5/3/09 Enjoyed teaching the Ladies fishing seminar (Women Anglers in Training) for The Oak Island Parks and Rec. Dept. Took the ladies fishing in the backwater, wind has been a big factor in getting to fish so far this year. They caught croaker, spots, whiting and had a great time.
 
5/7/09 Chartered another back water trip. Fished a couple of hours and caught 2 Flounder, large Bull Whiting, large Croaker and Spots. Cut short by bad storms, went back out after storms with not much luck. Low tide in the backwater is just about unfishable!

5/12/09 Kings are on the beach. Finally got out for a couple of hours, 3 kings on at one time. Caught all. Few more strikes before wind kicked up and forced us in. Hope to get back out soon! Large Spanish also close in!

5/23/09  Chartered a 1/2 day morning, backwater trip today with Bill Grant and his son Alex from Azle, Texas. We had good black drum fishing but no luck with the Flounder. A little early yet but some keepers are starting to be caught. Bill did land a nice Spec. trout and we caught lots of good size croaker and spots! Thanks guys, I enjoyed fishing with you.

5/24/09  Had a 1/2 day afternoon  reef trip planned today with David Wicks from Greer, SC and his stepson Andy King. The wind kicked up about an hour before their trip so we couldn't fish outside. The bad part was we had to fish a low tide inside. I took them to one of my favorite fishing spots and we patiently waited on the tide change hoping to land a few flounder or grey trout. We fished hard and had awesome bait but the fish didn't cooperate. Did catch a lot of croaker and the guys got to find out what one of my only fear's are. We'll leave that one alone! Thank you guys, it was a pleasure fishing with you! Hope to see you this fall!

6/4/09  What an awesome day fishing with these two. Jim Bickerstaff and son Warren. Jim won the first place drawing for an all day trip in the raffle for 'Charter for a Cure'. When I called to let Jim know he had won he said, I just want to go out and learn! What an opportunity for me, I love to help people learn about fishing and our area! The guys wanted me to fish with them and you don't have to twist my arm to get me to do that. Well, I caught the Flounder but you can bet these guys will be turning up with nice catches in the near future. I hope I helped them with enough knowledge on where to get bait and where and how to fish that they will have many, many great days fishing in the future! It was my pleasure guys!

6/6/09  A note from Capt. Vanessa. I want to let anyone know that is interested on booking a flounder trip with me, that flounder fishing is not like off shore fishing! It takes patience. You don't go out, anchor and just fill your cooler up. I prefer to only take 2 people when flounder fishing and a little experience with a fishing rod helps. There are certain times of the year when your catch is more and I will do my best to make that happen for you. Flounder fishing is my passion and if you have fished with me you already know that. I do may kinds of Charter's, Children's, Ladies only, teaching & just plain old fun fishing. I just want people to know that there are fish you target, such as Trout, Red Drum, Flounder, Spanish & Kings and there are fish that you just go out, sit and catch. Reef fishing is probably the best for people with little patience or just wanting to stay busy catching. So please remember these things when talking to me about booking your trip! I'd love to take you fishing soon!

6/9/09  Fished by myself today. Finally the flounder have started to bite. 6 nice ones today!

6/10/09 Fished again today by myself. 3 nice flounder and a few good trout!

6/11/09 East wind started last night and the fish have got LOCK JAW!

6/12/09 Fished hard today with charter. Not much going on, still have that east wind!

6/14/09  Went offshore with an old friend today. Did pretty good with the Dolphin, Amberjack, King and Cobia but the bottom fish were few. Did get a few Grouper, American Reds and a few grunts. Guess they don't much like an east wind either!

6/15/09  Kids trip this afternoon. Had one that caught their first fish and both caught croakers, pin fish & spots! I always have a great time fishing with kids!

6/16/09  Fished with Mr. Tony Erwin from Ohio today. Did my best to catch some flounder. No flounder but the ribbon fish liked Tony so much he had them jumping in the boat! Toad fish seemed to like him to! East wind still a factor!

6/17/09 Back to back kids trips today and what a joy! All kids caught fish, even learned to bait their own hooks, cast their own reels and take their own fish off! Thanks to Tony from the day before, the kids got to enjoy holding and learning about the sea urchin he had reeled in.

6/18/09 Lordy, Lordy you would think a grown man from Ohio would know the importance of sun screen! Picked Tony up at the ramp for another day of fishing and I swear he was GLOWING! I've never seen someone quite that burnt before or moan and groan that much while fishing. He told me that he didn't lay on the beach but seems his wife won that battle. Fished all day with no luck again but he was a trooper! Met a good friend and look forward to fishing with him again soon!

6/19/09 This morning I fished with the Cutler Gang. What a super nice, hard fishing group of guys. We fished a low tide which most of the time isn't so good for the backwater but the ocean was to rough. We fished live bait and every color Gulp bait I had. Caught 2 just under size flounder, an undersized trout and then Dr. Cutler caught a very nice trout on a pop-n-cork. Thanks guys for helping get bait for my next charter and I hop to fish with you again soon. Lets do it on a better tide next time though!

6/19/09  Fished this afternoon with Mike and Karen Bowlin. My hopes were for Karen to catch her first flounder but hubby did instead. Super high tide and strong currents kept us from fishing a few good spots but not bad for a short charter.

