[GENTLE ORCHESTRAL FANFARE] - EVERYBODY AND ALWAYS EVER-- EVERYBODY OVERLOOKS IT.

YOU SO-- TOPWATER'S A RATTLER.

IT DON'T GO SIDE TO SIDE LIKE A-- - YEAH, IT JUST DIVES REAL QUICK.

- IT DIVES REAL, REAL SHALLOW AND COMES BACK UP TO THE TOP.

- WELL, I DON'T MIND TO HAVE ONE OF THEM.

- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BAIT.

YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S GOT RATTLES IN IT.

- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

- THAT'S A NICE FISH, BUT THIS IS GOOD-- HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK HE WEIGHS?

- ABOUT 1/2 POUND SMALLER THAN WHAT I CAUGHT.

- COME ON NOW!

I KEEP GOIN', BUDDY!

LET'S LET THIS GIRL GO.

COME ON, GIRL, GO.

- [ANNOUNCER] THE PRODUCTION OF CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER] WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA MAGAZINE.

NCWILDLIFE.ORG/WINC.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER] AND BY EZ BAIT & TACKLE, FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND ADVICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

[light instrumental music] ♪ - HELLO, WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM WE'RE GONNA BE FISHING FOR SPECKLED TROUT, BUT JOE, NOT WITH JUST ANY ORDINARY FISHERMAN.

- RIGHT.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO, UM, PIT TWO GOOD, REALLY GOOD, PROBABLY TWO OF THE BETTER SPECKLED TROUT GODS WE'VE GOT ON THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA CAPTAIN RICKY KELLUM, CAPTAIN CHARLES BROWN, PIT THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER ON THE WATER.

BUT THEY'RE BOTH-- LOVE TO SPECKLE TROUT FISH.

THEY BOTH REALLY LIKE TO USE DIFFERENT LURES.

UH, RICKY IS REAL PRONE TO USE AN ARTIFICIAL SHRIMP IMITATION HE'S REFINED AND IN THE REFINEMENT OF FISHING IT KNOWS HOW TO FISH IT.

FISHES IT ALL THE TIME AND CATCHES A LOT OF FISH.

AND THEN CHARLES LIKES THE MIRROLURE, UM, WHETHER IT BE THE SMALL 17s OR THE LARGER 52s.

HE LIKES THE MIRROLURES SO THAT'S THE WAY WE START THE DAY IS FISHING DIFFERENT LURES AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PRETTY TOUGH DAY, BUT THEY PROVED THAT THEY CAN CATCH TROUT.

- I BET OUR GEAR TIME TODAY'S GONNA BE INTERESTING.

- YEAH, THEY'LL TALK ABOUT WHY THEY LIKE TO USE WHAT THEY USE AND, UM, OF COURSE CHARLES HAD TO ADAPT A LITTLE BIT.

SOME OF THE AREAS WE FISHED ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO USING MIRROLURES A LOT OF STRUCTURE UNDER THE WATER AND-- BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENED HE WENT TOP WATER AND CAUGHT FISH SO PAY ATTENTION, IT'S A LOT OF FUN TODAY.

- AND DONNA'S GOT A RECIPE TODAY FOR CRUNCHY TROUT.

IS THAT RIGHT?

- UH, YEAH, THIS IS A NEW ONE FROM HER.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS ONE FROM HER BEFORE SO IT'S A CRUNCHY TROUT RECIPE, SO IT KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.

- ALL RIGHT, LET THE GAMES BEGIN HERE ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE.

WE GOT US AN OVERCAST MORNING.

- BEAUTIFUL MORNING, BUDDY.

BEAUTIFUL.

- UH, FIRST OF APRIL, RIGHT AROUND IT, THE FOURTH, WE GOT THE MR17, AND MY FAVORITE, THE PINK STORM SHRIMP.

- YEP.

- SO.

- I HAD ONE COPIED THERE FOR YOU, BUDDY.

- YOU GOT ME SHAKING THIS MORNING 'CAUSE THIS MR17'S BEEN WORKING GOOD, BUT THE PINK SHRIMP HAS BEEN WORKING BETTER.

- MY GOOD BUDDY AT MIRROLURE, MR. ERIC, I TOLD HIM WHAT I NEEDED AND HE SPIT 'EM OUT FOR ME.

