Chilly Coastal Carolina Fishing Report: Reds, Trout, and Stripers Abound Despite Cold Temps

Hey y'all, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to gal for fishin' the Atlantic waters off North Carolina. It's a chilly Monday mornin' here on December 15th, with northwest winds gustin' 15-20 knots easin' off after dark, waves 2-3 feet, and bitter cold settin' in—bundle up! Sunrise hit around 7:17 AM, sunset 'bout 5:00 PM, solunar activity low at 49, but them peak times 'round dawn and dusk could still spark a bite.

Tides at Oak Island show high at 3:13 AM reachin' 4.7 feet, droppin' to low 9:24 AM at 0.9 feet, then risin' to 3:35 PM high of 5.2 feet, and evenin' low 10:17 PM at 0.9 feet—fish the incomin' current for best action, as big coefficients mean strong flows stirrin' the bottom.

Fish are slowin' with the cold, clear water, but reds are tailin' shallow for sight fishin', speckled trout hunkered in deeper channels and warmer pockets 'round structure, and puppy drum hittin' nearshore. Striped bass mixin' in from the north, holdin' by pilings and rocks—live eels on light Carolina rigs with 1/2 oz egg sinker top the list. Tautog bitin' hard on wrecks with fresh crab or frozen clams, black sea bass stackin' up too. Limits on reportin' harvest for five saltwater species start today, so log 'em.

For lures, slow it down: suspendin' MirrOlures or soft plastics for trout, crankbaits like Bomber Fat Free Shad in white/chartreuse for points, jerkbaits, or Zoom Lizard Texas-rigged. Live shrimp or mullet shine as bait.

Hot spots? Hit the nearshore reefs off Oak Island or Cape Lookout for reds and drum, and structure near Atlantic Beach Bridge for stripers and specks.

Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI