Cape Fear - 03/19/06

[C_wernett]

Yesterday was a wonderful day to be out on the water! Didn't have much time to prepare, so I picked up a couple dozen medium shiners and some nightcrawlers and was hoping for anything. Well, what I was in store for was a fun day of catching bowfin. What a blast, and challenge, on 4lb line and light to ultralight rods. I caught a couple on my cat rod I had set up all day which I had two or three shiners on a circle hook on. I only caught one cat though, my first flattie of the season! You can see by the picture, he's not a lot to brag about, but hey, I haven't seen a flathead since last November! Also had a little luck with a couple of nice sunfish chiming in. So all in all, the river is really starting to pick back up!

[bigblaze]

nice fish!!!!:thumbsup:

where did you fish on the Cape Fear? (what part?)

[C_wernett]

I fish a couple of areas from Burgaw down to Wilmington. It's a ton easier with a boat, but I don't have a boat. So basically any bridge I come across, or walk in access I can find right now. I'll probably start hitting the NE Cape Fear in the next month also.

[Cat Tale]

Hey man,those bowfin are great cat bait.I've never ever been stumped useing them.

[catfishrus]

conrad im glad to see you made it out. nice bowfin ive never caught one in north carolina. i like the looks of them flatheads too.

[Bobpaul]

Mike, you just gave away your most guarded secret.

Anyone who wants to catch bowfin, come fish the Waccamah.

[Cat Tale]

Yeah I know.I"m feelin nicer than usual today.

[dwreel]

How big does a bowfin get and are they good for anything?

[Cat Tale]

Not sure how big they get.I'm used to seeing 2-10lb. range.They are hard fighters.Not good for much.

[JAYNC]

I normally use them for bait also, they are a very greasy fish and attract a lot of cats and bowfin.

[C_wernett]

Keep saying that they aren't good for anything as I go serve myself up another platefull! There are actually a pretty tasty fish! There are a couple of keys to eating them though. You have to cook them fresh. I mean, fresh...fillet them while they're still flopping, and get them breaded and in the frying pan as quick as possible! If you try to refrigerate them, or freeze them...the meat turns really soft...I mean really soft! But fresh they are textured alot like catfish, but are naturally a little salty, white, and quite tasty!

When I'm looking for a "frying fish" for dinner, bowfin is the way I go. A buddy turned me onto them last year. At first, I was as speculate as anyone would be. Most of use have been beaten down with the old,"It's a trash fish...not worth anything!" speach that bass fisherman told us when we were younger. But after trying them once, I'm HOOKED. In fact, they tast a bit like bass now that I meantion it.

I've never tried them for catfish though. Do you just cut them into strips, chunks, or just smaller ones to use whole?

[Cat Tale]

I cut them across in about 2 inch wide strips.
You may want to ease up on eatting to many of those jokers.
They carry enough Mercury to build a themometer.

[C_wernett]

Studies show that they have about the same mucury levels as bass, catfish, or darn near any fish in this state. Fish like these don't acquire mercury directly from the water, but from what they eat. Mercury accumulates in plankton, and is eaten by shad, and invertibrates that are in turn eaten by bass/catfish/pickeral/crappie/bowfin...etc. So really, should any fish be eaten?...But hey, one mans trash is anothers treasure.

[dwreel]

There is an advisory on all fresh water fish in NC east of Interstate 85 or 95. Not sure which highway it is.

Could them bowfin be kept for bait if they were salt cured ?

[catfishrus]

dwreel it must be 95 because i havent heard about on badin or tillery but i dont eat them anyway.

conrad you might turn into the boc weatherman...lol. just kidding

[delawareriver]

nice fish! i wish we had the weather to get out on a river

[C_wernett]

Well, I figure I'll use the smokers excuse..."I'm going to die from something." But I don't eat that much fish really, just from time to time I get the craving for a fish meal, and I can't stand going to the store to buy fish when I can follow my hunting and gathering "man instincts"...my mom always said that if I was to die, it would probably be from fishing. :rolleyes:

[bigfish]

hey c_wernett you beat me to what i was going to say. something is going to kill us all one day better fish than smoke. but any way thems some nice flats you have.

[dwreel]

Just got off my back side and checked the NC DNR site. It's South and East of Interstate 85.

