[piano intro] - THERE'S PROBABLY 100 FISH, RICKY.

- 99.

- 99 FISH IN THAT SCHOOL.

[laughter] - LOOK AT 'EM.

- LOOK AT 'EM PUSHIN' THERE.

- OH, YOU GONNA GET HOOKED UP.

[laughter] 98 NOW, RIGHT?

[laughter] - OH, SON...

IT'S TOO COLD TO BE OUT HERE FISHIN' TODAY, ROBBIE.

- IT'S PERFECT.

IT'S PERFECT.

- SON, THAT'S A GOOD FISH RIGHT THERE.

LOOK AT THAT FISH.

OH.

- I'M STARTIN' TO WORK A SWEAT UP.

- I KNOW, AND I GOT A BAD ELBOW.

- AND A BAD FOOT.

- WE'RE HANDY.

- [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, AND WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

WELL, THIS PAST WINTER, IT GOT REALLY COLD, AND, JOE, AFTER THAT POLAR VORTEX, WE WENT FISHIN'.

- WELL, WE DID.

THERE WAS THREE-- ACTUALLY THREE DAYS AFTER WE HAD THE REAL COLD TEMPERATURES, THAT WE HAD A TRIP SCHEDULED FOR BEAR ISLAND-- BEHIND BEAR ISLAND IN THE SHALLOWS, THE MARSHES, NEAR SWANSBORO-- FOR DRUM AND-- SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS, AND FINALLY EVERYTHING WORKED OUT.

WE HAD THE TIDE RIGHT.

WE HAD THE LIGHTING RIGHT.

NO WIND.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MOVING SCHOOLS OF FISH IN ABOUT 2 FEET OF WATER, AND WE FOUND FISH, AND WE CAUGHT FISH.

- WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN GEAR TIME TODAY?

- THE GUYS WILL GO BACK AND SHOW US HOW THEY RIGGED UP FOR IT; IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

THE MAIN THING IS, YOU HAVE TO BE REAL QUIET.

YOU'RE IN SHALLOW WATER, AND YOU HAVE TO BE STEALTHY IN YOUR APPROACH, BUT EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER, AND WE CAUGHT FISH.

- AND DONNA'S GOT A RECIPE TODAY FOR SHRIMP CAKES.

- SHRIMP CAKES, REALLY GOOD RECIPE FROM HER TODAY, AND TUNE IN.

- ALL RIGHT, IT'S ALL ABOUT WINTER REDS TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- ALL RIGHT, ROB, YOU GOT ME OUT HERE THIS FREEZING MORNIN'.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA BE CATCHING THIS MORNING?

- WE'RE GONNA BE CHASING PUPPY DRUM.

- ALL RIGHT.

- IT'S THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.

IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY COLD.

- WE HAVE HAD SOME COLD NIGHTS, DAYS TOO.

- YEAH, A LOT OF THESE FISH THAT WERE IN THE SURF IN THE LATE FALL, EARLY PART OF WINTER HAVE MOVED BACK IN HERE FOR PROTECTION AND SURVIVAL.

- OH, YEAH.

- AND THEY'RE FEEDIN'.

THEY'RE SCHOOLED UP REAL WELL, AND WE'RE HOPING WE CAN GET ON THEM PRETTY QUICK THIS MORNING.

- ALL RIGHT, AND CAN-- COULDN'T FIND A BETTER MORNING.

LOOK AT IT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

- NO, IT'S SLICK.

THIS IS THE CONDITIONS YOU REALLY, REALLY GOT TO HAVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

'CAUSE YOU GOT TO BE-- - FLOOD TIDE?

- WELL, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, SO YOU CAN GET BACK IN THERE ON 'EM WITH YOUR BOAT.

- I GOT YOU.

- BUT FLOODED TIDE.

IT'S CALM.

IT'S ABOUT AS PERFECT AS IT GETS.

- WELL, LET'S GET ON 'EM.

- LET'S DO IT.

- ROBBIE, THIS LOCATION WE'RE GOING NOW, YOU MENTIONED SURVIVAL EARLIER.

- YEAH.

