[piano intro] Yes, there he is, Steve.

There we go.

Again, he wanted to go straight in the dock.

I almost locked down to get him out of the dock and now I got him right up here.

But you do have to put the heat to him to get him--keep him away from those piles.

I can see where he rubbed you there.

Even these little bitty fish like this.

I mean, this isn't a big drum, but boy he is pretty.

I can see where he rubbed you.

Look at your leader up here.

I'm gonna have to change that soon as we get through with this fish.

Oh oh oh.

Easy, big fella.

We're gonna release ya.

Right in the corner of the mouth again.

I love circle hooks.

Perfect.

There we go.

Look at that tail on him.

Look at that.

Terrific.

Look at that leader, how chewed up it is.

He was right against the dock.

He got you on that dock pile a little bit.

He did.

All right, little fella.

There you go.

Thanks, Captain.

There you go.

Appreciate it.

I'm gonna re-tie this right quick and we'll be ready to go.

- [male announcer]: The production of Carolina Outdoor Journal is made possible in part by: - [female announcer]: The North Carolina Wildlife Rescources Commission.

A fishing license goes a long way towards wildlife conservation in North Carolina.

Over 38,000 miles of managed streams and rivers, and 250,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs.

- [male announcer]: And by EZ Bait and Tackle, family owned and operated.

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We provide fishing supplies and ad vice to every type of angler.

For all your fishing needs, EZ Bait and Tackle.

And by contributions from PBS NC vi ewers like you.

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

Well, today's program'll take us down to Wrightsville Beach.

We're gonna be fishing for some red drum.

Fishing off structure today.

And Joe, we had a right good day of fishing.

We really did--we're fishing off of man-made structure today.

Unlike some shows we've done in the past where we were fishing around, following trees and creeks where the puppy drum-- And this is the puppy drum class, the red drum, we're fishing for today.

But today we're fishing piers, docks where they like to congregate.

And ambush bait fish coming through.

It's on a tide change.

All that worked in our favor that day.

We had it all timed out perfectly.

We're using live bait.

Pretty simple setup.

But the critical thing about it is once you set the hook, you need to get the fish out quick.

Because he'll wrap you around the piling and break you off really quick.

So they'll talk about that today.

You know, we'll talk about Gear Time...

In Gear Time what we'll talk about is the bait that you used how important it was on this particular day using the live bait.

(Joe) Right, using the live bait.

We're using small pogies or menhaden.

A particular size that we... were readily available that morning, lucky for us.

And so it was just a matter of fishing different piers and trying to find out where they were.

Some days they're all on certain piers, some days are not.

So you have to kinda play with that.

But that morning we hit some.

(John) Yeah, well, talking about fish.

It's all about fish today.

Because Donna's in the kitchen.

She's got a recipe for fish tacos.

Right, it's a pretty interesting recipe from her today.

She actually, along with the fish, adds some shrimp and some scallops to this.

So a really tasty recipe from her today.

Well, let's go fishing.

We got a lot coming your way today on the Carolina Outdoor Journal.

Stu, it's early June, we're near Wrightsville Beach.

We're set up to catch redfish today.

But we're gonna do it a little bit differently.

What are we gonna do?

Today we're actually gonna use the docks as our structure.

It's something anybody along the whole coast of North Carolina can do... is go to your favorite dock, give it a whirl.

There's probably some redfish underneath it.

So we're gonna flip some live baits into the air and see if we can't pull a few out.

All right, sounds good.

I think we've got plenty of lively menhaden in the bait well there that are ready to go.

Yeah, they're just asking for this.

Let's do it.

Where's your net?

Uh, it's up here.

All right, well, the key thing we're gonna have to do today is that first ten feet out of those docks is crucial.

You gotta put the heat on 'em.

Make sure you got heavy enough line.

And get 'em out of that first eight or ten feet.

Then you should be ready to roll.

But it's just like grouper fishing.

Get 'em out on the ledge... Gotta get 'em out of the dock.

