Spring fishing season

Spring fishing season is finally on the way
Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 8:38 AM EST

Dr. Bogus

Is it spring yet?

Not yet, but we have finally had a break in the weather and we can close our eyes and dream. There are many harbingers of spring, the robins, more hours of daylight, maple trees flowering, dandelions yellowing up the lawns, that yellow dusting of springtime pollen and the greening of the first bushes and trees – and oh yes, opening of our fishing piers.

Locally, The Bogue Inlet Fishign Pier on Emerald Isle is opening this weekend, just in time for Emerald Isle’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival.

Check out there newly renovated web page, prominently featuring yours truly, Dr. Bogus (www.bogueinletpier.com) and celebrating its 50th anniversary of service to North Carolina and the Crystal Coast and to lovely Emerald Isle.

The first visitors to the pier are usually sharks and skates along with blowfish and hopefully sea mullet. Blues return in April and the Spanish in early May. Most importantly is to get your seasonal orientation right, so here is my little ditty to jog your memory.

“In the spring and summer east is least and west is best, but in the fall and winter west is least and east is the beast.”

The other question is “how’s the fishing Doc?”

I have had some success last week landing speckled trout from our local creeks. One day I “landed” a trout hat trick. I kept one weighing in at 2-pounds, 8-ounces., lost one that was very net worthy, and released a third, probably in the 2-plus pound range.

Fish have been in the creeks and biting for over a week now, and hopefully with this warming trend, will become even more active. Until then, what I said last week about the weak bite or nudge and the importance of braided line and keeping your line tight still applies, or you will go home empty handed, and it won’t be my fault.