- I KNOW, IN THE RIVER, I'M GOING BACK UP IN THE DEEP CREEKS.

- RIGHT.

- IS THIS SIMILAR OR... - NO, HERE, IT'S MORE SURVIVAL FROM THE PORPOISES, I THINK, MAINLY.

- OH, I GOT YOU, YEAH.

- IT'S REALLY SHALLOW ACTUALLY, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE FISHING TODAY, NO DEEPER THAN ABOUT 16 INCHES, AND-- - THEY'RE JUST HIDING OUT AND FEEDING, HUH?

- YEAH, I MEAN, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND WHAT THEY CAN FEED ON, AND, YOU KNOW, THE PORPOISES JUST CAN'T GET UP IN HERE AND GET 'EM.

- RIGHT, RIGHT.

- PLUS THE WATER TEMPERATURE DOES TEND TO BE A FEW DEGREES WARMER, WHICH IS GOOD ON THEM TOO, SO... - OH, YEAH, ESPECIALLY ON THESE SUNNY DAYS, IT PROBABLY WARMS IT UP, DOESN'T IT?

- IT DOES; YOU CAN SEE IT WARM UP AS MUCH AS 5 TO 10 DEGREES-- SOMEWHERE IN THERE.

- OH, YEAH.

- THIS HERE IS-- LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SEEING SOME FISH UP HERE MOVING.

IT'S KIND OF WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CALM WEATHER, RICKY, 'CAUSE-- - YEAH, I SEE-- MAN, YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT FLINCHES OUT THERE.

- YOU CAN.

A LOT OF TIMES, IF YOU CAN'T SEE, IT'S-- YOU JUST KIND OF GOT TO RELY ON WHERE YOU KNOW YOU'VE CAUGHT THEM IN THE PAST.

- EXACTLY.

- WHICH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW-- CAN BE A GOOD, SUCCESSFUL WAY TO DO IT TOO.

- OH, YEAH, SPENDING A LOT OF HOURS OUT HERE LIKE YOU DO.

- YEAH, BUT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SEEING SOME PUSH UP HERE, LITTLE BIT, MOVIN' AROUND.

LOT OF TIMES, ONCE YOU GET ON THEM AND YOU START TO CATCH A FEW, YOU'LL SEE THEM MOVIN' EVEN MORE THEN.

RICKY, THERE YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A SCHOOL OF FISH ON TOP OF THAT SAND SHOAL.

- YES, IT IS.

- YOU CAN SEE THEM PLAIN AS DAY WITH THE SLICK WATER.

- THERE HE IS.

[reel whirring] MY--LIKE A TROUT.

[laughs] THAT'S NO REDFISH, ROBBIE.

- WHAT YOU GOT?

- YOU PUT US ON 'EM, BOY.

- HE'S GOT A LOT MORE SPUNK THAN YOU WOULD THINK.

- YEAH, HE DON'T--I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OL' TROUT THERE.

- YOU CATCH OL' TROUT THAT PULLS LIKE THAT... - [laughs] BEAUTY, MAN.

- OH, YEAH.

THERE YOU GO.

- GOOD JOB, RIGHT?

- GOOD START.

- ROBBIE, YOU PUT ME ON THAT ONE, SON.

- YEAH, THERE-- - WHAT A BEAUTY.

- SO ABOUT A 22-INCH FISH, PROBABLY.

- WHAT IS IT?

YOU WERE TELLING ME THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THAT SEA LICE.

- YEAH, SOME OF THEM HAVE THESE PARASITES IN THE WINTER.

IT DOESN'T HURT 'EM.

- SON, LOOK AT THAT.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

- DOESN'T HURT 'EM.

IT'S JUST A COLD WEATHER PARASITE.

- YOU SEE HIM COME UP, SHAKIN' HIS HEAD LIKE A OLD TROUT?

- YEAH, HE WAS TRYING TO PUT A SHOW ON FOR YOU.

MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE AT HOME.

- I APPRECIATE THAT, BOY.

[laughter] GET YOU ONE.

- YEAH.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND THAT SCHOOL.

- RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

I SEE THEM RIGHT THERE.