- I TELL YOU WHAT.

THAT'S GONNA BE A TOP SELLER RIGHT HERE, BUT, UH, LET'S GO AND I HAD A GOOD COUPLE DAYS CATCHING 'EM ON BOTH, MR17 AND THE STORM SHRIMP'S BEEN GOOD SO WE GOT OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US WE'RE GOING TO CATCH PLENTY OF FISH, LOT OF LITTLE FISH, A GOOD FISH FOR EVERY TEN LITTLE FISH, SO.

- THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, MAN.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

- WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE.

IT'S GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL THIS MORNING, OVERCAST, LIKE I SAID, GOT SOME RAIN COMING IN THIS AFTERNOON, BEFORE THE FRONT, ALWAYS BETTER THAN AFTER.

WE AIN'T GOT NO EXCUSES THIS MORNING.

- AIN'T NO EXCUSES.

- NO.

- NICE FISH.

THAT'S A KEEPER FISH, THERE.

- FISH WOKE ME UP, CHARLIE.

- I'M GLAD HE WOKE YOU UP.

- SHE SWALLOWED IT, TOO.

LOOK AT HOW FAT AND HEALTHY THAT FISH IS RIGHT THERE.

- IT'S A GOOD OLD SWIMMER.

- UP THIS RIVER EATING THE MENHADEN, BUDDY.

LIKE THEY'RE... - YA GOT TO HAVE FEED.

- LIKE THEY'RE POPCORN.

- THEY GOT TO HAVE FEED, RICK.

- WELL, THEY GOT IT UP HERE, BUDDY.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO EAT AROUND HERE.

- YOU FIND THE FEED, YOU FIND THE FISH.

- PLACE STAYS FULL OF MENHADEN YEAR-ROUND.

- WHERE'D YOU FIND, UH-- - OVER THERE.

- OVER THERE?

I'M GONNA THROW RIGHT OUT THERE.

- RIGHT HERE WHERE THIS NEXT ONE'S GETTING READY TO COME FROM.

UGH!

- YOU GOT HIM RIGHT THERE?

OH.

- GOOD NIGHT.

- ARE YOU LETTING HIM STAY UP A LITTLE BIT MORE?

- THAT FISH HIT IT LIKE IT WAS GOING OUT OF STYLE.

YEAH, THEY ALL HITTING IT SETTING STILL.

- OR THEY'RE DEAD STICKING IT.

- YUP.

- THERE HE IS.

- I HEAR YOU.

- THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE, BUDDY.

- [laughs] - THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE.

- YEAH, THEY'RE OFF THAT BANK A LITTLE BIT.

- YEAH, THEY'RE OFF THE BANK.

THIS IS A PRETTY LITTLE FISH.

- WELL, SHOW HIM TO ME.

- YEP, RIGHT OFF THE BANK SOME.

YEAH, IT'S WHERE THEY ARE, THEY'RE RIGHT THERE OFF THE BANK.

- YEP.

- COME HERE, LITTLE SQUEALER.

SQUEALER.

- WHY DON'T YOU-- LOOK AT THAT.

- I LIKE THAT.

I LIKE THAT.

- GOT 'EM TRAINED.

- I LIKE THAT.

- YOU MIGHT'VE FOUND A PLACE WHERE THEY DON'T LIKE MY PINK SHRIMP.

- HUH?

- WAIT A MINUTE.

UGH, OH.

- THERE THEY ARE, RIGHT THERE.

- HE'S A HAIR BETTER, BUT-- TELL YOU WHAT-- - FOLLOW THE MIRROLURE.

FOLLOW IT.

- TELL YOU WHAT THEY'LL DO.

- THEY'LL HIT IT-- - THEY'LL HIT IT LIKE THEY'RE SOMEBODY-- - HUH?

- THEY'LL HIT IT LIKE THEY'RE SOMEBODY, NOW.

TELL YOU WHAT, CHARLIE, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT, THING GETS RIGHT IN THE SIDE OF THE MOUTH.

IF I'M TAGGING FISH, THAT PLUGS RIGHT THERE.

HARDLY EVER HURTS ONE.

- THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, BUDDY.

- YEP.

