[piano intro] (man, yellow shirt) Oh, man!

He saw us-- heh, heh...heh!

Roll him right here, and I'll help you.

Wow!

I love it, the way-- the way that sunlight hits 'im.

Heh, heh...heh!

You're the man, Ted.

Light tackle-- drum-- nice.

Pretty work.

- [male announcer]: The Carolina Outdoor Journal is brought to you by: - [female announcer]: "Wildlife in North Carolina" magazine has been delivering stunning photography and informative articles for more than 80 years.

- [male announcer]: And by EZ Bait & Tackle.

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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.

- And by contributions from PBS North Carolina viewers like you.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ ♪ Hello and welcome to the Carolina Outdoor Journal.

Well, today's program is gonna take us fishing in the shallow water, if you will.

That's right; we've got a fun show today.

We're going to Oregon Inlet, which is just south of Nags Head, the back side of the inlet where there's shallow water and a lotta red drum to fish for.

And so we're doing it a little differently this--this day because the-- the fish in this area are real spooky, and so the guys-- we go in with a boat, get out on the bank and walk down the bank real quietly.

The water's shallow enough that you just cannot go in with even a trolling motor, which is real quiet, but we catch some pretty fish and have fun doing it.

(John) What about "Geartime" today?

(Joe) The guys will share a technique they used that day using a lead jig with mud minnows.

The way they rig it up is pretty unique.

They'll share that with us, but just a lot of fun.

(John) And seafood lasagna?

(Joe) Yeah.

Donna, of course, comes to us every week with something different, and this one really is.

You think lasagna and seafood-- really not a good mix, but with her, it is.

(John) I understand it's a tasty recipe.

Let's go to work today on the Carolina Outdoor Journal.

Morning, Ted.

Appreciate you being out here this mornin'.

Last year, we fished off the beach.

You kinda taught me how to do that 'cause I'm used to fishing out of a boat.

Well, today, I found some drum in real shallow water, and--and they're real spooky too.

We're gonna beach the boat and walk down.

Now, it's the middle of June.

You know, we've got about 74 degrees-- the temperature's really nice.

We got a slough we're gonna be fishing into and a flats, and again, we're gonna beach the boat, walk down, and use mud minnows on a naked jig and, hopefully, catch some really nice drum.

Really, well, I'll tell you, I love to catch drum, so I'm lookin' forward to it.

All right, let's do it.

All right.

[motor revving] As I mentioned before, these fish are in shallow water, and so we need to be as quiet as we can be as we walk down to this point.

And again, we'll be fishin' the flats and the drop-off and the slough.

I saw one over here.

Did you?

I've never fished 'em with a naked jig.

That's cool.

I tell you, it's a really effective way.

Ted, one of the reasons we're usin' these mud minnows is, you can catch these fish on plastics, you know, of course, uh, but when they get finicky and they're spooky like they are, these mud minnows with a naked jig and a little rubber band to help hold the, uh, bait on can be really effective.

(Ted) Yep, well, that's, uh-- I hope we catch aplenty of 'em.

heh, heh, heh Well, let's go get 'em.

I tell you-- tap, tap...tap!

And, uh, gosh, this is--there you-- (Ted) I think you st ole my fish.

That's that one that hi t mine awhile ago.

[grunting] He's comin'; I can't control him, but that's the fun about light tackle.

Oh man, look at that!

(Ron) Come on, baby.

Aw, he's not that big, but when you're on light tackle, it's all good.

(Ted) Soon as that tide started to turn.

(Ron) Yep, yep, you're exactly right.

Eh--uh, he's a feisty-- (Ted) Th ey don't wanna give it up.

(Ron) Come on, baby.

He's not that big but, boy, what a fight on light tackle.

I'll let him go pretty quick.

Hup--tryin' to get away.

(Ted) He wants to go.

He's ready.

Amazing, just so on as that tide st arted to move.

mm-hm All right, baby.

I'm gonna let you go back, live another day, and get bigger.

Thank you for makin' my day.

Shoom--gone.

That was cool.

(Ted) Th at was cool.

Right, he nailed th at thing!

(Ron) Oh, man, that's a nice one!

Holy-- fan...tastic.

(Ted) Oh, tearin' it up.

(Ron) Pretty work.

Oh, this is a good one, Ted.

This is a good one.

Keep turning him.

Pretty work.

Pretty work.

(Ted) What did you just say about fish comin' on and--?

(Ron) Well, you know, we-- the wind blew-- it didn't blow, and then it blew a little bit, and then stopped.

And finally, the current's still not movin' the way we want it to.

(Ted) Yeah, he saw us.

(Ron) He saw us--heh, heh...heh!

Roll him right here, and I'll help you.

Wow!

I love it, the way-- the way that sunlight hits 'im.

Heh, heh...heh!

You're the man, Ted.

Light tackle-- drum-- nice.

Pretty work.

(Ted) Pretty fish.

(Ron) Nice, Ted.

Look how the sun just lights him up.

Isn't that pretty?

(Ted) That's what we've been waitin' for.

(Ron) That's absolutely what we want.

(Ted) He couldn't stand that big old minnow--heh, heh!

(Ron) See if we can get him in the-- Look at that big old fat minnow.

Look at that mud minnow.

Heh, heh...heh!

(Ted) I twitched hi m one time, and he went-- I mean, took it and just took off.

(Ron) When they make up their mind, ain't no holding back, that's for sure.

I know I can get the hook out.

(Ted) I got pliers if you need it.

I got it.

heh [together] Chooo!

Pretty fish.

(Ron) Nice.

(Ted) Do you like fishin' this naked jig any particular time of the year, uh?

You know, they'll bite that with a mud minnow-- naked jig with a mud minnow-- all year round, as long as you can get the bait.

It seems like when it gets really hot, July, August, they tend to go back up into the little bays and up in the little creeks-- marsh creeks.

They like that real shallow water 'cause there's a lot of bait up there, lotta little crabs that they like to eat, a lot of these mud minnows, finger mullets all year round if you can get the bait.

(Ted) And it probably works better on the days they won't hit soft plastics.

(Ron) If they're hittin' soft plastics, then you can catch a lotta fish in a short period of time, but a lotta times, they won't hit it, and when they do, then the naked jig with a mud minnow is a very effective way to catch 'em.

[straining] Uh!

Oh man, he's goin' towards the ocean.

Come to Papa.

Come to Papa.

Good gracious.

(Ted) A drum?

(Ron) Well, yeah, it feels like a drum.

Yep, I mean-- Well-- heh, heh!

(Ted) I saw a big old boil.

(Ron) I make up some ground here with my...drag.

Come to Papa.

I tell you what, a fish like this on light tackle... are somethin'.

(Ted) Yeah, I see him boiling.

There is he, throwing a fit now.

(Ron, straining) Heh!

I'm doin' the best I can.

(Ted) Get him closer to that shallow water.

He's not likin' that.

(Ron) Uh-uh, he--he-- He wants to go to the inlet.

That's what he's lookin' for.

(Ted) That's a nice little drum.

That's a good one.

(Ron) Come on; come on, baby.

Come on.

There-- there it goes.

Here he comes; there he goes.

(Ted) You got that light tackle.

(Ron) I got light tackle, which is really fun.

(Ted) Here he comes.

(Ron) Oh, yeah.

Come on in; come on in.

(Ron) Oh!

Bump--bump.

(Ted) Ran into the shore, didn't he?

Let me-- I'm gonna get behind there since you've got that light tackle.

(Ron) All right.

Thank you sir.

(Ted) Get that finger in there.

(Ron) You're the man!

Heh, heh...heh!

(Ron) Oh, love it.

Oh wow, look at-- Pretty work.

(Ron) Ted, look-- look at the coloration in that tail right there with the sun hitting it.

Isn't that beautiful?

Gosh, that's pretty.

Spot on both sides.