HIT 'EM.

- ALL RIGHT.

- THERE'S STILL SOME IN THAT GRASS RIGHT THERE.

OH, I SHOULD HAVE THREW RIGHT THERE.

- GOD, THEY'RE THICK OVER THERE.

I THINK YOU JUST GOT BIT, YOU KNOW?

- OH, SON.

- ALL RIGHT, NOW, YOU'RE ON.

- HOOK-SET.

[reel whirring] [laughter] LOOK AT HIM PUSHIN', LOOK AT HIM PUSHIN'.

- YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING.

I WAS WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT FISH WAS... - YEAH, YOU LET HIM SWALLOW THAT ONE.

- I DON'T THINK HE KNOWS HE'S HOOKED.

- OH, YEAH.

- GET HIM, ROBBIE, RIGHT THERE.

- I DON'T WANT TO DO IT TO HIM.

- GO AHEAD.

GET HIM RIGHT THERE.

THAT FISH RIGHT THERE IS MAD NOW.

- LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY.

- I'M GONNA REACH RIGHT DOWN AND JUST PICK HIM UP.

- [speaking indistinctly] - MAYBE.

HE SAID, "NO, YOU AIN'T GONNA PICK ME UP YET."

- ARE YOU GOT-- HOOKED HIM IN THE TAIL?

- NO, HE'S IN THE TOP OF THE ROOF--THE HEAD.

- IT'S AMAZING HOW AGGRESSIVE THEY ARE.

- OH, IT IS.

LOOK AT THAT.

ROBBIE, I LET THAT ONE HAVE IT A LITTLE BIT LONG.

- YEAH.

- YOU SAW IT BEFORE I DID.

I THOUGHT I HAD A OYSTER ROCK, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

- YEAH, HE WAS SWIMMING OFF WITH IT.

YOU COULD SEE YOUR LINE MOVIN'.

OF COURSE, THAT-- - HE THUMPED IT AND JUST SAT THERE.

- YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.

I HAD MISSED ONE RIGHT BEFORE YOU, AND I DON'T THINK I LET HIM HAVE IT LONG ENOUGH.

LITTLE JUMPY.

PRETTY WORK, THOUGH.

- WENT RIGHT HERE.

- I KNOW, RIGHT HERE.

- RIGHT HERE, I WANT TO GET HIM RIGHT THERE.

- SEE IF WE CAN'T GET A BITE.

- YOU GOT HIM.

- THERE'S A FEW IN HERE.

- SON, THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THEM.

YOU CAN SURE SNEAK UP ON 'EM.

- YEAH, THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF PRESSURE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S DUCK HUNTIN'.

- RIGHT, RIGHT.

OH, NICE.

GET IT, ROBBIE.

- I JUST GOT-- I FEEL 'EM SWIMMING THROUGH MY LINE.

- GOOD NIGHT.

- I KEEP THINKING THAT'S A TROUT, BOY.

- IT'S AN OL' REDFISH.

- YOU BEEN-- YOU BEEN TROUT FISHING TOO MUCH.

- AND THEY RUINED ME.

HE DON'T KNOW HE'S HOOKED.

HE SAID, "Y'ALL AIN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN HERE THIS TIME OF YEAR."

- "LEAVE US ALONE."

NEED SOME HELP, LET-- LET ME KNOW.

- THAT'S A GOOD FISH NOW.

- YEAH, LOT BETTER CLASS OF FISH THIS YEAR THAN WE WERE HAVING LAST YEAR.

- YEAH, I KNOW YOU TELLIN' ME THIS WAS THEM 14-, 15-INCH FISH YOU WERE CATCHING.

- IT WAS.

WE HAD A CLASS CHANGE WHERE A LOT OF OUR BIGGER FISH WENT ON TO MAKE SOME BABIES.

- BEAUTIFUL FISH, ROBBIE.

- YES, SIR.

- THREE SPOTS ON EACH SIDE.

- THEY'RE ALL UNIQUE IN THEIR OWN WAY.

- TORE UP MY BAIT, BOY.

- PRETTY.

- THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

OL' MEAN-LOOKIN' REDFISH.

- ACT MEAN.

YOU GONNA LET ME CATCH ONE?

- WHERE'D IT GO?

I'M DONE.

I DONE HAD MY DAY, BRO.

- NO, SIR.

- THAT WAS-- YOU'VE CAUGHT HOW MANY SITTING IN ONE SPOT?

I KNOW YOU JUST CRUSH THEM IN HERE.

- THEY'RE HERE.

IT'LL COME HERE IN A SECOND.

- HEY, HE... - FINALLY.

- HE'S COMIN' TO YOU HARD AS HE CAN GO.

- YEAH, FINALLY.

- WELL, IT'S-- YOU WERE TREATIN' YOUR CHARTER RIGHT BY LETTING ME CATCH THE FIRST ONES.

THAT'S ALL YOU WERE DOIN'.

[grunts] - SOUNDS GOOD.

RICKY, I STILL GOT A LITTLE BUM-- LITTLE BIT OF A BUM FOOT, IF YOU'LL HELP ME OUT.

- YEAH, I GOT YOU, BROTHER.

[grunts] I GOT YOU, BUDDY.

- UH-UH, THANK YOU.

- YEAH, MAN.

LOOK AT THAT BLUE TAIL, ROBBIE.

- YES, SIR.

- GOT HIM ALL EXCITED THIS MORNING.

- WHEN THEY'RE LIT UP LIKE THAT, THEY'LL-- THEIR TAIL GETS AS BLUE AND PRETTY AS IT GETS.

- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT-- - LOT OF PEOPLE CALL THEM REDFISH, BUT THEY'RE MORE OF A SILVER-LOOKING FISH HERE.

- SON, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL, AIN'T IT?

- YES, SIR.

- NICE, BOY, NICE.

- YES, SIR.

LET'S GET HIM BACK IN.

I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.

- OH, YEAH, THAT DON'T GET OLD, DOES IT?

- NO.

- LOOK IN FRONT OF YOU, ROBBIE.

POP HIM RIGHT THERE.

[laughter] - I BELIEVE THERE'S A MESS OF THEM RIGHT HERE.

- TELL YOU WHAT, AIN'T NOTHIN' BETTER THAN SEEING A FISH AND CASTING TO IT.

- YOU GO THAT WAY.

I'LL GO THIS WAY.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

- ALL RIGHT, DEAL.

ROBBIE, 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THIS AT LEAST 9, AIN'T YOU?

- YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAVE DRUM YEAR-ROUND.

- RIGHT, AND PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW?

THEY THINK WINTERTIME-- EVERYTHING'S KIND OF OVER WITH, BUT, MAN... - I TELL YOU, IF-- YOU KNOW, THE BEST DRUM DAYS NUMBERS-WISE IS-- I ALWAYS HAVE IS FROM-- GENERALLY FROM LATE DECEMBER TO MAY.

THESE FISH ARE IN HUMONGOUS SCHOOLS.

- AS YOU DEMONSTRATED.

- YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TYPE OF FISHING IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

WE STILL HAVE SCHOOLS.

LOT OF TIMES, YOU'LL FIND THEM LIKE THIS TOO, AND YOU CAN CATCH THEM ON TOPWATER PLUGS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH, THE FISH ARE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE, BUT THERE'S STILL FISH HERE YEAR-ROUND.

- NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS, BROTHER.

- NO, NO, IT'S-- WE'RE BLESSED HERE WITH A GREAT FISHERY.

THERE'S NO DOUBT.

- THERE'S PROBABLY 100 FISH, RICKY.

- 99.

- 99 FISH IN THAT SCHOOL.

[laughter] - LOOK AT 'EM.

- LOOK AT 'EM PUSHIN' THERE.

- OH, YOU GONNA GET HOOKED UP.

[laughter] 98 NOW, RIGHT?

[laughter] - OH, SON...

IT'S TOO COLD TO BE OUT HERE FISHIN' TODAY, ROBBIE.

- IT'S PERFECT.

IT'S PERFECT.

- SON, THAT'S A GOOD FISH RIGHT THERE.

LOOK AT THAT FISH.

OH.

