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Home Care In Oak Crest, NC

Home Care Oak Crest, NC

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Oakforest gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Oak Crest, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Oak Crest, NC

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful for my position. The staff are acceptable, the clients are lovely, and the environments are professional. I highly recommend PCAs and CNAs to apply.”

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“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”

Kelly P.
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“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”

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“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”

Beth G.
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“This company is TOP-NOTCH! Incredibly helpful and super friendly. If you’re looking for a part-time in caregiving, this is it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

MJ F.
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“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”

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“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”

Ginger M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”

Michael B.
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“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the service! I highly recommend ????”

Mary E.
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“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”

Phillip B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”

Barry C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”

Laura M.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Oak Crest, NC?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Oak Crest, NC

Types of Elderly Care in Oak Crest, NC

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Oak Crest, NC
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Oak Crest, NC
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Historic Oak View County Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Oak Crest, NC
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Island Way or visit PurefoyChappell House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Oak Crest, NC

Benefits of Home Care in Oak Crest, NC

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Oak Crest, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Oak Crest, NC

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your NC's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Oak Crest, NC

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Oak Crest, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Oak Crest, NC

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Oak Crest, NC

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Atria Oakridge
  • Tranquility Care Of WinstonSalem
  • Oak Hill Assisted Living Community
  • Senior Care Authority WinstonSalem NC
  • The Oaks at Whitaker Glen
  • Laurel Crest Retirement Community
Home Care Oak Crest, NC

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Oak Crest, NC

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Oak Crest, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Oak Crest, NC

Latest News in Oak Crest, NC

How to catch tripletail in the Cape Fear River

Tripletail are hard fighters and great tablefareTripletail began spreading up the Atlantic Seaboard over the past couple of decades. Their large dorsal and anal fins that flow just above and below their tail look similar – hence the name. Tripletail are adaptable to both ocean and inside waters.These fish arrive in and around the Cape Fear River once the water warms in the summer and stay until it cools in the fall.Thomas Cutler caught the N.C. state record tripletail from Ocean Crest Pier in Oak Island on Sept. ...

Tripletail are hard fighters and great tablefare

Tripletail began spreading up the Atlantic Seaboard over the past couple of decades. Their large dorsal and anal fins that flow just above and below their tail look similar – hence the name. Tripletail are adaptable to both ocean and inside waters.

These fish arrive in and around the Cape Fear River once the water warms in the summer and stay until it cools in the fall.

Thomas Cutler caught the N.C. state record tripletail from Ocean Crest Pier in Oak Island on Sept. 4, 2009. It weighed 27-pounds, 7-ounces. Most of N.C.’s are smaller, generally ranging from 3 to 10 pounds. But N.C. anglers catch double-digit weight fish each year.

Capt. Jeff Wolfe of Seahawk Inshore Fishing Charters (910-619-9580) in Wilmington, discovered tripletail in the lower Cape Fear River almost two decades ago. Now, Wolfe and his son Christian offer the opportunity to catch tripletail as a specialty of their guide service.

Wolfe said these fish are attracted to shade and may be found around and under day markers, range markers, light towers and even the larger floats used by commercial fishermen. They may be under water or sometimes they float on the surface on their side and appear to be a large leaf or debris. When under water, they are generally close to the surface and even if they can’t be seen clearly, cast a noticeable shadow.

“The work begins once you locate a tripletail,” Wolfe said. “They are spooky and approaching too close, making noise on the boat or making a bad cast will usually end the possibility of catching that one.

“The tide moves quickly in the main part of the river. So we look for tripletail in the bays and behind the spoil islands, where the tide moves slower,” Wolfe said. “There is still enough current to move bait here and tripletail lay waiting in ambush for a tasty shrimp or minnow to drift by. We look for that floating fish or a shadow under something and set up to get a bait to it. We usually use a live shrimp or minnow suspended under a small cork.”

Wolfe said tripletail fight hard and seem to have a knack for wrapping around something and breaking off. However, they’re worth the effort as they taste great cooked in any way.

Tripletail have no size or number regulations in N.C.. Check the latest regulations at www.ncdmf.net.

Three-way drum: piers, surf and boats are all good along North Carolina’s Oak Island in October

North Carolina anglers head for piers, boats and the surf this month to battle big red drum that move into the waters off Brunswick County, drawn by gobs of bait.Red drum are responding to conservation management strategies, and one of the most-obvious signs is the growth of the nearshore ocean fishery for trophy reds off North Carolina’s Brunswick County, from Cape Fear west to Little River Inlet on the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Fishermen pursue the big drum each fall from the surf, by boat and from the decks of o...

North Carolina anglers head for piers, boats and the surf this month to battle big red drum that move into the waters off Brunswick County, drawn by gobs of bait.

Red drum are responding to conservation management strategies, and one of the most-obvious signs is the growth of the nearshore ocean fishery for trophy reds off North Carolina’s Brunswick County, from Cape Fear west to Little River Inlet on the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Fishermen pursue the big drum each fall from the surf, by boat and from the decks of ocean piers.

This fishery began about 20 years ago around Little River. The big drum began arriving in late August and stayed through September on the shoals just beyond the inlet’s jetties, occasionally venturing into the inlet to feed on scores of mullet minnows heading toward the ocean. These fish still visit, but the center of the action has shifted to the northeast to North Carolina’s Oak Island, and the bite has stretched into November.

Many fishermen believe the huge amount of bait entering the ocean through the Cape Fear River’s inlet has created this shift. Whatever the reason, many large redfish gather along the beach and around the nearshore artificial reefs off Oak Island.

