Morehead City April 26, 2007
Matt, of Chasin’ Tails Outdoors, reports that red drum are feeding in the marshes of the Haystack. Spinnerbaits and Gulp baits on jigheads will get an enthusiastic response from the drum. The best areas are along oyster bars and marsh grass edges, and a few speckled trout are mixed in with the drum.
Around the Turning Basin and Coast Guard Station, try jigging Stingsilvers, spec rigs, and Gulp baits to score with gray trout. Sea mullet action is slowing down, but there are still a few schooled up with the grays.
Blues are feeding in the inlet and will hit virtually anything. If the temperature stays warm, it won’t be long until there are some spanish mackerel feeding with them.
Surf and pier anglers are finding black drum, bluefish, sea mullet, and sharks. Shrimp, squid, and cut mullet have been the best baits.
Offshore, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and kings are the dominant catch, and some sailfish have been released as well. The action seems to be hottest right around the Big Rock.
Paul, of Freeman’s Bait and Tackle, reports that in the Gulf Stream wahoo and yellowfin tuna are still feeding near the Big Rock when the wind lays down enough for boats to get to them. Pulling spreads of skirted ballyhoo is the way to put these tasty speedsters in the fish box.
Anglers are finding some speckled trout at the Radio Island rock jetty. The trout are falling for 3” Gulp Shrimp in pearl white.
Whiting, puffer fish, black drum, and pompano are all feeding in the surf zone. Surf and pier anglers are scoring with these species by fishing bottom rigs and shrimp.
In the inlet, anglers jigging for gray trout and whiting are catching plenty of 1-3 lb. bluefish.
Shane, of Second to None Charters, reports that hot blue water fishing continues around the Big Rock. Yellowfin tuna are mixed in with wahoo, dolphin, and some billfish. The yellowfins are fat fish in the 40-60 lb. range, and the wahoo are a variety of sizes, from 10 lb. “weehoo” to brutes 80 lbs. and larger.
Along with the meat fish, anglers can expect occasional shots at white and blue marlin.
The most effective spread for Big Rock variety fishing is made up of medium ballyhoo under blue/white, purple/black, and red/black skirts. A trolling plug such as a Braid Marauder adds some vibration to the spread and draws strikes from tuna and wahoo.
Joe, of Capt. Joe Shute’s Bait and Tackle, reports that dolphin, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna are coming from the areas north and south of the Big Rock (when anglers can get to them). Skirted ballyhoo are accounting for the most strikes in the blue water.
King mackerel are holding around the 240 Rock, and they’re biting cigar minnows, ballyhoo, and plugs.
Inshore, the red drum are prowling the marsh, and fishermen are catching them on soft plastic baits and frozen finger mullet.
A few speckled trout are coming from the marsh and the rock jetties.
In the Turning Basin, anglers can catch plenty of whiting by jigging spec rigs tipped with shrimp just off the bottom.
Cathy, of Oceanana Pier, reports that whiting are hitting shrimp on the bottom. The largest whiting are biting at night.
Bluefish are feeding around the pier, and they readily bite both bottom rigs and plugs.
Anglers fishing with live mud minnows are beginning to catch flounder, although most are small.
A few speckled trout have been caught recently.
The water is around 60 degrees at the pier.