- I'M STARTIN' TO WORK A SWEAT UP.

- I KNOW, AND I GOT A BAD ELBOW.

- AND A BAD FOOT.

- WE'RE HANDY.

- HOLD ON, BOY.

- RICKY, IF WE WERE FISHING A TOURNAMENT... - OH, MAN.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?

- WE'D HAVE A GOOD WEIGHT RIGHT HERE WITH TWO CASTS.

OOH, LORD.

LOOK.

- THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

YOU GOT HIM THERE?

- HE'LL GRAB THAT JIGHEAD.

- [groans] - YOU GOT HIM?

- LORDY, YEAH, I GOT HIM.

I GOT HIM.

I GOT HIM RIGHT THERE.

- LOOK LIKE TWINS, DON'T THEY?

- THEY ARE, SON.

- THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THEM HERE, THERE.

- IS THAT NOT BEAUTIFUL?

- THEY'RE SCHOOLED UP, AND THEY'RE ALL ABOUT THE SAME SIZE.

- UH-UH-UH.

- YES, SIR, I GOT HIM HOOKED GOOD RIGHT IN THE-- - HE AIN'T HURT A BIT EITHER.

- NO.

- BOY, HE HAD THAT ONE GOOD, DIDN'T HE?

- YEAH, MIGHT HAVE TO DO A LITTLE DENTAL WORK ON HIM.

- BEAUTY.

LET ME GET MINE LOOSE.

AND I'LL HELP YOU WITH IT.

COLD, ROBBIE, SO THEY DON'T SUCK IT DOWN RIGHT TO START WITH, BUT YOU GIVE THEM A SECOND OR TWO... - THEY'LL HIT IT.

I-- THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T REALLY HIT A TOPWATER AS GOOD THIS TIME OF YEAR.

- TELL YOU, WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY GET ON THERE IS PULL.

- YEAH.

PRETTY FISH.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

- YOU AIN'T GONNA HAVE TO TALK ME INTO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ROBBIE.

- HE ACTS LIKE A TROUT AGAIN, DON'T HE?

- IT DID.

- BUT... - OH.

- IT'S ANOTHER GOOD FISH.

LOOK AT THAT THING.

IT DON'T NORMALLY SHAKE THAT-- - HE'S BEEN HANGING AROUND EM' AWHILE.

LET ME GET OUT OF THE WAY.

- THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST ONE WE'VE HAD TODAY.

- HE IS A PRETTY ONE, THOUGH.

- MIGHT NEED TO HELP YOU WITH THAT ONE.

- YES, SIRREE.

- I'LL SLIDE A NET UNDER HIM.

- THAT IS BEAUTIFUL RIGHT THERE.

- YOU GONNA BRING HIM UP HERE OR NOT?

- HEY... - DO IT WITH TFO IN A BIND.

DO WHAT YOU CAN DO, RIGHT?

- THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S A UPPER SLOT FISH THERE.

- OH, SON.

ROBBIE, I AIN'T GONNA LIE TO YOU.

I THOUGHT I HAD ANOTHER OYSTER ROCK TO START WITH.

- START PULLING BACK.

- OH, HE DID, BOY.

LET ME GET THAT HOOK OUT RIGHT THERE.

- THAT'S A PRETTY OYSTER.

- YEAH, I LIKE THEM LIKE THAT.

- YOU HAD A GOOD HOOK-SET ON HIM.

- COME HERE, BABY.

- WATCH THAT JIGHEAD.

- THIS IS WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT A LITTLE RUBBER NET.

- ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT HIM?

- HE DON'T WANT TO COME OUT OF THERE.

HERE SHE IS.

OH, BABY.

- THAT'S A NICE UPPER SLOT FISH.

- IS THAT NOT?

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL, NOW.

HE AIN'T HURT A BIT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, APPRECIATE THAT.

- YES, SIR.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND THAT BUNCH OF FISH AGAIN.

- SON, IF THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT NOW... - YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD CLASS OF FISH.

THAT UPPER-- MIDDLE TO UPPER SLOT ON LIGHT TACKLE IS, UH-- - HE RUN AWAY FROM HERE TOO, NOW.