HE'LL BE 18 INCHES NEXT YEAR.

- 18 INCHES?

- WATCH THIS RIGHT HERE.

- HOW MANY HAVE YOU TAGGED UP HERE THIS YEAR?

- UH... PHEW.

UP HERE, ABOUT 400.

- 400?

- TOTAL.

TOTAL-- - OKAY, JUST HAD HIM HIT IT.

- TOTAL'S BEEN RIGHT AT 1,800 FISH LAST TWO YEARS.

- OH.

- I'D HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT.

- THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF FISH.

GOT A MOUTH ON THAT LURE?

- ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, HE WAS OVER THERE IN THE STUMPS, CHARLIE.

- NO, HE DIDN'T--HE JUST DECIDED TO COME UP AND BITE-- - AWESOME.

- HE MIGHT BE WANTING A FEEDING.

- LOOK, HE'S JUST LIKE HE'S AROUND SOMETHING.

THAT'S ALL FISH RIGHT THERE, BUDDY.

GOOD NIGHT.

- LET ME SEE THAT.

THAT'S A PRETTY FISH, RICK.

- OH YEAH.

- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

- YES HE IS.

- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT THERE, BABY.

- OH.

[laughs] LOOK, IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HIM-- - HUH?

- IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HIM, YOU COULDN'T.

- OH, HAD ONE OF THEM CAT HAIRS COME ON IT.

- YEP.

THERE HE IS, CHARLIE.

LOOK HOW FAT THAT OLD FISH IS.

- YEAH, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

BEAUTIFUL FISH, RICK.

- ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKIN'-- - LET HIM GO, LET HIM GO.

HE'LL SPAWN AND HAVE A HUNDRED YOUNG UNS.

- WHERE'D HE COME FROM?

- OH, OH, OH!

- WELL, CHARLES, YOU START OUT CATCHING THEM SPIKES THIS MORNING, LITTLE 12-, 13-INCH ONES.

- YEAH.

- YOU KNOW, OUT HERE IN THIS OPEN WATER, STARTED WORKING THE BANK.

- YEAH.

- USUALLY THESE BANKS HOLD BETTER FISH.

YOU KNOW, THESE STUMPY BANKS.

STRUCTURE.

YOU KNOW HOW THEY LIKE STRUCTURE.

- YEAH.

- STUMP, DOCKS.

PLUS THE BAIT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN MULLET JUMPING ALL IN HERE.

AND, UH, WE ALL KNOW THEY LIKE A FINGER MULLET.

- YEAH.

- BUT, UH... YOU JUST WORK THESE-- WORK THIS-- I MEAN YOU LOOK AT THIS SHORELINE, IT'S ALL-- IT'S ALL THE SAME BANK, YOU KNOW?

IT'S 3 FOOT OF WATER... - YUP.

I BET IT IS.

- FULL OF STUMPS.

AND, UH, YOU'RE SUBJECT TO CATCH ONE.

JUST LIKE BASS FISHING, PUT YOUR TROLLING MOTOR DOWN.

AND YOU JUST GOT TO WORK.

YOU KNOW, I MAKE TWO OR THREE PASSES SOMETIMES BEFORE I CATCH FISH.

- I SEE IT.

- YOU DON'T KNOW-- THERE'S A LOT OF BOTTOM TO COVER WITH THAT LITTLE OLD PLUG.

- THEY'RE HERE.

- THAT'S SOMETHING, LOOK AT THAT FISH, CHARLES.

- THAT'S A PUPPY DRUM, AIN'T IT?

- THAT AIN'T NO DRUM.

IT'S AN OLD SPECKLED TROUT.

- LET ME SEE.

- MM.

SON, I THINK THEY GO DOWN AND PUT THEIR HEADS IN THE MUD, CHARLES.

- LOOK LIKE AN OLD PUPPY-- WASN'T IT?

- HE DON'T WANT TO COME UP NOW.

THAT'S A PRETTY FISH RIGHT THERE, SON.

- THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL FISH RIGHT THERE.

THEY ARE PRETTY FISH UP HERE.

PINK'S THE COLOR, HUH?

LORD, YES.

- OH, COME BACK UP HERE, GIRL.

YES, SIR.

OH ME, OH MY.

