Weekly Column - June 5, 2006

I’m often asked “what bait do you recommend for inshore fishing?” In years past my answer would start with a series of questions like: What species are you targeting, where are you fishing, what kind of tackle do you plan on using?

But now the answer is simply, Gulp!.

About two years ago Berkley developed a fish attractant for a new soft bait. They named it Gulp! and started marketing it in different shapes and colors. They claim on the package that the scent is 400X stronger than other baits and that it out fishes live bait. A pretty incredible claim, until you use it that is.

My fishing buddies will tell you that I’m a tackle junkie. One look in my tackle boxes confirms those claims. I like trying different things and need at least two of everything, often many more. However after trying Gulp! last year and using it for several months, I emptied my tackle boxes of most of my other soft baits. No kidding. No, I don’t work for Berkley. I do wish I owned stock in the company though.

Tex Grissom of Tex’s Tackle in Wilmington says this of his best selling artificial bait, “Once the word got out on its effectiveness, I had to double my display space for the bait as I couldn’t keep the shelves stocked”.

As to Berkley’s claim of out fishing live bait, I decided to test that idea last month. I invited two of the best live bait flounder fisherman I know to fish with me. We fished for hours moving from spot to spot depending on the tide levels. They both fished two poles using live bait - mainly menhaden and finger mullet. I fished one pole using Gulp!.

The results from this unscientific, limited testing backed up Berkley’s claim. We caught a total of six flounder, two on live bait and four on Gulp!. This despite the fact that we had 4 times as many live baits in the water as we did Gulp!. Gulp! indeed!

The bait comes in many different shapes and colors but all contain the same scent. The scent is the product’s “secret” weapon. To see what I mean, drop a piece in shallow water and watch the fish come for it and peck at it repeatedly. Chris Medlin of East Coast Sports in Surf City recently told me of a time when he saw a speckled sea trout swim past a live shrimp to eat a Gulp! shrimp.

It works well on a “Carolina rig” or similar bottom type rig. I like using it on a jighead as it offers versatility and simplicity in casting, jigging and drift fishing with Gulp! Try using as light of a jighead as possible but still be able to get it to the bottom. 1/8 ounce works well in no current situations but you may need up to a half ounce in stronger currents or in windy conditions. Simply cast the bait out and “bounce it” across the bottom for flounder or use a “twitching” retrieve for trout.

Here are some helpful hints regarding this bait. The scent is water activated and once you activate it, don’t put it back in the pack with unused pieces. Also, don’t get the juice from the bag in your eyes, it stings and has a long lasting odor. You won’t want to leave it on your hook when you are finished fishing for the day as it will dry out. Once that happens it is very difficult to get off the hook.

Catching Report

The island’s piers report blues and Spanish continue to bite with the best times being in the early morning or late evening. Fisherman at Seaview Pier are catching flounder and spots as well. They also report 3 kings were caught this past week. Surf City Ocean Pier reports catches of cobia ranging from 25 – 47 pounds this past week and a 5.28 pound sheepshead. Jolly Roger also reports a good bite from the sheepshead, cobia and a few drum.

Inshore, the flounder are biting live bait on Carolina rigs. The best fishing is around the inlets and nearby flats. The drum action around docks and pilings remain strong espically on the falling tide. Blues are in the inlets and ICW.

Near shore the Spanish mackerel are thick and many are of good size. Try a clarkspoon trolled on the surface behind a small bird rig or a Yo-Zuri deep diver. Blues are hitting about anything thrown to them but gotcha plugs on light tackle offer great action. The cobia have invaded the waters near the beaches and inlets. The best bait seems to be live menhaden fished on a Carolina rig for the bottom or on a float rig for the surface. Some smaller kings have made their way inshore but are still sparse.

Further out larger Kings are being found in the 10-25 mile range. There have also been a few reports of mahi in that range. Gulf stream fishing is producing wahoo, tuna and mahi with a few billfish also being caught.

Tight lines to all!