- YEAH, HE WAS MAD AT YOU.

- NOT LIKE HE WAS NONE TOO COLD, DID HE?

- THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING RIGHT UP TO THE BOAT.

THERE WE GO.

- GET HIM, BOY.

[grunts] TURN HIM.

- LOOK AT THIS SCHOOL, ROBBIE.

- LOOK RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S RIGHT, RICKY.

PUSH HIM BACK IN THERE.

- NO, THEY'RE GETTING BY ME NOW.

LOOK AT ALL THEM FISH.

SON, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

- MM, MM, MM.

- [laughs] - BE OUR LAST SHOT TOO, 'CAUSE THIS WATER IS GETTING OUT OF HERE.

BEAUTIFUL.

MAN, THAT WAS PERFECT THERE.

LET ME GET THIS LURE OUT OF THE WATER BEFORE IT GETS ET.

[laughs] - YES, SIR.

- MM-HMM.

THAT WAS IN ABOUT A FOOT OF WATER, WASN'T IT?

- YEAH, IF THAT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE HELP HERE.

- OH, MAN, HE WEREN'T GOING-- THOSE ARE PERFECT TEETH.

DON'T HURT HIM?

- NO, SIR.

SEE, HE DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANY OF THEM-- - YOU RECOGNIZE HIM?

- YEAH.

I KNOW HIS MAMA.

- THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

- RICKY, IT'S YOUR TURN.

CAST BACK IN THERE.

I THINK YOU'LL GET BIT.

- LET ME TELL YOU HOW MANY I SAW WHILE YOU WERE FIGHTING THAT ONE.

PROBABLY 100.

AND LOT OF THEM TURNED AND WENT RIGHT BACK UP THERE.

- THEY'RE HERE.

- JOE, EARLIER, YOU MENTIONED THE TIDE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

- WELL, THAT TYPE OF FISHING, IT'S ALL BASED ON TIDE.

WE HAD ABOUT A TWO-HOUR WINDOW TO GO IN AND CATCH THESE FISH, AND IT WORKED OUT JUST ABOUT RIGHT, AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING, IS GETTING IN, 'CAUSE IT'S SO SHALLOW BACK THERE.

IF YOU DON'T GET OUT QUICK, YOU COULD BE BACK THERE FOR SIX OR EIGHT HOURS, WAITING FOR THE TIDE TO CHANGE AGAIN.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO SCHOOL.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WELL, ROBBIE, YOU CALLED IT.

YOU TOLD ME TO GET DOWN HERE, AND YOU WERE ON THE MONEY ABOUT THESE REDS.

THEY'VE BEEN ON TODAY, BUT THIS TIDE IS PRETTY CRITICAL, ISN'T IT?

- IT IS.

IT STARTED OUT PRETTY COOL THIS MORNING, IN THE LOW 30s.

THE FISH WERE BACK IN THE MARSH A LITTLE FURTHER, AND THE TIDE WAS HIGH, SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN-- IN BACK IN THERE WITH THEM.

IT'S FALLEN IN A HURRY.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE-- WE GOT TO GET OUT.

BUT IT IS CRUCIAL TO GET IN AND OUT OF HERE IN A HURRY.

- MM-HMM, AND YOUR BAIT'S THAT OLD JERK SHAD.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE FOR YOU?

- THAT'S PROBABLY MY GO-TO BAIT.

ANY OF THE SOFT PLASTICS.

D.O.A.

MAKES A GOOD ONE.

- YEAH, I WAS ON A D.O.A.

- SALTY BAY, ZOOM-- ALL OF THEM MAKE GOOD BAITS TO DO THIS FOR.

THEY'RE TOUGH PLASTIC BAITS.

- YEAH.

- SCENTED IS A REALLY KEY FACTOR.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE PICKY.

YOU NOTICED I WAS USING THIS BLUE CRAB PRO-CURE.

IT MAKES A-- - MAKES A DIFFERENCE, YEAH.

- IT DOES.

THEY'LL PICK IT UP QUICKER.