- HOW BIG IS THAT?

- UH, THAT'S A 4-POUNDER.

- OH, SHOOT.

- LOOKEE HERE.

- THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

- THAT IS.

THAT'S A HEALTHY FISH.

SHORT AND STOCKY.

- WELL, HE AIN'T BEEN GOT.

LET HIM GO, BUDDY.

- THANK YOU LORD FOR THAT ONE.

HE AIN'T HURT EITHER.

WHOO.

LET'S BACK OFF HERE A LITTLE BIT.

- HEY, CHARLES, HE COME IN AND SMACK THAT THING, DIDN'T HE?

- YEAH, HIT--M7.

- I WON'T PENALIZE YOU FOR IT.

- THAT'S A TOPWATER.

IT'S A TOPWATER-- - IS IT A TROUT OR A BASS?

- I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S, UH-- IT'S THE MIRROLURE EVERYBODY OVERLOOKS.

- WELL, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I AIN'T EVER THREW ONE.

- HUH?

- I MAY START TODAY THOUGH.

IT'S GOT TO BE A RED, PULLING LIKE THAT.

OH, I TAKE THAT BACK.

- THAT'S A NICE TROUT.

- YES, IT IS.

- THAT'S A NICE TROUT.

- LET ME NET HIM, JUST SO WE WON'T GET THOSE HOOKS ALL IN US.

- THAT'S A NICE ONE.

- YES IT IS.

- HE COME UP THERE AND SMACK THAT M7.

- YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO-- - THAT'S WHAT, IN TOPWATER, EVERYBODY ALWAYS OVERLOOKS.

EVERYBODY THINKS THE REGULAR TOPWATER... - YOU GOT ANOTHER-- - IS A CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

HUH?

- YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE?

- I ONLY GOT THAT ONE WITH ME TODAY.

- YEAH, OKAY.

- I BRUNG OUT MY OWN BOX.

- OH, YEAH.

PRETTY, PRETTY!

- THERE'S A NICE FISH.

HOW'S THAT FISH?

- MM.

HE'S PRETTY NOW.

- HUH?

THAT'S ON A M7.

- SON.

THAT'S A NICE FISH, BROTHER.

- THANK YOU, SIR.

- PRETTY, PRETTY.

- YEP, THAT 17 I WAS THROWING IS A LITTLE BIT TOO RUNNING TOO DEEP SO I PUT ON AN M7.

- I NOTICED THAT.

- IT'S A TOPWATER EVERYBODY-- AND ALWAYS EVER-- EVERYBODY OVERLOOKS IT.

YOU SO-- TOPWATER'S A RATTLER.

IT DON'T GO SIDE TO SIDE LIKE A-- - YEAH, IT JUST DIVES REAL QUICK.

- IT DIVES REAL, REAL SHALLOW AND COMES BACK UP TO THE TOP.

- WELL, I DON'T MIND TO HAVE ONE OF THEM.

- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BAIT.

YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S GOT RATTLES IN IT.

- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

- THAT'S A NICE FISH, BUDDY, THAT'S A GOOD-- HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK HE WEIGHS?

- ABOUT 1/2 POUND SMALLER THAN THE ONE I CAUGHT.

- COME ON NOW!

I KEEP GOIN', BUDDY!

LET'S LET THIS GIRL GO.

COME ON, GIRL, GO.

THERE YOU GO.

- OH, SHE AIN'T GONNA HAVE NO TROUBLE.

- HUH?

- UNH!

- THANK YOU, MY BROTHER.

- IF YOU CAN DO THAT AGAIN, I MIGHT BUY YOU LUNCH.

- HUH?

- MAYBE.

- HA-HA!

- YOU DID GET PENALIZED... - I GOT PENALIZED.

- YOU GOT A 6-OUNCE... - AND ATTACK THAT PLUG.

- STEAL MY FISH.

- AND JUST LIKE A BOLT OF LIGHTNING, HE CO-- CHA-WHOOP!

[laughs] - HAND ME THEM SCISSORS BACK THERE.

SO I CAN CUT THEM PLUGS OFF.

- WHAT DO YOU--?

CUT THEM PLUGS--?

LOOK AT THIS.

- IT'S A DECENT-- THAT'S A DECENT TROUT.

