Best time?

[cftaylorjr]

Hello.  My name is Charles Taylor.  I am a relatively new member but thoroughly enjoy spending time on the forum trying to become more educated.  I live down in Wilmington, NC and only get to my house up there about 4-5 times a year.  I have always done a guys trip with old high school buddies the last week of April to fish, drink beer, and tell lies. My house is down near Vista Pointe and I would like to fish down that way if possible.  Just wondering if we would be better off waiting till May or coming earlier in April??  I know the fish get a little finicky around spawning time.  Any feedback would be appreciated.  

[striperjohn]

I rent houses over there a couple times a year and I wish there was a true answer to your time question.
Each year I try to look at weather patterns and guess the spawn. Been wrong so far for about 30 years!;D The spawn determines what type of fishing I can do and when. Heck a couple years ago we had that really warm March into a hot April and the spawn was done by tax day. Way not normal.

[piper]

Johns been doing this a whole lot longer then I but agree with him 100% . I think its a crapshoot. I would say rates may be cheaper in April with less fishing pressure if you want to factor that in. They say the ale spawn is after the first full moon in May ( I think, someone correct me) so another thing to ponder. The ales really didnt do their thing til later in the year last year for me while they were in full swing mid April the year prior .

[cftaylorjr]

Thanks for the feedback.  I'll probably just stick with the late April plan and hopefully it works out.  I'll report back on how we do.