- AND THAT JIGHEAD, YOU LIKE A GOOD STOUT HOOK FOR THESE REDS, RIGHT?

- A HEAVY-GAUGE HOOK, 'CAUSE IF YOU NOTICED, THEY'RE A NICER FISH; THEY WILL STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.

1/8 OUNCE, 20-POUND FLUOROCARBON.

- AND WITH THE OYSTER ROCKS I SAW, YEAH, AND I'M NOT REALLY AFRAID TOO BAD... - NO.

- BUT YOU CAN GET CUT OFF.

- YOU CAN, AND 20-POUND BRAID IS WHAT I USUALLY USE ON A DRUM ROD.

- AND I KNOW I'M THROWING THIS 6'9" TFO ROD, MEDIUM ACTION, DONE FINE.

YOU KNOW, YOU LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF BEND OUT OF THEM, WEAR THEM DOWN.

- THAT 7-FOOT-- THE 6 1/2 TO 7-FOOT MEDIUM IS PERFECT FOR THESE FISH.

- AND THAT 10-DIAMETER-- 10-POUND TEST, 4-DIAMETER BRAID, AND THAT'S-- - THAT'S KIND OF WHAT ALL OF US GUYS TEND TO USE, AND THAT 25, THIS IS A SMOKE BY QUANTUM AND-- - YEAH, JUST THE 2500 SERIES.

- 3000, THAT'S ABOUT THE PERFECT SIZE.

- YEP.

WITH A GOOD, SMOOTH DRAG.

YOU CAN ENJOY IT.

- YEP.

- WELL, MAN, I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING ME DOWN HERE.

- THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANYTIME.

- ALL RIGHT, BROTHER.

- THANK YOU.

- IF YOU'D LIKE TO TRY THIS KIND OF FISHING, CONTACT CAPTAIN ROB HALL.

THERE'S HIS NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

NOW LET'S CATCH UP WITH DONNA.

SHE'S IN THE KITCHEN WITH A RECIPE FOR SHRIMP.

- HI, TODAY IN SIMPLE COOKING, WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING SOME SHRIMP CAKES.

GREAT FLAVORS GOING ON.

WE HAVE SOME YOGURT DIP THAT WE'RE GONNA ADD WITH IT, AND WE ALSO HAVE THESE GREAT CAKES THAT HAVE NICE-- A LOT OF CRUNCH AND A LOT OF FLAVOR, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.

I'VE CHOPPED UP MY POUND OF SHRIMP, AND IT'S IN MY BOWL.

WE'RE GONNA ADD TO THAT SOME CILANTRO THAT WE HAVE CHOPPED.

WE'RE GONNA ALSO ADD SOME GREEN CHILIES TO THESE, AND GREEN CHILIES, REALLY, THEY'RE NOT HOT.

THEY JUST HAVE A LOT OF GREAT FLAVOR.

WE'RE GONNA ALSO ADD SOME MEXICAN CORN, SOME RED ONIONS THAT WE HAVE CHOPPED, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CHOPPED PRETTY FINELY.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ADD SOME ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS, WHICH ADD LOTS OF GREAT FLAVOR.

THEY'RE A LITTLE TANGY.

AND ONE EGG.

SOME DIJON MUSTARD.

SO YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF FLAVORS GOING ON IN HERE.

AND SOME MAYONNAISE.

JUST--WE'RE GONNA MIX ALL THAT TOGETHER, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD SOME ONION HUSH PUPPY MIX TO THIS AS WELL, SO IT'S GONNA HOLD ALL OF IT TOGETHER, AND THAT EGG IS GONNA HELP BIND IT AS WELL.

GREAT COLORS, TOO, IF YOU NOTICE HOW-- THE PRETTY COLORS THAT ARE IN HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD ABOUT 3/4 OF OUR PACKAGE OF HUSH PUPPY MIX WITH ONIONS.

YOU'LL ALSO HAVE THAT GREAT ONION MIX AS WELL-- FLAVORS.

SO WE'RE GONNA MIX ALL THAT TOGETHER.

LET ME TURN UP MY HEAT.

WE'RE GONNA PREHEAT SOME OIL HERE.