There is a city park nearby that has an Advisory Sign on it. The parking lot is on one side of the lake and the sign is on the Far side of the lake. Almost as if They were trying to hide it. Sounds more like they are mearly trying to cover their back side, just in case.........

[JAYNC]

I wonder if there is any way to test fish for mercury yourself. It seems odd that every bit of water south and east of 85 would be high in mercury. I dont eat fish hardly but it would be nice to know exactly how much mercury is in the fish, where you catch them.

[Mark J]

There are advisories on the Neuse I know. Seems like it is no more then 1 serving per month for women pregnant.
That leaves them eating peanut butter pickle sandwiches.

[Cat Tale]

The advisory for black fish aka bowfin is 0 for children,0 for women of child bearing age 13-44. You be the judge.I'll use them for bait.
Guess if your kids grow 3 arms they could hold more poles.

[Mark J]

Cat Tale you are correct on the blackfish.
I may should add the advisory on the Neuse that I mentioned I am not sure sure how much of the Neuse. I do know for sure it is on the stretch of river around Raleigh. PCB's were recently found in Crabtree Lake and the Neuse is the watershed for Crabtree Creek.

I dont eat anything out of the rivers myself. Just by looking at the garbage in the rivers, knowing that it isnt uncommon for waste sewage plants to get too full so they have an "accident" that dumps a million or two gallons of raw sewage in the river, not to mention that every bit of run off from every parking lot or highway winds up in the river.
If I want to eat fish, I hit a pond or impoundment with better water quality and no restrictions.
By the time I get to Goldsboro on the Neuse looked how many municipalities or corporations have had the chance to use and abuse the river.
It isn't worth the risk to me. I'd eat raw pork and hamburger first.

[ponykilr]

on bowfin size, my brother in law caught one 14 lbs friday. they get pretty big sometimes. it is one of the bloodiest fish you will ever stick a knife into.

[sew5959]

hey ponykiller, like the fish in the picture, this is the one you and mac were trying to catch when me and mighty mouse moved into your spot down toward ferry bridge road

[ponykilr]

mack told me you were joinin' up on the BOC.
folks, this guy is the fastest to take up catfishing i have ever seen. he loves it.
he just bought a serious cat boat too!

him and another friend of ours came down to goldsboro and met us at ferry bridge rd. and had never catfished before. they got there and kinda started fishin' right there where we were and i knew it was a good spot. out of the goodness of my heart, we moved and let them have it. they caught 2 over 20lbs that night and one like 16 lbs.......

we caught 2 little channels and 1 little flat. so much for being mr. nice guy:)

welcome shawn;)

[Mark J]

Welcome Shaun to the BOC. I live right of 701 15 minutes from Ferry bridge.
Ponykilr must be a nice guy to give up the spot and the fish.
Way to go ponykilr.

[ponykilr]

i AM a nice guy, just dont think i am gonna give up my spot again, you aint a rookie any more.:p

[Kittyhunter]

That's right pony, no more fishin' lessens from us. Hey I'm back. Long time no post.

[Kittyhunter]

Just kidding Shaun, you're one of my closest "FISHING BUDDIES".

[ponykilr]

Just kidding Shaun, you're one of my closest "FISHING BUDDIES".


long nights on the river makes a fella do strange things, have strange desires................

[tammeej]

those bowfin put up a great fight.Sounds like u had a lot of fun.good job :smile2: nice pictures to. thanks for sharing

[Kittyhunter]

He sure does have a purty mouth.

[Southernraised84]

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Studies show that they have about the same mucury levels as bass, catfish, or darn near any fish in this state. Fish like these don't acquire mercury directly from the water, but from what they eat. Mercury accumulates in plankton, and is eaten by shad, and invertibrates that are in turn eaten by bass/catfish/pickeral/crappie/bowfin...etc. So really, should any fish be eaten?...But hey, one mans trash is anothers treasure


I know this is late on the comment,,,but you can not eat bowfin or bass or cats or whatever it may be if it comes out the black river or the south depends on which part of NC you are in. they have big warning signs out there. But if you want to catch big bowfin thats where its at. I caught a 13pound bowfin out there on a cut peaice of cut eels