Morehead City April 12, 2007
Paul, at Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that the Turning Basin is full of whiting and gray trout. A spec rig tipped with fresh shrimp will put both in the boat.
Pier fishermen are catching whiting and puffers (blowtoads).
There is a good red drum bite going on in the Haystack area. Target the drum in creeks by casting Gulp baits on jigheads.
In the Gulf Stream, wahoo and yellowfin tuna are making an appearance. The bite has been best north of the Big Rock and around the Swansboro Hole. Small and medium ballyhoo, both naked and skirted, are the prime baits to pull to get in on the Gulf Stream action.
Matt, with Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that gray trout and whiting are schooled up in the Turning Basin. A spec rig tipped with bloodworms, shrimp, Fishbites, or Gulp cut bait jigged near the bottom will score with both species. For some of the larger gray trout, try the area near the high rise bridge.
Bluefish have begun to show up in Beaufort Inlet, and some bonito are feeding around AR315 and AR320. The best bonito bite, however, has been early in the morning, and Yo-Zuri Deep Divers and Maria Jigs are drawing the most strikes.
Red drum are schooled up by the hundreds in the marshes. The drum will hit Gulp baits, gold spoons, and spinnerbaits.
Some reports of big speckled trout are coming from the Haystacks.
Offshore, boats are finding wahoo and black and yellowfin tunas. When the bite is on, the area south of the Big Rock has been producing good catches. Small and medium ballyhoo rigged under Sea Witches are the prime baits.
Shane, with Second To None Charters reports that spring Gulf Stream fishing is in full swing. The area around the Big Rock is alive with wahoo, dolphin, yellow and blackfin tunas, and white and blue marlin.
The most effective trolling spread is made up of medium ballyhoo under Bluewater Candy Witches and Jags in blue/white, purple/black, and red/black. Trolling plugs such as Braid Marauders will also get bites from the tuna and wahoo.
Bud, with Sea Ya Outdoors Charters, reports that there are keeper trout and short flounder in Queen’s Creek. Natural color Gulp baits are effective on both the flounder and trout.
Sea mullet are schooled up in the Turning Basin, and anglers can load a cooler by jigging a spec rig tipped with shrimp just off the bottom.
As the water warms up over the next few weeks, the inshore red drum and speckled trout fishing should improve dramatically.
Joe, at Capt. Joe Shute’s Bait and Tackle, reports yellowfin tuna are biting at the northeast corner of the Big Rock (and further north). Good number of large wahoo are mixed in with the yellowfins. Boats are catching dolphin, blackfin tuna, and plenty of king mackerel in the same area.
The have been good numbers of kings around the 240 Rock and West Rocks south of Beaufort Inlet.
Larger kings are schooled up at the Atlas Tanker on the east side of Lookout Shoals.
Inshore, False albacore are chasing bait around Beaufort Inlet and the AR just off the beach.
Sea mullet and small gray trout are schooled up in the inlet and the Turning Basin.
Anglers are finding red drum feeding on the beach and in the marsh. Speckled trout are also in the marsh and surrounding creeks.
Joyce, at the Oceanana Pier, reports that anglers fishing shrimp on the bottom are catching small whiting and some puffers.