(Ted) Lo ok at how fat he is.

He's been eatin'.

What do you think, we add him to the bag for dinner tonight?

I think that would be perfect.

[mellow acoustic guitar leads soft rock arrangement] ♪ (Ron) Ted, you know, the-- a lot of things have been happenin'.

The wind has come from all different directions kinda swirling around, and the tide's finally moving at the clip that we wanted to see earlier than now.

And I've noticed that, you know, we've started to see minnows and little crabs along the shoreline.

And that's-- crab's probably the drum's most favorite food, and obviously, mud minnows and those kinds of things are even another one of their favorites.

(Ted) Yeah, and you know, as soon as we started seein' that stuff move, the crabs and the minnows, you know, shortly after that, you caught that last fish.

That's exactly right.

Hah, hah!

Got 'im!

There you go.

I'm gonna reel my line in.

(Ron) All right, I'm pretty sure it's a drum.

(Ted) Actually--yeah, I'm already in you.

(Ron) All right.

Help me.

Oh, there he goes!

Which way are you?

(Ted) I can't tell.

[both laughing] Go ahead and play him in.

(Ron) All right, that's a drum, though, without a doubt.

(Ted) Yes, it is.

(Ron) Oh!

Look at that!

Look at that; look at that!

Yeah, he's not as big as the last one, but he is, uh, definitely a--a fighter.

(Ted) I'm still not gonna get him.

I'm gonna leave the line slack.

Now here we go.

Boy, they don't give up either.

And the hook's outside the mouth.

That'll be easy-- easy release.

[Ted grunting] hmmm (Ron) Oop, oop, oop, oop!

He's not givin' up!

We're gonna have to get scissors to get him untangled.

heh, heh... heh All right.

Pretty!

Not as big as we have caught before, but-- All right, let's let him grow to be bigger and live for another day.

One spot.

One on the other side.

Look at that blue again, how that blue lights it up.

Gosh that's pretty!

Whoa, he's still ready to roll!

(Ron) He's ready; he's rollin'.

See ya.

I know you weren't tryin' to make me lose that fish, but we did get tangled up, and what did you do then?

I mean, you just-- (Ted) Well, whenever you're fishin'-- a couple people together, that's always-- that's a possibility.

Fish could tangle.

The tide--the tide pulled us up there close together, then that fish twisted the line.

If you can easily get it out with keepin' slack in my line because you got tension on yours, and--and if it pulls tight on the line, it'll cut that line.

You let it go slack?

Let it go slack.

When I realized we couldn't get it off, I gave it completely slack, and you can get your fish landed.

I got one!

Yes, sir!

This is a drum.

This is a drum.

Golly, he's takin'-- takin' that drag.

(Ted) Would you like me to tangle you again and show you how it works?

[both laughing] (Ron) Sweet--heh, heh.

Oh, he's still rollin'.

(Ted) He's gonna leave you, though.

Take off again.

(Ron) Come on, baby.

Up, up!

(Ted) He's not ready yet.

(Ron) In the grass.

They don't give up; they do not give up.

All right.

Thank you, Teddy Bear.

Pretty fish.

How about that, sport fans?

Pretty work.

Nice.

Two spots, blue tail.

Yes sir, beautiful fish.

(Ron) That's really pretty.

Thank you; thank you for doing that.

See ya!

Shooom!

(Ted) You got a preference on tide that you like in this spot of yours?

(Ron) I do; I do.

I think low and fallin', and I think when the tide-- one, the tide's moving, the minnows are here, but it's also pulling water out of the flats that we have talked about, uh.

And so it-- you know, there's less water, and the fish are condensed, and the minnows are there-- definitely, low and fallin' tide.

Aw!

(Ted) Boy, he is pulling.

(Ron) Look at the boils out there.

Good gracious alive!

Let me see if I can get mine in and out of-- What's that?

(Ted) Look at that wake!

(Ron) Golly, dude, that's a big one!

He's almost as big as that little one I caught.

