Oriental Boat Show

http://Orientalboatshow.com/schedule

Come on out to the 4th Annual Oriental in Water Boat Show. The show begins Friday April 13 and runs until Sunday April 15th. I will be conducting my kayak fishing seminar Saturday beginning at 5:00pm. Looking forward to a great turn out after last years seminar was cancelled due to the tornadoes and high winds in the area. Heres a shot of the Pamlico during last years show. See you there!

Fishin or Golfin?

This was the question I asked of a friend of mine several days ago. With a couple days of February temperatures in the mid sixties my question to Ken was are you fishin or golfin? For me this was a no brainer but I know it was a tough decision for an avid golfer. However, I knew Ken made the right decision choosing the water over the links. The last few days had been warming into the sixties and I knew there would be redfish in the shallow mud bottom creeks.
Ken and I launched the Hobie's and timed our paddle to arrive at the creek as the tide was falling out. We started launching Silver Mullet DOA jerk shads to the shallow mud flat in search of hungry redfish. In short time I hooked up with our first fish of the morning. Before Ken could get himself into position and stick his anchor pin into the mud bottom I was casting again and hooked up with another 18 inch redfish. It didn't take more than a couple of casts before Ken also hooked up with his first redfish of the morning followed by several more.
After a lull in the action I was afraid that we had spooked this school of fish out of the creek. I paddled up the creek a short ways and hooked back up thinking I had found the school but was surprised with a nice speckled trout. We caught several more redfish and Ken's largest trout before having to leave hungry fish in order to make it out of the shallow creek mouth.
As I write this post one day after this trip it's 25 degrees colder with rain possibly changing to snow this evening. A reminder that it is February but when you have a few days of warm weather get out on the water for some great fishing. If your interested in planning your winter redfishing trip contact me at (252)412-5253 or email at ibxyakfish@gmail.com
Chris Ellis
Inner Banks Kayak Fishing

First week of January brings reds on fly!

Had high hopes for this morning as the tide was just right to hit my favorite creek for shallow water redfish. The air temperature was in the upper 40's as I launched the Hobie this morning and paddled into a light north wind. I paddled to the back of the creek where it narrows to just six foot wide and then opens into a pond of marsh grass which was flooded by the high tide. I saw no fish in the back of the creek and the water was falling out quickly. I turned around and drifted out with the flow and about midway out spotted a school of about fifteen to twenty reds in the gin clear water. Unfortunately they spotted me as well. After sticking the anchor pin in the mud and making a few casts down the creek in their direction it was apparent they were gone. I continued to drift out with the tide and new that this creek usually doesn't pay off until three to four hours of the tide has fallen. It was that time and the light northerly wind had picked up to 15 making things difficult to impossible to see fish. I decided to stick the anchor pin and start blind casting to the areas that rarely let me down. After several casts of the DOA jerk shad I began to question the presence of any redfish until the pelican flying above made them give away there location 15 yards down the creek. The next cast was made just in front of the school and as soon as the jerk shad hit bottom it was picked up and a nice 18 inch red came to the boat which was followed by three more and a 17 inch speckled trout as a bonus. I decided to move up creek of the school and position the wind at my back so that a could cast a fly in their direction. First cast of the chartreuse and white clouser produced another feisty redfish which was followed up by three more in short order. Unfortunately I had to leave some hungry fish to ensure I made it through the mouth of this creek which at this point was only six inches to a foot deep in spots. A great day of winter redfishing in ultra shallow water. If your interested in some great winter kayak fishing get in touch with me to plan your next trip.
Chris Ellis
IBX Kayak Fishing
IBXyakfish@gmail.com
252-412-5353

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from IBX Kayak Fishing! This has been a great year and look forward to an awesome 2012.
The winter is a great time to get out on the waters of the Inner Banks (70 degrees today) with speckled trout still around through the winter and stripers being the hot bite around New Bern. Redfish will still be found in the backs of creeks and on the beaches with some amazing numbers in those schools.
Look forward to seeing you on the water or guiding you to some great fishing on the IBX this upcoming year. If your interested give me a call at 252-412-5353 or email at IBXyakfish@ gmail.com.

Merry Christmas
Chris Ellis