[piano intro] - GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S THE SPOT.

WE'RE GONNA CLAIM THAT SPOT IN JUST A SECOND.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT SPOT OVER ONCE YOU'VE CLEARED A PATH FOR US WITH THE FLY.

JUST KEEP STRIPPING.

ALL RIGHT, FIRE ONE MORE IN THERE WHEN YOU'RE READY.

JUST KEEP WORKING YOUR WAY ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THAT GRASS.

GOOD.

- WELL, HE'S COMING RIGHT AT ME.

- ALL RIGHT, GIVE HIM A LITTLE PUMP WITH YOUR FIST, JUST A TINY PUMP, A LITTLE PUMP.

GO LEFT WITH IT, LEFT.

THERE, NOW HE'S GONNA TAKE SOME.

THERE, HE JUST WOKE UP.

- THERE WE GO.

- NICE AND SMOOTH, NICE AND SMOOTH.

- LINES CLEAR.

LINES IN THE WATER.

- GOTCHA.

- ALL RIGHT, LET HIM HAVE IT.

I WANT YOU TO GET THAT FISH ON THE REEL AS SOON AS YOU CAN, SO START SLAPPING THAT REEL.

LET HIM HAVE.

LET HIM HAVE.

LET HIM HAVE.

- I'M LETTING HIM.

HE'S GOT IT.

WE'RE ALL CALM HERE.

- NICELY DONE.

IT'S A BIG FISH.

START REELING.

- I'M GONNA TAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE.

- [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.

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] ♪ ♪ ♪ - HELLO, WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM IS ABOUT SKINNY WATER AND REDFISH.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW OLLIE SMITH FROM UP IN THE MOUNTAINS AND TARA LYNCH, WHO LIVES OUTSIDE OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH AS THEY FINISH THEIR TRIP ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

WE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO UP IN THE MOUNTAINS FISHING FOR TROUT WITH OLLIE, AND THEN WE, LAST YEAR, FOLLOWED HIM TO THE ROANOKE RIVER FOR HICKORY SHAD.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE FISHING THE SKINNY WATER, SHALLOW WATER, FOR RED DRUM JUST NORTH OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH AND HAD A LOT OF FUN.

- JOE, WHAT ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT?

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN GEAR TIME.

- WE'LL REJOIN THEM, AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT THE FLY RODS, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY USED ACROSS THE STATE, WERE FLY-FISHING, AND THE FLIES THAT WERE PRODUCTIVE TODAY-- WE'RE FISHING WITH CAPTAIN SETH VERNON, WHO'S A GOOD FRIEND OF BOTH TARA AND OLLIE, AND HE PUTS THEM ON FISH.

- AND OUR RECIPE TODAY IS HERB-CRUSTED FLOUNDER.

- HERB-CRUSTED FLOUNDER.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT-- DONNA ALL THE TIME-- ABOUT BRINGING DIFFERENT RECIPES TO US, AND TODAY'S ONE OF THEM.

- WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

LET'S GET TO IT HERE ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- TARA, TWO YEARS AGO, WE STARTED THIS AMAZING FISHING ADVENTURE, WHICH STARTED IN THE MOUNTAINS.

YOU CAME UP, AND I SHOWED YOU HOW TO CATCH MOUNTAIN TROUT ON FLIES.

AND THEN LAST YEAR, WE WENT TO THE ROANOKE RIVER, KIND OF NEUTRAL TERRITORY, WHERE WE BOTH LEARNED HOW TO CATCH SHAD ON THE FLY.

NOW I'M DOWN HERE IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS.

WE'RE GONNA CATCH REDFISH ON THE FLY TODAY, AND I'M OUT OF MY LEAGUE HERE.

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR TODAY, AND HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER FISH WE'VE CAUGHT?

- OLLIE, TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF SIGHT FISHING, AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GET TO DO ON OCCASION IN THE MOUNTAINS, BUT DOWN HERE, WE DO IT-- THAT'S REALLY ALL WE DO.

THIS IS WHERE I GET TO COMBINE MY LOVE OF HUNTING WITH MY LOVE OF FISHING, AND IT'S THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

I CANNOT WAIT TO GET YOU OUT ON THE WATER.

- WELL, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

SETH, YOU HAVE COME UP AND GUIDED WITH ME IN THE MOUNTAINS.

WHAT OTHER CHALLENGES AM I GONNA FACE TODAY?

- THE DIFFERENCES HERE ARE GONNA BE SIMPLE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CAST A LITTLE FURTHER THAN YOU WOULD FOR THOSE LITTLE TROUT THAT YOU GUYS CATCH UP THERE.

