In late March I had the opportunity to guide twice in one week for the Beausang Boys and family. In two days of spin fishing to sight castable redfish schools they landed 45 redfish on DOA jerk baits. Needless to say I sounded like a broken record both days telling them the fishing isn't always like this.....
Little did I know they would come back with their lucky rabbits feet in hand. Yesterday John and his uncle Russ Tyson and I set out for an epic day of topwater redfishing. But first I had to teach the guys how to "walk the dog" which is a technique that requires one to be able to walk, chew gum, pat your head and rub your stomach. Not only did Russ and John pick this up quick, by the end of the day they had mastered the technique.
On our practice spot while I was showing Russ how to work the topwater plug John hooked and lost a red fish on his plug not ten feet from the boat. Shortly thereafter Russ had the action down and he brought a 6lb. 26" redfish to the boat.
We made a short move after those first two fish and we began casting parralell to the grass banks of a small lagoon and John and Russ hooked a double on the same retrieve. Their redfish looked like twins! I have had lots of doubles before but never two on top water at the same time!
I felt like the place was played out so we ran up towards Topsail Island and fished some creek mouths as the tide fell. We missed two more great bites and pulled the hooks on another, which put us on the score card at three for six.
I had a bead on a good school of reds and moved us one final time into position to capitalize on the final part of the falling tide and we caught four more on topwater and missed some ferocious takes. I have to say that seven reds on topwater in a half day charter with these great guys was every bit as fun as catching 25 on jerk baits in a single day.
Thanks Russ for working so hard on the top water plug and for bringing the right attitude to the game. I will not soon forget what you told me very poignantly, "It's nobody's wave."


Good Luck & Good Fishing,

Captain Seth Vernon

On May the 2nd I took Mike O'Malley fishing for redfish here in Wilmington. We started the morning by getting Mike tuned up on the double haul technique with his fly rod and we were dedicated at making a go of it as a "fly only" approach. I have to say I was impressed with Mike's ability to accomplish so much in such a short period of time that morning. What he accomplished was the ability to start with his fly in the ready position and fire a 45-50' cast in about six seconds to the target.
By 11 am we had started working a school of redfish in a shallow bay and slowly the wind went from about 10 kts to around 20 kts by around 3 pm. Mike was dedicated and after a couple of close encounters with the school and several opportunities on the fly I asked him if he would mind throwing the topwater plug I had on my spinning rod.
With the wind steadily increasing and the tide falling he said he would give it a try. In about seven minutes I had him "walking the dog" with a MirrOlure Top Dog Jr. in color 808. With the last hour of fishing to go he landed a 17" flounder and a 5 lb. red drum on the top water plug in about five casts.
It just goes without saying that if you are going to be fishing the coast anywhere with a fly rod you will be more successful if you have a good side arm cast and well defined double haul. Also when your guide offers some friendly advice or tips that reach outside of your comfort level follow Mike's lead and try something new, it just might hook you on something great. Thanks Mike for trusting me to put you on that topwater bite, we'll get them on fly with better conditions next time!

Good Luck & Good Fishing