Capt. Jeff Cronk of Fish'n 4 Life Charters caught these big southern flounder at an offshore ledge near Swansboro. Photo by Mike Marsh

It has only been a couple of decades since fishery management has even been attempted in the Tar Heel State. Where once an angler could keep anything he could catch, today's structure of size and bag limits as well as commercial quotas has returned many species to abundance and is at least helping others hold their own against continuing fishing pressure.

For example, red drum were once considered to be in serious trouble. While they are still under very restrictive harvest regulations, red drum have expanded their range and population size all across the coast and anglers are having a ball catching them.

While southern flounder, the flatfish of inshore haunts, may be subject to greater harvest restrictions in the near future, summer flounder that inhabit offshore ledges and artificial reefs have rebounded and are thrilling anglers once again. That does not mean that southern flounder fishing is not good, however. The fish are still out there waiting to bite a hook.

Yellowfin tuna have always been fairly abundant. But recent harvest restrictions ensure they will remain that way. Anglers heading offshore to the Gulf Stream in spring, especially during May, have been catching limits of the big fish without much problem.

Spanish mackerel seem to carpet the water near inlets during the spring and early summer. This abundance is also a benefit of good management. Nothing beats an easy trolling trip for Spanish mackerel with the family for justifying the cost of maintaining a boat or booking a charter trip.

Weakfish were once so severely depleted that anglers nearly forgot how to catch them. Now they are so abundant that Tar Heel anglers may find a big school at any time of year. However, early spring and late fall are the best times to target them.

Here's a more in-depth look at where and how to catch these top five Tar Heel saltwater game fish.

RED DRUM
Red drum are truly everybody's saltwater game fish. Designated the state's official saltwater fish, redfish occur in all saltwater areas of the state.

In the state's coastal rivers and brackish backwater sounds, juvenile red drum or "puppy drum" congregate until they reach an age of about 4 years and a weight of about 10 pounds. These fish form large schools during cold months, then break up into smaller schools of six to 20 fish as the water temperature approaches the mid-60s.

Anglers target puppy drum by many methods. The most exciting method is "hunting" the fish. In shallow water, the fish become very spooky and will swim away at the least disturbance. A dropped lure that hits the deck or a push pole banging against a poling platform can send the fish to safety.

Anglers use electric trolling motors, drifting, wading and poling tactics to find the fish. Once they spot them, they have a variety of options for catching them. Casting a weedless gold spoon past the fish and reeling it alongside them is a sure way to entice a strike. Topwater lures also work well for sight-fishing, as do floating and sinking flies. Soft plastics and spinnerbaits also work well for catching shallow-water redfish.

If fish cannot be spotted near the surface, anglers use live and natural baits fished on the bottom or beneath float rigs to catch red drum. Deep-probing lures such as jigs and crankbaits also work well when the fish are feeding in deep channels or beneath boat docks and piers hiding in the shade to ambush prey.

Superbraid lines are preferred by most shallow-water redfish anglers. They hold up better than monofilament lines in grassbeds, oyster beds and pilings encrusted with barnacles. Adding a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader helps ensure a fish doesn't see the line.