- GREAT.

- AND YOU DON'T WANT TO ROCK THE BOAT, BECAUSE THE SHOCK WAVE THAT YOU MAKE IS GONNA GIVE THE FISH AWAY-- GIVE THEM OUR PRESENCE, AND THEY DON'T LIKE THAT IN THE SHALLOW WATER.

AND THEN, LAST OF ALL, GOT TO STRIP STRIKE, NO TROUT SET.

IT'LL UNBUTTON EVERY FISH.

SO KEEP THOSE THREE THINGS IN MIND TODAY, AND YOU'LL DO GREAT.

- WELL, I'M USUALLY IN THE INSTRUCTOR ROLE.

TODAY I'M THE STUDENT ROLE, SO LET'S SEE IF I CAN LEARN.

- PERFECT.

- LET'S GO DO IT, GUYS.

- LET'S DO IT.

LET'S GET ON THE WATER.

- ALL RIGHT.

SETH, HOW FAR OUT SHOULD I BE LOOKING?

DO I NEED TO BE SCANNING... - I WOULDN'T SCAN FROM THE SHORELINE MUCH PAST THREE FEET.

- OKAY.

- AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS, THERE'S SO MUCH MULLET ACTIVITY JUST OFF THE BANK IN THE DEEPER WATER THAT IT KIND OF ACTS AS A WHITE NOISE FOR YOUR FISHING, FOR YOUR VISION.

- BUT THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO BE GOING DOWN THIS WHOLE BANK, BECAUSE WE'LL EVENTUALLY GET TO IT.

- WE'LL EVENTUALLY GET TO IT, SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST KIND OF POSTED UP SO THAT YOU CAN SEE, SO THAT I CAN SEE, LOOKING FOR A PUSH, A WINK, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF FEEDING BEHAVIOR OR EVEN A SIGHTABLE FISH JUST LAID UP ON THESE POCKETS.

WHEN WE GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN, OLLIE, THERE IS A FLAT, AND ON THAT FLAT, THE FISH ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE GROOMING BAITS, FEEDING MORE.

THESE FISH ARE IN AMBUSH MODE.

JUST THINK OF A BASS LAID UP IN THE LILY PADS.

- GOTCHA.

I'M REALLY SURPRISED WE CAN GET THIS CLOSE TO THE FISH IN THIS BOAT.

- AND THE BOAT'S QUIET, SO, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF US BEING QUIET, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

I LIKE THIS LITTLE BAY AT 12:30.

JUST PAST THE NEEDLERUSH POINT.

IF YOU'VE GOT GOOD CLARITY, LET ME KNOW, YEP, WHEN WE GET UP THERE, AND I WANT YOU TO REALLY SCAN IN THERE.

THERE'S A LITTLE SHALE BOTTOM IN THERE, AND OFTENTIMES, YOU'LL SEE A REDFISH LAID UP IN THAT LITTLE POCKET, MADE HIMSELF A HOME, JUST LIKE A BROWN TROUT ON A PRIME LINE IN ONE OF YOUR STREAMS.

- AND STATIONARY.

- ALMOST COMPLETELY STATIONARY, FIXED.

- I'M HAVING TO STRIP A LITTLE QUICKER, SETH, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE BOAT'S GETTING BLOWN TOWARDS THE FLY.

- IT'S DRIFTING A LITTLE.

IT IS.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT YOU STAKED.

NOW COME IN OF THAT ABOUT SIX FEET AND GIVE ME A LONG CAST TOWARDS THE BANK, YEP.

- GOT IT.

- GOOD.

NOW WE'RE STAKED OUT.

JUST AN EASY STRIP.

- REMIND ME TO BREATHE.

- KEEP BREATHING.

YOUR STRIPS ARE GREAT.

WE JUST WANT TO COVER THIS POINT WITH A FEW BLIND CASTS BEFORE WE STAKE OUT AND WATCH THIS FLAT DEVELOP.

- OKAY, 'CAUSE THE TIDE'S CHANGING?

- TIDE'S STARTING TO FALL, AND THE WIND IS SWEEPING OFF OF THIS POINT, WHICH MEANS IT'S GONNA PUSH BAIT TO OUR REDFISH.

WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER POSITION.

JUST KEEP FIRING A FEW LONG CASTS DOWN THIS EDGE.

YOU SEE THOSE MULLET PUSHING DOWN THERE?

JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM THEM, I SOMETIMES SEE REDFISH IN SCHOOLS LAID UP IN THAT POCKET.

