SEPTEMBER
Smallmouth Bass
Lake Santeetlah
Lake Santeetlah is one of the highest lakes in the state. But while other mountain lakes have low fertility, Santeetlah has a fertile watershed that translates into large numbers of big smallmouth bass.

Bass forage and grow fat on threadfin and gizzard shad, so lures imitating these baitfish are always successful. Soft shad-tail trailers on jigheads are excellent choices. Deep-running crankbaits and shallow-running stick baits are also popular lures. One of the best fall lures is a tube jig fished on a jighead. The water is extremely clear and the tube jig falls quickly to get down to the underwater rock ledges and cliff faces where the fish are holding.

September can also offer an excellent topwater bite. Live baits, always a good option for catching bass at Santeetlah, work well this month. The fish can be accessed by canoe, kayak or powerboat and there are several bank-fishing areas at the U.S. Forest Service recreation areas.

OCTOBER
Spots
Ocean Piers
While ocean fishing piers are vanishing at an alarming rate, there are still 18 of them where anglers can get in on some of the hottest fishing action in salt water. The spot is called that because of the single spot on its side. While the fish is small, it can be caught in huge numbers when the schools come south on their annual migration.

Pier-anglers line the rails, casting shrimp, bloodworms or artificial bloodworm strips into the surf. A good spot run will have so many fishermen on a pier that they are standing shoulder to shoulder and catching fish two at a time on each rod.

A simple, two-hook bottom rig and a medium-action spinning rod is all it takes to get in on the action. But pier-fishermen also use baitcasting rigs, spincast rigs and conventional revolving spool rigs to catch spots. It's a sport for anyone who owns a rod and wants to fill a freezer with tasty fish.

Kure Beach Fishing Pier, (910) 458-5524.

NOVEMBER
False Albacore
Cape Lookout
In November, the false albacore make a showing at Cape Lookout. Anglers heading for the cape out of Harkers Island find the fish at Barden and Beaufort inlets, as well as along the beaches within sight of the cape.

While anglers in small boats stick to the protected waters of the inlets, anglers in larger center console craft find the fish just offshore. Birds working the same baitfish schools as the fish show anglers their location. For anglers casting lures, spoons and jigs are top fare. Fly-fishing for false albacore is one of the classic Carolina saltwater trips and requires rods of 10 weight and up for success with fish that can top 14 pounds and have the strength, speed and stamina of bluefin tuna in a more compact size.

False albacore can become boat-shy when many anglers are chasing them. Therefore, anglers should stalk the fish, moving alongside the fast roving schools and getting ahead of them before casting.

Cape Lookout Charters, (252) 240-2850.

DECEMBER
Speckled Trout
Tidal New River
New River is becoming synonymous with big speckled trout. It is an interesting coastal river because the river has a very minimal tide range that helps anglers fish no matter the time of day.

Anglers cast soft plastics and hard lures in the creeks and around any structure. New River Structure includes a submerged pipeline near the east side below the USO building, two bridges and several large oyster reef complexes. Some of the creeks that are legendary trout producers look more like places coastal anglers will catch largemouth bass, and indeed the two species mix in Southwest Creek, Northeast Creek and in the headwaters of the river upstream of Jacksonville.

Scented soft plastics hooked on various sized jigheads are top speck producers. Topwater action is good in other months, but for winter fishing, lures should be fished very slowly and near the bottom because the fish become lethargic.

Speckled Specialist, (910) 330-2745.