[gentle orchestral fanfare] [fishing line reeling] - LINE'S HOOKED UP.

I'M GONNA SET MINE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROD HOLDER.

COME ON UP HERE IF YOU NEED TO.

[water splashing] - GONNA GET IT.

- HE HIT THE BADONK-A-DONK TOO.

- OKAY.

- LOOK AT ALL THE SPOTS ON IT.

- I DON'T KNOW.

HE'S--YOU DON'T SEE 'EM...

EXACTLY LIKE THAT ANYMORE.

- I'VE NEVER CAUGHT ONE THAT WAS SPOTTED UP LIKE THAT.

- HE'S TRYING TO BE A TROUT, AIN'T HE?

- LOOK AT THAT.

- [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.

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

WELL, TODAY'S PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT RED DRUM.

IT'S MID-SEPTEMBER, AND JOE, SIMPLY PUT, THE WIND GETS UP ON US.

- WELL, IT DOES.

ACTUALLY, IT WAS BLOWING THE MORNING THAT WHEN WE SHOWED UP ON THE WATER, WHICH WAS--WE REALLY DIDN'T COUNT ON IT.

WE KNEW THE WIND WAS GONNA PICK UP.

THE PREVIOUS TWO DAYS, WE HAD-- THERE WAS A SLICK SURFACE OUT THERE.

THEY CAUGHT FISH, AND SO WE WERE REALLY ANTICIPATING HAVING CLOSE TO SAME SITUATION THAT WE HAD-- THEY HAD A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE.

WE HAD WIND THAT MORNING, AND WE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT, BUT WE FOUND OUT, IT PROVED THAT TO A RED DRUM, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT WAS PRETTY BUMPY, BUT WE STILL FISHED, AND WE CAUGHT FISH.

THEY WERE STILL AGGRESSIVE.

AND WE HAD A GOOD MORNING.

- WELL, THE WIND ENDED UP BEING THE FACTOR.

WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE LURES WE USED IN GEAR TIME TODAY.

- RIGHT, THEY USED SEVERAL TOPWATER BAITS.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM OUT ON THE MARKET.

AND THEY'VE GOT A COUPLE THAT THEY REALLY LIKE TO FISH WITH, AND THEY'LL GO OVER THAT IN GEAR TIME.

- NOW, DONNA'S IN THE KITCHEN-- POTATO CRUSTED GROUPERS.

ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE FISH.

- ONE OF MY FAVORITE SALTWATER FISH CERTAINLY, AND A FAVORITE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

TODAY SHE'S GOT A LITTLE DIFFERENT APPROACH ON HOW SHE PREPARES THE POTATOES FOR THIS DISH, AND SO WE'LL SAVE THAT FOR HER TOWARDS THE END.

- WELL, WE GOT A LOT GOING ON, SO LET'S GET TO IT HERE TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- ALL RIGHT, DEAN.

MID-SEPTEMBER.

IT'S BEEN WARM ALL SUMMER.

WE'RE GONNA BE DOING SOME TOPWATER RED FISHING THIS MORNING, AND WE JUST SAW SOME MOVING RIGHT OVER HERE OFF THIS POINT.

BAIT'S SCATTERED, AND YOU SAW THE BAIT.

AND I HAD ONE BLOW UP EARLIER.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU FIRST SHOT.

- WELL, I WILL TAKE THE FIRST SHOT.

- YOU GET ONE CHANCE.

AND THAT AIN'T IT.

[laughs] THERE HE IS.

LOOK AT IT.

THERE!

OH, BABY!

- GOT HIM?

- OH, MAN.

OH, SON OF A-- - OH, THEY'RE ALL GANGED UP ON THAT POINT.

- THEY'RE ALL--YES, SIR.

[grunts] OH, SON.

LOOK AT HIM PUSHING DOWN THAT BANK.

[fishing line reeling] - WELL, IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE ALL THE TIME, I'M GONNA THROW IN AND GET YOU.

- [laughs] I'M DOING ALL I CAN DO TO TURN HIM.

AH!

I DON'T WANT--I DON'T WANT TO BREAK HIM OFF.

THIS IS A--PROBABLY AN OVERSIZED RED RIGHT HERE, BUT WE DO WANT TO SEE HIM.

HE'S GOING AROUND THEM POLES TOO.

[grunts] - YEAH, HE'S STRONG.