FISH ON.

FISH ON.

FISH ON.

- YOU CALLED IT.

- STRIP.

STRIP, STRIP, STRIP, STRIP, STRIP, STRIP, STRIP.

- YOU CALLED IT, SETH.

- NICELY DONE.

- OKAY, I'M TRYING TO DO THE FINGER THING.

I'M TRYING TO DO THE FINGER THING SO IT DOESN'T-- - THAT'S FINE, NICE EASY PRESSURE.

WAY TO GO, OLLIE.

- YOU CALLED THAT SHOT, SETH.

YOU SAID, "RIGHT THERE."

- I'M GONNA STAKE US RIGHT HERE.

NICE EASY PRESSURE.

- OKAY, WHAT'S MY TIPPET ON THE-- - YOU'RE FINE.

YOU'RE FINE.

- SO I CAN DOG IT?

- YOU CAN WORK HIM.

YOU JUST WANT TO PLAY THE FISH.

NOW, OLLIE, I'D LIKE IF YOU CAN TO GET HIM ON THE REEL.

IF YOU CAN'T, IT'S OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT, HE'S KIND OF COMING AT ME-- - HE'S COMING AT THE BOAT.

GIVE ME A LITTLE TAP WITH YOUR FOOT.

JUST A SUBTLE TAP WITH YOUR FOOT, A LITTLE BUMP-BUMP WITH YOUR FOOT.

THERE YOU GO.

SEE HOW THAT PUSHES HIM AWAY?

- YEP, I DON'T WANT TO SCARE THE REST OF THE SCHOOL, THOUGH.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

- SO I'VE GOT HEAVY ENOUGH TIPPET WHERE I CAN PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE ON THIS GUY.

- YOU CAN PUT PRESSURE ON THIS FISH.

GO LEFT, HARD LEFT.

- DO WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OYSTER BEDS?

- NOPE; ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT TO COME OVER.

- OKAY, I'M COMING, COMING, COMING, COMING, COMING.

- COME ALL THE WAY AROUND.

JUST GO UNDER THE ROD.

GOOD, COME ALL THE WAY AROUND.

- NICE, NICE.

- ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A LITTLE HILLBILLY CONUNDRUM HERE.

[laughs] - OH, MY GOSH.

RAN AROUND THE MOTOR LIKE HE'D DONE THIS BEFORE.

- HE WAS TRYING TO BREAK YOU OFF.

LET'S GET THAT FISH ON THE REEL SO YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THIS SLACK BACK HERE.

- ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

- YOU'RE FINE.

YOU'RE FINE.

HE'S GONNA KEEP FIGHTING.

- OH, THIS IS AWESOME.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE, AND I FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT.

- NOW I WANT YOU TO JUST VERY CAREFULLY SLIDE THIS WAY.

JUST COME AROUND.

COME AROUND NICE AND EASY.

- SO, SETH, ARE THERE OYSTER BEDS OR ANYTHING RIGHT HERE-- - NO OYSTERS.

THE ONLY THING WE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT-- THE REASON WE GOT YOU BACK HERE WAS, I DIDN'T WANT THAT FISH TO GET CUT OFF ON THE MOTOR OR THE TRIM TAB.

- OH, THIS IS AWESOME.

- ALL RIGHT, LET ME GRAB THE THING.

- [laughs] THIS IS GREAT.

YOU CALLED THAT SHOT, SETH.

YOU SAID, "THROW AT THAT POINT."

- IF YOU'LL JUST BRING YOUR LEADER TO ME, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A NEAT THING WITH THESE... - I'M GONNA FEED A LITTLE BIT OF LINE OUT, 'CAUSE I GOT TO MY LEADER KNOT.

- WITH THESE REDFISH.

ONCE I'VE GOT LEADER, WE'RE GOOD.

SO YOU CAN PICK THESE GUYS UP BY THEIR SIDE LIKE THIS, AND THEY'LL GO COMPLETELY DOCILE.

- I LIKE IT.

- LIKE WHEN YOU HOLD A TROUT UPSIDE DOWN.

- YES, NICE LITTLE REDFISH ON FLY.

- NOW, OLLIE, I KNOW YOU'VE CAUGHT PLENTY OF REDFISH, AND I KNOW YOU'VE CAUGHT A COUPLE ON FLY, BUT IS IT NOT THE COOLEST THING EVERY TIME?

- THIS IS MY SECOND, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DO THIS.

TARA, THIS IS--LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS HUNTING AND FISHING AND TEAMWORK.