That's why I brought a little bit heavier outfit for today.

All right.

Now, are they sitting back up in the dock or at the base of the dock or... Usually right at the base of... Where do we go?

And you should feel the pinfish... kind of start [makes flipping sound] I am tightening up on the drag pretty hard.

I'm gonna try out from the dock for a second.

Okay.

And the good thing about this current is it will... Once it picks up here in a little bit, it'll actually roll your bait up under there a little.

We'll try out here off of it a little and then we may have to get tighter and tighter.

But let's try it out a little bit, see what happens.

Got him out, got him out, I got him out.

All right, I'm gonna get this one out of the way.

Okay.

Okay.

He's away from the dock.

He's away from the dock.

Let's see here.

It's a nice little redfish.

Look at that blue tail.

Nice little redfish.

He wants to be over here, doesn't he?

All right.

All right, good job.

Okay, Stu, the Bogagrip is on the top of my bag right there.

Okay, I see it.

Got it right here.

Nice little redfish.

All right, little fella.

There we go.

Terrific!

Te rrific!

Nice way to start it off with.

Nice little redfish right in the corner of the mouth just like a circle hook's supposed to be.

Nice way to start it off.

That's a good way to do it.

Been here, what, five minutes?

Five minutes I believe.

Not even that.

Let's see if we can get us a big one.

Right on.

Come on, big fella.

Look at the blue tail li ft up.

Look at that tail.

God.

That is one of the bluest ones I've seen.

That is.

Th at is electric.

Good job, little fella.

All right, come on, there you go.

All right.

Thank you, partner.

Good job.

It was good!

That's what we like to see.

And you sure enough have to get 'em out of the dock quick.

He was headed back in that dock just as fast as he could.

Yes.

Let's see if he's got a brother in there.

Get him, get him, get him.

Get him, Stu.

Get him.

There he is.

Okay.

Is he out?

He's out.

Okay.

He's out.

Get my bait in right quick.

There he is.

Another nice little red.

Not a giant, but he is a fish.

He's right up here.

Look at that one.

Tell you what, th ese little ones got that blue tail going, do n't they?

They sure do.

Brought him in a little green for you.

Yeah, I got him.

That was the old circle hook, right?

Perfect.

Right in the corner of the mouth every time.

You gotta love circle hooks.

Look at that tail.

Look how electric turquoise blue that tail is.

Right, let's go get us a big one.

All right, little guy, take off.

It's gonna be real fun...

It's gonna be real fun when we hook a big one.

I can't wait.

Try to pull him out of there.

All right.

Need a bait?

Yes, I do.

Okay.

Stu, what's the best ti me of year to fish these docks?

I would say, really, the best time is when the water warms up a little bit.

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Mm-hmm.

You can pretty much do it year round if you want to.

But really, I would say April 'til December.

How do you pick the docks you wanna fish?

Is there something special about the docks that makes one dock different from another?

Well, this dock here is the first dock... on a long stretch of bank... before the next dock.

Right.

Basically, this is like the first pit stop for 'em.

I just like to look at current... and also look at bait.

You know, if you pull up to a dock and there's no pinfish bites, move on.

Pinfish are good for you.

You feel those little vibrations and they call the drum to you.

So let the pinfish do their thing.

If they clean your hook, fine.

Bring it in, put another bait on.

But let those pinfish help you out.

Just a good sign of fish activity around a dock is a good place to fish.

That's right.

That's right.

Just try one, and if you don't catch 'em there, come back a different time or try a different dock., Okay.

Here he is.

There he is, Stu.

Again, he wanted to go straight into the dock.

I almost locked down to get him out of the dock and now...

I got him right up here.

But you do have to put the heat to him to get him--keep him away from those piles.

I can see where he rubbed you there.

Even these little bitty fish like this.

I mean, this isn't a big drum, but boy, he is pretty.

I can see where he rubbed you.

Look at your leader up here.

I'm gonna have to change that soon as we get through with this fish.

Where he rubbed you there.

