Fishing With Capt Thunderbolt (2007)
Back to Main  

 [2006 Fishing Report]  [2005 Fishing Report]  [2004 Fishing Report]

By: Capt Rick Reynolds

07/28/2007

Capt. Rick had a charter today for Miss Judy Charters. Water temp was 84 and clear in most spots. Wind was 10 knots out of the East today. We fished all the outgoing tide and 2 hours of the incoming and did quite well. We Kept 2 bonnethead sharks and 9 Speckled Seatrout from 15 - 19 inches long. We released some redfish that were still an inch short and several short trout. We also released another 4 or 5 bonnethead sharks. The weather started out nice but turned to crap by 3pm. We got caught just as the front of this storm passed Turners creek. The only pictures I have are of when one of the guys was fighting a nice bonnethead then some shots of the weather as it turned from a mild day to a day that spawned some in the air tornados and 1 water spout in the Wilmington River. After the weather came in I was unable to take pictures of Chris and Matt and their father along with the catch due to high winds and gusting rain.

07/25/2007

Capt. Jeremy had a charter for Miss Judy Charters. They caught an assortment of inshore fish today. They kept 3 trout, 1 Sheepshead and 3 Bonnethead sharks. Wind was mild out of the Northeast at 5 - 10. Water temp is in the Mid 80's. Water clarity was clear to stained. It was cloudy most of the day, and they fished thru a rainstorm. All fish were caught out in Wassaw sound . Besides the fish that they kept, they caught and released amost 30 undersized Redfish. The bait of choice was live shrimp.

Shrimp purchased at ADAMS bait is perfect size right now. Plus when the tide is out of the grass, expect to catch some of your own. They also caught quite a few redfish, using gulp shrimp, fished under a popping cork. Hook them using a number 1 kahle hook, in the back instead of like a live shrimp thru the head. by hooking the gulp shrimp in the back, it gives a natural presentation, which is important.

07/21/2007

Capt. Rick had a charter today for Miss Judy Charters. Water temp was 84 and stained to clear in most spots. Wind was 10 - 15 knots out of the North West today. We fished the incoming tide and did quite well. Today was a strictly catch and release day. We caught and released several Bonnethead Sharks, Seatrout, bluefish and Flounder. Action was all out in various drops in Wassaw Sound. Moved inshore during the last hour of the trip to get out of the wind and didn't catch anymore. Below is a picture of the guys with some of their catch today.

07/20/2007

Capt. Rick and Capt. Jeremy took today to scout for some upcoming charters. We decided to target trout today. We caught quite a few nice ones and decided to keep a few to eat. Wind was soutwest at 10 to 15 and this was opposite an incoming tide. We also caught and released flounder and several small redfish as well. Capt. Jeremy caught the largest trout today at 22 inches on a live shrimp.

07/14/2007

Capt. Rick and Capt. Jeremy took today to scout for some upcoming charters. We decided to target redfish today. Water temp was 83° and clear to stained. We fished the last 3 hours of the incoming and most of the outgoing. Below is a picture of Capt. Jeremy with a picture of a redfish we released. Notice the Bright blue on the end of the tail of this undersized Redfish.

We released all fish today except for (4) 18 inch trout and 1 flounder. Notice the size of the shrimp you are getting at the bait store. These are local shrimp and they are selling for the price of 18 dollars a quart. However they do work, just downsize your hooks. The blowfish seem to like the small shrimp as well. Expect to catch these types fish at dead low. Also there is a picture of 4 of the flounder we caught on friday, fried up for a meal.

07/13/2007

Capt. Rick and Capt. Jeremy took today to scout for some upcoming charters. We decided to target Flounder today. Water temp was 83° and clear to stained. We fished the last 2 hours of the incoming and most of the outgoing. Below is a picture of Capt. Jeremy hooked up and the other pictures are what we kept today for a meal. Always keep what you can eat and release the rest to fight another day!