THIS WAS ALL TEAMWORK.

- AND I CAN APPLAUD YOU FOR A BEAUTIFUL STRIP STRIKE.

PUT THE FLY RIGHT IN THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH.

- YOU CALLED THAT WHEN YOU SAID, "THROW AT THAT POINT," AND I LOOKED RIGHT AT YOU; THE FISH ATE.

I DID A STRIP STRIKE, AMAZINGLY, AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST FISH OF THE DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

- PERFECT.

- YES.

- PERFECT HOOK SET.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE RELEASE?

- I'M GONNA DO THE RELEASE.

- HE'S ALL YOU.

- OH, MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

- OLLIE, ARE YOU GONNA KISS THE FISH?

- YES, I AM.

LOOK AT THAT BLUE TAIL.

- YOU'RE GONNA GIVE THAT FISH AN INFECTION.

- TELL ME ABOUT THAT BLUE TAIL.

- THE BLUE TAIL IS PRETTY MUCH FROM THEM EATING CRABS AND SHRIMP.

THEY GET ALL THE CHITIN, AND SO JUST LIKE WHEN FLAMINGOS EAT SHRIMP AND THEY TURN PINK, THESE GUYS REPRESENT THAT COLOR IN A BLUE TONE.

- NICE.

- I LOVE IT.

- WAY TO GO, TEAM.

- WAY TO GO, TEAM, YES.

- GOOD JOB.

GOOD JOB.

- DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, GOOD JOB, OLLIE.

- ALL RIGHT, SETH, YOU CALLED THAT ONE.

GOOD STUFF, GUYS.

- YOU'RE UP.

- YOU'RE UP.

- OH, YAY.

- WHEW, THAT WAS FUN.

- DROP IT RIGHT IN THERE, GOOD.

NOW, LOOK LEFT.

LOOK LEFT RIGHT HERE.

LOOK LEFT.

LOOK STRAIGHT DOWN TO ME, STRAIGHT DOWN TO ME ALL THE WAY.

- I SEE THE MUD.

- AND THEN LOOK AT ELEVEN AND TEN.

YOU GOT TWO REDFISH RIGHT HERE AT NINE O'CLOCK, 20 FEET.

GIVE ME A NINE O'CLOCK SHOT.

- THAT WAY?

- RIGHT THERE, NINE O'CLOCK.

DROP THE NEXT ONE.

GOOD, GOOD.

- IS THAT FAR ENOUGH?

- THAT'S FAR ENOUGH.

SEE THE MUD RIGHT UNDER ELEVEN O'CLOCK?

- I DO.

- SO THESE FISH-- SEE THE PUSH GOING AWAY?

- MM-HMM.

- THAT'S OUR FISH.

I'M GONNA HOLD US HERE SO THAT YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CASTING ANGLE, AND WE'LL LET THOSE FISH COME BACK TO US.

- OKAY.

IT'S SO FUNNY, 'CAUSE YOU CAN-- YOU CAN DO THIS 100 TIMES AND KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THESE FISH, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'RE RIGHT UNDER YOU, IT'S LIKE THEY TAKE YOUR NERVES AND JUST-- - THAT'S RIGHT.

WE WERE TOO CLOSE TO THOSE FISH, AND THEY WEREN'T TAKING THE FLY.

NOW I WANT YOU TO CAST MORE OUT TO THE MIDDLE OUT HERE, BECAUSE WE'VE PUSHED THESE FISH A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.

YES, MA'AM, RIGHT THERE, NINE O'CLOCK.

JUST KEEP A HIGH BACK CAST BECAUSE OF THE GRASS BEHIND YOU.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

- I SEE--IS THAT A MULLET PUSH?

- PROBABLY.

JUST DROP IT RIGHT THERE.

EXCELLENT, LET THAT SINK ABOUT FOUR MISSISSIPPI... AND BEGIN, NICE.

TRY THESE FOR JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES, AND THEN WE'LL FIRE UP AND GO TO ANOTHER SPOT AND FIND YOU A FRESH BATCH.

GOOD CAST.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA FISH THE EDGE OF THAT FLAP ON THE DROP-OFF.

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S THE SPOT.

WE'RE GONNA CLAIM THAT SPOT IN JUST A SECOND.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT SPOT OVER ONCE YOU'VE CLEARED A PATH FOR US WITH THE FLY.

JUST KEEP STRIPPING.

ALL RIGHT, FIRE ONE MORE IN THERE WHEN YOU'RE READY.

JUST KEEP WORKING YOUR WAY ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THAT GRASS.