CAN YOU GET HIM INSIDE THE BOAT?

- I THINK SO.

YEAH, HE'S A NICE FISH.

- DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO PUT HIM IN THE NET, OR DO YOU WANT TO-- - NO, WE'LL SEE.

IT'S GONNA BE A WHILE.

HE AIN'T DONE YET.

HE'S JUST CRUISING RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT, DEAN.

- OH, MAN, THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

- HE IS.

- I TELL YOU WHAT, THIS WIND... [scoffs] IT'S ABOUT TEN MILES AN HOUR FASTER THAN THEY SAID IT WAS GONNA BE.

- YEAH, SO MUCH FOR THAT FIVE MILE AN HOUR.

[chuckles] - IF IT DIDN'T BOTHER HIM... - NAH, THEY'LL SEE.

I MEAN, IT DON'T HAVE TO BE SLICK, CALM, BEAUTIFUL EVERY DAY YOU GO TO FISH.

- DO YOU WANT TO PUT HIM IN A NET, OR WHAT?

- THEM FISH EAT WHEN IT'S...

WHEN THE WIND'S BLOWING, THEY EAT.

WHEN IT'S CALM, THEY EAT.

- HOW COME EVERY TIME I GO FISHING WITH YOU, I'M STANDING AROUND WITH THE NET?

- THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

- WELL... - TELL YOU WHAT.

THERE'S NO QUIT IN-- THERE'S NO QUIT IN THE OLD REDFISH, NOW.

- WELL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CALL THEM REDFISH.

- IT MAY LOOK LIKE I'M PLAYING HIM, BUT HE'S STILL PLAYING ME RIGHT THE SAME.

- HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, YOU'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO CALL THEM A RED DRUM.

- MAN, HE'S OVER.

HE'S OVER SLOW.

- OH, YEAH, HE'S BROKE.

- A LITTLE BIT.

- HE'S-- - ALL RIGHT.

- THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

- I GOT YOU.

- THAT'S A GREAT FISH.

LITTLE SKITTER WALK.

- YEP.

HE'S A LIVE ONE.

IN THIS WIND, YOU NEED SOMETHING LIVE.

- I TELL YOU, THIS WIND IS CRAZY.

- ABOUT A 27 1/2-INCH FISH.

- YEAH, HE'S BEAUTIFUL.

- AND THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT TO START IT OFF.

- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

- ALL RIGHT.

THOSE FISH PUSHED ON DOWN THE BANK TOO, DEAN.

YOU JUST LETTING THEM THINGS-- JUST THEY'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY'RE READY.

HE'S FINE.

- OKAY, NOW YOU CAN WATCH.

- ALL RIGHT.

- TIRED OF THAT ALREADY.

- [laughs quietly] YOU'RE GONNA CATCH A FISH.

SEE HIM BLOWING?

HE'S ON IT.

WORK IT A LITTLE FASTER AND THEN STOP IT ONE TIME, DEAN.

- HE SURE HIT LIKE A BIG FISH, BUT NOW I DON'T THINK HE'S-- HE'S NOT THAT BIG.

HE'S SMALL.

HE'S OKAY.

- HE'S GOOD.

AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT FISH.

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

OH, LORD, YOU GOT A...

WHEN YOU'D CHANGE THAT PLUG?

- [chuckles] - THAT'S A GOOD FISH, DEAN.

25--BEAUTIFUL.

- YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL BLACK IN THE TAIL, AND WE'VE GOT THAT REAL COPPER BRONZE COLOR.

- YEAH, HEALTHY TOO.

- LET'S GET HIM PUT BACK.

- ALL THEY'RE DOING BACK HERE IS EATING.

BEAUTIFUL.

LET'S DO SOME MORE OF THAT.

- [laughing] - OH, GOOD FISH, RICKY.

- YEAH, HE EXPLODED ON IT.

- HE BLEW UP ON IT.

- HE'S LOOKING FOR YOUR POLE TONIGHT.

- WATCH IT, MAN.

NOW, LOOK!

DON'T LET HIM GET AROUND ONE OF THOSE POLES OVER THERE!

TURN HIM AROUND!

STOP HIM!

- LOOK, WHEN I GET A CHANCE, RIGHT THEN-- THERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO GET ON THAT FISH, RIGHT THEN.

