Morehead City July 7, 2011
Randell Mulchi, of Beaufort, NC, with a 9 lb., 1 oz. flounder he hooked on a live finger mullet at the Morehead port wall. Photo courtesy of Freeman's Bait and Tackle.
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that sheepshead fishing has been hit-or-miss lately, with some excellent days and some where the fish won’t seem to bite anything. Anglers are finding the sheeps around the bridge and dock pilings and the port wall (where some to 9 lbs. have been caught), and they’re tempting them to bite fiddler crabs and sea urchins.
The red drum bite is still a little off, but anglers are catching some in the Haystacks, Core Creek, around Carrot Island and Fort Macon, and at ICW docks. Live baits have been the most productive offerings lately, but anglers are also hooking up on spinnerbaits, Gulps, topwater plugs, and gold spoons.
Flounder fishing is still solid inshore, with anglers putting together big catches while drifting through the inlet, in the ICW, and behind Shackleford. Live mud minnows and shrimp or Gulp baits will tempt bites from the flounder. The flatfish bite is also solid at the nearshore reefs, and live baits or 2 oz. bucktails tipped with Gulps are the way to go out there.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are feeding in and around the inlet, especially on higher tides. Trolling Clarkspoons or squid rigs and casting 1/2-1 oz. metal jigs will put the spaniards in the boat. Some larger fish (to 5+ lbs.) are feeding around the nearshore reefs, where small live baits are tempting them to bite.
King mackerel are showing up along the beaches and in the inlet (most snakes, but fish to 43 lbs. were caught last week). Most anglers are hooking them while trolling dead cigar minnows.
Surf and pier anglers are connecting with some pompano, sea mullet, spot, pigfish, and blues on fresh shrimp, bloodworms, and sand fleas.
Offshore fishing has been a little tough with the high winds lately, but boats are still getting into the dolphin around the NW Places, 90’ Drop, and 14 Buoy. Small and medium ballyhoo are tempting them to bite.
Bottom fishermen are filling coolers up with sea bass, triggerfish, grouper, and amberjacks at spots in the 30-35 mile range. Cigar minnows, sardines, and mackerel, as well as Barefoot and Blue Water Candy jigs, are tempting bites from the bottom feeders.
Marty, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are putting together some good catches of flounder while drifting the inshore channels and fishing around the Atlantic Beach Bridge. Some larger fish are also coming from the port wall area. Live mud minnows, finger mullet, and/or other baits are the way to go for the flatfish.
Sheepshead fishing has been solid around the port wall and the bridges, and fiddler crabs and sea urchins are tempting the sheeps to bite.
Surf anglers are catching good numbers of sea mullet, and bloodworms have been outproducing other baits.
The spanish mackerel bite is still good in the inlet, the turning basin, and along the beaches. Trolling Clarkspoons or casting small metal jigs to fish feeding on the surface is the way to connect with the spaniards.
Offshore, the dolphin bite is still solid from the 90’ Drop area on out. Some king mackerel, wahoo, and blackfin tuna are mixed in, and boats are also seeing good numbers of sailfish in their spreads. Skirted ballyhoo will tempt bites from all the blue water pelagics.
Roger, Cindy, Gail, and Jan, of Rural Hall, NC, with gag grouper, dolphin, beeliners, triggerfish, and more they hooked while bottom fishing 35 miles off Beaufort Inlet with Capt. Chris Kimrey of Mount Maker Charters. Photo courtesy of Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that king mackerel have moved toward the beaches, and they are feeding in the shipping channel, around the Dead Tree Hole, and at the wrecks and rocks east of Lookout Shoals (where some fish to 30-35 lbs. have been hooked lately). Live menhaden are the way to go for the kings, and Blue Water Candy skirts in orange/blue or pink hues are adding to their appeal.
Amberjacks and dolphin are on the feed at the same wrecks and rocks as the kings, and they’ll also take an interest in live baits.
Tarpon have moved into the sound, and anglers are hooking a few on large cut and dead baits.
Large “old” drum are also schooling up in the sound, but they’re still far out to the east near the barrier islands.
The speckled trout bite is solid near the mouth of the Neuse River, where suspending hard baits and soft plastic shrimp are tempting them to bite.
Some puppy drum are in many of the same areas and will fall for the same baits.
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that trolling around weed lines and patches offshore is producing plenty of action with dolphin (ranging from peanuts to gaffers). The billfish bite has gotten better, and boats are seeing multiple bites from sailfish and white marlin most days. A few wahoo are showing up, and some blackfin tuna have been rounding out the blue water catch. All are taking an interest in naked and skirted ballyhoo.
Closer to the beaches, spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent. Small Clarkspoons trolled behind planers and trolling weights are the way to go for the spaniards.
Joyce, of Oceanana Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are connecting with some spot and croaker on shrimp and bloodworms.
Flounder are taking an interest in small live baits fished under the pier.
Royce, of Sheraton Pier, reports that bottom fishermen are decking some croaker, spot, and black drum while baiting up with shrimp.
A few flounder are falling for small live baits fished under the pier.
Big numbers of small sharks are rounding out the catch and eating just about anything anglers are casting.
