Swansboro May 10, 2007
Jeff, of FishN4Life Charters, reports that hot days at the beginning of May brought the ocean water temperatures up to 70 degrees. The warming water has brought bonito and king mackerel close to the beach.
The kings are hitting trolled diving lures 7 to 10 miles off the beach. Bonito are even closer to the beach and are busting bait in the early mornings at AR-315 and AR-320.
Spanish mackerel are showing up as well. Anglers can score with spanish by trolling spoons or plugs, or by casting spec rigs, Gotcha plugs, and metal spoons to breaking fish.
A few cobia are around, and as the month progresses they’ll be feeding in the inlets and surf, and hanging around nearshore structure and flotsam.
Summer flounder are thick on the live bottoms, AR’s, and ledges 5 to 10 miles from the beach. The flounder will be moving closer to shore as the water warms, and they can be targeted by jigging bucktails tipped with Gulp baits just off the bottom.
The 1 to 5 lb. bluefish have been giving anglers plenty of thrills in the inlet connecting channels and nearby creeks. The blues will hit shallow diving plugs and metal jigs and spoons, fished either by trolling or casting.
Red drum are feeding in shallow water around flooded marsh grass and oyster rocks. Anglers are scoring with the drum on a variety of baits including jig/soft plastic combos, spinner baits, topwaters, and live baits.
Southern flounder are hitting in the mouths of area creeks and in shallow, warm bays. The flounder will readily strike Carolina rigged live baits, but anglers can cover more water casting Gulp baits on jigheads.
A few speckled trout are still biting, but anglers won’t see huge numbers of trout until fall.
Sheepshead are arriving in area waters, and they’re feeding on shell bottomed channels, ICW structure, and bridge pilings. Anglers can target 1 to 6 lb. sheepshead with sand fleas or fiddler crabs. Larger brutes (up to 10 lbs.) will fall for a sea urchin fished on the bottom around bridge and dock pilings. Use 50+ lb. tackle to pull the big sheeps away from the structure. Anglers will also catch some black drum while sheepshead fishing.
Stan, of Captain Stanman’s Fishing Charters, reports that recent winds have kept most boats at the dock, but tuna, wahoo, and dolphin are still present in the Gulf Stream. Fish around temperature breaks and established hot spots like the Rise and the Deep Hole.
Kings are moving towards the beach. There have been plenty around the Rocks south of #13, Ash Rock, and Chopper Rock. Over the next few weeks, they’ll start showing up at the Keypost and 45 Minute Rock. Most of the kings are snakes, and they’re suckers for trolled Yo-Zuri Deep Divers in the 4 to 5 inch sizes.
Herb, at Bogue Inlet Pier, reports that bottom fishing is somewhat slow. Anglers fishing shrimp are catching an occasional whiting.
Flounder are starting to bite, and a few keepers have been decked.
Bluefish and some spanish mackerel are around and hitting plugs.
Larger blues (up to 10+ lbs.) are being caught on live baits fished on the end of the pier.
The water is 70 degrees.