There are similarities in the fishing, whether in the surf, from the piers or on boats. The biggest thing is the use of circle hooks to prevent deep-hooking these big fish, as they must all be released. Many rigs are similar, with the big difference being sinker preferences and whether the sinkers are fixed or slide.

Andrew Imes of Sunset Harbor, N.C., loves to fish, and big drum are some of his favorite targets. He double-dips, chasing them in the surf and from boat or kayak. He begins earlier in the year on their Neuse River run, but come fall, he fishes off Oak Island almost every day he isn’t working. Imes has a guide business, Oak Anchor Outdoors (919-614-2633), for clients interested in surf and kayak fishing, but he reserves his boat for adventures with his father.

“Surf fishing is something anyone can do,” Imes said. “All you need is a good surf rod, a reel that has a smooth drag and holds a lot of 20-pound line, rigs and bait.”

Imes uses a rig that has a 2- to 3-inch bite leader of 80-pound mono between an 8/0 circle hook and a 100- to 150-pound swivel. This ties to an approximately 15-foot shock leader of 80-pound mono, which then ties to the 20-pound line coming from the reel. A 3- to 5-ounce frog-tongue sinker slides on the shock leader with a bead on each side to prevent it sliding past the knot or onto the swivel.

This allows fish to pick up the bait without feeling anything. Once the sinker slides to the end of the shock leader, it pulls the hook into the corner of the drum’s mouth. All large drum must be released, and this helps prevent deep-hooking while turning the hook into their lower jaw where it can easily be removed.

Imes’ favorite surf baits are spot and croaker heads. He also uses live cob-size mullet, but mostly when he’s fishing during daytime hours. Once the sun begins setting, the fish respond well to the fish heads and chunks of cut bait.

“This fishing is about locating the fish, and finding schools of bait is the best way to do that,” Imes said. “Riding on the beach isn’t allowed, so I stop at beach accesses and look for schools of bait. Sometimes you can see the bait, but most of the time, diving pelicans give them away.

“When I can’t find bait schools, I go to Caswell Beach because it’s closer to the mouth of the river, and that’s where the bait comes out,” Imes said. “There is only one public access, and it’s usually pretty crowded. I generally wait until later in the day when the crowd leaves and fish into the evening.

Imes said many fishermen are overly concerned with how far they can cast, but it isn’t always that important. Sure, there are times longer casts help, but many times the big drum are prowling just outside the breakers, especially late in the afternoon and into the evening.

Elliott Estes will fish anytime and anywhere, and his favorite target is big drum. He mates on Oak Island’s Angry Pelican Charters (www.angrypelicancharters.com) and fishes for drum or flounder most afternoons once the boat is cleaned and ready for the next day. He said the ocean piers get him to deeper water more quickly, and his schedule matches when king mackerel fishermen are leaving the pier each afternoon and the pier end is open. Many piers reserve their ends for king mackerel fishermen from opening until near dark, and drum fishermen can’t use that section until the mackerel fishermen leave. This varies from pier to pier; it’s wise to call the pier in advance.

Estes uses a slightly different rig. The hook is a large, non-offset circle hook, and the bite-leader section is only a few inches like the others. This attaches to a 100- to 150-pound swivel, with another 5- to 6-foot section of 80- to 100-pound mono from the swivel to the 40- to 60-pound shock leader. A 100- to 150-pound snap swivel slides on this leader between beads and attaches a 3- to 5-ounce pyramid sinker. The beads and knots limit the sinker to only sliding along this section of leader. He fishes with 15- to 20-pound mono on the reel.

“Before you head to the pier, get your bait ready,” Estes said. “I use a variety that includes mullets, pogies (menhaden), pogey and spot heads, crabs and even yellowfin belly. Pogey and spot heads or mullet chunks are good baits most of the time, but if the sharks are bad, blue crabs are excellent baits, as drum like them and sharks no so much.”

Estes said if the bite is slow, you can fish two rods, but when it picks up, only fish one. He said to fight the fish hard to get it in and release it quickly. To remove the hook, they must be hoisted to the deck or beached. Estes believes using a pier net to lift and lower the fish causes less stress.

Big drum move in schools, and there are often more than a few. Donna Paris fishes both Oak Island piers for kings and catches a good number of big red drum incidentally. Both are carnivores and eat many of the same baitfish, so drum sometimes hit baits intended for kings. Paris recalled one time on Ocean Crest Pier when a huge school of large drum swarmed the end of the pier and ate every mackerel bait. Thirty-some fishermen were suddenly fighting drum, and it was a bit of a boondoggle for a while.

Imes said fishing in his boat or kayak allows him to reach deeper water than he can casting from the beach and gives the option to move with schools of bait. Fishing is very similar. The baits stay the same, but he switches to a shorter rod so it isn’t unwieldy and switches to a rig with a 2-ounce trolling sinker, which doesn’t hang up as often, tied in-line a few inches above the hook. To cover more bottom, he sometimes switches to a 1- to 2-ounce bottom-sweeper jig, sweetened with a quarter crab or a 1- to 3-ounce bucktail jigged along the bottom.

“When I launch my kayak or get into the area by boat, I’m immediately looking for schools of bait,” Imes said. “Sometimes, you never get more than a couple hundred yards off the beach. I have enjoyed some awesome days at roughly pier-end distance off the beach.

“If I can’t find a school of bait, I head to one of the nearshore artificial reefs,” Imes said. “Yaupon Reef is the most popular, and it is a huge reef. There is almost always at least one school of drum there. I use my fish finder to locate them and begin fishing. It doesn’t take long to hook up if you find the school first.”

It isn’t a revolution, but when the big drum invade Long Bay every fall, think of one way by land and two ways by sea to have a great time catching (and releasing) the invading redfish.

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