I USED A MIXTURE OF OLIVE OIL AND COOKING-- JUST VEGETABLE OIL, 'CAUSE OLIVE OIL DOESN'T HAVE AS QUITE-- SMOKE POINT-- HIGH A SMOKE POINT AS VEGETABLE OIL DOES, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO SCORCH ANYTHING.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO MIX THAT TOGETHER UNTIL IT IS THICK, AND IF YOU-- IF YOU'RE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF HUMIDITY OR YOU'RE MAKING IT DURING THAT TIME, YOU MAY NEED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE HUSH PUPPY MIX JUST TO GET IT TO BIND WELL.

SO WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE THAT LIKE-- ALL MIXED TOGETHER, AND THEN I'M JUST GONNA USE MY HANDS.

YOU CAN USE A SCOOP IF YOU WANT.

AND WE'RE GONNA FORM THESE INTO SOME PATTIES, LIKE HAMBURGER PATTY SIZE.

ALSO, IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN USE-- MAKE THEM SMALLER, LIKE THE SILVER DOLLAR SIZE, AND SERVE THEM AS APPETIZERS, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL.

WE'RE JUST GONNA FLATTEN THOSE OUT, AND THEN I JUST LIKE TO PUT MINE IN MY HUSH PUPPY MIX, SOME ADDITIONAL ON MY-- ON MY WAX PAPER HERE, AND THEN I LIKE TO COAT THEM, AND THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA DROP THOSE INTO OUR HOT OIL AND COOK THEM UNTIL THEY'RE NICE AND GOLDEN-BROWN, PROBABLY ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES BECAUSE-- DEPENDING ON THE THICKNESS OF YOUR PATTIES, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SHRIMP GETS COOKED, BUT IT COOKS REALLY QUICKLY.

SO WE'RE GONNA TURN THOSE OVER, COOK THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND YOU'RE READY TO GO, AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU MAKE 'EM THE SILVER DOLLAR SIZE, THEY'D BE GREAT FOR SOME APPETIZERS.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY'RE ALL FINISHED, AND THEY COME OUT.

WE HAVE THE GREAT CRUNCH ON THE OUTSIDE THAT THAT HUSH PUPPY MIX WILL MAKE, AND THEN YOU HAVE ALL THE TENDER, GREAT VEGETABLES INSIDE.

WE'RE GONNA SERVE IT ON A CORN RELISH.

IT'S A TOMATO CORN RELISH, WHERE IT HAS TOMATOES AND CORN, THE GREEN CHILIES, AND RED ONION.

JUST A GREAT COMBINATION, AND A LITTLE BIT OF BASIL IN THERE WAS WELL, ALONG WITH OUR YOGURT DIP.

SO IT'S A GREAT COMBINATION OF COLD, HOT, AND CRUNCHY.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHRIMP CAKES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME, HERE ON CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- THANK YOU, DONNA, FOR THAT RECIPE.

NOW, JOE, WE HAD, LIKE, A TWO-HOUR WINDOW, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE PRODUCTIVE.

- IT REALLY DID.

WITH-- THERE WERE A LOT OF FISH BACK THERE, PROBABLY SEVERAL HUNDRED AS-- ACCORDING TO THE CAPTAIN.

I COULDN'T REALLY SEE THEM WITH THE CAMERA BECAUSE OF THE GLARE ON THE WATER, BUT THEY, YOU KNOW-- THERE WERE A LOT OF FISH, AND EVERYTHING JUST CAME TOGETHER.

WE HAD THE TIDE RIGHT.

WE HAD THE LIGHTING RIGHT.

WE HAD NO WIND, SO WE COULD SEE THEM-- THE PUSHES ON THE SURFACE, AND I THINK THE UNIQUENESS OF IT IS FISH OF THAT CALIBER, BEING IN THAT SHALLOW WATER IN JANUARY AND ESPECIALLY AFTER A COLD WINTER LIKE WE HAD, BUT THEY'RE THERE, AND IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE IT, GIVE CAPTAIN HALL A TRY.

- AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT WAS COLD.

- IT WAS.

- FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE, THANK YOU 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.

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