6/20/09 Tony called again and I spent the morning enjoying a waterway cruise with him and his family.

6/22/09 Spent Fathers day with Dad and took today off to catch up on everything I have had to let go. I'd love to take you fishing, just call 910-367-0223!

6/25/09  Spent a half day fishing with a terrific family, the Allans from Denver, NC. Their 3 girls India, Genevieve and Skye fished hard as did their parents Craig & Caroline. The catch of the day were spots and croakers.

6/26/09   Fished a half day today with Paul & Cindie Bollinger & Cindies brother Steve Howard. Started the day with a few nice trout and finished with a cooler full of Black drum. Cindie showed the boys up by landing her first Red Drum and from what I here they enjoyed eating it. Thanks guys for a great day of fishing!

6/27/09  Today was one of the hottest days I have fished this year! Fished with Jason & Lisa Mitchell of New Jersey.
Wanted to take them to the ocean but it was just to rough. Lunar tides and a SW wind kept us from anchoring in a few places but we kept at it and and ended up with a nice catch of Black Drum and Lisa landing her first Red Drum. What a pleasure fishing with these two, thanks guys!

6/28/09  The WV boys are in town and boy did we tear up the Spec. Trout! 24 Trout landed and 1 Flounder. No action on the reef but inside paid off! Never a dull minute fishing with these guys!

8/20/09  So So Sorry that I have not kept up with the fishing news! I have been fishing a lot and not getting in until late. Please let me thank these families, The Browns, The Christianson's, The Robinson's, The Coleman's, Daphine Council, Jim Biggers, The Snyder's, Lynette and family, The Browns, Paulette Wade and friends, The Isley family, & The Williams family. It was my pleasure! I really love what I do, some trips do not catch as much as others but we have a great time trying!
What's biting? Have been catching Flounder, Spec. Trout, Grey Trout, Red Drum, Black Drum, Blues, Croaker, Sharks, Spots and a lot of pin fish! Remember, you can't catch everything in a 4 hour trip and odds are your not going to fill your cooler up but I will do my best for you to have the best catch possible! Also remember, It's HOT, HOT, HOT right now, fishing in the backwater sometimes there is not as much wind as in the ocean so if you cannot take heat you may want to book your trip in the Fall.

8/19/09  Had a great day fishing with Ron Williams and family! Caught grey trout on the reef! Ron you guys come back anytime!

8/21/09 What a day. These kids fished hard. Dad Too! The Ward family took home some great fish and even an awsome catch of Blue Crab for dinner! Thank's guy's I had a great time fishing with you!

9/1/09  Took Rob England an friend fishing yesterday. We had to wait out the rain and storms but got out about 1pm and fished until 5. These guys were great and we had a catch of about 40 fish including Spec. Trout, Grey trout, Flounder and croaker. Not a bad afternoon trip! The fishing is getting good so book your charter today!

9/3/09  Had a great half day fishing with Kristin Hart, new hubby & Jonsey the dog. These guys were celebrating their honeymoon. Nice catch of Trout. Kristin caught some of the biggest Croaker I've ever seen!

9/9/09  Scott Detritch and friends took a half day today. Caught some nice flounder & trout. We really had a fun day on the water.

9/10/09  It was a ladies only charter today! Daffeny, sister-in-law & mother-in-law caught a lot of nice big blues on the reef and her mother-in-law caught her first flounder ever. I really had a great time with these girls. This was Daffney's 2nd trip of the season. Thanks girl! See you again reel soon!

9/12/09  Today I had the rare pleasure of taking my son Randy fishing. We had a blast! Randy caught flounder, blues and some pretty big Spanish mack! Can't wait til next time!

9/18/09  Pete Sarri and friend hired me today for a half day. My fav fishing hole's didn't pay off today! Did catch 1 blue so it wasn't a skunk but it felt like one. Sorry guys. Well backwater wasn't good but fished the 2nd half of the day on the reef and did pretty good with some large Spanish, blues and grey trout! man the Spanish are here!

9/21/09  Fished hard the past few days. Landed some Flounder on the reef along with big Spanish! Lost a large flounder in the backwater, gotta really set those hooks when jigging!!!

9/26/09 What a Day! What a day! Fished the 'Bay Creek Classic' tournament held annually for friend and fellow fisherman Brandon Mathews whom needs surgery to repair tendons in his hands. Brandon is such an uplifting person to us all for being all that he is! Please go to his website to read his story and check out the tournament!www.baycreekclassic.com  Our boat took 3rd place with Chrissy Thomes weighing in a 4 pound-er! Not bad for fishing in non-stop rain, east wind and this being her First Flounder ever! Way to go Chrissy! Yes, Chrissy is my daughter and her and her husband Tommy fished the tournament with me. This was our first fishing trip in my boat believe it or not! Can't wait to do it again!

10/1/09  Took my neice and her boyfriend fishing today! Chris landed a whopping 26 Lb. Red drum & a 15 Lb. Red drum while Heather landed her first Spanish Mackerel. Heather had 2 good runs with the drum but didn't get one in the boat!

10/2/09 Took cousin Lonnie and his Father-in-law Perry fishing today. Lonnie landed his first lg. Red Drum weighing in at 19.3 Lbs. Perry and I caught some nice Grey Trout and I caught 1 Flounder. Not a bad afternoon of fishing!