Swansboro March 8, 2012
Capt. Jeff Cronk, of FishN4Life Charters, with a red drum he caught and released in a bay near Swansboro. The red struck a Gulp bait on a light jighead.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that schools of red drum (most upper and over-slot fish) are working the bays behind the barrier island in the Swansboro area. Searching for them over muddy flats on the high, falling tides will give anglers the best odds of locating the schools. Cut baits and live mud minnows on light Carolina rigs have been producing the best results with the reds, but anglers are also hooking up with Gulp baits on light jigheads and while casting white and pink Clouser Minnows on fly rods.
Smaller puppy drum and some black drum are feeding around the bridges and docks in Broad and Gales Creeks, and live mud minnows, fresh shrimp, or cut baits will tempt bites from them.
Speckled trout have pushed far up the White Oak River and Queens Creek, and anglers are catching decent numbers when they’re able to locate the fish (with plenty of small fish but some solid keepers in the mix as well). Casting MirrOlures and Gulp baits to creekmouths, drop-offs, and channel bends in 6-10’ of water is producing the best results with the specks. A slow presentation is also key to getting them to bite.
The unseasonably warm winter should mean that the area’s spring flounder bite gets off to an early start, and anglers may well see the flatfish action heat up before the end of March.
Robbie, of Hall’Em In Charters, reports that anglers are finding some solid speckled trout in Queens Creek and the White Oak River (with big numbers of smaller trout but 2-3.5 lb. keepers mixed in). Creeks off the main rivers are producing the most action, and anglers are also seeing a few fat specks in the marsh creeks in Bogue Sound.
Capt. Rob Koraly, of Sandbar Safari Charters, with a 30" red drum he caught and released after sight-casting a Gulp bait to it on a flat near Bogue Inlet.
Pink and clear Storm shrimp imitations and Gulp Jerkshads in the smelt color on light jigheads have been the most effective weapons on the specks in recent weeks.
The marshes behind the barrier islands from Salter Path to New River are hosting big numbers of red drum. They’ve been more willing to bite on some days than others, with cut mullet and live mud minnows the only effective baits on some outings, and the fish responding well to soft plastics and even flies on others.
Black drum are feeding in the mainland creeks, and double-hook bottom rigs baited with shrimp will tempt plenty of bites from them.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are already catching some pufferfish from the beaches, and it shouldn’t be long until the sea mullet show up to join the party. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs will attract attention from both bottom feeders.
There are still a few scattered speckled trout feeding in the sloughs along the beachfront. Casting MirrOlures and soft plastic baits will tempt bites from the specks when anglers are lucky enough to find them.
Red drum are schooling on shoals of the Bear Island side of Bogue Inlet. Casting Gulp baits on heavy jigheads (1/2-3/4 oz.) from the beach or from boats on the backsides of the breakers will tempt bites from the reds.
Wesley Matthews, Tracie Deal, and Kelly Matthews with a 64 lb. wahoo that bit a skirted ballyhoo near the Scallop Beds.
Patty, of Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that the pier officially opens for 2012 on March 17. The end has been rebuilt, and all expectations are that the observation deck will also be complete by then. With the warmer-than-usual winter, there should be some pufferfish and sea mullet around for the catching by the time the pier opens up.