07/07/2007

Capt. Rick and Capt. Jeremy have had numerous charters for Miss Judy Charters. The trip today was a 4 hour trip with 3 people from Iowa. Water temp was 82 and mostly clear. We fished the incoming tide and caught quite a few Bonnet Head sharks, Blue fish, Ladyfish and trout. We also caught a small redfish as well. We saw several schools of spanish Mackeral out in Wassaw sound busting bait on the surface. We had action all day today.

06/24/2007

Capt. Jeremy had a charter for Miss Judy Charters. They caught an assortment of inshore fish with this seatrout being this little boys favorite! Water temp was in the low eighties and clear.

Capt. Rick had a charter today for Miss Judy Charters. Water temp was 84 and stained to clear in most spots. We caught bluefish, ladyfish, small redfish, small flounder, Seatrout and large bonnet head sharks. The bite was good, but not as consistant as yesterdays bite with Capt. Jeremy.

06/18/2007 & 06/20/2007 & 06/21/2007 & 06/22/2007

Capt. Jeremy had back to back to back to back charters for Miss Judy Charters. He was able to step up and help me ( Capt. Rick) out this week by handling everything that came up. I had to be out of town due to an illness in the family ( my dad had a heart stoppage) and Jeremy did the work this week including a Charity trip on 6/22/2007 that I volunteered to do. I know the water conditions on 6.21.2007 were not good due to high winds. According to Capt. Jeremy, he could not comfortably fish out in Wassaw Sound, so he went way inshore for some trout.

He did take a couple pictures of todays catch ( 6.22.2007). The group had a very successful trip with a few released fish and the following keepers. The Pompano was revived and released as well.

06/16/2007

Capt. Rick had a charter for Miss Judy Charters. It was a 2 person 6 hour father daughter charter. They caught ladyfish and trout nonstop for the first 4 hours. Then we moved due to tide and water clarity and the bite slacked off. However they ended the day with a large bonnet head shark, and a blacktip shark and blue fish. Water temp was 84 and clear.

06/12/2007 & 06/13/2007

Capt. Jeremy had back to back charters for Miss Judy Charters. Day 1 They caught and released quite a few lady fish and kept some trout. They were also plagued with hordes of blackflies, that indicated a big storm was coming within 24 hours. Not to be disappointed, the storm arrived about 24 hours after the fly attack. Jeremy was in the middle of has next charter and had to move out of the sound and inshore to avoid high winds and rain. Water temp is in the 80's. Water clarity can be found if you look.

06/09/2007

Capt. Rick had a 4 person 6 hour charter today for Miss Judy Charters. They had good luck in catching a few trout, a lot of ladyfish and some large bonnet head sharks as well as a blue fish. Missed quite a few good bites and w were doing well until another boater tryed to cut us off and he actually hit and got stuck on the oyster bar we were fishing. Water temp was 82 and clear most of the day. This was a 3 generation family and 3 of them had birthdays close together.

This is a guy to watch out for! He will try to cut you off, then ignore you when he hits an oyster rake with the boat and motor. It is a KEY LARGO boat.

06/08/2007

Capt. Rick Scouted today for a charter on 6.9.2007. Had good luck caught and released 14 trout - largest 18 inches and smallest 12 inches. Released 3 large bonnet head sharks as well as about 10 ladyfish. Water temp was 80-82° and clear in spots. There is a good bit of algea bloom forming in the sound and it stained the water as the tide came in. Local shrimp are available, but they are small . New electronics work well. Depth finder does not lose the bottom at any speed and the refresh rate is good. Picture will be posted later. Here is a picture of a trout that I released. Below that is a picture of the guy that tryed to cut me off and he got stuck for awhile.

06/02/2007

Capt. Rick had a 3 person 4 hour charter today for Miss Judy Charters . That got rained / Blown out by Tropical Storm Barry. Nice way to start the 2007 Hurricane season! Was able to update my Electronics prior to this schedule trip. Added a Furuno FCV585 8 inch fishfinder and a Garmin Gpsmap 545. I kept the Garmin Gpsmap 182 for a backup Gps system, for when we go offshore. All Electrical installations done in this boat by Ben King, Owner of Marine Wire Works. Ben does excellent and timely installations!