GOOD.

- WELL, HE'S COMING RIGHT AT ME.

- ALL RIGHT, GIVE HIM A LITTLE PUMP WITH YOUR FIST, JUST A TINY PUMP, A LITTLE PUMP.

GO LEFT WITH IT, LEFT.

THERE, NOW HE'S GONNA TAKE SOME.

THERE, HE JUST WOKE UP.

- THERE WE GO.

- NICE AND SMOOTH, NICE AND SMOOTH.

- LINES CLEAR.

LINES IN THE WATER.

- GOTCHA.

- ALL RIGHT, LET HIM HAVE IT.

I WANT YOU TO GET THAT FISH ON THE REEL AS SOON AS YOU CAN, SO START SLAPPING THAT REEL.

LET HIM HAVE.

LET HIM HAVE.

LET HIM HAVE.

- I'M LETTING HIM.

HE'S GOT IT.

WE'RE ALL CALM HERE.

- NICELY DONE.

IT'S A BIG FISH.

START REELING.

- I'M GONNA TAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE.

- I'M BACKING YOU UP.

- I'M GONNA TURN AGAIN.

- SO THIS FISH IS QUARTERING YOU TO GET THE ISOLATION OF THE PRESSURE.

- OH, I GOT TO GET THAT TIP UP.

- I'M GONNA STAKE YOU RIGHT HERE... - OKAY.

- IN JUST A SECOND.

- THIS IS SO DIFFERENT, BECAUSE I'M USED TO REELING WITH MY RIGHT HAND.

- I KNOW.

OKAY, GO LEFT.

THERE YOU GO.

THE BOAT IS STAKED.

- AS FAR AS THE ANGLING, I'M OKAY.

IT'S JUST THE-- I'M USED TO REELING RIGHT-HAND.

HE'S COMING WITH ME.

- JUST FIGHT HIM OFF THE REEL, AND I'LL COME HELP AND GRAB THAT LEADER IN JUST A SECOND.

- NICE.

- WHEN YOU CAN, JUST TRY AND GET THAT LEADER TO MY HAND, AND YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO BACK THE FISH UP, SO UP...

RIGHT THERE.

SEE HIM GO UNDER?

- YES.

- THAT'S GOOD.

COME RIGHT A LITTLE.

- SHOULD I STEP DOWN-- - NO, YOU'RE FINE.

YOU'RE FINE.

JUST DIG RIGHT.

GOOD.

LET HIM HAVE.

LET HIM HAVE.

HE'S JUST ANGRY WITH YOU.

- THAT'S GREAT.

COME ON, BABY.

- BRING YOUR ROD TIP UP A LITTLE.

RIGHT THERE, THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP IT.

- SO THAT'S, LIKE-- HOW MANY POUNDS OF PRESSURE DO YOU THINK I'M APPLYING HERE?

- THAT'S ONLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR POUNDS OF PRESSURE, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH WITH A LONG FIGHT TO BREAK THE FISH OFF.

- GOTCHA.

- WE DON'T HAVE, LIKE, A SHOCK TIPPET ON THERE LIKE YOU HAVE FOR TARPON.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOT 80-POUND, 60-POUND, 40-POUND.

THIS IS RAW 17.

- OKAY.

THIS IS A NICE FISH.

- THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO DIG DEEP ON HIM.

DIG DEEP, RIGHT HERE.

- DIG DEEP, LIKE, PUT MY ROD BACK DOWN?

- YEP, JUST DIG IN WITH THE REEL.

- OKAY.

SEE HOW IT STALLED HIM?

- YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, GO RIGHT.

GO RIGHT.

GO RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP HIM OFF-BALANCE.

NOW REEL.

KEEP GOING.

KEEP GOING.

- KEEP REELING?

- YEAH, REEL HIM UP.

REEL HIM UP, GOOD.

- I GOT TO PULL HIM BACK?

- NOW COME LEFT, YEP.

I WANT TO TRY AND GET THE LEADER ON THIS SIDE.

- I'M GONNA GET HIM TO YOU.

- AND NOW START REELING AGAIN, NICE.

SEE HOW THAT GETS HIM OFF-BALANCE?

- I DO.

- THAT'LL BE A GOOD TRICK FOR ANY FISH.

GO RIGHT.

- WOW.

- ALL RIGHT, NOW LEFT.

- WELL, HOLD ON.

THERE WE GO.

- THERE YOU GO.

BACK IT STRAIGHT TO ME.

COME RIGHT AGAIN.

