Pamlico June 2, 2011
Brad Jackson, of Washington, NC, with a keeper flounder he landed on a natural Gulp shrimp while fishing in Pungo Creek with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that flounder fishing in the Pamlico and Pungo Rivers is solid and getting better by the day. Casting artificials like Gulp baits around hard bottom areas near points and flats adjacent to creekmouths is the way to go for the flatfish. Anglers can also connect with the flatfish on live and cut baits while anchored or drifting.
Speckled trout are mixed in with the flounder (many small fish from 8-12” but some larger). Soft plastic paddletails in a variety of color schemes (depending on the water color) will tempt bites from the specks, and anglers can target the larger fish by fishing with live bait in the early mornings.
Puppy drum haven’t made a great showing yet, but they should be working their way into the rivers very soon and feeding in many of the same places as the flounder and specks.
Dave, of Minnesott Beach Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are seeing some improving fishing for slot-sized red drum along the marshy shorelines in the river and creeks. The fish are still a bit tough to locate, but they’re becoming more numerous than they were a few weeks back. Cut mullet on circle hooks is producing better results than artificial lures right now.
Good numbers of flounder are feeding in the same areas (but many are undersized). Live mud minnows or Gulp baits will attract attention from the flatties.
Spanish mackerel are moving into the Neuse River, and anglers can find them while trolling small spoons behind #1 planers.
Striped bass fishing is still hot around New Bern. The fish are hitting topwater plugs along the shorelines early in the day. Soft plastics on jigheads will tempt more bites once the sun gets high, especially around the bridges and other structure.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that most anglers have been hitting up the ocean in search of dolphin or cobia recently. Those fishing the rivers have been connecting with good numbers of speckled trout and some flounder (though both on the small side) on Gulp curlytails and shrimp.
Some sea mullet have begun moving into the rivers, and anglers can tempt them to bite bottom rigs baited with shrimp.
The striped bass bite is still good around New Bern. Anglers can tempt bites from the bass with topwater plugs and a variety of soft plastic baits.
Preston Styron, of Harkers Island, with a spanish mackerel he caught while trolling Clarkspoons off Cape Lookout with family aboard his grandfather's boat.
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that dolphin are beginning to move inshore of the Gulf Stream, with some reported from the 14 Buoy and closer. Trolled ballyhoo will tempt bites from the dolphin.
The cobia bite is slowing down, but anglers are still catching a few while bottom fishing and sight-casting around Cape Lookout and Beaufort Inlet.
Black sea bass are feeding on just about any nearshore or offshore structure that anglers can think of. Their season opens June 1, so anglers can finally take some home.
Closer to home, there’s been a decent puppy drum bite in the creeks off the lower Neuse River. Some bluefish are mixed in, and both are taking an interest in topwater plugs.
The topwater striper bite is still on around New Bern as well.