Oh oh oh.

Easy, big fella.

We're gonna release ya.

Right in the corner of the mouth again.

I love circle hooks.

Perfect.

There we go.

Look at that tail on him.

Look at that.

That is blue right there.

Look at that leader, how chewed up it is.

He was right against the dock.

He got you on that dock pile a little bit.

He did.

All right, little fella.

There you go.

Thanks, Captain.

There you go.

Appreciate it.

I'm gonna retie this right quick and we'll be ready to go.

And give me a chance to catch one, is that what you're doing?

Yes, I am gonna give you a chance to catch one.

You should take advantage of it.

I'm trying, I'm gonna get in there quick.

This is a big one here.

This is a good one.

Is he out from the dock?

He's out.

Yep, he's out.

All right.

All right.

I got him.

This is a nice one right here.

That is.

Ooh.

Ooh!

Come on, big fella.

Oh yeah, here we go.

Oh, this is gonna be a good one here, buddy.

Nice fish, Stu.

Oh, he's out now.

I'm gonna let the drag on it a little so if he wants to run we don't tear that hook out of him.

That's the size class fish that we hope to get today.

That's right.

There we go.

Nice redfish.

Nice redfish.

And you had to put the heat to him to get him out from under that dock.

Man, I had to walk forward to drag him up.

God, he does not... Won't come over here.

Enough line there.

God, that's thing about when you get 'em in these docks, you bring 'em into the boat usually fairly green.

I don't think he's quite ready yet.

Okay, all right.

Let's go.

There we go.

Come here, big fella.

Yeah!

That's what we're looking for.

That's what we're looking for right there.

Pretty fish.

Nice redfish.

It's fun trying to drag him out of there.

It's hard going from 0 to 150... That first ten feet.

In one second.

All right.

There he goes.

And he slammed off the dock.

Captain Stu.

I can take a breath now.

Yes, you can.

And that'll give me a chance to get my bait in there.

Oh, I know, I know.

And I gotta get bait.

Stu, what's the best time of day or tide to fish these docks?

Really what you need to do is just learn...

Learn the docks you wanna go fish.

As long as you've got water flow, either rising tide or falling tide, it doesn't really seem to matter.

But you're gonna find that some docks fish better at fallen tides or some docks fish right-- 'Cause you can lay up on 'em a little bit better.

And you gotta use every advantage you can get.

Because you're really at a disadvantage doing this.

Yeah.

Well, the tide's fallen out of here right now.

So that's the best time that... it's kind of carrying the baits back into the dock.

We're casting at the pylons.

The baits are kind of floating back.

Are drifting back up under the dock.

That's right, and I like the fish that up current side.

So if I make a cast that's a couple feet short of the pylons, I can just let out a little bit of line and the current'll actually draw the bait right up under the dock.

At least right up under the edge of it.

You've got to be fairly close to it.

'Cause they're not gonna come way out on the dock.

There he goes, there he goes.

Get him.

There he goes right there.

There he goes.

Just like that.

Just like that.

All right, I'm gonna get out of the way here.

Okay.

Help you get this one in.

Oh.

There he is.

Nice little redfish.

Nice little red.

[laughing] He's not quite ready, Stu.

I don't think he's quite ready.

I think he's just a little green still.

Look at that, circle hook right in the right spot.

There you go.

There we go.

Ho ho ho.

Easy.

Easy, big fella.

All right.

That comes right out.

Pretty little thing.

He sure is.

Nice little thing.

Got a few lice on him.

But he still looks good and healthy.

All right, buddy, go get 20 pounds.

Grow up.

Let's catch you at the inlet one day.

Look at that.

All right, I got him out now.

Is he out?

Yeah, he's out.

Here he is.

He's not a big one.

But he is another fish.

There he is.

Not a big giant, but he'll catch.

There we go.

All right, Mr. Redfish.

Got our little fish there?

Right in the corner.

All right.

Yeah.

Good fish, Captain Stu.

Grab a little bit to eat, maybe.

