Mike Marsh.

JULY
Trout
Linville River
The commission’s stocking schedule for the Linville River make its Hatchery Supported Trout Water ideal for an Independence Day vacation fishing destination. The upper reaches of the Linville River have some spectacular scenery and are at high elevations.

Anglers can fish with whatever they like, including natural baits, lures or flies, making the Linville River a very popular destination.

It pays to be in good shape because the trails down to the Linville are steep and the bottom is slick and rocky. Some bold anglers can fish the river in nothing more than wading shoes in July, but the water is still cold, so dedicated anglers still carry lightweight chest waders along for fishing longer stretches of the river. The best fishing can occur just at dark in the heat of the summer.

Downstream of the Lake James powerhouse is the Bridgewater Fishing Area, which is on the final downstream stretch of the Linville River. The waters just downstream of the powerhouse are classified as Hatchery Supported Trout Water and there is a seven-mile stretch of public fishing water as well, along with a generous parking area and a handicapped accessible fishing pier.

The times, dates and warnings for water discharges from the powerhouse can be obtained by calling the Bridgewater Plant Hydrogeneration Schedule Information Line at (828) 584-1451. This information is available three days in advance, but can vary due to certain conditions.

The North Carolina Trout Fishing Maps book is available online at www.ncwildlife.org.

AUGUST
Tarpon
Pamlico Sound
In August, when the tarpon run hits its peak in Pamlico Sound, anglers head to Oriental to try their luck.

Anglers fishing from boats with towers spot tarpon from long distances by watching for the mirror-like shine of the “silver kings.” When tarpon are spotted rolling or jumping, it’s time to motor quietly several hundred yards ahead of the school. Tarpon are spooky fish and don’t like to be disturbed by fast-running boats.

Fan-casting as many as eight rigs baited with cut mullet, croaker or spot on the bottom is the best technique. While tarpon are attracted, the baits also bring on bites from cownosed rays or “pancake tarpon,” which are aggravating to deal with but help stave off the boredom between exciting tarpon strikes.

When a tarpon strikes, the battle is unlike that of any other inshore game fish, with the fish displaying amazing leaps, plus speed and power that can’t be easily described. Bowing to the fish is an axiom that has been repeated so often it’s like beating a dead horse. But if you don’t give some slack line to a tarpon as it leaps, it will fall back on the leader or line and break free.

Call Down East Guide Service at (252) 249-3474.

SEPTEMBER
Flounder
Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach is legendary for the number of flounder and the sizes of flounder caught from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Carolina Beach Boat Basin, the Cape Fear River and Carolina Beach Inlet.

Kure Beach’s offshore ledges are also good places to fish. While southern flounder rule the inshore fishing, the offshore ledges are the domains of summer flounder.

A few anglers use scent-impregnated artificial lures fished on jigheads along the bottom or on float rigs to catch flounder, catching large numbers of fish along the shallower flats and grassbeds. But most anglers use live baits, especially mudminnows, mullet and menhaden, to catch the biggest flounder.

To catch a big doormat, it takes a big bait. A 10-inch mullet or menhaden is the preferred baitfish of tournament fishermen, who often boat flounder topping 10 pounds. These huge flounder are inhabitants of the rocky areas, boat docks, piers, oyster beds and other inshore deep-water junkyards. If you aren’t getting your tackle hung often and losing a few bottom rigs, you aren’t fishing for trophy flounder.

Offshore, the rocky bottoms hold plenty of flatfish. Anglers become hung just as easily on the ledges as they do while fishing inshore structure. Fishing a 50-pound superbraid is not an uncommon practice among trophy flounder fishermen.

Call Reel Bait and Tackle for information at (910) 395- 2248.