[both laughing] (Ted) Nice.

(Ron) Look at that!

(Ted) He said, "Don't know if I wanna come up there."

He's not ready is he?

(Ron) No, that's a nice one too; look at him fight.

(Ted) All about it.

(Ron) That is cool.

Let me get on the other side of you.

Golly, dude, that's a nice one, Ted.

Pretty!

(Ted) Pretty fish.

(Ron) He ain't givin' up.

(Ted) He was hungry; he hit it hard.

Ha, ha, ha!

Ahh...ohh!

heh, heh He ain't quite ready yet, Ted.

Look at him.

He's bumping in-- into the bump-- into the bank, I mean.

All right, boy.

Look at that.

(Ted) Pretty.

Is that nice or what?

That's pretty.

Hah, hah!

(Ron) Oh , boy, look--look again.

Heh--he's got two-- two spots... and...can't see on that side.

Just one on that side.

But look at that-- look at the blue-- Yeah, color's beautiful on that side.

God dang, that's beautiful.

Pretty work.

[kissing sound] mmm (Ted) Let him loose.

(Ron) I'd rather kiss the fish than you.

(Ted) Hah!

I'd rather you kiss the fish than me too!

All right, boy.

Ah, there he goes.

Oh, that's cool.

(Ted) Where is he?

Gone, boy.

Boy, he just nailed that rascal.

That was really neat.

Joe, to say the least, we had to sneak up on 'em.

Yeah, this area was... was pretty shallow, and the fish actually moved in with the tide came-- changed and started coming in, and the guys knew that.

That's why we opted to do it this way.

You know, you just adapt to the area you're fishing always.

So they had been fishing these fish for quite a while, and knew their habits, so, uh, proved successful today.

All right, let's find out more.

Let's go to "Geartime."

[mellow acoustic guitar leads soft rock arrangement] ♪ Ted, we really had fun this mornin'.

Things started out a little slow.

We didn't have any current.

Once the current started to move, minnows and crabs started movin', and we started catchin' some drum.

On light tackle, the way the drum fight, that was fun.

Light tackle-- I'm usin' a 7 1/2-foot light rod.

I've got 6-pound mono, which is really light, especially for these sized fish.

I've got a fluorocarbon 20-pound leader, uh.

One of the drum had the lure inside his mouth.

If I hadn't had that, uh, leader, I know he would have cut it.

He sure coulda.

What are you usin'?

(Ted) I' m using a TFO 7- foot medium heavy, you know, th e same jig.

I also use a 20-pound, uh, fluorocarbon leader for the same reasons.

I feel you've gotta have that heavy.

If you're catchin' trout or drum-- I've used 12, but you'll break off more fish, and I don't like to.

That's a good outfit.

One other thing, we've used these little rubber bands on our jigs to help hold-- hold the minnows on.

Show us--show me how you do that.

Yeah, I take that rubber band and put it on the hook first and then, uh-- and grab a minnow out of there, and hook 'em th rough the bottom in the lips.

(Ron) Which makes 'em ride upright when the jig is in the water.

(Ted) That's right, and they're sittin' like they're feeding on the bottom almost.

And slide him down, and then I take that-- that little rubber band and twist it three times... (Ron) Which tightens it up a little bit.

(Ted) ...and slide it over the hook and down to the fish.

Then you can cast it, and they don't come off so easy.

They don't wobble.

And it stays on really well and, they're-- it sits like this, and the fish is feedin' on the bottom, They sneak up there and get 'em.

It worked for us today.

It has.

Thanks, guys, for that information.

The mud minnow and lead-head combination-- I hope that'll make for an exciting fishing trip.

Be sure and give it a try.

Plan on sneaking up on the fish.

Well, Donna's in the kitchen.

She's got a recipe today I think you're gonna wanna write down because it's special.

It's lasagna using seafood.

♪ ♪ ♪ Hi, today in the kitchen, We're gonna make a seafood lasagna.

We're gonna start out by making a roux, which is gonna turn into our cream sauce.