- THE ROD'S PRACTICALLY SMACKED ME IN THE HEAD.

- THIS ROD'S GOT A LIFETIME WARRANTY.

HE'S GOT YOUR PLUG HANGING IN THIS MOUTH.

- I WISH HE WOULD.

- AIN'T SUPPOSED TO BE NO FISH LIKE THIS IN HERE.

[chuckles] - THAT'S A GOOD FISH RIGHT THERE.

[clattering] THAT'S A GOOD FISH RIGHT THERE.

- THERE I GO AGAIN WITH THE STUPID NET.

- [laughs] I CAN NET IT.

IT AIN'T NO PROBLEM.

MAYBE.

- COME ON, NOW.

GET CONTROL OF THAT FISH.

- I GOT THIS FISH WHIPPED, BUDDY.

- I SEE THAT.

I SEE HOW WHIPPED HE IS.

AND YOU WAIT, MAYBE HE'LL BREAK OFF THERE.

- YEAH.

- LOOK AT THAT.

HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.

HE SPIT A PLUG OUT FOR ME.

- THAT'S SOME UGLY BAIT.

THINKING THAT'S THE OLD RAPALA.

THEY STARTED OUT MAKING GOOD PLUGS.

- THAT'S A RAPALA.

- WHAT?

- THAT'S WHO MAKES 'EM.

[straining] OH, MAN.

- IS THAT NOT A PRETTY FISH?

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO MEASURE HIM, DO WE?

- LOOK HOW GOLD HE IS.

- BEAUTIFUL.

- GORGEOUS.

- BEAUTIFUL.

- I'D KISS HIM IF HE WEREN'T SO UGLY.

- OH, MAN.

- [groans] - GO KISSING FISH.

- [groaning] OH, YEAH.

NICE FISH.

[grunts] THAT DON'T GET OLD, DO IT, DEAN?

- YOU KNOW, RICKY, YESTERDAY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS, THIS TIME OF DAY, THIS PLACE LOOKED LIKE A MIRROR.

- I KNOW--SLICK, CALM.

- LIKE A MILLPOND IN THE DAY.

WE'VE GOT A REAL CHOP GOING, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE SLOWED THE BITE DOWN THERE.

- NO, WE FOUND THE FISH.

THEY'RE STRIKING IT.

THEY'RE STRIKING AS GOOD AS YOU COULD ASK FOR.

- I KNOW BASS FISHERMEN LIKE SOME CHOP ON THE WATER WHEN THEY'RE TOPWATER FISHING.

DON'T LIKE IT DEAD CALM.

I THINK THEY MAY LOOK IT HARDER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS-- YOU KNOW IT'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE HARDER FOR THEM TO FIND IT.

SO I THINK THEY'RE--YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

PLUS, YOU KNOW THESE BAITS GOT THOSE KNOCKERS IN IT.

- RIGHT.

- SO THEY'RE...YOU KNOW, THEY'LL COME TO THAT SOUND.

THEY SEE SOMETHING STERN AND HEAR A LITTLE SOMETHING, THEY GOT TO CHECK IT OUT.

SAW HIM BLOW UP ON IT.

- YEP.

PRETTY FISH.

JUST COME ON.

I'M GONNA COME RIGHT OVER.

YOU KEEP ON FIGHTING.

COME UP HERE IF YOU NEED TO.

- I'M GONNA HAVE TO COME UP TO THE FRONT WITH YOU.

- COME ON.

- TRY TO STAY CLEAR OF THIS P.V.C.

UH--OKAY.

- HE'S JUST LEANING ON YOU.

- YEP.

- YOU GOT THIS.

LEAN THAT ROD A LITTLE BIT.

YOU GOT HIM.

- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

- YOU'RE MANHANDLING HIM.

[fishing line reeling] PULLS GOOD, DON'T HE?

- [laughs] THAT'S A GOOD FISH, BUDDY.

- [grunts] - WE'LL MEASURE HIM.

ALL RIGHT, DEAN, WATCH THAT BAIT.

- YOU GOT IT.

- OH, WE GOT SOME MANY HOOKS ON THAT THING.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S HIM BACK IN THE WATER.

- PRETTY GOOD FISH.

25 INCHES.

- YEP.

- ALL RIGHT.

YOU'LL LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY.