HE'S COMING RIGHT UNDERNEATH.

NOW LEFT.

- I'M NOT EVEN--I DON'T EVEN HAVE MY HANDS ON THE REEL.

IS THAT COOL?

- THIS IS GOOD.

THIS IS GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, NOW GET THAT LEADER RIGHT HERE.

- I'M COMING TO YOU.

- KEEP COMING.

- WE GOOD?

- YEP.

WE GOT HIM.

- YES.

- NICE.

- THAT'S A CAUGHT FISH.

WAY TO GO.

- THANKS, SETH.

THANK YOU.

- WAY TO GO.

FEEL RIGHT HERE WHERE HIS HAND IS DRUMMING.

FEEL HIM DRUMMING?

- AWESOME, I DO.

I DO.

- NICELY DONE.

- WHOO.

- PERFECT PLACEMENT ON THE FLY.

HE CHOMPED IT.

AND YOU COULD SEE HIM WHEN HE BIT.

HE WINKED... - OH, YEAH, I SAW THAT.

- KIND OF WHEN HE WAS CHASING THE FLY DOWN.

- IT'S AWESOME, CLASSIC ONE SPOT ON THE TAIL, NICE.

- THAT'S EVERYTHING WE CAME HERE TO DO.

- I KNOW, EXACTLY.

- NICE JOB, DUDE.

I LOVE IT.

- WHY DON'T I DO THIS?

I'M GONNA TAKE THIS BOGA OUT.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE YOUR FISH AND LET'S DO A RELEASE OF HIM?

COME ON DOWN THIS WAY, AND LET ME GET YOU ON YOUR KNEES RIGHT HERE JUST KNEELING DOWN, AND WE'LL DO A NICE RELEASE ON THIS GUY.

LET'S GET HIS HEAD WET.

NOW, AS SOON AS HE FEELS THAT WATER AND THAT TEMPERATURE CHANGE, HE'S GONNA TRY AND BOLT.

JUST HOLD HIM RIGHT THERE... - OKAY.

- AND I'M GONNA GENTLY PLUCK THIS FLY OUT ONCE HE'S GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE WATER OVER HIM.

- AWESOME.

- SEE HOW DARK THEY GET IN THIS TANNIC WATER?

YEAH, JUST GET HIM A LITTLE DEEPER JUST FOR A MINUTE.

- HE'S NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN.

- NO, THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA PLUCK THIS FLY OUT.

- OKAY.

- LOVE TO HEAR THEM DRUM.

- I LOVE IT TOO.

- PERFECT.

- HE'S FEELING READY.

- AND JUST HOLD ON TO HIM UNTIL HE LETS GO AND YOU CAN'T HOLD HIM ANYMORE.

THE NICE THING ABOUT THEIR TAIL-- THEIR TAIL COLLAPSES, SO IF YOU HOLD ON TO HIM IN THE WATER, HE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN HE'S READY, AND YOU REALLY WON'T BE ABLE TO HOLD ON TO HIM ANY LONGER.

- AWESOME.

- IT'S PRETTY COOL STUFF.

- THIS IS GOOD.

- A LITTLE BIGGER THAN YOUR MOUNTAIN TROUT?

- OH, YEAH.

- JUST A TEENY BIT?

- [laughs] AH, HE'S FEELING IT.

- YEAH, HE'S READY.

NICE JOB.

- THANK, SETH.

THANK YOU.

- ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

- SAME, SAME.

- ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

[laughter] GOOD WORK.

- THANKS, GUYS.

- GOOD WORK, GUYS.

- JOE, GIVE ME A LITTLE HISTORY.

TELL ME HOW THIS FISHING FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE COAST GOT STARTED HERE.

- BOTH OF THEM ARE FRIENDS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GOOD FRIENDS, AND, YOU KNOW, OLLIE IS A PROFESSIONAL GUIDE, WORKS OUT OF BOONE, AND--FOR MOUNTAIN TROUT, AND HE LIKES FISHING WITH A FLY ROD, AND HE LIKES CATCHING FISH ANYWHERE HE CAN WITH A FLY ROD.

TARA, ON THE OTHER HAND, MOST OF HER FISHING HAS BEEN ON THE COAST.

SHE REALLY LOVES SALTWATER FISHING, TARPON FISHING.

I MEAN, SHE'S DONE IT ALL, GOES DOWN TO FLORIDA A LOT, AND THEY JUST KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD LITTLE STORY TO FOLLOW THEM FROM THE MOUNTAINS ALL THE WAY ACROSS, INCLUDING THE SHAD IN THE ROANOKE RIVER, JUST SHOWING THE VARIETY THAT WE'VE GOT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, YOU KNOW, RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

YOU DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE.

