Swansboro Winter 2012-2013
Carly Jane Johnson (age 6) of Raleigh, NC, with her first speckled trout, caught near Swansboro while she was fishing with Capt. Robbie Hall of Hall’em In Charters.
Rob, of Sandbar Safari Charters, reports that the speckled trout action remains rock-solid in the Swansboro area. The best bite lately has been in the creeks and up the White Oak River, where anglers are catching big numbers of healthy specks (some to 3-4 lbs.).
There are also still trout feeding in the marshes behind the barrier islands, but the river and creek fish have been averaging a bit larger.
Zoom Flukes, scented soft baits like Gulps, and live mud minnows are some of the best bets for the specks right now, and the same baits will produce for much of the winter. As the water continues to cool, the specks will move further towards the backs of the creeks, and anglers who find them can get in on some strong cold weather action. Slowing retrieve speeds way down and using lighter jigheads for soft plastics will help tempt bites from the trout when the temperatures drop.
The surf speckled trout bite also continues to be good, mostly for anglers casting MirrOlures and soft plastics.
Red drum are schooling up in the bays and on the flats behind the barrier islands, where they’ll be spending the cool months. Sunny, warm days will prove the best bets for finding and hooking the fish over the winter, and fishing in the afternoons and during falling tides will offer anglers the warmest water of the day and the best chances of finding hungry fish.
Andrew Day (age 8), of Morehead City, with a 27″ red drum he hooked near the point at Emerald Isle on a whole finger mullet.
Red drum are also schooled up in the surf zone around the inlets and along the beachfront, where boaters can cruise the backsides of the breakers and look for the schools on calm sunny days. The reds typically aren’t too picky in the surf, and Gulp baits or a variety of other lures should tempt them to bite. Schools of reds should also be working the surf zone for much of the winter, offering anglers an exciting alternative to chasing them inshore.
False albacore are still chasing bait between Bogue Inlet and Cape Lookout, and anglers may be able to find the fish chasing bait beneath flocks of birds 3-5 miles off the beaches. When they’re not feeding on top, the nearshore live bottoms are good places to look for the albies. Diamond jigs and other metal casting lures, small soft plastics, and flies are all good bets for anglers looking to hook up with the speedy little tunas.
Robbie, of Hall’em In Charters, reports that the speckled trout bite is still going strong, and the recent warm spell seems to have extended the fall season quite a bit. Barring any extremely cold weather, anglers should be able to find action with the trout for most of the winter, especially in the backs of area creeks.
Though fish are feeding in the marshes right now, the creeks have been producing the best action.
Zoom Flukes, Gulp Jerk Shads, and MR17 MirrOlures (especially in Electric Chicken) have been the best bets for the trout lately, and the same baits should continue to produce as the water temperatures fall, though anglers will need to slow down their presentations to match the speck’s lethargic metabolism when they get cold.
Evan Sewell with a fat speckled trout he hooked in the White Oak River while fishing with his father, Capt. Chris Sewell of Fishead Charter.
Red drum are schooling in the marshes behind the barrier islands (with groups of 50-60 fish not uncommon), and they’ve been solid fish lately, with many clocking in the upper slot limit. The schools should only get bigger as the water cools off and more fish move from the surf zone to the warmer inshore waters. Targeting the fish on sunny and warm days offers anglers the best odds of hooking up, and dark mud bottoms and shell beds with little current are the best areas to look as they hold the sun’s heat.
Anglers can also get in on the action with the reds schooling from the surf while casting soft plastics and other lures from the beachfront and from boats behind the breakers on calm days.
Rich, of The Reel Outdoors, reports that anglers are still connecting with plenty of speckled trout in the area creeks, with Gulp baits and MirrOlures producing most of the action. Live shrimp are tempting bites from the largest fish.
Surf casters are hooking some healthy sea mullet and pufferfish on shrimp from the Emerald Isle beachfront.
Offshore trollers are still finding action with wahoo and some blackfin tuna at spots like the Swansboro Hole and the Rise when the weather lets them make the long run. Both rigged ballyhoo and high-speed trolling lures are getting attention from the ‘hoos.