- YEP.

THAT'S A DECENT ONE.

- WATCH THEM HOOKS.

- THAT'S THE DAILY TOPWATER, AIN'T IT?

- IT IS.

I'M LIKING IT ALREADY.

- UH-HUH.

- WHOOP!

HE JUST BROKE THE LINE.

COME HERE, OLD GIRL.

COME HERE.

COME HERE TO ME.

- SHE'S MAD.

SHE WANTS TO TAKE THAT BACK WITH HER.

- HUH?

- SHE WANTS TO TAKE THAT BACK WITH HER.

- YEP.

- THAT'S A PRETTY STRIKE ON THAT BAIT.

- NOW LET ME GET MY GOOD PLIERS.

- YOU GOT SOME?

OH.

- LOOKEE THERE.

LOOK THERE, I GOT A... A TARPON FLY.

- I SEE THAT.

- HUH?

I GOT A TARPON FLY IN THAT BOX SO YOU MIGHT WANT A TARPON.

- LOOK HOW FAT THAT TROUT IS.

- HUH?

- NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT FISH.

- THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

- NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUDDY.

- LET ME TIE THIS HERE-- THIS THING BACK ON.

- TAKE YOUR TIME.

TAKE YOUR TI-- [both laugh] TAKE YOUR TIME.

LET ME GET IN THERE REAL QUICK.

- THAT'S AN OVERLOOKED LURE, AIN'T IT?

- NOT ANYMORE.

ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE.

WE HIT THIS PLACE EARLIER THIS MORNING.

CLOUDY.

- YEAH, BUDDY.

- CLOUDY.

CAUGHT A FEW, BUT SUN'S POPPED OUT NOW.

THE TIDE'S FALLEN OUT.

WE'RE TO, UH--WE'RE TO PICK SOME UP RIGHT HERE.

- OH, YEAH.

- THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD, UH, MID KIND OF MORNING SPOT FOR US.

WHEN THAT TIDE STARTS FALLING, THEN THAT BAIT JUST FALLS OUT WITH IT.

- YEP.

- THEY HANG RIGHT HERE ON THIS-- WELL YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE DEEP AND SHALLOW IS NOW.

- YEP, THAT TIDE LINE?

- YEP.

- YEP.

- THERE OUGHT TO BE A LITTLE MR. TROUT ALREADY LAYING HERE WAITING ON IT.

THEM THINGS ARE RIGHT HERE ON THIS POINT RIGHT HERE.

THERE HE IS.

- RIGHT ON THAT CORNER.

I'M TRYING NOT TO LET MINE FALL DOWN IN IT.

HERE, LET ME GET MY REEL OUT OF YOUR WAY.

- HOW DO THINGS PULL AS HARD AS THEY PULL LIKE THAT?

- I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET YOUR LINE MESSED UP IN MINE, GET YOU MESSED UP.

- GO AHEAD AND SLING HER ON.

- JUST CUT IT RIGHT OVER THERE.

- THIS IS THE SAME FISH.

HE RUN RIGHT BACK OUT AND HIT THAT THING.

- YEP.

- YOU BELIEVE THAT?

- THEY LOVE THAT PINK SHRIMP.

THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

- LOOK AT THAT WHAT'S HANGING OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

- YEP.

- HOW IN THE WORLD HE GET THAT IN THERE?

OLE PINKY.

- THEY LOVE THAT THING UP HERE.

THEY'RE TUNED TO THAT THING.

- LOOK AT HOW FAT THAT FISH IS, FULL OF ROE.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO... GET RID OF THEM BABIES.

- THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

- YES, SIR.

- ALL RIGHT.

- WELL, WE HAVE PLENTY OF FISH MAKING BABIES THIS YEAR.

- YES, SIR.

IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD-- - USE THAT WINTER, WHAT'S TO 'EM... - JOE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, RICK AND CHARLES, THEY ARE GOOD FRIENDS?

- GOOD FRIENDS.

OH, YEAH.

YEAH.

AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS FOR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS.

AND FINDING TIME TO GET THEM BOTH TOGETHER ON THE WATER-- THEY BOTH STAY BUSY GUIDING AND-- SO THEY'VE BEEN FRIENDS AND BEEN WANTING TO DO THIS.