WE'VE GOT IT ALL RIGHT HERE, AND I THINK THEY'VE ILLUSTRATED IT WELL.

- WELL, WHEN YOU FISH LIKE THAT, THE GEAR'S IMPORTANT.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WELL, TARA, OUR FISHING SAGA ACROSS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA HAS REACHED ANOTHER CHAPTER.

WE STARTED OFF WITH THE MOUNTAIN TROUT.

THEN WE WENT TO NEUTRAL TERRITORY TO THE PIEDMONT AND CAUGHT SHAD ON FLIES.

AND THEN WE CAME DOWN HERE TO DO THE REDFISH ON FLIES, WHICH YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF, AND WE WORKED OUR BUTTS OFF TODAY TO CATCH TWO FISH.

THIS IS BY FAR THE HARDEST PART OF OUR FISHING SAGA.

- AND ALL FUN.

- AND GREAT CHALLENGES.

SETH, THOSE WERE THE TWO MOST REWARDING FISH I'VE SEEN COME TO THE BOAT IN A LONG TIME.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FRESHWATER MEN FACE WHEN THEY COME DOWN HERE?

- FRESHWATER FISHERMEN ARE GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT THE WIND, YOU KNOW, AND THE ELEMENTS.

THIS IS A PRETTY HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

BUT MOSTLY DISTANCE CASTING, SIGHT FISHING OR SEEING OUR QUARRY, SO HAVING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES IS A MUST.

AND THEN FINALLY, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE DIFFERENT CHANGE IN TECHNIQUE.

WE'RE GONNA STRIP STRIKE THESE FISH.

WE'RE NOT GONNA TROUT SET THEM, WHICH YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB WITH.

- IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THAT DEPROGRAMMED.

AND TELL ME ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT.

THIS IS A LOT MORE ROD THAN I'M USED TO THROWING FOR TROUT.

- SURE, NOW, WE'RE STILL THROWING THE SAME LENGTH OF A ROD THAT YOU WOULD USE FOR TROUT ON THE BIG WATER, SO THESE ARE NINE-FOOT, SEVEN- OR EIGHT-WEIGHT FAST-ACTION FLY RODS WITH FLOATING FLY LINES.

FLY WE'RE USING TODAY IS ONE OF MINE: VERNON'S KILLER KWAN.

JUST A REAL AMBIGUOUS FLY.

CAN BE A CRAB, A SHRIMP, A BAITFISH IMITATION, AND YOU EACH CAUGHT NICE FISH ON IT, WHICH KIND OF PROVES HOW EASY IT WORKS.

- I LIKE IT.

- I ENJOYED IT.

- NOW, OLLIE, WHEN I WENT UP TO THE MOUNTAINS, YOU ASKED ME WHICH I PREFER FISHERY-WISE, THE MOUNTAINS OR SALTWATER, AND NOW THE QUESTION GOES BACK TO YOU.

WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE?

- I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

THEY ALL PRESENT DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.

WE'RE JUST BLESSED THAT WE LIVE IN A STATE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT FISHERIES WITHIN JUST A COUPLE-HOUR DRIVE, SO THERE'S MORE FISHERIES OUT THERE.

I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WHEN I'VE DONE THEM ALL.

- SOUNDS GOOD.

WE GOT YOUR REDFISH, BUT THIS IS NOT OVER.

- WELL, YOU CAUGHT THE BIGGER FISH TODAY, SO OF COURSE IT'S NOT OVER.

THE CHALLENGE CONTINUES.

SETH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A GREAT DAY ON THE WATER.

- I ENJOYED HAVING YOU DOWN HERE ON THE BOW.

- SETH, THANK YOU.

- ABSOLUTELY.

Y'ALL COME BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.

- OLLIE, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

- ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

- WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

- WE GOT MORE DAYLIGHT.

LET'S CATCH ANOTHER FISH.

- WE GOT TIME TO GET ONE MORE.

- LET'S DO IT.

- LET'S DO IT.

- OKAY.

- ALL RIGHT.

- WELL, WE HOPE YOU ANGLERS CAN USE THAT INFORMATION.

NOW, LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH A RECIPE FOR HERB-CRUSTED FLOUNDER.

- HI, TODAY IN THE KITCHEN, WE'RE MAKING AN HERB FLOUNDER.

IT'S A GREAT RECIPE.