If you are in a hurry and don't wanna take the time, it doesn't take a lot of time, it just takes a little, you can use an Alfredo sauce, if you like.

Your favorite Alfredo sauce would work perfectly.

If this is somethin' you wanna do for right after work to get dinner on the table, that works great too.

So we're gonna take our butter, and we have melted it.

We're going to add in our flour... and give it a stir.

And this will begin to thicken.

And then we'll slowly add our milk.

[sizzling] Turn our heat down a little bit, and we'll just let that simmer for a few minutes until it starts to thicken.

And what I've already done is, I've already cooked my seafood, which is crab and scallops and some fish.

And I've already cooked that and some shrimp, and then I've reserved my broth, and I'm gonna use that in my roux--in my sauce, so it's gonna have a great seafood flavor as well.

We kinda made our own, uh, seafood stock.

So we're going to add that into our mixture here.

And we're gonna get all that great flavor.

So we'll give that a stir.

And, um, so we're gonna stir that until it begins to thicken.

We're going to add in some heavy cream, which will give it some great flavor, too, and then our, um-- some shredded Parmesan cheese.

And we'll just give that a stir until the cheese begins to melt and it begins to thicken.

So we don't have quite enough time to do it today, but it's gonna thicken up.

Then you're going to mix part of your creamy mixture in with your seafood, and then we're gonna build the seafood lasagna.

So we have our noodles that are already cooked, and we have three of 'em in the bottom of our pan.

And you can also use the no-bake lasagna noodles, which I find are great.

So if you really are in a time crunch, that works great too.

Just soak 'em for about ten minutes while you're making your roux, and then you're ready to go.

So we're just gonna build our lasagna, just like you would any other, you know-- a regular lasagna.

We're gonna place our seafood, then we're gonna pour our cream mixture on top.

Do another layer of, um, noodles, put some more cream mixture on top, and then top it with some cheese.

Bake it for about 40 minutes in 350-degree oven-- you're ready to go; you have a great dinner.

It's something you can make ahead of time and pull out when you need it if you'd like to.

So this is what it looks like when it's finished.

We just kinda topped it with a little parsley.

It's great with a nice salad, and you're ready to go with a great dinner, quick and easy.

I hope you enjoy the seafood lasagna, and I look forward to seeing you next time here on "Simple Cooking."

As always, Donna, thank you for that recipe.

We have more great recipes in our cookbook, which you can find at carolinaoutdoorjournal.com.

Joe, good day of fishin'.

It really was.

As we were talking about at the beginning of the show, red drum--they can be kinda spooky at times, depending on where you're fishing for 'em, and along the Outer Banks, we have a lotta shallow water.

We do inland coastal, uh, coastal-- some of our coastal rivers where we have bays and stuff, there's fairly shallow water, so a lotta times when you approach these fish, it is shallow.

In this situation, the guys had been fishing for a number of weeks on the same-- probably the same group of fish and-- and realized it was better to walk the bank, get outta the boat.

You don't need a troller motor.

It was too shallow for that.

You know, it worked out.

Usin' this mud minnow/ lead-head combination, too, keeps the mud minnow intact when you're casting it.

It doesn't throw the bait off, but, uh, yeah, they-- it really worked out, uh, for us that day, and-- and, uh, anytime you get in a situation where you are gonna have shallow water and you know the fish are working this area, uh, and they're acting kinda spooky, you may wanna opt to get outta the boat, walk the shoreline, and try the method.

A lot to be said for fishin' from the bank.

For Joe Albea, I'm John Moore.

Thank you for joining us on the Carolina Outdoor Journal.

- [male announcer]: Make sure to visit our website for more information.

- The Carolina Outdoor Journal is brought to you by: - [female announcer]: "Wildlife in North Carolina" magazine has been delivering stunning photography and informative articles for more than 80 years.

- [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.

- And by contributions from PBS North Carolina viewers like you.

[light instrumental music] ♪ ♪ ♪