YOU KNOW, THE SUN'S OUT REALLY BRIGHT NOW.

WE STARTED OUT TODAY, THOSE FIRST FISH WE HOOKED UP, IT WAS--WE HAD OVERCAST.

IT WAS CLOUDY.

- YEP.

- WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THAT NORMALLY HAVE ON TOPWATER BITE?

- I'D RATHER SEE IT CLOUDY, DEAN, BUT I DON'T THINK IT REALLY MATTERS.

OH, LOOK--LOOK, THERE HE IS!

RIGHT THERE.

STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE!

[grunts] FISH ON!

OH, SON!

IT DON'T MATTER!

AH!

HE GOT OFF!

- WHERE WERE YOU?

TOWARD THAT OTHER POINT?

- YEAH.

IT DON'T MUCH MATTER.

IT'S BRIGHT AND SUNNY RIGHT THIS SECOND.

- LET ME GET OVER THERE.

- ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE NEXT SHOT.

MAN!

- WAS IT RIGHT ON THE POINT?

- YEAH, RIGHT ON THAT GRASS POINT RIGHT THERE.

- WELL, THERE WE GO.

- THERE'S A SCHOOL ON THAT POINT.

- I DON'T THINK THEY'RE REAL BIG FISH, BUT HE'S JUST COMING WITH YOU, I BELIEVE.

- I GOT THAT ONE.

LET ME GET THIS ONE IN.

- NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT FISH.

HERE, I GOT IT.

LET ME GET THE NET.

- I GOT HIM GOING.

GET HIM UP HERE.

[fishing line reeling] MINE'S HOOKED UP.

I'M GONNA SET MINE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROD HOLDER.

COME ON UP HERE IF YOU NEED TO.

[water splashing] - HE HIT THE BADONK-A-DONK TOO.

- OKAY.

- LOOK AT ALL THE SPOTS ON IT.

- I DON'T KNOW.

HE'S--YOU DON'T SEE 'EM...

EXACTLY LIKE THAT ANYMORE.

- I NEVER CAUGHT ONE THAT WAS SPOTTED UP LIKE THAT.

- HE'S TRYING TO BE A TROUT, AIN'T HE?

LOOK AT THAT.

- ALL RIGHT, RICKY, LET'S GO GET YOU A FISH.

- WHERE'S THE FISH?

- IT CAME OUT OF THE ROD HOLDER.

THERE YOU GO.

HE'S STILL THERE.

- YEAH, HE IS.

- WELL, I GUESS THAT IS ON.

- HE WAS ON VACATION.

YOU KNOW, THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS.

MY QUESTION ABOUT THE SUNLIGHT, IF YOU'VE FOUND... LOOKS LIKE A CLONE-- - YEP.

- BEAUTIFUL.

- THERE YOU GO.

- IT'S A PRETTY FISH, MAN.

- YEP.

- HE HIT THAT LIKE A BULLDOG.

- THERE'S A LITTLE PLIERS THAT GOT HID IN MY POCKET.

[laughter] - NICE RED.

- YEAH, IT'S A GOOD FISH.

- ABOUT 425.

- BEAUTIFUL.

- MAYBE THEY'RE STILL OVER THERE.

LET'S GO BACK AND SEE.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE HURT HIM, THOUGH.

[water splashing] RIGHT.

- JOE, I GOT TO TELL YOU, IT WAS A GOOD DAY OF FISHING, BUT THE WIND IS JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

- YEAH, THIS PAST--WELL, ACTUALLY, DATING BACK TO THE FALL, WE, YOU KNOW-- IT'S BEEN A REAL WINDY-- IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME I'VE GONE OUT, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY, IT'S BEEN-- WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE WIND, BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER TO THE FISH.

AND ACTUALLY, IT GOT BETTER AS THE MORNING PROGRESSED.

WE HAD A PRETTY STIFF WIND STARTING OUT THE MORNING, AND USUALLY, IN MOST SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE BREAK BEFORE THE WIND PICKS UP IN THE MORNING, SO IT WAS ALREADY BLOWING WHEN WE GOT THERE.

AND AS YOU SAW, RICKY CAUGHT THE FIRST FISH OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER WE SET UP.

BUT YOU FISH IN ALL CONDITIONS, AND THAT PROVED THAT, FOR RED DRUM ANYWAY, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

STRIPED BASS TOO, THEY LOVE A CHOPPY SEA.