Yeah, let's... Take five.

Go get a snack.

Joe, I think the bottom line on this is get 'em up quick.

You have to.

And that day, we didn't really have any... any large drum.

They've caught 'em as big as ten pounds in this structure.

But that day I think we had something... there were a couple fish maybe going five, four or five pounds.

But the key is, as soon as you feel him pick it up, you set the hook and get him out quick.

And then enjoy the fight from there.

'Cause if you give him seconds, he'll have you in that bridge piling and cut you off before you know it.

So that's probably the key to bring away from this today is if you're gonna do that type of fishing is to remember to get 'em out quick.

Let's find out more.

Let's go to Gear Time.

Stuart, it's a beautiful early June day.

We're catching redfish a little bit different than we have in the past.

We're fishing docks.

When you're looking around for docks, there's hundreds of them along the waterway.

What do you look for?

The main thing that I look for is... when I pull up to a dock I wanna be able to flip a bait up in that dock.

And I wanna fe el pinfish biting.

I want the pinfish to bite.

'Cause that means there's life down there.

There's a lot going on.

Flip a bait in there.

Let those pinfish st art beating on your baits a little bit.

That rod tip'll be vibrating.

Bouncing around.

Then that's usually when the drum'll come up and just clean house.

He'll come in and pick everything right up.

And I look for that in a dock.

You want some bait on 'em.

What about tide?

What I like to do is have water that's moving.

It can be rising, it can be falling.

But you're find that... you're gonna find docks th at fish better on fallen tide.

Some that fish better on rising tide.

And it's just because yo u can lay up on 'em better.

So just look for a little bit of moving water, figure out which docks you can get to that allow you to anchor up on 'em good.

Right.

One of the things that we found today was that every time those pinfish started eating, then the redfish would come in.

And it seemed that the pinfish would probably attract the attention of the redfish.

Redfish would come in and jump on it.

We're fishing today with a little heavier gear than we have in the past.

What do we have here?

You got to.

Um, I'm using a Cabo 30.

Made by Quantum.

And a Quantum Cabo 12 to 17 pound medium class rod.

With a 20 pound Suffix braid on the end.

And you have to use a little heavier outfit with some backbone and some heavier line.

Because the first ten feet is crucial.

You have to get 'em ou t of those docks.

And if hook a eight or a ten pound fish, you better have enough rod to hold 'em or he's gonna br eak you right off.

And if you don't get him out of the docks, he's going around, the docks are covered.

The pilings are covered with barnacles.

Oysters.

You're gonna lose him for sure.

This is one fishing where braided line really makes a difference.

You don't have any stretch.

You can go to a higher pound test.

And you still got a small diameter.

So it really makes a big difference to have a braided line on this type of fish.

Today we were pitching live baits at 'em.

Small little menhaden on Carolina rigs.

So it was circle hooks.

Circle hooks are great.

You don't--I mean, all the fish we had today, we had 'em right in the mouth.

Right in the end of the mouth, which is perfect.

You know, you get a good release on these fish.

If you wanted to ke ep some to eat, you still catch 'em no problem.

And, uh, th at tends to be the deal.

Well, it sounds good.

The fishing was fun when we finally found a dock that held fish.

We searched for several.

Finally found that one dock that had a bunch of fish on it.

And we caught plenty of fish in a short period of time.

It's a lot of fun.

It's exciting.

And you better be ready when they hit.

That's right.

It was great.

Thanks again.

Any time.

Enjoyed it.

Enjoyed it.

Thank you, Stu and Walker for that valuable information.

Now, let's catch up with Donna.

She's in the kitchen with a recipe now for fish tacos.

Hi, today in the kitchen we're going to be making southern styled fish tacos.

These are a great recipe.

Especially if you like things spicy and hot.

If you don't, you can tone it down a little bit.

But I think they add lots of great flavor to this dish.

And it's a simple dish.

What we've done is we've gone ahead and we're heating our oil in our pan.

