Swansboro August 28, 2008
Jeff, of Fish’N4Life Charters, reports that the red drum bite is still good in the Swansboro area, but most of the large schools have broken up into smaller groups of fish. The prevalent gillnets in the shallows behind Bear Island and Emerald Isle have the fish feeding in the deeper creeks. The best action for mid to upper slot drum has been around docks and other structure in the ICW, and live finger mullet, peanut pogies, and shrimp are top baits for them in those locations.
The scented plastic baits that are so productive with the drum on the flats will just be destroyed by pinfish and blues around the ICW structure.
Flounder fishing has been a little slower over the past week, but anglers are still catching some 1-4 lb. flatties in the creeks near the inlets and around ICW structure. Live baits have been the most productive lately, and anglers are also picking up some flounder on spinnerbaits and scented soft plastics while targeting red drum in the shallows.
Good numbers of sheepshead and black drum are holding around the pilings of area bridges and docks. Live fiddler crabs and sand fleas will fool both species. Anglers should fish in the upper half of the water column for the sheeps, and drop baits to the bottom for black drum.
Ladyfish and bluefish are still corralling schools of finger mullet on the inlet shoals and sand and grass flats in the sounds and river. Topwater plugs will fool both fish, and anglers can also hook up on live finger mullet beneath popping corks.
The nearshore live bottoms are still producing good action with king and spanish mackerel.
Jamey, of Coastal Carolina Charters, reports that fall is just around the corner, and that means big king mackerel. The big kings are already starting to show up near the beaches, and they are chasing bait viciously. Live pogies are the top baits for the big kings, and a livewell full is a big step towards success with the speedy mackerel.
Good areas to look for kings in the upcoming weeks include the zone from the Bogue Inlet entrance buoys to the A Buoy and around Station Rock.
Big spanish mackerel are feeding around the Keypost, where they’ll fall for live finger mullet and peanut pogies (with good numbers of citation 5+ lb. fish in the mix).
AR-345 and the D Buoy are still holding plenty of amberjacks, along with barracuda and houndfish. Live baits should attract attention from all three.
Dolphin and a few sailfish are feeding out around the Rocks South of 13, the Hutton, and the SE Bottoms.
Wahoo will be moving inshore as well, and several have already been caught inside the blue water.
Sean Stokes, of Hubert, NC, with a 4 lb. spanish mackerel caught just off Bogue Inlet on a live peanut pogy. He was fishing with Capt. Robert Hall of Hall’em In Charters out of Swansboro.
Stan, of Capt. Stanman’s Charters, reports that wahoo are moving in to feed and spawn around the SE Bottoms, and several have been caught over the course of August, including a 65 pounder that fell for a dead cigar minnow on a Hook Up jighead.
King mackerel are feeding around the SE Bottoms and Alphabet Buoys B and C, and there’s been plenty of jig bait (like cigar minnows and greenies) around the buoys.
Menhaden have finally showed up in the ICW, so finding live baits for kings and other species shouldn’t be a problem.
Boats are finding some dolphin in a feeding mood around Christmas and Honeymoon Rocks, and there should be some sailfish feeding around the SE Bottoms, Christmas Rock, and the Honey Hole.
Dale, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are catching a lot of bluefish and small spanish mackerel from the beach while casting gold Stingsilvers and small Kastmasters.
Plenty of flounder are falling for live baits fished from drifting boats in the channels and in the surf, but the majority have been small lately.
The red drum bite is still decent in the marsh, but it has slowed a bit over the past weeks. Anglers are still catching some reds on topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, and live baits under popping corks.
Rhonda, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishermen have been landing a mixed bag of whiting, bluefish, pompano, black drum, and a few small spot. Shrimp are producing bites from all the bottom feeders.
The water is 80 degrees.
