Morehead City March 8, 2012
William Becker, of Newport, NC, with a 40 lb.wahoo he hooked near the Big Rock on a rigged ballyhoo. Weighed in at Chasin' Tails Outdoors.
Tim, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that anglers are finding some speckled trout action in the backwater creeks off Bogue and Core Sounds and the Newport and North Rivers (with decent numbers of keepers and even some citation fish brought in recently). MirrOlure MR17’s and the new Yo-Zuri 3D shrimp have both been effective on the specks recently.
A few puppy drum are mixed in with the specks in the creeks, and they seem to have been feeding more actively in the late afternoons recently.
Puppy drum, black drum, sheepshead, and tautog are holding around the rocks of the Cape Lookout Jetty, and anglers can land all four on bottom rigs baited with fresh shrimp.
Shorebound anglers are getting in on the black and red drum action (along with dogfish) around the Fort Macon rocks. Some pufferfish are also feeding around the jetties and in the surf zone, and shrimp will attract attention from the puffers, drum, and dogs. The unseasonably warm water temperatures mean anglers will likely see spring fishing get off to an early start, and sea mullet, gray trout, and bluefish should be some of the early spring arrivals.
Not many boats have been offshore in the past few weeks, but those who have were able to find some wahoo and blackfin tuna action around the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole. Ballyhoo rigged under skirted trolling lures are producing most of the action in the blue water.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are catching a few black drum in the Atlantic Beach surf and around the Fort Macon and Cape Lookout jetties. Some scattered pufferfish and sea mullet are also in the surf zone, and with water temperatures in the high-50’s, it shouldn’t be long until they’re feeding in full force. Fresh shrimp on bottom rigs are top choices for the drum, puffers, and sea mullet.
Anglers are connecting with some speckled trout in the creeks and marshes inshore (some 3-5 lbs.), but it takes some work to locate them. When anglers do find the fish, they should bear in mind that they aren’t that active yet, so fishing slow is the way to get them to bite. Live or Gulp baits suspended under floats are choice offerings, as anglers can fish them very slowly without fouling the bottom.
Kevin Radford hoists a 27 lb. red snapper that attacked green-skirted cigar minnow trolled 80' deep in 120' of water. He was trolling around Chicken Rock, east of Cape Lookout, aboard the "Tide One On."
Charlie, of Old Core Sound Guide Service, reports that the bays and creeks are holding big numbers of speckled trout right now. Many of the fish are on the small side, but there are some keeper and larger fish mixed in. The warm winter means anglers should see a banner trout season this year. MirrOlure MR17’s and paddletail soft plastics have been fooling most of the specks.
Some smaller puppy drum are mixed in with the trout inshore, but most of the fish are holding in the inlets and along the beachfront, where MirrOlures and soft plastic baits will tempt them to bite.
Black drum, sheepshead, and a few puppy drum are feeding along the rocks of the Cape Lookout jetty, and bottom fishing with shrimp or crabs is producing plenty of action with both.
Pete, of Energizer Charters, reports that the local fleet hasn’t been able to get out much due to the wind lately, but when they have, the wahoo bite has been solid. Plenty of blackfin tuna are also feeding around blue water structure like the Big Rock, some dolphin have been in the mix, and boats even landed a few yellowfins in recent weeks.
Skirted and naked ballyhoo are tempting bites from all these Gulf Stream predators.
The wahoo and blackfin action should be just as good or better when boats can make it back out, and with the unseasonably mild winter and a few already around, anglers may well see an early and strong showing of dolphin this spring.
Shane, of Carolina Time Sportfishing, reports that while it’s been rough lately, boats that have made the run to the Gulf Stream are returning with decent catches of wahoo and blackfin tuna, and some scattered yellowfins have been joining the catch. Much of the action has been around the Big Rock, where anglers are hooking the blackfin tuna while vertically jigging as well as trolling. Naked and skirted ballyhoo have been producing the wahoo and yellowfin action.
The warmer-than-usual winter is a good sign that the springtime dolphin run may go off a little early this year.
