Two good discussions here. The first is from Al Noble. The second is a presentation given by Capt Ian Sands.
Where to fish? Al Noble, a former member who was an Orvis certified casting instructor and a dedicated fly angler, did something very smart when he moved to Brunswick County. Realizing there were incredible fishing opportunities surrounding us, he decided to divide the area into 10-15 unique fishing opportunities. Then he spent a year fishing in and learning each of the unique areas, taking copious notes on his exploits. At the end of each year, he would know what tides were most productive, what wind directions were suitable, what flies he used, what structure existed, and on and on. After the 10-15 years he had his book of notes and could use it to help him decide where to fish on that particular day with the tides, wind, temperature (air and water) and off he’d go for a productive day of fishing.
Many of us will be old and feeble by the time we finished a 10-15 year survey. So, we depend upon the work or others and our own experience and intuition.
Al said something several times that challenges some of our assertions that there aren’t enough fish around. Al said that every year he catches all the fish he needs to satisfy his primal hunter/gatherer urges between the St. James Marina and the Wildlife Ramp on Fish Factory Road. That’s the area with the ICW running through the middle of it, the Old Bridge, Beaverdam Creek, Dutchman’s Creek and the Elizabeth River (though technically those last two are just beyond the Wildlife Ramp- they’re in the neighborhood). And there is a lot of marsh on either side of the ICW. There is deep water in the ICW, drop-offs on each side of the ICW channel, a few docks and did we mention the marsh? As Al said, the fish are there and if you’re not catching them, you’re doing it wrong.
Others who have fished Brunswick County for decades have similar stories
OK, let the discussion begin.
To get us started, here is my list of places for redfish and speckled trout.
Marshes along the ICW between St. James Marina and the Wildlife Ramp- both sides
Marshes up Beaverdam and Dutchman’s Creek as well as the Elizabeth River
Marshes up the Lockwoods Folly River especially around and behind Pepsi Island
Rocks at the LF Inlet, the rocks at the Winding River marina
Marshes and tidal creeks in Galloway Flats (just east of the LF Inlet- beware of the sand bars blocking the entrances
Docks along the LF River between the golf course and Varnatumtown
Marshes east of Varnamtown past the house in the marsh (there is a big sandbar guarding that creek)
Big Davis Canal entrance
West outlet of the Little Davis Canal just past the 4th dock on the canal, along the huge oyster beds in the curve along 16th-15th street, the sharp left turn in the Big Davis Canal along 15th Street, any time a small creek runs into any canal or river or cree
Behind Bald Head (though I don’t go there regularly with my small jon boat),
These same places are good for speckled trout. The LF Inlet rocks produce a wide range of fish at any given time: Spanish, flounders, red drum, Ribbon Fish, you name it.
Don’t forget to check out the resources of Fly Fishers International at www.flyfishersinternational.org.
Also, Google this and other topics of interest and go to YouTube for seemingly endless videos.