AND, UM, YEAH, IT'S, UH-- THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY GOOD FISHERMEN.

TODAY THE BET WAS LUNCH.

AND, UM, I HAD TO BE THE MEDIATOR.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A DRAW, WITH BIG FISH.

AND SO RICKY'S FISH MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BIGGER BUT I WAS NOT GONNA GO IN BETWEEN 'EM.

IT WAS A DRAW.

SO I HAD TO BUY LUNCH.

- NOBODY LIKES THE UMPIRE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

THIS IS GONNA BE INTERESTING FOR YOU.

- CHARLIE, I'M GLAD WE FINALLY GOT TO DO THIS, BROTHER.

- I APPRECIATE IT, MAN.

WE NEED TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN.

- YES, WE DO.

UM, WE STARTED OUT A LITTLE SLOW THIS MORNING, IT WAS CLOUDY.

YOU KNOW, CAUGHT A FEW FISH, LOT OF SMALL ONES.

AND UP THIS RIVER, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CATCH A 12-INCH FISH; NEXT CAST, CATCH A 4-POUNDER SOMETIMES.

LOT OF TIMES.

- NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

- 'CAUSE THE BAIT'S UP HERE AND THEM LITTLE FISH ARE GONNA BE HANGING AROUND THE BAIT AS WELL AS THE BIG ONES BUT, UH, I TELL YOU, IF I GET IN TO THOSE LITTLE ONES LIKE WE DID, YOU KNOW, EVERY CAST, YOU KNOW, I BACK OFF OF THEM AND GO HUNT SOME FISH LIKE WE DID EARLIER.

- YES.

- YOU CAUGHT THAT 4-POUNDER ON... - TOPWATER.

- HE ON THAT-- WHAT IS THAT, A 17?

- THAT WAS A 7MR.

- 7MR.

- IT'S A TOPWATER.

IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

IT'S ONE THAT PEOPLE OVERLOOK.

- YEAH, I LIKE THE WAY IT DIVES WHEN YOU TWITCH IT.

JUST LOOKS LIKE AN INJURED MULLET.

- JUST LIKE AN INJURED MULLET.

- MM-HMM.

- AND I WAS USING 17s, LIKE THE PURPLE DEMON.

YEAH, THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE, THAT HOT-- THAT NEW PINK, BROKEN GLASS.

- IF I WASN'T, YOU KNOW, IF I WASN'T REAL FOND OF THIS STORM SHRIMP I'D HAVE THREW IT A LITTLE BIT TODAY.

- WELL, THERE'S YOURS.

- I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, WHAT SIZE BRAID YOU GOT ON THERE?

- UH, THESE I RUN 10-POUND.

- 10-POUND TEST?

- YEP, I USUALLY RUN ABOUT, UH, 15-POUND FLUOROCARBON.

- OH, YEAH.

THEY CAST REAL GOOD.

THAT BRAID IS REAL GOOD.

AND WHAT IS THAT, A 2500?

- YEAH, IT'S THE NEW 2500 FIN-NOR, AND I'M USING A CATALYST PTs 2000.

- AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE SAME SETUP I GOT.

LITTLE BIT LIGHTER ROD, MAYBE, BUT... 10-POUND BRAID.

- BOY, I LIKE THAT PINK SHRIMP.

THAT PINK SHRIMP IS DEADLY... - SHE'S, UH... - IN THIS WATER HERE.

- IT'S BEEN A GOOD BAIT KIND OF EVERYWHERE, SO.

IT'S A RIVER BAIT, NOW, IT DOESN'T DO WELL IN TIDE.

- YEP.

YOU NEED A LOT OF TIDE.

- YEAH, IT WOULDN'T DO GOOD.

BUT IN THE RIVERS, I MEAN, I'VE FISHED IT EVERYWHERE, PANOLA CO. TO SOUTHPORT.

AND, UH, YOU GET A PLACE WHERE THERE'S CALM WATER, SHALLOW, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM 2- TO 8-, 10-FOOT.

IT'S JUST BEEN A REAL GOOD BAIT FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE SHRIMP IMITATORS ARE GOOD THE D.O.A., GREAT BAIT.

BUT THAT'S JUST MY FAVORITE.