And, uh, we're gonna get our fish ready.

I'm using a variety of fish today.

I'm using some shrimp, I'm using some scallops.

And some whitefish.

And I've just kind of cut 'em into bite size pieces.

My scallops were really big, so I just cut them into fourths so that they would be bite size.

It's kind of nice.

So we're gonna take our spicy hot breader... And like I said, if you don't like something this hot, you can cut it with some regular seafood breader if you'd like.

We're just gonna put this out onto our... wax paper.

And then we're going to take our shrimp and our scallops and our fish.

And we're just gonna toss it until it's all coated.

And I like to use the wax paper because--for easy clean up.

I don't like to have to clean my dishes.

Especially if you're doing this at the beach or you're doing this in a... You know, you don't wanna have to spend your time cleaning up.

And it's a great dish if you have company.

It's a wonderful dish.

'Cause you can go ahead and make this ahead of time.

Put it in your refrigerator.

You can serve these cold if you want.

So it's nice way to do that.

You can go ahead and get all your stuff, you know, put together before you, um... your guests arrive.

'Cause you wanna spend your time visiting with your guests.

Okay, our oil is just good.

We don't want it to be too hot because then it'll burn the outside of your fish.

And won't cook the inside.

Or you don't want it to be too cool because then it'll absorb into your fish and your fish'll be kind of oily and you don't want that.

Want it to be just right.

And this'll give you a great crunchy coating on the outside.

It doesn't take very long to cook the seafood here.

'Cause shrimp cooks up really fast and so do scallops.

And cutting them into bite size pieces helps as well.

'Cause then everything will cook about the same time frame.

So that's nice too.

This looks great and it smells really wonderful.

So we're just gonna pan fry those until they're golden brown.

You can see the shrimps are already cooking up.

And let's just give it a stir here.

And I have some that are already done.

So we're going to just... let that continue to saute.

And we're gonna go ahead and build this sandwich.

So let's just move this over here.

See how easy that is?

Cleaned up already.

We're gonna take our tortillas... And I like to use the burrito size tortillas.

And I'm going to put some lettuce on here.

And if you like guacamole, you can use either avocado slices in this.

Or if you have some guacamole that you like, you can slather that on the bottom of your tortilla before we start.

Before you build your sandwich.

So we're going to put all of our things on here.

And I'm gonna be using peppers.

And then I'm gonna take my seafood and I just have some shrimp and some scallops and things right here.

And you can fill it up.

And then what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna fold it over here and then fold it again.

And put it in my bowl.

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

You can see I just did about three of them here.

It's a great presentation.

It's great for your table and your guest as well.

So I hope you enjoy the southern style fish tacos.

And I look forward to seeing you next time here on Simple Cooking.

Thanks, Donna, for that recipe.

Let's head back down to the coast.

Joe, we caught a good class of fish that day.

We did.

But Captain Stu wanted a bigger fish.

All that whole morning he was looking for a bigger fish.

He's caught eight to ten pound puppy drum, Red drum off this particular pier.

We fished other piers that morning, couldn't find the fish.

And this particular pier had a concentration of fish.

And he was looking for a larger fish.

But, you know, a four or five pound drum in that situation is a handful.

You've got to get him out of that structure or you won't catch him.

Still a good day fishing.

Absolutely.

All right, with Joe Albea, I'm John Moore.

Thanks for joining us today on the Carolina Outdoor Journal.

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

- [male announcer]: The production of Carolina Outdoor Journal is made possible in part by: - [female announcer]: The North Carolina Wildlife Rescources Commission.

A fishing license goes a long way towards wildlife conservation in North Carolina.

Over 38,000 miles of managed streams and rivers, and 250,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs.

- [male announcer]: And by EZ Bait and Tackle, family owned and operated.

We fish from fresh to saltwater.

We provide fishing supplies and ad vice to every type of angler.

For all your fishing needs, EZ Bait and Tackle.

And by contributions from PBS NC vi ewers like you.

[light instrumental music] ♪