YOU CAN USE ANY TYPE OF FISH THAT YOU WANT, THOUGH.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO USE THE FLOUNDER, BUT WE'RE GONNA USE A FILLET.

AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR SOUTHERN BAKE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR PACKET OUT.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO PACKAGES IN EACH BOX, SO YOU'RE GONNA GET TWO MEALS FROM THIS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO ADD THIS INTO OUR BAG THAT COMES WITH THE MIX, AND THEN WHAT I'VE DONE IS, I HAVE JUST CUT A BUNCH OF FRESH HERBS, SO I'VE GOT PARSLEY IN HERE, AND I'VE GOT CILANTRO AND MAYBE SOME CHIVES AND MAYBE SOME MINT OR SOME DILL.

WHATEVER TYPES OF HERBS YOU MIGHT HAVE AT YOUR HOUSE OR THAT YOU LIKE, JUST CHOP THEM UP.

AND THESE ARE KIND OF JUST A ROUGH CUT.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY, LIKE, REALLY FINE, AND I'M JUST GONNA ADD THAT INTO MY BAG.

SO THIS IS GONNA GIVE YOU-- YOU HAVE YOUR BASE WITH THE SOUTHERN BAKE, BUT THEN YOU CAN ADD OTHER FLAVORINGS AND OTHER INGREDIENTS IN HERE, AND YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR RECIPES AROUND WITHOUT REALLY HAVING TO INVENT WHOLE NEW ONES.

YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR BASE, AND THEN YOU'RE JUST GONNA ADD DIFFERENT THINGS YOU LIKE.

YOU CAN TAKE SOME SPICY-HOT BREADER AND PUT IT IN HERE AND SPICE UP YOUR BAKE IF YOU WANT, AND THAT WILL ADD A NEW FLAVOR AND A NEW RECIPE FOR YOU TO USE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA TOSS THAT TOGETHER, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD OUR FLOUNDER FILLET.

AND I'M JUST GONNA DO IT ONE AT AT TIME.

YOU CAN ALSO-- IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN SQUEEZE SOME LEMON JUICE ON TOP OF THAT AND THEN TOSS IT.

THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD TOO, A GREAT WAY TO ADD SOME DIFFERENT FLAVORS.

SO WE'RE GONNA JUST GIVE THAT A TOSS.

AND I LIKE TO PRESS MINE IN, BECAUSE I WANT ALL THOSE GREAT HERBS IN THERE TOO TO ADD THAT GREAT FLAVOR.

AND THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA SHAKE OFF THE EXCESS.

WE'RE GONNA PLACE IT ON OUR FOIL BAKING SHEET.

WE'RE GONNA BAKE THIS AT 400 DEGREES FOR ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES, JUST UNTIL YOUR FISH IS COOKED THROUGHOUT.

YOU'LL WANT TO COOK YOUR FLOUNDER, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S THROUGHOUT, AND YOU'LL HAVE THIS NICE CRUNCHY COATING ON THE OUTSIDE WITH ALL THESE GREAT HERBS, AND YOU'RE READY TO GO, AND YOU CAN SERVE IT WITH A GREAT SALAD.

YOU CAN SERVE IT WITH SLICED TOMATOES.

YOU CAN SERVE IT WITH-- A BEAN SALAD WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

YOU CAN SEE THE ONE THAT I HAVE HERE HAS ALL THESE GREAT HERBS IN IT.

IT'S GONNA BE THESE GREAT FLAVORS.

THEY'RE GONNA BE CRUNCHY.

WE'RE GONNA MAYBE DRIZZLE A LITTLE BIT OF LEMON JUICE ON THE TOP OR SOME TARTAR SAUCE IF YOU'D LIKE.

IT'S A GREAT DISH THAT YOU CAN ADD ANY TYPE OF ACCOMPANYING DISHES TO.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE HERB FLOUNDER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- AND AS ALWAYS, ANOTHER GOOD RECIPE FROM DONNA.

JOE, HOW MUCH MORE IS THIS ADVENTURE GONNA CONTINUE FROM THE MOUNTAINS BACK TO THE COAST AND... - WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THE CALENDAR RIGHT NOW, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH IN THERE THAT YOU CAN DO WITH A FLY ROD, SO WE DON'T KNOW YET.

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IT, AND THEY BOTH ENJOY USING THAT FLY ROD, AND BOTH ARE VERY ACCOMPLISHED FLY FISHERMEN, AND YOU SAW IT TODAY.

- IT WAS ANOTHER GOOD DAY OF FISHING IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR SURE.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY 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] ♪ ♪ ♪