AND IT TENDS TO, OVER THE YEARS, THAT SOME OF OUR BETTER FISHING HAS BEEN ON WINDY DAYS.

- STILL A WINDY DAY JUST KIND OF-- YOU KNOW, IT MAKES YOU USE EVERYTHING IN YOUR TACKLE BOX.

- WELL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE A LITTLE LACKING ON WANTING TO HIT SOMETHING.

BUT THAT DAY AT TOPWATER, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY-- IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER WHAT YOU USED.

- WELL, LET'S GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WELL, RICKY, THAT WAS AN INTERESTING MORNING.

WE GOT RIGHT ON THE FISH.

YOU CAUGHT A FISH ON THE VERY FIRST CAST.

- YEAH, THAT WAS PRETTY UNREAL.

- THAT'S HOW IT IS SOMETIMES.

- YEAH, IT-- YOU KNOW, CONDITIONS YESTERDAY, THIS PLACE WAS LIKE A LAKE.

- I KNOW IT.

- COME UP THIS MORNING, WE HAD A NORTHEAST WIND BLOWING PROBABLY ABOUT 12, 15 MILES AN HOUR, STILL BLOWING.

- THEY WERE CALLING FOR 5.

- RIGHT.

BUT SOME DAYS, YOU JUST GOT TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT YOU'VE GOT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE'VE CAUGHT SOME NICE FISH TODAY.

THROWING ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF TOPWATER.

A SKITTER WALK--THAT'S-- THEY WORK GREAT TO START WITH.

- RIGHT.

- THE SKITTER WALK IS A GREAT BAIT.

- YES, IT IS.

- I CAUGHT ONE ON A-- A COUPLE FISH ON A ZARA SPOOK.

- YEAH.

- SUPER SPOOK, THIS HEDDON LURE CALLED-- - THE BADONK-A-DONK.

- WELL, IT'S A BOMBER.

HEDDON MAKES THE ZARA SPOOK.

BUT ANYWAY, WE--ALL WE BROUGHT WERE TOPWATER LURES, AND EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE GREAT CONDITIONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT JUST SLICK, CLUNK-CALM WATER IS THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN FISH TOPWATER.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

- NO.

- AND... - YOU KNOW, WE SAW A FEW FISH FEEDING AND CAST TO THEM, AND, MAN, THEY'LL GO ON IT.

AND I GOT MY HEART BROKEN WHEN THAT FISH BLEW UP.

- WE'VE LOST, WHAT, ONE OUT OF EIGHT?

- YEAH.

- THAT AIN'T BAD.

- NO, THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

- YEAH, THAT WAS... - NOW, YOU'RE USING BRAID TOO, JUST LIKE I AM.

- YEAH, I ACTUALLY GOT-- IT'S SIX DIAMETER, 20-POUND TEST, SUFIX.

GOOD BRAID, AND I GOT A FLUOROCARBON 30-POUND LEADER.

IT SOUNDS HEAVY, BUT YOU KNOW AS GOOD AS I DO, WHEN YOU'RE FISHING AROUND, YOUR STROKES, YOUR POLES, PYLONS, THAT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE, OR SAVE YOU A MISSED FISH.

- WELL, ANOTHER THING TOO YOU BROUGHT UP WHILE WE WERE OUT THERE IS, MOST PEOPLE DON'T USE A LONG ENOUGH LEADER WHEN THEY'RE FISHING FOR THESE DRUMS.

YOU'RE LOOK--CATCHING FISH THAT ARE 30 INCHES LONG.

AND THEY'VE GOT REALLY SHARP GILL PLATES.

AND SO NORMALLY WHAT I'LL DO IS ACTUALLY USE A LONGER LEADER, AND I'LL--SOMETIMES I'LL REEL IT UP INTO THE TIP WHILE I'M CASTING.

- YEAH, WHEN YOU'RE TURNING AROUND, YOU GOT TO FIGURE-- WELL, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT THEIR SCALES, IT'LL CUT YOU OFF, SO...

IF YOU CAN STAND TO USE A LONG ONE, WHEN YOU USE A SEVEN-FOOT RODS, YOU KNOW, THREE-FOOT LEADER'S NOT THAT HARD TO FISH.