I FEEL LIKE IF THERE'S A TROUT AROUND, I CAN GET HIM TO AT LEAST HIT THAT.

- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SHRIMP.

- IT LOOKS MIGHTY GOOD IN THE WATER, AND THEY-- WELL, YOU SEE EVERY ONE OF THEM GETS IT IN THE CORNER OF THE MOUTH.

THIS IS MY MAIN BAIT I THROW WHEN I'M TAGGING 'CAUSE HARDLY EVER, EVER HURT A FISH.

WELL, CHARLIE, GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT, BRO.

- I THANK YOU, MY GOOD OLD FRIEND.

- LET'S GO EAT SOME LUNCH.

- WE NEED TO DO THIS A LOT MORE OFTEN.

YES, WE DO.

- ALL RIGHT, BROTHER.

APPRECIATE IT.

- THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.

THANK YOU.

- YES, SIR.

- THANKS, FELLAS, FOR THAT VALUABLE INFORMATION.

I FELT LIKE GEAR TIME WAS GONNA BE A GOOD ONE TODAY.

HERE ARE THE NUMBERS ON THE SCREEN IF YOU'D LIKE TO CALL THESE GENTLEMEN FOR YOUR NEXT FISHING OUTING.

NOW, WE'RE GONNA CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH A RECIPE TODAY FOR CRUNCHY TROUT.

- HI, TODAY WE'RE MAKING A CRUNCHY TROUT RECIPE IN THE KITCHEN.

IT'S A GREAT RECIPE.

QUICK, EASY, AND IT'LL MAKE A NICE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF THE RECIPES-- SOME OF THE RECIPES I'VE DONE.

UM, WE'RE GONNA USE MOUNTAIN TROUT FOR THIS RECIPE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO USE ANY OF OUR COASTAL TROUTS AS WELL.

IT'S A GREAT RECIPE, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

WE HAVE OUR TROUT, AND IT HAS BEEN DRESSED, SO WE'RE READY TO GET STARTED WITH THAT.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GOING TO DIP THIS IN SOME EGG, THEN WE'RE GOING TO DREDGE IT INTO SOME SOUTHERN BAKE, AND THEN WE'RE STUFF THE INSIDE.

SO IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF A REALLY COOL RECIPE.

SO WE'RE GONNA PUT OUR CHICKEN SOUTHERN BAKE OUT ONTO OUR BAKING SHE-- ONTO OUR WAX PAPER.

AND KIND OF SPREAD THAT OUT 'CAUSE YOUR TROUT ARE A LITTLE BIT LONG SO WE WANNA BE PREPARED FOR IT.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR TROUT, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO DIP IT INTO OUR EGG HERE.

AND THIS'LL JUST ADD SOME NICE MOISTURE TO THE OUTSIDE SO THAT THE SOUTHERN BAKE WILL ADHERE A LITTLE BETTER.

AND WE'RE JUST GONNA KIND OF PRESS THAT DOWN IN THERE AND THEN DREDGE IT.

AND WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS I LIKE TO JUST PRESS IN AND THEN FLIP IT OVER, SPRINKLE SOME MORE.

IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO WITH YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE-- UM, THERAPY THERE.

OR IF YOUR KIDS LIKE TO HELP YOU COOK, IT'S A GOOD THING FOR THEM TO DO, TOO, 'CAUSE KIDS ALWAYS LOVE TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA SHAKE THAT OFF AND WE'RE GONNA PLACE THIS ONTO OUR BAKING SHEET.

AND THEN I'M GONNA STUFF THIS SO IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF SOME-- I DON'T KNOW, I KIND OF THINK IT'S COOL.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME LEMON SLICES 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA MAKE A SAUCE OR A BUTTER THAT'S GONNA HAVE SOME LEMON ZEST IN IT SO I'M TRYING TO USE SOME INGREDIENTS THAT WE ALREADY-- ARE GONNA BE IN ANOTHER PART OF OUR RECIPE.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME FRESH SPINACH LEAVES AND STUFF THOSE IN THERE AS WELL.

AND THEN, UM, JUST BECAUSE I LIKE THEM-- YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THEM-- SOME SHITAKE MUSHROOMS.

AND WE HAVE MUSHROOM LOGS AT OUR HOUSE SO WE ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY OF MUSHROOMS.

