. Blackfin Tuna / 2 / 24lb 8oz
27. False Albacore / 2 / 19lb 3oz
28. Gray Trout / 2 / 6lb 2oz
29. Blue Marlin / 1 / app 400 lbs
30. White Marlin / 1 / app 60 lbs
31. Spearfish / 1 / app 8 lbs
32. Dolphin / 1 / 40 lbs
33. Spot / 1 / 1 lb
34. Porgy / 1 / 6lb 7oz
TOTAL 849
Citation Saltwater Fish from other States
Snook / 4 / 35" (Texas)
Striped Bass / 1 / 47 lbs (Virginia)

Capt Marty's Personal NC Freshwater Citation Tally

Starting with an 8" Flier caught in a Wake County Pond in July of 1982
Species / # Citations / Largest Wt
1. Hickory Shad / 38 / 2 lb 9oz
2. White Perch / 25 / 1 lb 4oz
3. Blue Catfish / 6 / 42 lbs
4. American Shad / 6 / 5 lbs
5. Rainbow Trout / 5 / 21"
6. Largemouth Bass / 3 / 8 lb 4oz
7. Bluegill / 3 / 2 lb 2oz
8. Bowfin / 2 / 33"
9. Chain Pickerel / 2 / 28"
10. Green Sunfish / 2 / 10"
11. Pumpkinseed / 2 / 11"
13. Yellow Perch / 2 / 1 lb 6oz
12. Brook Trout / 2 / 20"
14. White Catfish / 1 / 4 lbs
15. Bullhead / 1 / 2 lb 8oz
16. Redfin Pickerel / 1 / 14"
17. Flier / 1 / 8"
Total 102
Citation Freshwater Fish from other States
Brown Trout / 2 / 16 lbs (NY)
Walleye / 6 / 28 7/8" (Ohio)
Freshwater Drum / 3 / 24" (Ohio)

2001 NC Citation Count

Citation sized fish caught by Capt Marty or Top Water Clients and Guests
1. Blue Marlin 1
2. Bluefin Tuna 4
3. Cobia 4
4. Dolphin 1
5. Flounder 2
6. Grouper 1
7. Pompano 1
8. Red Drum 70
9. Red Snapper 2
10. Sailfish 2
11. Speckled Trout 7
12. Spot 1
13. Wahoo 5
Total 101
***I spent 45 days in South Padre Island, Texas from early October until Thanksgiving catching Mangrove Snapper (up to 3 lbs), King Mackerel (up to 19 lbs), Spanish Mackerel, Hardhead Catfish, Pompano, Speckled Trout (up to 3 lbs), Red Drum (up to 5 lbs), Ladyfish (up to 5 lbs), Palometa, Gulf Sea Mullet (up to 2 lbs), Little Tunny, Bluefish, Sand Sea Trout, and (finally) SNOOK (up to 9 lbs). Of course, I fished every day or night possible.***.