- A SEVEN-FOOT ROD HAS GOT A PRETTY GOOD BACKBONE TO IT.

- YEAH, MEDIUM ACTION, MEDIUM--HEAVY'S NOT TOO MUCH.

- WELL, THAT'S GREAT.

WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING ME FISHING TODAY.

- YES, SIR.

- IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, AS USUAL.

- YEAH, MAN.

- AND WE'LL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER.

- ALL RIGHT.

- TRY TO FIND A CALM MORNING.

- GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

- WELL, THAT CERTAINLY WAS SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION.

JOE, YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF LURES RIGHT THERE.

- YEAH, THIS IS A REAL POPULAR TOPWATER BAIT.

THESE ARE...MADE BY THE HEDDON COMPANY.

IT'S A SUPER SPOOK, AND THEY MAKE THEM IN DIFFERENT SIZES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT DAY, THEY USED A SKITTER WALK, AND I THINK THEY USED THE SPOOKS TOO.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT... MAKES AND MODELS OUT THERE THAT WORK FOR RED DRUM, AND SPECKLED TROUT WILL HIT THEM ON TOP ALSO.

STRIPED BASS WILL HIT A TOPWATER LURE.

BUT AGAIN, WE DEALT WITH THE WIND.

BOTH OUR FISHERMEN TODAY ARE REALLY ACCOMPLISHED ANGLERS AND KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, SITUATIONS, WHETHER IT'S A SLICK SURFACE OR A ROUGH-- YOU KNOW, A ROUGH SURFACE.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

AS LONG AS THE FISH COOPERATE, AND THEY DID THAT DAY.

- WELL, THANKS FOR THAT VALUABLE INFORMATION.

NOW, DONNA'S GOT A GREAT RECIPE FOR YOU.

LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA IN HER KITCHEN.

- HI, TODAY IN THE KITCHEN, WE'RE MAKING A POTATO CRUSTED GROUPER.

IT'S A GREAT RECIPE.

IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL AND UNUSUAL, SO I THINK IT'LL BE A HIT AT YOUR NEXT PARTY OR JUST YOUR NEXT FAMILY DINNER.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

I HAVE MY MANDOLINE OUT, AND WE'RE GOING TO USE IT TO SLICE OUR POTATOES REALLY PAPER-THIN.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A MANDOLINE, JUST USE YOUR KNIFE-- A SHARP KNIFE, OR YOU CAN USE A POTATO PEELER TO GET A REALLY NICE THIN POTATO.

AND WHAT I'VE DONE IS, I'VE JUST CUT OFF THE END OF MY POTATO SO I HAVE A NICE FLAT SURFACE, AND THEN I'M GONNA RUN IT ACROSS MY MANDOLINE.

AND I HAVE IT SET ON THE VERY THINNEST SLICE.

AND IT MIGHT TAKE A FEW TO GET IT TO WORK, TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.

BUT YOU JUST KEEP EVEN PRESSURE, AND YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME NICE THIN SLICES.

AND THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO-- MAYBE JUST PUT THAT OVER THERE.

WE DON'T NEED THAT NOW-- IS--SEE HOW THIN THESE ARE?

THEY'RE REALLY NICE AND THIN, ALMOST LIKE A CHIP.

SO THEN I'M GOING TO DRY THEM OUT JUST TO GET THE WATER OFF.

PUT THESE OUT ONTO A PAPER TOWEL.

SO WHILE THEY ARE JUST DRYING A LITTLE BIT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET OUR FISH READY FOR OUR-- FOR THESE POTATOES.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA MAKE AN EGG WASH.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE EGG, AND WE'RE GONNA ADD ABOUT 3 TABLESPOONS OF WATER TOGETHER.

THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA TAKE OUR FORK, AMD WE'RE JUST GONNA WHIP IT TOGETHER UNTIL IT'S ALL MIXED...

TOGETHER.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE GONNA PUT THAT ASIDE.

THAT'S READY TO GO.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR SEAFOOD BREADER AND PLACE THAT ONTO OUR WAX PAPER FOR EASY CLEANUP.

AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR GROUPER FILETS, WHICH ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I CUT THEM INTO SINGLE SERVINGS SO THAT EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE A NICE SERVING.

AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO BREAD THAT LIGHTLY IN OUR SEAFOOD BREADER.

