Large "bull" drum begin to migrate into the bays and inlets across the North Carolina coast in August and September, so Jess and I decided to make a trip down to Oriental, NC to see if we'd have any luck catching them over the Labor Day weekend. The first day out on the Neuse River was a little rough, with some swells and fairly steady wind blowing at 10-15 mph. However, that seemed to be the key to good fishing, as once we set out some baits, it didn't take long to start getting bites!
We caught a mixed bag of red drum, skates, bluefish, and a few angry cownose rays, in additional to a number of small baitfish while jigging sabiki rigs tipped with shrimp. Our tactic was to find ledges or other sharp bottom contours, spotlock on them, and put live baits out on the bottom using Lupton or drum rigs.
Drum fishing is an exercise in patience, followed by chaos when a large fish starts ripping line off your reel. If you've never caught a large redfish, it's a thrill that you have to experience at least once in your life!
Small Skate: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Lupton / Red Drum Rig: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Jess's First Drum: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Motor Issues: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Cownose Stingray that kicks my butt: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
My first drum: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
My second drum (big takedown!): • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Jess's Second Drum: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Nino hooks up!: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...
Outtro: • Red Drum Kayak Fishing...