SO WE ALWAYS TRY TO FIND SOME GREAT THINGS TO DO WITH THEM.

SO WE'RE GONNA PUT THOSE IN THERE.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME THING WITH OUR OTHER ONE.

AND WE'RE GONNA BAKE THIS AT ABOUT 425, FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF YOUR TROUT AND, UM, OR THE DONENESS THAT YOU PREFER.

SO WE LIKE OURS DONE, FLAKEY TO THE FORK.

SO I WOULD COOK THIS FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES, JUST UNTIL IT'S NICE AND DONE, BRING IT OUT, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PLATE IT AND TOP IT WITH, UM, A BUTTER CHILI SAUCE THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR BUTTER HERE.

IT'S ALREADY COOKING, MELTED.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ADD ONE SHALLOT TO THIS.

WE'RE GONNA ADD SOME-- ONE RED PEPPER, CHILE PEPPER, THAT I HAD DEVEINED, AND REMOVED THE SEEDS, AND DICED THAT UP.

AND THEN SOME LEMON ZEST.

AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS, YOU CAN USE YOUR LEMON ZEST THAT YOU, UM-- YOU CAN ZEST THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR LEMON AND THEN SLICE IT AND USE IT IN YOUR TROUT.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO USE THE ENTIRE LEMON.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA LET THAT COOK UNTIL YOUR SHALLOTS HAVE SOFTENED AND ARE, YOU KNOW, SOFTENED AND KIND OF TRANSLUCENT.

MAKES A GREAT SAUCE FOR YOUR TROUT.

SO HERE'S WHAT THE TROUT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S ALL FINISHED.

YOU CAN SEE I'VE GOT THE-- ALL THE GREAT INGREDIENTS COMING OUT OF YOUR TROUT AND IT'S GONNA ADD SOME GREAT FLAVOR INTO THE FLESH OF THAT TROUT AS WELL, UM, WITH A NICE CRUNCHY COATING ON THE OUTSIDE.

WE'RE GONNA DRIZZLE OUR BUTTER OVER THE TOP, AND YOU'RE READY TO GO.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE CRUNCHY TROUT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE NEXT TIME, ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- AS ALWAYS, DONNA, THAT'S A GREAT RECIPE.

JOE, I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RICKY AND CHARLES.

TELL ME ABOUT THESE GUYS.

- YEAH, THEY BOTH, LIKE I SAID, ARE PROFESSIONAL GUIDES ON THE COAST.

RICKY'S BASED IN JACKSONVILLE, ONSLOW COUNTY, AND CHARLES IS BASED IN CARTERET COUNTY, OUT OF GLOUCESTER, HARKERS ISLAND AREA.

UM, THEY FISH DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COAST, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST GIVE 'EM A CALL IF YOU'VE NEVER TROUT FISHED BEFORE AND WANT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BOTH OF THEM ARE GREAT TEACHERS.

YOU'LL LEARN A LOT FISHING WITH BOTH OF THEM.

THAT PARTICULAR DAY THAT WE DID THE SHOW WAS IN EARLY APRIL.

AND IT WAS JUST--TURNED OUT TO BE A PRETTY TOUGH DAY.

JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS AND WE-- YOU SAW WE CAUGHT SOME SMALL FISH EARLY.

BOTH OF 'EM DON'T LIKE TO STAY ON THE SMALL FISH VERY LONG.

RICKY HAD, UM-- WE FISHED A NEW RIVER THAT DAY, AND RICKY HAD SEVERAL PLACES TO FISH.

AND BOTH PLACES WE CAUGHT THE SMALLER FISH, HE HAD CAUGHT LARGER FISH MIXED IN WITH 'EM, AS THEY SAID EARLIER.

AND WE HAD TO MOVE TO A CREEK THAT HE KNEW WHERE WE CAUGHT THE BIGGER FISH.

BUT, UM, REALLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY GOOD FISHERMEN AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU'VE NEVER CAUGHT A SPECKLED TROUT, GIVE EITHER ONE OF THEM A CALL.

- WELL, OUR VIEWERS WILL DECIDE WHO CAUGHT THE BIGGEST FISH.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

- FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

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WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

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FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

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