WE'RE GONNA SHAKE UP OUR-- SHAKE OFF OUR EXTRA.

AND WE'RE GONNA PLACE IT HERE ONTO OUR CUTTING BOARD.

THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR EGG WASH, AND WE'RE GOING TO COAT OUR FISH WITH OUR EGG WASH. ONCE IT'S COATED, THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR POTATO SLICES THAT WE HAVE, AND WE'RE GONNA PLACE THOSE ONTO THE TOP OF THE BREADER ON THE FISH.

AND THIS IS GONNA MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SCALES, WHICH I THINK IS SO COOL AND BEAUTIFUL.

SO THEN WE'RE GOING TO OVERLAP THOSE AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE WE HAVE FISH SCALES ON THE OUTSIDE OF OUR FILETS.

IS THAT NOT COOL, OR WHAT?

I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

SO WE'RE GONNA DO THAT TILL WE'RE ALL FINISHED.

IT'S JUST SO PRETTY.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OIL IS HOT ENOUGH, WHICH I THINK IT IS.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT IT POTATO SIDE DOWN INTO YOUR OIL, AND WE'RE GONNA FRY THIS JUST UNTIL YOUR POTATOES TURN GOLDEN BROWN.

THEN WE'LL FLIP IT OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE AND COOK IT JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES.

THEN WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT IN THE OVEN AT 450 FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES JUST TO FINISH IT UP.

SO HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

YOU SEE IT HAS THIS GREAT SCALES ON THE FISH, WHICH I THINK IS SO COOL.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SERVE IT WITH SOME SAUTEED SPINACH OR SOME SAUTEED BEET GREENS.

AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE POTATO CRUSTED GROUPER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME HERE ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- ANOTHER EXCELLENT RECIPE.

JOE, THE POTATOES LOOK LIKE SCALES.

HOW'D YOU LIKE THAT?

- WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS SO UNIQUE ABOUT IT.

AGAIN SHE ALWAYS COMES TO US WITH SOME GOOD IDEAS ON HOW TO PREPARE FISH AND GAME.

AND THIS ONE, IT JUST KIND OF ADDED THE LITTLE ELEMENT TO GIVE IT THAT FISHY LOOK.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.

- YOU KNOW, LET'S GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE FISHING.

TOPWATER FISHING'S ALWAYS FUN.

- IT REALLY IS.

IT'S ONE OF-- ONE OF MY MOST POPULAR-- I JUST--IT'S THE EXCITEMENT OF IT.

WHEN A FISH HITS A LURE AND LITERALLY KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE WATER IF HE MISSES IT.

MOST OF THE TIME, MOST FISH DON'T MISS THEM.

BUT ON A ROUGH DAY LIKE WE HAD THAT MORNING, IT'S MORE OF A-- IT'S REALLY, TO ME, INTERESTING THAT THEY CAN GRAB IT LIKE THEY CAN.

BECAUSE YOU'RE--YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BRINING THAT BAIT ACROSS THE WATER, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, RIDING ON TOP OF A SMALL WAVE.

AND THE FACT THAT THEY CAN HONE IN ON THAT LURE AND HIT IT WITH PRECISION.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO EXIST, TO LIVE AND EAT, AND SO THEY BECOME QUITE GOOD AT IT.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO FISHING, AS ANY FISHERMEN WILL TELL YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OF THE ELEMENTS.

AND THAT DAY IT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAD PLANNED ON.

I MEAN, IT-- THE WEATHER MAN HERE IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA ON THE COAST HAVE A CHALLENGE-- I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS-- BECAUSE OF OUR-- THE WAY WE'RE SET UP GEOGRAPHICALLY.

I THINK THE GULF STREAM CONTROLS A LOT OF OUR WEATHER, AND SO IT'S PRETTY HARD SOMETIMES TO PREDICT.

BUT THE CONTRAST BETWEEN WHAT THEY HAD THE DAY BEFORE-- ACTUALLY TWO DAYS BEFORE-- AND WHAT WE HAD THAT MORNING, REALLY WAS A CHALLENGE TO THE GUYS, AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

- WHEN THE FISH COMES OUT AND HITS THAT TOPWATER BAIT, YOU SAY, "WHAT WIND?"

- YEAH, EXACTLY.

EXACTLY.

- FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

WE DO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- [ANNOUNCER] MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

- [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.

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